Marine Air Traffic Control Unit 68
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Marine Air Traffic Control Units (MATCU) were
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 ...
air traffic control Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airs ...
(ATC) detachments that provided continuous, all-weather,
radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, we ...
and non-radar, approach, departure, enroute, and
tower A tower is a tall structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting structures. Towers are specifi ...
ATC services at both garrison Marine Corps Air Stations and tactical airfields when deployed. MATCUs possessed
Tactical air navigation system A tactical air navigation system, commonly referred to by the acronym TACAN, is a navigation system used by military aircraft. It provides the user with bearing and distance (slant-range or hypotenuse) to a ground or ship-borne station. It is a mor ...
s (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 The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...
, numerous MATCUs served throughout the I Corps Tactical region of South Vietnam supporting the
III Marine Amphibious Force III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) is a formation of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps. It is forward-deployed and able to rapidly conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and ...
. 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 Marine Corps Air Station Tustin (IATA: NTK, ICAO: KNTK, FAA LID: NTK) is a former United States Navy and United States Marine Corps air station, located in Tustin, California. History The Air Station was established in 1942 by the Uni ...
,
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 ...
. 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 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 ...
.


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 Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military ...
.


MATCU-64

Originally commissioned as MATCU-32 under
Marine Air Base Squadron 32 Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military ...
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) USS ''Antietam'' (CV/CVA/CVS-36) was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the second US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the American Civil War Battle of Antietam (Maryla ...
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 Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military ...
(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 Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (Udorn RTAFB) is a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base, the home of 23rd Wing Air Command. It is in the city of Udon Thani in northeastern Thailand and is the main airport serving the city and province. The RTAF 2 ...
,
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
. 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 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 ...
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 ...
. 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 Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing fighter and assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), itself an integral part of th ...
(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 Chu Lai is a seaport, urban and industrial area in Núi Thành District, Quảng Nam Province, Vietnam. The city is served by Chu Lai International Airport. It is also the site of the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone (Vietnamese: ''Với Khu Kinh T ...
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 The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
. 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 Marble Mountain Air Facility (MMAF), also known as Da Nang East Airfield, Marble Mountain Army Airfield and Nuoc Man Airfield, was an aviation facility used primarily by the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. It was a helicopt ...
in support of
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 ...
. In March 1966 MATCU-68 was relocated to the
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 ...
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 Khe Sanh Combat Base (also known as Ta Con) was a United States Marine Corps outpost south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) used during the Vietnam War. History US Army Special Forces (Detachment A-101, Company C, 5th Special Forces G ...
. 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 Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico (MCAF Quantico) is a United States Marine Corps airfield located within Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. It was commissioned in 1919 and is currently home to HMX-1, the squadron that flies the President of ...
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 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 ...
. 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 Apollo 11 (July 16–24, 1969) was the American spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module ''Eagle'' on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC, ...
mission to the moon.
President Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was t ...
flew to Johnston before boarding Marine One and flying to the
USS Hornet (CV-12) USS ''Hornet'' (CV/CVA/CVS-12) is an ''Essex''-class aircraft carrier built for the United States Navy (USN) during World War II. Completed in late 1943, the ship was assigned to the Fast Carrier Task Force (variously designated as Task Forc ...
to greet the returning astronauts.


MATCU-74

MATCU-74 was commissioned at
Marine Corps Air Station Tustin Marine Corps Air Station Tustin ( IATA: NTK, ICAO: KNTK, FAA LID: NTK) is a former United States Navy and United States Marine Corps air station, located in Tustin, California. History The Air Station was established in 1942 by the U ...
,
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 ...
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 Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military ...
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 Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton or MCAS Camp Pendleton is a United States Marine Corps airfield located within Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It was commissioned in 1942 and is currently home to Marine Aircraft Group 39. ...
,
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 ...
as a sub-unit of
Marine Aircraft Group 56 Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military ...
. 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 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 ...
. MATCU-77 was decommissioned on September 30, 1971.


MATCU-78

Based out of
Marine Corps Air Station New River Marine Corps Air Station New River is a United States Marine Corps helicopter and tilt-rotor base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in the eastern part of the state. In 1972, the airfield was named McCutcheon Field for General Keith B. McCutcheo ...
,
North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
. MATCU-78 was decommissioned on January 15, 1972.


See also

* Marine Corps Aviation *
List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units This is a list of United States Marine Corps aviation support squadrons and other units, sorted by type. Active Marine Wing Headquarters Squadrons The Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron (MWHS) provides administrative and supply support for a Mari ...


Citation


References

;Bibliography ;Web * * ;Journal {{refend United States Marine Corps aviation support squadrons