Air Warning Squadron 3

Air Warning Squadron 3 (AWS-3) was a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control squadron during World War II. The squadron's primary mission was to provide aerial surveillance and early warning of approaching enemy aircraft during amphibious assaults. The squadron participated in the Philippines campaign (1944–1945) in support of the Eighth Army on Mindanao. AWS-3 was decommissioned shortly after the war in October 1945 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. To date, no other Marine Corps squadron has carried the lineage and honors of AWS-3 to include the former Marine Air Control Squadron 3 (MACS-3).

History

Organization and training

Air Warning Squadron 3 was commissioned on October 12, 1943 as part of Marine Air Warning Group 1 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron immediately transferred to Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Oak Grove to organize crews and conduct additional training on radar. It returned to MCAS Cherry Point at the end of November for follow-on tasking.

On December 6 the squadron loaded personnel and equipment onto trains for movement to the West Coast. AWS-3 arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California on December 12, 1943 and fell under the command of Marine Air Warning Group 2. It received additional personnel on the west coast bringing it to its full Table of organization and equipment strength of 14 officers, 258 enlisted Marines and 6 Navy Corpsmen. AWS-3 departed San Diego, CA on February 25, 1944.

Espiritu Santo and Bougainville

The squadron arrived at Espiritu Santo between March 15–22, 1944. Upon arrival the squadron conducted additional training on radar and communications equipment while also refining ground-controlled interception tactics with numerous Marine Fighter Squadrons based out of the airfield. They also worked with VMF(N)-534 to refine controlling night fighters. AWS-3 ceased operations on Espiritu Santo on August 26 and began preparing for follow on movement.

On November 19, 1944 the squadron arrived on Bougainville to await further assignment. Far East Air Force planners wanted to use Marine Corps aviation to support the Eighth Army's assault on Mindanao in the Southern Philippines. To assist them with this mission the Marines were able to secure the use of Air Warning Squadrons 3 and 4. On March 3, 1945 the squadron embarked on naval shipping bound for the Philippines.

Recapture of the Philippines

AWS-3 arrived at Mindoro in the Philippines on March 20, 1945. They were initially co-located with Marine Aircraft Group 32 (MAG-32) while awaiting follow on tasking.

On April 17, 1945, AWS-3 was the first Marine unit ashore at Parang and immediately established an SCR-602 radar and reliable communications with the afloat air direction center. The squadron did not meet any resistance during the landing as the Japanese had retreated inland. By April 27, the squadron was operating six SCR-270 long range early warning radars on Mindanao. The squadron was headquartered at Malabang Airfield with additional radar locations at Cotabato, Fort Pikit, Bubuan Island and Davao City. The squadron worked in support of the 5th and 13th US Air Forces and operated as the 77th Fighter Control Center. The squadron did not detect any enemy aircraft in May 1945 however it did provide valuable service providing safety of flight and homing for distressed and lost aircraft. The squadron secured operations on August 1 and began preparation to reembark on naval shipping.

Return home and decommissioning

AWS-3 departed the Philippines on August 15 bound for Hawaii. It arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa on August 18. After turning in all squadron equipment, remaining personnel embarked on the USS Long Island (CVE-1) on September 27 for transportation back to the United States. The squadron arrived at Naval Air Station Alameda on October 3 with follow on transportation to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The squadron was decommissioned on October 15, 1945 on the authority of Marine Corps Dispatch 111921 and Marine Fleet Air, West Coast General Order #130-45.

Notable former members

* Macdonald Carey - Film and television actor

Commanding officers

*Capt Harold W Swope - October 12, 1943 – July 1, 1943
*Capt Freeman R. Cass - July 2, 1945 – July 27, 1945
*Capt Edward L. Schappert July 28, 1945 – August 10, 1945
*Capt Edward J Norstrand - August 11, 1945 – August 20, 1945
*Maj John W. Huey Jr. - August 21, 1945 – October 11, 1945
*1stLt E.C. Wright - October 12, 1945 – October 15, 1945

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. What follows is an incomplete list of the awards AWS-3 has been presented with:

See also

* Aviation combat element
* United States Marine Corps Aviation
* List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units

Citations

References

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Radar
Inactive units of the United States Marine Corps
Military units and formations established in 1943