Marine Aircraft Group 46
Encyclopedia
Marine Aircraft Group 46 (MAG-46) was a United States Marine Corps
reserve aviation group based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
, California
with subordinate units spread throughout California. It previously composed of one adversary squadron
equipped with the F-5, one CH-46 squadron, one CH-53E squadron, one AH-1W and UH-1N squadron and a maintenance and logistics squadron. MAG-46 fell under the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing
and Marine Forces Reserve. Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation
, the group was deactivated in 2009.
, California. The Group’s primary mission was to administer and supervise training for combat duty, and other activities of the attached squadrons and detachments. It also trained replacement pilots and crew for Marine squadrons operating in combat areas.
MAG-46 was redesignated on November 10, 1944 as Marine Aircraft Group 46. Another redesignation occurred on May 15, 1945 when it was assigned the title of Marine Air Support Group 46. The termination of hostilities in the summer of 1945 was followed by the rapid demobilization. One result of this policy was the deactivation of the group on 15 March 1946. Six years later, a major reorganization within Marine Aviation began. This reorganization coincided with the formation of 4th Marine Division in the reserve.
Changes included reactivation of MAG 46. Thus on July 1, 1962, Marine Aircraft Group 46 was reactivated at Grosse Ile, Michigan and moved to Naval Air Station New York in Brooklyn on November 1, 1965.
In early 1971, MAG 46 moved back to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and remained there until August 1994 when the Group relocated to its final location at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, CA. From the 90’s into the new millennium all of MAG-46 flying and support units have answered the call to the Global War on Terrorism. MAG-46 squadrons have participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq
and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
On June 19, 2009, the squadron was deactivated at MCAS Miramar California
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
reserve aviation group based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , formerly Naval Air Station Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with subordinate units spread throughout California. It previously composed of one adversary squadron
Aggressor squadron
An aggressor squadron or adversary squadron is a squadron that is trained to act as an opposing force in military wargames. Aggressor squadrons use enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures to give a realistic simulation of air combat...
equipped with the F-5, one CH-46 squadron, one CH-53E squadron, one AH-1W and UH-1N squadron and a maintenance and logistics squadron. MAG-46 fell under the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing
4th Marine Aircraft Wing
The 4th Marine Aircraft Wing is the reserve airwing of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana but its subordinate units are scattered throughout the United States...
and Marine Forces Reserve. Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation
United States Marine Corps Aviation
United States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
, the group was deactivated in 2009.
Mission
Organize, train and equip individual Marines and combat-ready squadrons and to augment and reinforce the active component when required in order to serve as part of our total force.History
Marine Aircraft Group 46 was activated March 1, 1944 as Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 46 at Marine Corps Air Station El ToroMarine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located near Irvine, California.Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps aviation on the West Coast. Designated as a Master Jet Station, its four runways could handle the largest aircraft...
, California. The Group’s primary mission was to administer and supervise training for combat duty, and other activities of the attached squadrons and detachments. It also trained replacement pilots and crew for Marine squadrons operating in combat areas.
MAG-46 was redesignated on November 10, 1944 as Marine Aircraft Group 46. Another redesignation occurred on May 15, 1945 when it was assigned the title of Marine Air Support Group 46. The termination of hostilities in the summer of 1945 was followed by the rapid demobilization. One result of this policy was the deactivation of the group on 15 March 1946. Six years later, a major reorganization within Marine Aviation began. This reorganization coincided with the formation of 4th Marine Division in the reserve.
Changes included reactivation of MAG 46. Thus on July 1, 1962, Marine Aircraft Group 46 was reactivated at Grosse Ile, Michigan and moved to Naval Air Station New York in Brooklyn on November 1, 1965.
In early 1971, MAG 46 moved back to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and remained there until August 1994 when the Group relocated to its final location at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, CA. From the 90’s into the new millennium all of MAG-46 flying and support units have answered the call to the Global War on Terrorism. MAG-46 squadrons have participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
On June 19, 2009, the squadron was deactivated at MCAS Miramar California
See also
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons