Marine Aircraft Group 42

Marine Aircraft Group 42 is a United States Marine Corps aviation organization with a lineage extending from World War II through the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the post-Cold War reserve-force reorganization, and its present role as Marine Aviation Training Support Group 42 (MATSG-42). The organization is based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, and supports the Marine Corps and Navy aviation communities by providing reserve-component personnel who augment active-component aviation activities. The unit was first commissioned on January 1, 1943, at Naval Air Station North Island, California, as Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 42 under the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. Its original responsibilities centered on the defense of naval and Marine Corps installations along the United States West Coast. It also conducted airborne search and patrol, transportation, air-sea rescue, and shipping-escort duties. During 1943, the group became involved in training Marine aviators for combat service in the Pacific Theater and moved to Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara in March of that year. By 1944, its scale had grown substantially from an initial complement of two T-6 aircraft and a small number of personnel to an organization reported as having 272 officers, 2,135 enlisted personnel, and 102 SNJ aircraft. In November 1944, it received the Marine Aircraft Group 42 designation. After World War II, the organization was redesignated Marine Aircraft Support Group 42 and was deactivated on October 31, 1945. It returned to active status on February 1, 1965, during the Vietnam War period. Its aviation elements included Marine Attack Squadron 133, equipped with A-4 Skyhawk aircraft, and Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 769, equipped with H-34 helicopters. In 1971, the helicopter squadron became Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 769 and transitioned to the CH-53 Sea Stallion. A major restructuring occurred on June 10, 1992, when the group was reorganized and relocated to Naval Air Station Atlanta at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. This move formed part of the Department of the Navy's Total Force concept, which sought to integrate active and reserve components into a coordinated force capable of supporting joint operations and changing national security requirements. The reorganized group included or supported reserve aviation units operating AH-1J Cobra, OV-10D, UH-1N, CH-46, and F/A-18A aircraft. In 1994, Marine light-attack and attack helicopter elements were consolidated under Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 and its New Orleans detachment, combining attack and utility-helicopter capabilities. MAG-42 also supported the integration of Marine Corps and Navy tactical aviation through the Department of the Navy's Tactical Aviation Integration concept. During the 1990s, its reserve aviation mission included training, readiness activities, domestic exercises, overseas deployments, and counter-drug operations in several Eastern Caribbean countries. The group was deactivated on June 21, 2008, during another reorganization of Marine aviation. It was subsequently redesignated and reactivated as Marine Aviation Training Support Group 42 at Naval Air Station Pensacola around 2011. In its current form, MATSG-42 is not primarily an aircraft-operating group comparable to the historical MAG-42. Its stated mission is to provide Marine Corps Reserve augmentation in direct support of active Navy and Marine Corps aviation activities. This support helps sustain required levels of qualified Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, Naval Aircrewmen, and enlisted Marine aviation aircraft-maintenance personnel. The unit therefore represents both a historical Marine aircraft-group lineage and a contemporary reserve training-support function.

Marine Aircraft Group 42 was commissioned on January 1, 1943, at Naval Air Station North Island in California as Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 42, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. The organization was created to support the defense of naval and Marine Corps installations on the West Coast. Its duties also included airborne search and patrol, transportation, air-sea rescue, and shipping escort missions along the Pacific Coast. In 1943, the group expanded its role to include training Marine aviators for combat operations in the Pacific during World War II. It moved to Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara in March 1943. By the following year, the organization had grown from a small unit equipped with two T-6 aircraft into a much larger aviation formation reported to include 272 officers, 2,135 enlisted personnel, and 102 SNJ aircraft. It was redesignated Marine Aircraft Group 42 in November 1944. Following World War II, the group became Marine Aircraft Support Group 42 and was deactivated on October 31, 1945. It was reactivated on February 1, 1965, during the Vietnam War era. The revived organization included Marine Attack Squadron 133 with A-4 Skyhawk aircraft and Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 769 with H-34 helicopters. In 1971, the helicopter squadron was redesignated Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 769 and transitioned to CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters. The post-Cold War period brought another major change. On June 10, 1992, the group was reorganized and relocated to Naval Air Station Atlanta at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. The move supported the Department of the Navy's Total Force concept, which emphasized closer integration of active and reserve forces. The reorganized reserve aviation structure included attack, observation, utility-helicopter, medium-lift-helicopter, and fighter-attack capabilities. Aircraft associated with the reorganized units included the AH-1J Cobra, OV-10D, UH-1N, CH-46, and F/A-18A. In October 1994, Marine light-attack and attack helicopter elements were redesignated as Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 at Atlanta and a related detachment in New Orleans. The resulting force combined attack and utility-helicopter capabilities and was intended to mirror corresponding Fleet Marine Force organizations. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142 also supported the Department of the Navy's Tactical Aviation Integration concept, which brought Marine and Navy tactical aviation capabilities into closer coordination. During the 1990s, the group conducted readiness training at locations throughout the United States and supported overseas deployments. It also participated in counter-drug operations in several Eastern Caribbean countries in 1995 and 1996, including marijuana-eradication and drug-transit-interdiction activities. Marine Aircraft Group 42 was deactivated on June 21, 2008, as Marine aviation was reorganized. Around 2011, the organization was redesignated and reactivated at Naval Air Station Pensacola as Marine Aviation Training Support Group 42. The current organization supports active Navy and Marine Corps aviation activities by providing reserve-component personnel and maintaining the readiness of Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, Naval Aircrewmen, and enlisted Marine aviation maintenance personnel. Its modern identity is therefore centered on training support and reserve augmentation, while its historical lineage reflects a broader evolution from coastal defense and wartime aviation training to a multi-platform reserve aviation group.

• 2011

  Reactivation as MATSG-42

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 42en.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated and reactivated at Naval Air Station Pensacola as Marine Aviation Training Support Group 42.

• 2008

  Deactivation of MAG-42

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 42en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Aircraft Group 42 was deactivated on June 21 during a reorganization of Marine aviation.

• 1994

  Helicopter-unit redesignation

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 42en.wikipedia.org

  Marine light-attack and attack helicopter elements were redesignated under Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 and its New Orleans detachment.

• 1992

  Total Force reorganization and relocation

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 42en.wikipedia.org

  MAG-42 was reorganized and moved to Naval Air Station Atlanta at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia to support the Marine Corps Total Force concept.

• 1965

  Reactivation during the Vietnam War period

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 42en.wikipedia.org

  The group was reactivated on February 1 with attack and helicopter-transport aviation elements.

• 1945

  Postwar deactivation

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 42en.wikipedia.org

  After being redesignated Marine Aircraft Support Group 42, the organization was deactivated on October 31.

• 1944

  Redesignation as Marine Aircraft Group 42

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 42en.wikipedia.org

  The organization received the Marine Aircraft Group 42 designation in November.

• 1943

  Initial commissioning

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 42en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 42 was commissioned on January 1 at Naval Air Station North Island, California, under the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.

• 1943

  Move to Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara

  [1]Marine Aircraft Group 42en.wikipedia.org

  The organization relocated to Santa Barbara and expanded its role to include training Marine aviators for Pacific combat operations.

A military aviation reserve and training-support organization rather than a commercial brand. Its value is defined by force readiness, personnel augmentation, aviation training support, and operational integration between reserve and active Marine Corps and Navy aviation.

• 1996Eastern Caribbean counter-drug operations

  Eastern Caribbean

  The group continued supporting counter-drug activities in the Eastern Caribbean, including eradication and drug-transit-interdiction missions.

  Outcome. The reference records continued participation but does not identify individual operations or final results.

  Source
• 1995Eastern Caribbean counter-drug operations

  Eastern Caribbean

  MAG-42 participated in counter-drug operations involving marijuana eradication and interdiction of drug movements in several Eastern Caribbean countries.

  Outcome. The operations supported regional counter-narcotics efforts; the reference describes substantial illegal-substance eradication and interdiction but does not provide independently verified operational totals.

  Source

• 2011

  Conversion to a training-support organizationStrategy

  Background

  The Marine Corps required reserve-component support for active Navy and Marine Corps aviation activities.

  Action taken

  The former group was redesignated and reactivated as Marine Aviation Training Support Group 42 at Naval Air Station Pensacola.

  Aftermath

  The organization became focused on personnel augmentation and sustaining the qualifications of aviators, aircrew, and aviation maintenance Marines rather than functioning solely as a historical aircraft group.

  Source

• 2008

  Deactivation during Marine aviation restructuringStrategy

  Background

  Marine aviation underwent organizational changes affecting reserve aviation group structures.

  Action taken

  Marine Aircraft Group 42 was deactivated on June 21, 2008.

  Aftermath

  The organization later returned in a different form as Marine Aviation Training Support Group 42 at Naval Air Station Pensacola.

  Source

• 1992

  Adoption of the Total Force reserve-integration modelStrategy

  Background

  Following the end of the Cold War and a reduction in United States defense forces, the Department of the Navy sought to define a stronger operational role for reserve components.

  Action taken

  MAG-42 was reorganized and relocated to the Atlanta area, with reserve aviation units structured to complement comparable active Marine Corps formations.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization expanded the group's role in readiness, training, joint-force integration, and reserve support.

  Source

1. 1Marine Aircraft Group 42en.wikipedia.org