Marine Aviation Training Support Group 23: Difference between revisions

Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 23
Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 23
	MATSG-23 insignia
Active	March 1, 1942 – November 1, 1945 ; January 15, 1982 - present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Role	Training
Part of	Marine Corps Training Command
Garrison/HQ	Naval Air Station Pensacola
Nickname(s)	"The Lifeblood of Marine Aviation"
Engagements	World War II; * Battle of Guadalcanal
Commanders
Current; commander	Colonel Donald C. Chipman

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Revision as of 19:26, 21 August 2017

Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 23 (MATSG-23) is a United States Marine Corps aviation training group originally established during World War II as Marine Aircraft Group 23 (MAG-23). Squadrons from MAG-23, augmented by Navy and Army flying units formed the Cactus Air Force during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Since then it has evolved into the first Aviation Logistics focused Colonel level command, and serves as a functional training advocate for all USMC Aviation Logistics entry-level training. The instructors and support staff of MATSG-23 are responsible for training thousands of Marines per year in the disciplines required to enable the expeditionary aviation required to support the Marine Air Ground Task Force.

Mission

MATSG-23's mission is to serve as the functional training advocate for all USMC Aviation Logistics entry-level training, to include initial accession, primary MOS, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Aviation Ordnance Officer Career Progression Schools and Air Traffic Control Officer Course. Additionally, as directed by Training Command, MATSG-23 provides administrative and logistical support to regionally located units in order to prepare Marines for service in the Fleet Marine Force.

History

World War II

Marine Air Group 23 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, as part of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing on March 1, 1942. The group became the first Marine aviation group to meet the Japanese in the South Pacific. They formed the forward echelon of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) during the Battle of Guadalcanal and landed its first units at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal on August 20, 1942 when VMF-223 and VMSB-231 were flown off the USS Long Island (CVE-1). Ten days later the group's rear echelon, composed of VMF-224 and VMSB-232, joined the forward echelon at Henderson Field. MAG-23, augmented by Army and Navy land based air under the operational control of 1st MAW, furnished air support to the 1st Marine Division and Army ground forces in the struggle for Guadalcanal. The Group was comprised of only four Marine squadrons, detachments from six Navy carrier squadrons (VS-5, VB-6, VF-5, VS-71, VT-8 and VS-3), and the 67th Army Pursuit Squadron. This heterogeneous group shot down 244 enemy planes in four weeks. Navy pilots accounted 44, Army flyers, using P-400s shot down eight. The remaining 192 were credited to Marines. Though MAG-23 suffered casualties as well (22 Marine pilots killed in action, three by enemy naval gunfire), their actions were vital in the legendary Marine victory at Guadalcanal. From Guadalcanal, MAG-23 was transferred to the Naval Air Station San Diego where it served as a part of Marine Air, West Coast from November 18, 1942 until January 9, 1943. The group was then transferred to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro until September 1943. On September 19, 1943, the group again landed at MCAS Ewa and remained there as part of Marine Air Hawaiian Area until May 1944. On May 8, 1944, the group transferred to Midway Atoll where it remained until the war ended. After the war, MAG-23 returned to the West Coast and was decommissioned on November 1, 1945.

1980s to Present

Marine Aviation Training Support Group Naval Air Station Lemoore was formally activated again on January 15, 1982 with mission of providing administrative and limited logistics support to Marines permanently and temporarily assigned to Naval Air Station Lemoore in support of F/A-18 Hornet maintenance, operations and training. On July 2, 1982, VMFA-314 arrived at Naval Air Station Lemoore as the first squadron to transition to the F/A-18 Hornet. By the end of June 1983, the first three Marine F/A-18 squadrons had completed their transition at VFA-125. Over the years, F/A-18 training switched from whole units to individual Marines destined to replace Marines in the Fleet Marine Force.

In May 2000, the Commandant of the Marine Corps directed the re-designation of MATSG NAS Lemoore as Marine Aviation Training Support Group 23. All Marine Aviation Training Support Groups were re-designated to promote a sense of Marine Corps identity and tradition and allows them and their history to live on.

On 7 June 2013, the Commandant of the Marine Corps approved the reorganization of the existing five MATSGs headquarters into three MATSG headquarters. MATSG-23 was directed to reorganize and relocate from NAS Lemoore, Ca to NAS Pensacola, FL and assume administrative support for initial accession schools.

MATSG-23 consists of a headquarters element supporting three squadrons and two detachments to include: Aviation Maintenance Squadron 1, Aviation Maintenance Squadron 2, Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron 1, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Detachment Eglin Air Force Base, and Marine Detachment Keesler Air Force Base.

The command of MATSG-23 has not limited itself to student throughput. It has taken an active role to improve aviation logistics for the fleet Marine Corps by initiating and supporting important commodity advocacy issues. MATSG-23 is constantly innovating the way Marine aviation support personnel are trained and support/maintain the Aviation Combat Element of the MAGTF.

Notable former members

David Douglas Duncan, as a 2d Lieutenant in World War II
William J. Wallace as Colonel commanded MAG 23 at Guadalcanal

References

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

External links

MATSG-23's official website

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ==Mission==
-MATSG-23's mission is to serve as the functional training advocate for all USMC Aviation Logistics entry-level training, to include initial accession (A), primary MOS (C), Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Aviation Ordnance Officer Career Progression Schools and Air Traffic Control Officer Course. Additionally, as directed by Training Command, MATSG-23 provides administrative and logistical support to regionally located units in order to prepare Marines for service in the Fleet Marine Force.
+MATSG-23's mission is to serve as the functional training advocate for all USMC Aviation Logistics entry-level training, to include initial accession, primary MOS, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Aviation Ordnance Officer Career Progression Schools and Air Traffic Control Officer Course. Additionally, as directed by Training Command, MATSG-23 provides administrative and logistical support to regionally located units in order to prepare Marines for service in the Fleet Marine Force.
 ==History==
 ===World War II===
 Marine Air Group 23 was commissioned at [[Marine Corps Air Station Ewa]], [[Hawaii]], as part of the [[2nd Marine Aircraft Wing]] on March 1, 1942. The group became the first Marine aviation group to meet the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] in the [[Oceania|South Pacific]]. They formed the forward echelon of the [[1st Marine Aircraft Wing]] (1st MAW) during the [[Battle of Guadalcanal]] and landed its first units at [[Honiara International Airport|Henderson Field]], [[Guadalcanal]] on August 20, 1942 when [[VMF-223]] and [[VMSB-231]] were flown off the [[USS Long Island (CVE-1)]]. Ten days later the group's rear echelon, composed of [[VMF-224]] and [[VMSB-232]], joined the forward echelon at Henderson Field.
-MAG-23, augmented by Army and Navy land based air under the operational control of 1st MAW, furnished [[close air support|air support]] to the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] and Army ground forces in the struggle for Guadalcanal.  Although the Group itself comprised only four Marine squadrons, personnel and aircraft of six Navy [[Aircraft carrier|carrier]] squadrons, ([[VS-5]], [[VB-6]], [[VF-51|VF-5]], [[VS-71]], [[VT-8]] and [[VS-3]]) the [[67th Army Pursuit Squadron]], and detachments of Marine squadrons stationed at various South Pacific bases operated with MAG-23.  This heterogeneous group shot down 244 enemy planes in four weeks. Navy pilots accounted 44, Army flyers, using [[P-39 Airacobra|P-400s]] shot down eight.  The remaining 192 were credited to Marines. The price of that score was 22 Marine pilots killed in action, three by enemy naval gunfire.
+MAG-23, augmented by Army and Navy land based air under the operational control of 1st MAW, furnished [[close air support|air support]] to the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] and Army ground forces in the struggle for Guadalcanal.  The Group was comprised of only four Marine squadrons, detachments from six Navy [[Aircraft carrier|carrier]] squadrons ([[VS-5]], [[VB-6]], [[VF-51|VF-5]], [[VS-71]], [[VT-8]] and [[VS-3]]), and the [[67th Army Pursuit Squadron]].  This heterogeneous group shot down 244 enemy planes in four weeks. Navy pilots accounted 44, Army flyers, using [[P-39 Airacobra|P-400s]] shot down eight.  The remaining 192 were credited to Marines. Though MAG-23 suffered casualties as well (22 Marine pilots killed in action, three by enemy naval gunfire), their actions were vital in the legendary Marine victory at Guadalcanal.
-From Guadalcanal MAG-23 was transferred to the [[Naval Air Station San Diego]] where it served as a part of [[Marine Air, West Coast]] from November 18, 1942 until January 9, 1943. The group was then transferred to [[Marine Corps Air Station El Toro]] until September 1943. On September 19, 1943, the group again landed at MCAS Ewa and remained there as part of Marine Air Hawaiian Area until May 1944. On May 8, 1944, the group transferred to [[Midway Atoll]] where it remained until the war ended. MAG-23 later returned to the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] and was decommissioned on November 1, 1945.
+From Guadalcanal, MAG-23 was transferred to the [[Naval Air Station San Diego]] where it served as a part of [[Marine Air, West Coast]] from November 18, 1942 until January 9, 1943. The group was then transferred to [[Marine Corps Air Station El Toro]] until September 1943. On September 19, 1943, the group again landed at MCAS Ewa and remained there as part of Marine Air Hawaiian Area until May 1944. On May 8, 1944, the group transferred to [[Midway Atoll]] where it remained until the war ended.  After the war, MAG-23 returned to the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] and was decommissioned on November 1, 1945.
 === '''1980s to Present''' ===
-Marine Aviation Training Support Group Naval Air Station Lemoore was formally activated on January 15, 1982 with mission of providing administrative and limited logistics support to Marines permanently and temporarily assigned to [[Naval Air Station Lemoore]] in support of [[F/A-18 Hornet]] maintenance, operations and training.
+Marine Aviation Training Support Group Naval Air Station Lemoore was formally activated again on January 15, 1982 with mission of providing administrative and limited logistics support to Marines permanently and temporarily assigned to [[Naval Air Station Lemoore]] in support of [[F/A-18 Hornet]] maintenance, operations and training.
 On July 2, 1982, [[VMFA-314]] arrived at Naval Air Station Lemoore as the first squadron to transition to the F/A-18 Hornet. By the end of June 1983, the first three Marine F/A-18 squadrons had completed their transition at [[VFA-125]]. Over the years, F/A-18 training switched from whole units to individual Marines destined to replace Marines in the [[Fleet Marine Force]].