Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) is a

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

aviation unit based at

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States. It is on the Southern California coast in San Diego County and is bordered by O ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

that is currently composed of four AH-1Z "Viper" Cobra and UH-1Y "Venom" Huey light attack squadrons, two

MV-22 Osprey The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a convention ...

squadrons, an aviation logistics squadron, a Headquarters Squadron, a Marine Wing Support Squadron and the H-1 Fleet Replacement Squadron. The group falls under the command of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW) and the

1st Marine Expeditionary Force The I Marine Expeditionary Force ("I" pronounced "One") is a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) of the United States Marine Corps primarily composed of the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 1st Marine Logistics Group. It is ...

(I MEF). The unit is commanded by a US Marine Corps Colonel, and each subordinate unit is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. The Group is known as VENOM.

Mission

The mission of Marine Aircraft Group 39 is to provide combat-ready naval expeditionary forces capable of conducting task organized combat aviation support, aviation ground support, and aviation logistics.

Subordinate units

* Headquarters Squadron 39, The Fortress *

HMLA-169 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 (HMLA-169) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Huey utility helicopters. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pe ...

Vipers *

HMLA-267 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and Bell UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters. Nicknamed the "Stingers", the squadron is based ...

Stingers * HMLA-369 Gunfighters * HMLA-469 Vengeance *

HMLAT-303 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 (HMLAT-303), is a United States Marine Corps helicopter training squadron stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Known as "Atlas", HMLAT-303 trains newly commissioned Naval ...

Atlas *

VMM-364 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 (VMM-364) is a United States Marine Corps medium-lift tiltrotor squadron consisting of MV-22B Ospreys. The squadron, known as the "Purple Foxes", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Californi ...

Purple Foxes *

VMM-164 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (VMM-164), is a United States Marine Corps tiltrotor squadron operating the MV-22B Osprey. Known as the ''Knightriders'', they fall under the command Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) and the 3rd Marine Airc ...

Knight Riders *

MALS-39 Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 (MALS-39) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Hellhounds", they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ...

Hellhounds *

MWSS-372 Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 (MWSS 372) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Diamondbacks", they are based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The squadron falls under the comma ...

Diamondbacks

History

Vietnam War

During the spring of 1968, in order to meet the increasing demands on its resources, especially in northern Quảng Trị Province, the

1st Marine Air Wing The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Camp Foster on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Activ ...

decided to alter some of its command arrangements. As early as 6 March, acting on a suggestion of his staff, Major General Norman J. Anderson recommended the establishment of a provisional MAG at

Quảng Trị Combat Base Quảng Trị Combat Base (also known as Ái Tử Combat Base or simply Quảng Trị) is a former United States Marine Corps, United States Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base northwest of Quảng Trị in central Vietnam. H ...

with three squadrons to reduce the span of control for

Marine Aircraft Group 36 Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36) is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), itself an integral part of the III Marine ...

(MAG-36). In the meantime, MAG-36 Detachment Alpha comprising a forward headquarters and three squadrons,

VMO-6 Marine Observation Squadron 6 (VMO-6) was an observation squadron of the United States Marine Corps which saw extensive action during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The squadron was the first Marine Corps ...

HMM-163 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (VMM-163) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of MV-22 Osprey transport tiltrotors. The squadron, known as "Evil Eyes", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and f ...

and HMM-262 was located at Quảng Trị Combat Base under Colonel John E. Hansen, the MAG-36 deputy commander. After securing approval from both Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPac) and Headquarters, Marine Corps, on 15 April, Anderson ordered the establishment of the new helicopter aircraft group, designated Provisional (Prov) MAG-39. He detached the three squadrons already at Quảng Trị from MAG—36 to form Prov MAG-39 and made Colonel Hansen the new MAG commander. Prov MAG-39 supported the

3rd Marine Division The 3rd Marine Division is a division of the United States Marine Corps based at Camp Courtney, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan. It is one of three active duty infantry divisions in the Marine Corps and together with th ...

in numerous combat operations including Operations Scotland II, Lancaster,

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

, Mameluke Thrust and Jeb Stuart II. In early 1969 Prov MAG-39 supported

Operation Dewey Canyon Operation Dewey Canyon was the last major offensive by the 3rd Marine Division during the Vietnam War. It took place from 22 January through 18 March 1969 and involved a sweep of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN)–dominated A Shau and Song � ...

. During September–October with the 3rd Marine Division redeploying from South Vietnam the role of Prov MAG-39 diminished. On 10 October the group headquarters redeployed to

Phu Bai Combat Base Phu Bai Combat Base (also known as Phu Bai Airfield and Camp Hochmuth) is a former U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps base south of Huế, in central Vietnam. History 1962-5 The Army Security Agency, operating under cover of the 3rd Radio Rese ...

and on 15 October it was merged into MAG-36. On 19 April 1975 Prov MAG-39 was once again activated for duty in preparation for

Operation Frequent Wind Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, before the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) in the Fall of Saig ...

, the evacuation of Americans and "at risk" South Vietnamese from Saigon. Prov MAG-39 comprised

HMH-462 Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron operating CH-53E Super Stallion heavy transport helicopters. The squadron, known as the "Heavy Haulers", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Mira ...

, HMH-463, HML-367, HML-369 and

HMM-165 Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 165 (VMM-165) is a United States Marine Corps Tilt-rotor squadron consisting of MV-22B Osprey transport aircraft. The squadron, known as the "White Knights", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Califor ...

and was commanded by Colonel Frank G. McLenon. The evacuation began on 29 April, continued throughout the night and terminated on the morning of 30 April, resulted in the evacuation of 7,000 American citizens, South Vietnamese and foreign nationals. Prov MAG-39 remained on board in the South China Sea until the fleet departed for the Philippines on 2 May 1975 and personnel concerned returned to their parent units.

1970s and 1980s

MAG-39 was reactivated 1 September 1978 at Camp Pendleton, California and assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, FMFPac.

1990s to present

Elements have participated in:

Operation Desert Shield The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...

and

Desert Storm The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...

from August 1990 to April 1991;

Operation Restore Hope The Unified Task Force (UNITAF) was a United States-led, United Nations-sanctioned multinational force which operated in Somalia from 5 December 1992 until 4 May 1993. A United States initiative (code-named Operation Restore Hope), U ...

Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...

from December 1992–April 1993; Operation Iraqi Freedom,

Kuwait Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...

from January 2003–October 2003; and Operation Enduring Freedom,

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

from December 2001–June 2002.

Unit Awards" Marine Aircraft Group 39 Lineage and Honors", Historian Reference Branch, USMC History Division

References

External links

* {{3rdMAW United States Marine Corps aircraft groups Military units and formations in California