Marine Aircraft Group 15

Marine Aircraft Group 15, commonly abbreviated MAG-15, was a United States Marine Corps aviation organization established during the Second World War. It was commissioned on 1 March 1942 at Camp Kearny in San Diego, California, at a time when the Marine Corps was rapidly expanding its aviation structure for global operations. Rather than beginning as a conventional frontline fighter formation, MAG-15 initially served as a transport, observation, photographic-reconnaissance, radio, and navigation training group. Its principal wartime task was to prepare pilots and aircrews for deployment to the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command. From 1942 through 1944, the group trained and dispatched a succession of Marine aviation units, including VMD-154, VMD-254, VMO-151, VMO-155, VMJ-152, VMJ-153, VMJ-353, VMJ-952, and VMJ-953. This role made MAG-15 an important pipeline between domestic training and the operational aviation forces supporting Marine and Allied campaigns in the Pacific. The group also undertook aircraft acceptance and transportation duties on the United States West Coast, extending its responsibilities beyond classroom and aircrew training. MAG-15 deployed to the Pacific in March 1944, arriving at Apamama in the Gilbert Islands on 1 April. It operated as part of a transport air group until October 1944, when it was directed to establish an Air Transport Group responsible for transportation services to Marine units in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. That organization was redesignated the Troop Carrier Group in November. MAG-15 subsequently became part of Task Unit 96.1, which was disbanded in March 1945 after its responsibilities were taken over by the Naval Air Transport Service. Headquarters Squadron 15 moved to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, in April 1945, where it was joined by VMR-953 and VMR-352 and continued coordinating Marine transportation units across the Pacific through the end of the war. The group's postwar identity changed substantially. In January 1947, MAG-15 adopted a dual role by attaching fighter squadrons. By May of that year it had become an all-fighter group. In March 1949 it returned to the continental United States and was based at Marine Corps Air Station Edenton, North Carolina. During the 1960s it was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan. By the Vietnam War, MAG-15 again operated as a composite aviation headquarters, coordinating fighter, all-weather attack, aerial refueling, and search-and-rescue capabilities. In 1972 the group deployed to Southeast Asia during the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive. It moved from Iwakuni to Da Nang Air Base in April, with the first aircraft arriving on 9 April. On 20 June it was ordered to relocate to Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong in Thailand, a facility also known as Marine Corps Air Station Rose Garden. Its 1972 complement included VMFA-115 and VMFA-232 flying F-4 Phantom aircraft, VMA(AW)-533 flying A-6 Intruders, and VMGR-152 KC-130 tankers. H&MS-36 provided CH-46-based search-and-rescue support. Operating under Task Force Delta and within the broader Seventh Air Force structure, MAG-15 participated in Operations Linebacker and Linebacker II and later supported operations in Cambodia after the Vietnam cease-fire. Direct support to the Cambodian government continued until 15 August 1973. After more than four decades of service and successive changes in mission, aircraft, locations, and subordinate units, Marine Aircraft Group 15 stood down on 31 December 1988. It is therefore best understood not as a commercial brand but as a historical Marine Corps aviation formation whose identity was associated with training, air transport, combat aviation coordination, and expeditionary air support.

Marine Aircraft Group 15 was commissioned on 1 March 1942 at Camp Kearny, San Diego, during the rapid wartime expansion of United States Marine Corps aviation. Its initial mission centered on transport, observation, photographic reconnaissance, radio, and navigation training. The group prepared pilots and aircrews for the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command and dispatched multiple Marine aviation units for overseas service, including VMD-154, VMD-254, VMO-151, VMO-155, VMJ-152, VMJ-153, VMJ-353, VMJ-952, and VMJ-953. It also handled aircraft acceptance and transport functions on the West Coast. The group deployed from Camp Kearny on 2 March 1944 and reached Apamama in the Gilbert Islands on 1 April. It operated there as part of a transport air group until October, when it was tasked with establishing an Air Transport Group to provide transportation services to Marine units in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. The organization became the Troop Carrier Group in November 1944. MAG-15 later joined Task Unit 96.1, which was disbanded on 25 March 1945 after the Naval Air Transport Service assumed its responsibilities. In April 1945, Headquarters Squadron 15 moved to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii. VMR-953 and VMR-352 joined the headquarters, and the organization continued managing Marine transportation units in the Pacific through the end of the Second World War. The postwar period brought a major change in role. Fighter squadrons began attaching to the group in January 1947, and by May MAG-15 had become an all-fighter formation. It returned to the United States in March 1949 and was based at Marine Corps Air Station Edenton, North Carolina. During the 1960s, MAG-15 was based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Its most prominent later deployment occurred during the Vietnam War. In April 1972, following the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive, the group moved to Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. On 20 June it was ordered to relocate to Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong in Thailand, also known as Marine Corps Air Station Rose Garden. The 1972 organization included VMFA-115 and VMFA-232 with F-4 Phantom aircraft, VMA(AW)-533 with A-6 Intruders, VMGR-152 with KC-130 aerial tankers, and H&MS-36 with CH-46 aircraft supporting search-and-rescue operations. Under Task Force Delta and in support of the Seventh Air Force, MAG-15 participated in Operations Linebacker and Linebacker II. After the 1973 Vietnam cease-fire, it supported operations in Cambodia and provided direct support to the Cambodian government until 15 August 1973. The group ultimately stood down on 31 December 1988 after 46 years of service.

• 1988

  Stand-down

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 15en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Aircraft Group 15 ended its service on 31 December after 46 years.

• 1972

  Vietnam War deployment

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 15en.wikipedia.org

  MAG-15 moved to Da Nang in April and then to Nam Phong, Thailand, in June, coordinating fighter, attack, refueling, and rescue aviation.

• 1949

  Return to the United States

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 15en.wikipedia.org

  The group returned to the United States in March and was based at Marine Corps Air Station Edenton, North Carolina.

• 1947

  Transition to fighter operations

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 15en.wikipedia.org

  Fighter squadrons began attaching to MAG-15 in January, and the group became an all-fighter organization by May.

• 1945

  Transfer to Ewa, Hawaii

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 15en.wikipedia.org

  Headquarters Squadron 15 moved to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa in April and resumed coordination of Marine transportation units in the Pacific.

• 1944

  Deployment to the Pacific

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 15en.wikipedia.org

  The group left Camp Kearny on 2 March and arrived at Apamama on 1 April to support Pacific air transport operations.

• 1944

  Air Transport Group assignment

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 15en.wikipedia.org

  In October, MAG-15 was directed to establish an Air Transport Group serving Marine units in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands; the organization was redesignated the Troop Carrier Group in November.

• 1942

  Commissioning at Camp Kearny

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 15en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Aircraft Group 15 was commissioned on 1 March at Camp Kearny in San Diego and began transport, observation, photo-reconnaissance, radio, and navigation training.

A flexible Marine Corps aviation group organized to train, deploy, and coordinate diverse aviation capabilities in support of expeditionary operations.

• Military aviation service · 1942

  Transport and troop-carrier aviation

  MAG-15 initially specialized in preparing and coordinating transport aviation for Marine operations. During the Pacific War it supported air movement between island bases and helped organize transport services for units in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. Its transport role included training aircrews and managing aviation units deployed to overseas commands.

• Military aviation service · 1947

  Fighter and attack aviation

  After fighter squadrons began attaching in 1947, MAG-15 evolved into an aviation group capable of coordinating fighter and attack operations. During its Vietnam-era deployment, subordinate units operated F-4 Phantom fighters and A-6 Intruder attack aircraft in support of regional combat missions.

• Military aviation support · 1972

  Aerial refueling and rescue support

  The group's later composite structure incorporated enabling capabilities rather than a single aircraft type. In Thailand, KC-130 aircraft provided aerial refueling through VMGR-152, while H&MS-36 supplied CH-46-based search-and-rescue support.

• 1973Cambodia support operations

  Cambodia · Thailand · Southeast Asia

  Following the Vietnam cease-fire, MAG-15 supported operations in Cambodia under the broader Seventh Air Force framework.

  Outcome. Direct support to the Cambodian government continued until 15 August 1973.

  Source
• 1972Operations Linebacker and Linebacker II

  South Vietnam · Thailand · Southeast Asia

  From Da Nang and later Nam Phong, MAG-15 coordinated Marine fighter, attack, tanker, and rescue elements during the air campaigns conducted during the Vietnam War.

  Outcome. The group continued regional operations after the cease-fire and remained involved in Southeast Asian support missions.

  Source
• 1944Pacific air transport operations

  Pacific theater

  After deploying to Apamama, MAG-15 operated within Pacific transport structures and helped provide air movement services to Marine units in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.

  Outcome. Its transport responsibilities later passed to the Naval Air Transport Service after Task Unit 96.1 was disbanded.

  Source

• 1972

  Forward relocation to Southeast AsiaStrategy

  Background

  The North Vietnamese Easter Offensive created a requirement for additional Marine aviation support in the region.

  Action taken

  MAG-15 moved from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Da Nang in April and then to Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong in June.

  Aftermath

  From Thailand, the group supported major air campaigns and subsequent operations in Cambodia.

  Source

• 1947

  Conversion to an all-fighter groupStrategy

  Background

  The postwar Marine Corps reorganized aviation formations and began attaching fighter squadrons to MAG-15.

  Action taken

  The group adopted a dual role in January and was operating with all-fighter squadrons by May.

  Aftermath

  MAG-15 continued in a fighter-centered role before later becoming a composite aviation headquarters again during the Vietnam War.

  Source

• 1944

  Shift from training to deployed transport coordinationStrategy

  Background

  After two years focused primarily on domestic transport, observation, and reconnaissance training, the group deployed to the Pacific as operational air transport demands increased.

  Action taken

  MAG-15 moved to Apamama and was assigned transport-group responsibilities, later establishing an Air Transport Group for the Marshall and Gilbert Islands.

  Aftermath

  The organization became the Troop Carrier Group and continued supporting Pacific transportation until later responsibilities were transferred to the Naval Air Transport Service.

  Source

1. 1Marine Aircraft Group 15en.wikipedia.org