Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22

Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22, commonly abbreviated MATSG-22, is a United States Marine Corps organization responsible for representing Marine aviation training interests and supporting the delivery of training throughout the Marine training enterprise. Unlike a commercial brand, it is a military unit whose identity combines an active institutional mission with the historical lineage of Marine Aircraft Group 22, or MAG-22. The group’s World War II predecessor was created from the Marine aviation detachment on Midway Atoll. On 1 March 1942, that detachment was redesignated Marine Aircraft Group 22. Its initial aviation units included VMF-221, VMF-222, VMSB-241, and VMSB-242, although some of these squadrons were subsequently transferred elsewhere. Because the group spent the early part of its existence outside the continental United States, it became associated with the informal description “Foreign Legion of Marine Aviation.” MAG-22’s most prominent early action came during the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Marine fighter and scout-bomber squadrons based on the atoll confronted a much larger Japanese air attack with a mixture of Brewster Buffalo, Grumman Wildcat, Vought Vindicator, and Douglas Dauntless aircraft. The group suffered severe aircraft and personnel losses, but its squadrons helped defend Midway, attacked Japanese naval forces, and contributed to the defeat of the Japanese carrier assault. The group received a Presidential Unit Citation for its performance, and many of its personnel were recognized for valor, including Captain Richard E. Fleming, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. After Midway, MAG-22 continued operations in the Marshall Islands. Its squadrons performed air defense, interception, ground-attack, interdiction, reconnaissance, and night-fighter missions from island bases including Eniwetok and Engebi. Operations extended against Japanese positions and supply networks in the Marshalls and Carolines, including missions over Ponape. The group later participated in the Okinawa campaign as part of the Tactical Air Force, Tenth Army, and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Its units supported air superiority, close air support, night defense, anti-shipping activity, and logistical resupply during the campaign, including aerial delivery of food and ammunition when heavy rain made ground routes unusable. MAG-22 was deactivated after the Second World War and was not restored in its modern training-support form until 1 May 2000. On that date, the Marine Aviation Detachment at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, was redesignated Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22. The modern organization therefore does not function as a combat aviation group in the World War II sense. Its mission is to represent the Commanding General of Training Command in enabling Marine training through advocacy and support, while reinforcing Marine Corps values, warfighting ethos, principles, and competencies. It also maintains liaison and working relationships across the training enterprise so that training remains aligned with the requirements of operating forces. The group’s listed subordinate detachments are located at Fort Huachuca, Lackland Air Force Base, Goodfellow Air Force Base, and Randolph Air Force Base. These detachments extend Marine Corps representation and support into joint and inter-service training environments. MATSG-22’s present identity is consequently defined by coordination, advocacy, training support, and institutional continuity rather than by commercial products or market activity.

The lineage associated with Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22 begins with Marine aviation forces on Midway Atoll during the opening phase of the Pacific War. In January 1942, Lieutenant Colonel William J. Wallace took command of the Marine Aircraft Group 21 detachment on Midway. The detachment included VMF-221 and VMSB-231, with additional forces arriving and departing as the defense of the atoll developed. On 1 March 1942, the Midway detachment became Marine Aircraft Group 22. Its early organization included VMF-221, VMF-222, VMSB-241, and VMSB-242. MAG-22 quickly became an operational combat formation. On 10 March 1942, one of its fighter sections intercepted and destroyed a Japanese Kawanishi H6K flying boat near Midway. Major Ira L. Kimes assumed command on 19 April and led the group through the Battle of Midway. On 4 June, Marine fighters engaged the incoming Japanese strike force, while Marine scout-bombers attacked Japanese naval units. The fighting inflicted substantial losses on both aircraft and personnel. The group’s defenders were operating with limited numbers and, in some cases, inferior or outdated aircraft, yet they helped make the Japanese attack ineffective and contributed to the wider American victory at Midway. MAG-22 was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for the defense, and numerous members received individual decorations. The group remained on Midway for patrol and defense duties until February 1944. It then joined the 4th Marine Base Defense Air Wing at Eniwetok Atoll, operating from Engebi and other positions in the Marshall Islands. Its squadrons flew Corsairs and Hellcats on air-defense, strike, interdiction, and night-fighter missions. Activities included support for landings and operations involving Ujelang, Wotje, Maloelap, and Mili Atolls. VMF-422 conducted interdiction operations against Japanese bases and shipping, while VMF(N)-533 provided night defense over Eniwetok. The group also supported attacks against Ponape, an important Japanese supply center. In one March 1944 engagement, Marine Corsairs escorted Army B-25 bombers and fought off Japanese aircraft without suffering losses. MAG-22 was committed to the Okinawa campaign in 1945. Reinforced by VMF-314 and VMTB-131, it joined the Tactical Air Force of Tenth Army and operated from Ie Shima. The campaign required continuous air defense against Japanese aircraft and kamikaze raids, as well as close air support and logistical missions. Marine night fighters worked during repeated attacks, and fighter units engaged Japanese aircraft over the island and surrounding waters. VMTB-131 also helped deliver supplies after rain and battlefield conditions disrupted ground transportation. Across the Okinawa campaign, the group’s squadrons contributed to air superiority, close air support, night defense, and resupply. The group received a second Presidential Unit Citation through its association with the cited 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. After Okinawa, the group moved through Japanese bases including Omura and Sasebo before returning to the United States. MAG-22 reached the continental United States for the first time on 5 December 1945. It was subsequently deactivated after the war. The separate institutional history of Marine aviation navigation training also forms part of the background to the modern training-support environment. Marine navigation instruction began in 1942 when five officers studied at the Weems School of Navigation in Annapolis. They helped establish a Marine navigation school first at Camp Kearny in San Diego and later at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The school graduated its first navigators in January 1945 but was disbanded in March 1948. It was reactivated in March 1952 during the Korean War as part of the Airborne Operation School at Cherry Point, alongside radio-operator and electronic-countermeasures instruction. The navigation school moved to Naval Air Station Pensacola in January 1971, when the Navy assumed responsibility for flight support. The modern MATSG-22 was established on 1 May 2000, when the Marine Aviation Detachment at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi was redesignated. Its purpose is not to recreate the wartime combat group but to preserve the designation while performing a contemporary training mission. MATSG-22 represents Training Command, advocates for Marine requirements, supports Marine training, and maintains relationships across the training enterprise. Its detachments at Fort Huachuca, Lackland, Goodfellow, and Randolph provide Marine presence and support within geographically distributed and joint training settings. The organization therefore links a distinguished wartime lineage to the continuing institutional task of preparing Marines for service with the Fleet Marine Force.

• 2000

  Modern MATSG-22 established

  [1]Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22en.wikipedia.org

  On 1 May, the Marine Aviation Detachment at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi was redesignated Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22.

• 1945

  Okinawa operations

  [1]Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22en.wikipedia.org

  MAG-22 operated from Ie Shima during the Okinawa campaign, supporting air superiority, close air support, night defense, anti-kamikaze operations, and aerial resupply.

• 1945

  Return to the United States

  [1]Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22en.wikipedia.org

  After post-Okinawa operations in Japan, the group reached the United States on 5 December, its first arrival within the continental United States since its wartime formation.

• 1944

  Deployment to the Marshall Islands

  [1]Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22en.wikipedia.org

  The group left Midway in February and joined Marine aviation forces at Eniwetok, conducting air defense, interdiction, strike, and night-fighter operations across the Marshall Islands.

• 1942

  Marine Aircraft Group 22 formed on Midway

  [1]Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22en.wikipedia.org

  The Midway detachment of Marine Aircraft Group 21 was redesignated Marine Aircraft Group 22 on 1 March, with fighter and scout-bomber squadrons forming its initial organization.

• 1942

  Defense of Midway

  [1]Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22en.wikipedia.org

  MAG-22 squadrons fought during the Japanese attack on Midway Atoll, suffering heavy losses while contributing to the defense of the island and receiving a Presidential Unit Citation.

A Marine Corps training-support organization positioned as an advocate and liaison for effective, operationally relevant Marine training, while maintaining the historical lineage of MAG-22.

• Military training support · 2000

  Marine aviation training support

  MATSG-22 supports Marine training rather than producing commercial goods. Its role includes representing Training Command interests, advocating for Marine requirements, reinforcing Marine Corps values and warfighting competencies, and helping ensure that training remains relevant to the needs of operating forces.

• Inter-service coordination · 2000

  Training enterprise liaison

  The group maintains liaison and relationships across the training enterprise. Through its headquarters and detachments, it provides Marine representation in distributed training environments and helps connect Marine requirements with joint, Navy, and other service training institutions.

• Military heritage · 1942

  World War II aviation operations lineage

  The MAG-22 lineage encompasses combat aviation operations at Midway, in the Marshall Islands, and at Okinawa. The associated squadrons performed fighter interception, bombing, interdiction, night defense, close air support, and aerial resupply missions.

• 1945Battle of Okinawa

  Okinawa · Ie Shima · East China Sea

  MAG-22 and attached squadrons supported the Tenth Army’s Tactical Air Force with fighter operations, close air support, night defense, anti-kamikaze missions, and aerial resupply.

  Outcome. The group contributed to air superiority and ground support during the campaign and received recognition through the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

  Source
• 1944Marshall Islands operations

  Eniwetok Atoll · Engebi · Wotje Atoll · Maloelap Atoll · Mili Atoll · Ujelang Atoll

  MAG-22 units performed air defense, interdiction, strike, and night-fighter missions from bases in the Marshall Islands and supported the neutralization of Japanese positions.

  Outcome. The group helped suppress Japanese air and logistical capabilities across the island chain and surrounding areas.

  Source
• 1944Combat over Ponape

  Ponape · Marshall Islands · Caroline Islands

  Marine Corsairs escorted Army B-25 bombers and fought Japanese aircraft over Ponape, while other MAG-22 units conducted repeated strikes against the island’s bases and supply infrastructure.

  Outcome. The escorting Marines reported no losses in the principal engagement and inflicted substantial damage on Japanese air capability.

  Source
• 1942Defense of Midway

  Midway Atoll · Pacific Theater

  MAG-22 fighter and scout-bomber squadrons opposed the Japanese air and naval attack on Midway. The group’s aircraft engaged Japanese strike aircraft and attacked naval vessels despite severe losses in aircraft and personnel.

  Outcome. The Japanese attack was defeated, MAG-22 received a Presidential Unit Citation, and several members received major individual decorations.

  Source

• 2000

  Redesignation as a training-support groupStrategy

  Background

  The Marine Corps required a modern organization at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi to support and represent Marine aviation training interests.

  Action taken

  The Marine Aviation Detachment at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi was redesignated Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22 on 1 May 2000, reviving the MAG-22 designation in a training-focused role.

  Aftermath

  MATSG-22 became an active Training Command support organization rather than a World War II-style operational aircraft group.

  Source

1. 1Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22en.wikipedia.org