Marine Aircraft Group 24

Marine Aircraft Group 24, commonly abbreviated MAG-24, is a United States Marine Corps aviation organization headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. It is subordinate to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and, through that wing, to III Marine Expeditionary Force. Unlike a commercial brand, MAG-24 is an operational military formation whose identity is associated with Marine aviation, expeditionary readiness, and the support of Marine Air-Ground Task Forces. The group was activated on 1 March 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Oahu, during the major expansion of Marine aviation in the Second World War. Its initial purpose was connected with providing dive-bomber capability in combat areas. At activation it had only a small headquarters structure and two nominally assigned squadrons, VMF-211 and VMF-212, while aircraft and trained personnel were scarce. The group’s early wartime history therefore combined aviation organization with construction, base defense, training, and the movement of squadrons across the Pacific. Soon after activation, MAG-24 headquarters personnel went to Efate in the New Hebrides to assist in the construction of an airfield. The location became an important staging, training, and logistics point for Allied operations in the South Pacific. The group later became the first Marine unit at the newly established Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara in California, where its personnel helped develop and defend a rudimentary airfield while preparing assigned dive-bomber squadrons for combat. By late 1942, the group included several SBD Dauntless-equipped squadrons and was conducting an accelerated training program. MAG-24 returned to the Pacific in 1943 and participated in the campaign surrounding Bougainville. From bases in the Russell Islands and later at Cape Torokina, its associated squadrons conducted and supported air operations against Japanese airfields, shipping, artillery, and ground positions. During the Battle of the Bougainville perimeter in March 1944, MAG-24 also organized personnel from its aviation units for ground defense of the airfield complex. This reflected the Marine Corps practice of treating aviation formations as combined operational organizations capable of defending their bases as well as generating air power. Today MAG-24’s mission is to provide combat-ready, expeditionary aviation forces capable of rapid worldwide employment in support of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Its subordinate units provide airlift and aerial refueling, medium-lift and tiltrotor aviation, unmanned aerial surveillance, aviation logistics, and aviation ground support. The group’s current structure includes Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadrons 268 and 363, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24, and Marine Wing Support Squadron 174.

MAG-24 was activated at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa on 1 March 1942 during the United States Marine Corps’ wartime reorganization and expansion of aviation. It was established alongside Marine Aircraft Group 23 and initially assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The group was intended to help provide dive-bomber capability, but its first months were constrained by shortages of aircraft and personnel. Its initial organization included headquarters elements and the nominal assignment of VMF-211 and VMF-212. On 15 March 1942, headquarters personnel departed for Efate in the New Hebrides. There they assisted with the construction of an airfield that became strategically useful as the Allies advanced through the South Pacific. Construction was performed under difficult conditions, including inadequate engineering equipment and widespread malaria. The airfield later supported training, replacement, and staging activity connected with operations toward Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands. MAG-24 headquarters subsequently moved to the newly opened Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara in California, becoming the first unit at that installation. The early station was vulnerable to flooding and initially possessed very limited aviation infrastructure, so MAG-24 personnel combined construction and local defense duties with the development of an aviation training base. By the autumn of 1942, the group had accumulated several SBD Dauntless dive-bomber squadrons, including VMSB-143, VMSB-144, VMSB-242, VMSB-243, and VMSB-244. The group trained intensively before returning to the Pacific. In 1943 it deployed through Efate and the Russell Islands as Allied forces moved toward Bougainville. On 17 November 1943, MAG-24 moved to Banika in the Russell Islands, supporting the invasion of Bougainville while forward airfields were being developed. The group reached Bougainville in December, where its commander assumed responsibility for air operations and its service personnel assisted with the completion of the Piva North airstrip. From Bougainville, MAG-24-associated aircraft supported attacks against Japanese positions and the strategically important base complex at Rabaul. SBD dive-bombers and TBF Avenger torpedo bombers struck airfields, antiaircraft defenses, and shipping. These operations contributed to the isolation of Rabaul and supported Allied control of the northern Solomon Islands and approaches to the Bismarck Archipelago. MAG-24 also took part in the defense of the Bougainville beachhead. During the Japanese attacks on the perimeter from 8 to 24 March 1944, the group organized aviation personnel into infantry-style defensive units while its aircraft continued flying repeated missions against Japanese artillery and ground forces. In the postwar era, MAG-24 became part of the Marine Corps aviation structure in the Pacific. Its present organization reflects the transition from the fixed-wing dive-bomber formations of the Second World War to a combined aviation group centered on transport, tiltrotor mobility, unmanned systems, logistics, and aviation ground support. Based at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, it remains subordinate to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and III Marine Expeditionary Force and is tasked with maintaining forces capable of short-notice worldwide employment.

• 1944

  Defense of the Bougainville perimeter

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 24en.wikipedia.org

  During March, MAG-24 aviation personnel helped defend the airfield perimeter while assigned aircraft conducted intensive strikes against Japanese forces.

• 1943

  Return to the Pacific

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 24en.wikipedia.org

  The group deployed through Efate and the Russell Islands as Allied operations advanced toward Bougainville.

• 1943

  Support for the Bougainville campaign

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 24en.wikipedia.org

  MAG-24 moved to Banika in November and then to Bougainville in December, supporting air operations and forward airfield development.

• 1942

  Activation at MCAS Ewa

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 24en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Aircraft Group 24 was activated on 1 March at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Oahu, during the expansion of Marine aviation in the Second World War.

• 1942

  Efate airfield construction

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 24en.wikipedia.org

  Beginning in March, MAG-24 headquarters personnel helped construct an airfield on Efate in the New Hebrides, an important Allied staging and training location in the South Pacific.

• 1942

  First unit at MCAS Santa Barbara

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 24en.wikipedia.org

  MAG-24 became the first unit at the newly opened Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara and helped develop and defend the early installation.

A combat-ready, expeditionary Marine Corps aviation group designed for rapid deployment and integrated support of Marine Air-Ground Task Forces.

• Aerial refueling and transport squadron

  VMGR-153

  Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153, known as the Hercules, provides aviation transport and aerial-refueling capability within the group’s expeditionary force structure.

• Medium tiltrotor squadron

  VMM-268

  Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, the Red Dragons, provides medium-lift assault-support aviation using the Marine Corps tiltrotor force structure.

• Medium tiltrotor squadron

  VMM-363

  Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363, the Lucky Red Lions, contributes medium-lift and expeditionary assault-support aviation to MAG-24.

• Unmanned aerial vehicle squadron

  VMU-3

  Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3, known as the Phantoms, provides unmanned aviation and surveillance capabilities for Marine operations.

• Aviation logistics squadron

  MALS-24

  Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24, the Warriors, provides maintenance, supply, and other aviation-logistics functions supporting the group’s flying units.

• Marine wing support squadron

  MWSS-174

  Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, the Gryphons, provides aviation ground support, including functions required to operate and sustain expeditionary airfields.

1. 1Marine Aircraft Group 24en.wikipedia.org