Marine Aircraft Group 49
A United States Marine Corps Reserve aviation group that trains and equips aviation units for augmentation, reinforcement, and contingency operations.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Marine Aircraft Group 49, commonly abbreviated MAG-49, is a United States Marine Corps Reserve aviation group assigned to the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Forces Reserve. The group is based at the Fort Dix portion of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. Rather than operating as a commercial brand, MAG-49 is a military formation whose principal function is to organize, train, and equip combat-ready reserve squadrons and support units. MAG-49 provides capabilities intended to augment and reinforce the Marine Corps' active-duty aviation forces during wartime, national emergencies, and contingency operations. Its mission spans assault support, offensive air support, operational support airlift, aviation logistics, and aviation ground support. The group therefore combines rotary-wing, tiltrotor, fixed-wing transport, logistics, and aviation-support elements. Its listed aircraft include the MV-22B Osprey, CH-53E Super Stallion, AH-1Z Viper, UH-1Y Venom, UC-35D Citation Encore, and UC-12F/W Huron. The organization's modern lineage developed from the post-Second World War expansion and reorganization of Marine aviation reserves. Several of the squadrons and detachments later associated with MAG-49 originated in the 1940s and 1950s, including fighter, ground-control-intercept, helicopter-transport, and air-control organizations. The group itself was created through the September 1972 redesignation of Marine Aircraft Group 43. Its headquarters subsequently moved from Naval Air Station Lakehurst to Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. During the Cold War and the post-Cold War period, MAG-49 units supported Marine Corps mobilization requirements and maintained readiness for deployment beyond their home stations. Reserve personnel and detachments participated in preparations and operations connected with Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. HMH-772, one of the group's helicopter squadrons, also supported the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program and later participated in training and humanitarian evacuation activity in the Philippines after the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo. The group's force structure continued to change as Marine aviation modernized. HMH-772 transitioned from the CH-53D Sea Stallion to the CH-53E Super Stallion in 1998. Helicopter attack and light-attack detachments were activated, renamed, relocated, or realigned during the late 1990s and 2000s. In 2011, MAG-49 moved from Willow Grove to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst following the Base Realignment and Closure-directed closure of the former installation. A later reorganization deactivated Site Support Warner Robins, also identified as MAG-49 Detachment Alpha, in 2016. The group currently provides a reserve aviation structure encompassing transport squadrons at Andrews and Belle Chasse, heavy-lift and light-attack helicopter units, a tiltrotor squadron, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49, Marine Wing Support Squadron 472, and several site-support detachments. Its practical value lies in maintaining trained personnel and deployable aviation capacity that can be integrated with active Marine aviation units when operational demands exceed the regular force's available capacity.
History
MAG-49's lineage is rooted in the creation and repeated reorganization of the Marine Corps Reserve aviation establishment after the Second World War. On 26 February 1946, the Marine Air Reserve Training Command was activated at Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois. The reserve system initially included Marine Aviation Detachments, fighter squadrons, and ground-control-intercept squadrons. Among the organizations later connected with the MAG-49 lineage were VMF-451, established at Naval Air Station Willow Grove in April 1946, and MGCIS-17, organized there in February 1947. The Korean War produced an early test of the reserve structure. Reserve personnel from MGCIS-17 were mobilized in August 1950 and remained on active duty until the unit was reorganized in 1951. VMF-451 was activated for Korean service in January 1951. Another relevant organization, MGCIS-26, was formed in New York City in June 1950 and mobilized from August 1950 through June 1952. Subsequent Marine Corps-wide reorganizations changed the designations and responsibilities of these units. MGCIS-26 became a Marine Air Control Squadron in 1954, while other control organizations were later redesignated as Marine Air Traffic Control Units. Helicopter capability became increasingly important to the reserve force. Helicopter Transport Squadron 772 was established in April 1958 and redesignated Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 772 in April 1962. In 1962, Marine Aircraft Group 43 and related headquarters, air-base, and aviation units were reactivated at Willow Grove. A major 4th Marine Aircraft Wing reorganization in 1965 reassigned several of those organizations to MAG-43. The reserve command structure continued to evolve as aviation roles and unit designations changed. In 1971, HMM-772 transitioned to the CH-53 Sea Stallion, was redesignated HMH-772, and transferred to MAG-49 at Naval Air Station Willow Grove. In September 1972, MAG-43 itself was redesignated Marine Aircraft Group 49. The headquarters moved from Naval Air Station Lakehurst to Willow Grove, establishing the organizational identity that continues today. MAG-49 supported Marine Corps mobilization requirements during the 1990-91 Gulf crisis. MACS-48 Detachment B performed air-traffic-control missions at several Marine Corps air stations, while elements of MWSS-473 supported station operations as active-duty personnel deployed to Southwest Asia. Individual MAG-49 Marines also served with units in the Saudi Arabian desert. HMH-772 was mobilized in connection with the Unit Deployment Program, moved through Marine aviation commands preparing for overseas service, and later supported training and evacuation activity in the Philippines after Mount Pinatubo erupted. The group expanded and realigned its helicopter presence in the late 1990s and 2000s. HMLA-773 Detachment A activated at Willow Grove in October 1997 with 21 Marines and nine aircraft. HMH-772 changed from the CH-53D to the CH-53E in 1998. The helicopter detachment was renamed and relocated during subsequent 4th Marine Aircraft Wing realignment, becoming associated with HMLA-773 Detachment B by 2008. Other changes included the deactivation of MACS-24 Detachment B in 2001. In 2011, MAG-49 moved to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst following the BRAC-directed closure of Naval Air Station Willow Grove. The relocation consolidated the group at its present New Jersey base while retaining geographically separated aviation and support sites. Site Support Warner Robins, also known as MAG-49 Detachment Alpha, was deactivated on 16 June 2016. Today, the group supports fixed-wing transport, helicopter, tiltrotor, logistics, and aviation-ground-support functions through subordinate units and site detachments.
- 2016
Site Support Warner Robins deactivated
[1]Site Support Warner Robins, also called MAG-49 Detachment Alpha, was deactivated.
- 2011
Headquarters moved to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
[1]MAG-49 relocated from Naval Air Station Willow Grove to its current New Jersey base after Willow Grove's BRAC-directed closure.
- 1998
HMH-772 transitioned to the CH-53E
[1]HMH-772 replaced its CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters with CH-53E Super Stallions.
- 1997
HMLA-773 Detachment A activated
[1]HMLA-773 Detachment A activated at Willow Grove with 21 Marines and nine aircraft.
- 1972
MAG-43 redesignated MAG-49
[1]Marine Aircraft Group 43 was redesignated Marine Aircraft Group 49, and the headquarters moved from Naval Air Station Lakehurst to Naval Air Station Willow Grove.
- 1971
HMH-772 transferred to MAG-49
[1]After transitioning to the CH-53 Sea Stallion, HMM-772 became HMH-772 and transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 49 at Willow Grove.
- 1962
HMM-772 designation introduced
[1]Helicopter Transport Squadron 772 was redesignated Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 772.
- 1958
Helicopter Transport Squadron 772 established
[1]Helicopter Transport Squadron 772 was established, beginning the lineage of the later heavy-lift helicopter capability associated with HMH-772.
- 1947
MGCIS-17 organized at Willow Grove
[1]Ground-control-intercept reserve organization MGCIS-17 was organized at Naval Air Station Willow Grove.
- 1946
Marine Air Reserve Training Command established
[1]The Marine Air Reserve Training Command was activated at Naval Air Station Glenview, providing the institutional foundation for the postwar Marine aviation reserve system.
Products and positioning
A Marine Corps Reserve aviation group positioned as a trained and equipped augmentation force for active Marine aviation units during war, national emergencies, and contingency operations.
Tiltrotor aircraft capability
MV-22B Osprey
MAG-49's tiltrotor component provides vertical takeoff and landing, tactical mobility, and assault-support capacity through the MV-22B Osprey. This capability is associated with the group's VMM-774 tiltrotor squadron.
Heavy-lift helicopter capability · 1998
CH-53E Super Stallion
The CH-53E supplies heavy-lift helicopter capacity for transporting personnel, equipment, and external loads. HMH-772 transitioned from the CH-53D to the CH-53E in 1998 as part of the modernization of the group's reserve aviation capability.
Light-attack and utility helicopter capability
AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom
These helicopter types support MAG-49's offensive air-support, escort, utility, and aviation contingency roles through its light-attack helicopter structure, including HMLA-773.
Operational support airlift
UC-35D and UC-12F/W
The UC-35D Citation Encore and UC-12F/W Huron provide operational support airlift for personnel, light cargo, liaison, and other intra-theater transport requirements. MAG-49's fixed-wing transport squadrons operate from Andrews and Belle Chasse.
Military support services
Aviation logistics and wing support
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49 and Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 provide the maintenance, supply, engineering, airfield, and other support functions needed to keep reserve aviation units ready for integration with active Marine forces.
Marketing campaigns
- 1991Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm
Saudi Arabia · United States · Marine Corps overseas operating locations
MAG-49 reservists and detachments were mobilized for air-traffic-control, aviation-base support, and other operational requirements during the Gulf War mobilization. HMH-772 also deployed through the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program in support of broader Marine aviation preparations.
Outcome. The group contributed reserve personnel and aviation support while active-duty Marine forces deployed to Southwest Asia and other operating areas.
- 1991Post-eruption support in the Philippines
Philippines
While deployed in the western Pacific, HMH-772 participated in training deployments and evacuation assistance after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.
Outcome. The squadron supported evacuation and humanitarian response activity alongside its scheduled Marine aviation commitments.
Brand decisions
2011
Relocation after Naval Air Station Willow Grove closureStrategyBackground
The federal Base Realignment and Closure process directed the closure of Naval Air Station Willow Grove.
Action taken
MAG-49 moved its headquarters and principal operating base to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
Aftermath
The group retained its reserve aviation mission from a consolidated New Jersey installation while continuing to use geographically separated support sites.
1998
HMH-772 moved from CH-53D to CH-53E helicoptersGeneration changeBackground
The group required updated heavy-lift equipment to maintain relevant reserve aviation capability.
Action taken
HMH-772 transitioned from the Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion to the CH-53E Super Stallion.
Aftermath
The change modernized the squadron's heavy-lift capability and aligned it with the Marine Corps' newer helicopter fleet.
1972
Redesignation from MAG-43 to MAG-49StrategyBackground
Marine aviation reserve organizations were being reorganized to align units and command relationships with changing operational roles.
Action taken
Marine Aircraft Group 43 was redesignated Marine Aircraft Group 49, with the headquarters moving from Lakehurst to Willow Grove.
Aftermath
The redesignation established the current MAG-49 organizational identity and continued its association with 4th Marine Aircraft Wing reserve aviation.
Recent events
- 2011
MAG-49 relocated to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst[1]
Other
The group moved from Naval Air Station Willow Grove to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst after the former installation's closure under the federal Base Realignment and Closure process.
- 1991
MAG-49 units mobilized during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm[1]
Other
Reserve personnel and detachments associated with MAG-49 supported air traffic control, station operations, and other Marine aviation requirements during the mobilization for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. HMH-772 separately deployed through the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program and supported follow-on aviation activity.
- 1991
HMH-772 supported Philippine evacuation efforts after Mount Pinatubo eruption[1]
Other
While deployed as part of Marine aviation activity in the western Pacific, HMH-772 participated in training deployments and evacuation assistance in the Philippines following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.
Sources2 sources
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