MATCU-62

Marine Air Traffic Control Units (MATCU) were United States Marine Corps air traffic control (ATC) detachments that provided continuous, all-weather, radar and non-radar, approach, departure, enroute, and tower ATC services at both garrison Marine Corps Air Stations and tactical airfields when deployed. MATCUs possessed Tactical air navigation systems (TACAN) and Ground-controlled approach (GCA) equipment which assisted Marine Corps, joint and coalition aircraft in conducting landings during inclement weather. During the Vietnam War, numerous MATCUs served throughout the I Corps Tactical region of South Vietnam supporting the III Marine Amphibious Force. Beginning in the mid-1970s, the Marine Corps decided to consolidate regionally aligned MATCUs into Marine Air Traffic Control Squadrons. The last reserve MATCU was decommissioned in 1980.

Background

The MATCUs were formed beginning in 1952 when existing air traffic control services at each major Marine Corps Air Station or Facility was reorganized into a tactical unit capable of deploying in support of real-world operations. These new units provided deployable surveillance radars, ground-controlled approach, TACANs, radio direction finding, control towers, and communications equipment.

MATCU histories

MATCU-62

''Marine Air Traffic Control Unit 4'' was commissioned on August 23, 1951 under Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 4 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Ana, California. On April 1, 1952 it was re-designated a sub-unit of Marine Air Base Squadron 15 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California.

MATCU-63

''Marine Air Traffic Control Unit 24'' was formed on September 8, 1953 as a sub-unit of Marine Air Base Squadron 24 at MCAS Cherry Point, NC. The unit was re-designated as MATCU-63 on September 30, 1953. On August 1, 1964, MATCU-63 was transferred from under the control of MACS-6 to Marine Airbase Squadron 32.

MATCU-64

Originally commissioned as MATCU-32 under Marine Air Base Squadron 32 on September 8, 1953. MATCU-32 was re-designated as MATCU-64 on October 1, 1953. In July 1958 the unit deployed onboard the USS Antietam (CV-36) with other elements of Marine Aircraft Group 26 in response to a growing crisis in Lebanon. The unit did not go ashore in Lebanon and returned to Edenton in September 1958.

MATCU-65

"Old 65", as it was nicknamed, was reassigned to Marine Combat Crew Readiness Training Group 10 (MCCRTG-10) on March 1, 1972.

MATCU-66

MATCU-66 arrived in South Vietnam on May 19, 1962 supporting aviation operations out of Sóc Trăng while simultaneously providing TACAN and GCA services at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. The unit ceased operations on July 28, 1962 and returned to NAS Atsugi. On July 20, 1965, MATCU-66 relocated to MCAS Iwakuni. This was followed by another move to MCAS Futenma on January 27, 1966. The unit sent a detachment forward to South Vietnam on April 15, 1968. MATCU-66A was assigned to support Marine Aircraft Group 36 at Quảng Trị Combat Base. On October 10, 1968, MATCU-66A was re-designated as MATCU-62A thus ending the unit's presence in South Vietnam.

MATCU-67

On April 9, 1962, MATCU-67 began deploying to South Vietnam in support of HMM-362 during Operation Shufly. The unit supported operations at Sóc Trăng Airfield until September 15, 1962 when it returned to MCAS Futenma on Okinawa. MAG-16s departure from Futenma in early 1965 saw MATCU-67 headquarters shifted to MCAS Iwakuni. When Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12), based at Iwakuni, deployed to South Vietnam in April 1965, MATCU-67 went with them. On April 27, the unit embarked upon the USS Windham County (LST-1170) and sailed for Vietnam. MATCU-67 offloaded at Chu Lai on May 11. 1965 and began establishing air traffic control services. The field became operational on June 1, 1965.

MATCU-68

Deployed in April 1962 to provide GCA and TACAN services at Sóc Trăng as part of Marine Airbase Squadron 16 in support of Operation Shufly. The unit returned to Okinawa in September 1962 when the SHUFLY units moved north to Da Nang Air Base where air traffic control services were being provided by the United States Air Force.

Deployed again to South Vietnam in July 1965 and in August 1965 established air traffic control services at the newly constructed Marble Mountain Air Facility in support of Marine Aircraft Group 36. In March 1966 MATCU-68 was relocated to the Phu Bai Combat Base while maintaining tower control at Marble Mountain. From October 1966 until February 15, 1967 the unit also assumed responsibility for ATC services at the Khe Sanh Combat Base. At the same time control of Khe Sanh was divested the unit assumed responsibility for providing services at the An Hoa Combat Base. MATCU-68 remained in Vietnam until June 1971 when it was relocated to Okinawa, Japan. This was followed by another relocation to MCAS Quantico on December 25, 1971.

MATCU-68 officially arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico on January 14, 1972. At the time the unit fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 26.

MATCU-70

MATCU-70 was established in June 1965 at MCAS El Toro. It was later moved to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii to fill the gap created by MATCU-62's deployment to South Vietnam. A detachment from MATCU-70 arrived at Phu Bai, South Vietnam on October 20, 1967. On October 24, the detachment was airlifted to Quang Tri where it fell under the command of MABS-36 while supporting Marine Aircraft Group 36. MATCU-70 remained in Quang Tri supporting operations until being relieved by MATCU-66 on April 20, 1968. In July 1969, a 16 Marine detachment from MATCU-70 departed MCAS K-Bay to Johnston Atoll to provide air traffic services for Air Force One during the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. President Nixon flew to Johnston before boarding Marine One and flying to the USS Hornet (CV-12) to greet the returning astronauts.

MATCU-74

MATCU-74 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, California in 1968 to provide training for those Marines assigned as replacements for units in Vietnam. On July 15, 1971 MATCU-74 was transferred from Marine Aircraft Group 56 to Marine Aircraft Group 16 when MAG-56 was decommissioned.

MATCU-75

Commissioned in 1968, MATCU-75 was based out of Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California as a sub-unit of Marine Aircraft Group 56. On July 15, 1971, MATCU-75 was transferred from MAG-56 to Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16) when MAG-56 was decommissioned.

MATCU-77

Based out of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. MATCU-77 was decommissioned on September 30, 1971.

MATCU-78

Based out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. MATCU-78 was decommissioned on January 15, 1972.

See also

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

Citation

References

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United States Marine Corps aviation support squadrons