Marine Air Control Group 18

Marine Air Control Group 18 (MACG-18) is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma that is currently composed of 4 squadrons and 1 HQ support detachment. The Marine Air Control Group as a whole provides the 1st Marine Aircraft Wings tactical headquarters, positive and procedural control, air traffic control, short range air defense and air defense control to aircraft for the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marine Air Control Group 18
MACG-18 Insignia
Active
  • 8 Jan 1944 - 1 Aug 1945
  • 1 Sep 1967 - present
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
RoleAviation command & control
Part of1st Marine Aircraft Wing
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Garrison/HQMarine Corps Air Station Futenma
EngagementsVietnam War Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Charles Smith[1]
Notable
commanders		Robert O. Bisson[2]

Mission

Provide the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Command, Control, and Communications support for the prosecution of all six functions of Marine Aviation.

Subordinate units

History

World War II

Marine Air Warning Group 2 was commissioned on January 8, 1944 at Marine Corps Air Depot Miramar, California.[3] The Group's mission was to make available Air Warning Squadrons for combat and to store and maintain air warning equipment until assigned to air warning squadrons going overseas. Most of the leadership in the air warning squadrons was new to the Marine Corps with most time spent learning the details of their highly technical equipment. Thus the majority of the responsibility for embarking squadrons on their way to combat fell on the Group Headquarters. Squadrons received their gear and final training while attached to MACG-2. This usually took place during a six week field evolution during which they also practiced landing operations. Eleven air warning squadrons trained and deployed from MAWG-2.[4] The group was decommissioned on August 1, 1945.[5]

1967-present

The group was reformed on September 1, 1967 in Danang, Vietnam as Marine Air Control Group 18 at the height of US participation in the Vietnam War. At that time the Group's component units were already involved in combat. Its Hawk battalion was among the first US Marine units to land in Vietnam.[6][7] From its formation, MACG-18 and subordinated units, with attachments scattered throughout the I Corps Tactical Zone, participated in every major campaign conducted in the northern area of South Vietnam until its departure from Vietnam. In recognition of their accomplishments during the Vietnam War, MACG-18 and its units were awarded four Presidential Unit Citations, three Navy Unit Commendations and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. The Group moved from Vietnam to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan in 1971, and then to the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, in 1975. Since the end of the war in Vietnam, MACG-18 has assumed a major role in joint, combined and Marine air-ground training and contingency operation in the Western Pacific.

Unit awards

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. MACG-18 has been presented with the following awards:[3]

Streamer Award Year(s) Additional Info
Presidential Unit Citation Streamer 1967 Vietnam
Navy Unit Commendation Streamer 1967-1968 Vietnam
Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with four Bronze Stars 1982-1984, 1985-1987, 1997-1999, 2000-2002, 2004-2005
American Campaign Streamer

World War II Victory Streamer 1941–1945 Pacific War
National Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars 1961–1974, 1990–1995, 2001–present Vietnam War, Gulf War, War on Terrorism
Vietnam Service Streamer with two Silver Stars

Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer 2001–present
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer 1965–1971
Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Actions Streamer 1965–1971

See also

Citations
  1. MACG 18 Commanding Officer
  2. Sherrod 1952, pp. 442.
  3. "Marine Air Control Group 18 Lineage and Honors Certificates" (PDF). www.usmcu.edu. United States Marine Corps History Division. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  4. Shettle 2001, pp. 104.
  5. Rottman 2002, pp. 449.
  6. HAWK Battery Deploys to Vietnam – 19 February 1965 – Marine Corps Base Hawaii Windward Marine
  7. 1st LAAM Bn in Vietnam – 12 February 1965 – Marine Corps Base 29 Palms Observation Post

References
Bibliography
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