Marine Corps Air Station New River
Encyclopedia
Marine Corps Air Station New River is a United States Marine Corps
helicopter base in Jacksonville, North Carolina
, in the eastern part of the state. In 1972, the airfield was named McCutcheon Field for Brigadier General Keith B. McCutcheon
, one of the fathers of Marine Corps helicopter aviation. Near Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
, it shares some facilities with Camp Geiger
.
The location was placed under the command of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
and received its first squadron, VMSB-331 from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
on March 9, 1943. On June 1, VMSB-331 was divided in half to create VMSB-332 however both squadrons were soon after relocated to Bogue Field. From mid-1943 through August 1944 the PBJ squadrons VMB-433, VMB-443 and VMB-612 were stationed there. On April 26, 1944, the area of land around New River and Peterfield Point, named after the original owner of the farmland that was part of the government purchase, was commissioned Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Camp Lejeune. This delineated the airfield from Camp Lejeune, and marks its official birth as a Marine Corps installation. Over the next few years, paratrooper Marines, glider troops and air delivery personnel where trained in King Air hangar, the Stations’ first hangar, which was transported from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
, South Carolina
.
As World War II
came to an end, MCAAF Camp Lejeune was closed and reverted back to caretaker status as an outlying airfield of MCAS Cherry Point. This didn’t last long, however, as in 1951 the installation was reactivated and became Marine Corps Air Facility Peterfield Point, Camp Lejeune. Only one year later the name was changed again, this time to Marine Corps Air Facility New River. July 1954 marked the arrival of the first operational Marine Aircraft Group, MAG-26, which was transferred from MCAS Cherry Point.
The area faced another major name change in 1968, where it was recommissioned as Marine Corps Air Station (Helicopter) New River, marking its growth from a small training area to a major operational airfield.
on the east coast. Currently there are six operational Osprey squadrons, VMM-261, VMM-263
, VMM-162, VMM-365, VMM-264, and VMM-266.
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...
helicopter base in Jacksonville, North Carolina
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Jacksonville, North Carolina, is a city in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the population stood at 70,145, which makes Jacksonville the 14th largest city in North Carolina...
, in the eastern part of the state. In 1972, the airfield was named McCutcheon Field for Brigadier General Keith B. McCutcheon
Keith B. McCutcheon
General Keith Barr McCutcheon was a highly decorated Marine Corps aviator, seeing combat in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and ten Air Medals.-Early years:...
, one of the fathers of Marine Corps helicopter aviation. Near Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States military training facility in North Carolina. The base's of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports allows for fast deployments.The main base is supplemented by five satellite...
, it shares some facilities with Camp Geiger
Camp Geiger
Camp Geiger is a United States Marine Corps Base. Although not geographically connected, Camp Geiger is part of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune complex, and is home to the United States Marine Corps School of Infantry East for all Marines recruited through the Eastern Recruiting Region. Located...
.
Resident units
- Headquarters and Headquarters SquadronHeadquarters and Headquarters SquadronA Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, abbreviated as H&HS or HQHQSQDN, is the headquarters entity for a United States Marine Corps aviation facility.-Organization:...
- Marine Aircraft Group 26Marine Aircraft Group 26Marine Aircraft Group 26 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station New River that is currently composed of seven MV-22 Osprey squadrons one of which is the Fleet Replacement Squadron and one aviation logistics squadron...
- Marine Aircraft Group 29Marine Aircraft Group 29Marine Aircraft Group 29 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station New River that is currently composed of four CH-53E Super Stallion squadrons including the Fleet Replacement Squadron, three Light Attack Squadron flying AH-1W SuperCobras and UH-1N Twin Hueys,...
- Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training
- Marine Wing Support Squadron 272Marine Wing Support Squadron 272Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina...
- Marine Air Control Squadron 2, Det. BMarine Air Control Squadron 2Marine Air Control Squadron 2 is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control squadron. The squadron provides aerial surveillance and air traffic control for the II Marine Expeditionary Force...
- 362nd Training Squadron, Detachment 1, Operating Location "A" (USAF)
History
The base was originally 29 parcels of land, a simple stretch of tobacco farm that was purchased for $64,502 in 1941. Officials at Camp Lejeune investigated the area in search of an existing airfield for hosting aircraft in support of amphibious operations. Capt. Barnett Robinson, a member of Marine Glider Group 71, concluded in his search that the farmland would suit the Marine Corps’ needs.The location was placed under the command of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States military training facility in North Carolina. The base's of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports allows for fast deployments.The main base is supplemented by five satellite...
and received its first squadron, VMSB-331 from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point or MCAS Cherry Point is a United States Marine Corps airfield located in Havelock, North Carolina, USA, in the eastern part of the state...
on March 9, 1943. On June 1, VMSB-331 was divided in half to create VMSB-332 however both squadrons were soon after relocated to Bogue Field. From mid-1943 through August 1944 the PBJ squadrons VMB-433, VMB-443 and VMB-612 were stationed there. On April 26, 1944, the area of land around New River and Peterfield Point, named after the original owner of the farmland that was part of the government purchase, was commissioned Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Camp Lejeune. This delineated the airfield from Camp Lejeune, and marks its official birth as a Marine Corps installation. Over the next few years, paratrooper Marines, glider troops and air delivery personnel where trained in King Air hangar, the Stations’ first hangar, which was transported from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. MCRD Parris Island is used for the training of enlisted Marines...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
came to an end, MCAAF Camp Lejeune was closed and reverted back to caretaker status as an outlying airfield of MCAS Cherry Point. This didn’t last long, however, as in 1951 the installation was reactivated and became Marine Corps Air Facility Peterfield Point, Camp Lejeune. Only one year later the name was changed again, this time to Marine Corps Air Facility New River. July 1954 marked the arrival of the first operational Marine Aircraft Group, MAG-26, which was transferred from MCAS Cherry Point.
The area faced another major name change in 1968, where it was recommissioned as Marine Corps Air Station (Helicopter) New River, marking its growth from a small training area to a major operational airfield.
MV-22 Osprey
The Air Station was the first Marine Corps base with the new MV-22 Osprey. It has the ability to fly like a plane, and take off and land like a helicopter. The MV-22 has replaced all of the CH-46E Sea KnightsCH-46 Sea Knight
The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem rotor transport helicopter, used by the United States Marine Corps to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. Assault Support is its primary function, and the movement of supplies and...
on the east coast. Currently there are six operational Osprey squadrons, VMM-261, VMM-263
VMM-263
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 is a United States Marine Corps tiltrotor squadron consisting of MV-22B Osprey transport aircraft...
, VMM-162, VMM-365, VMM-264, and VMM-266.
See also
- List of United States Marine Corps installations
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited 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....
- List of airports in North Carolina
- Camp DavisCamp DavisMarine Corps Outlying Field Camp Davis is a military use airport located southeast of the central business district of Holly Ridge, in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States...
External links
- USMC Air Station New River Overview & PCS Information (MarineCorpsUSA.org)