Marine Air Control Squadron 23
Encyclopedia
Marine Air Control Squadron 23 (MACS-23) is a reserve United States Marine Corps
aviation command and control squadron. The squadron provides aerial surveillance and air traffic control
for the Marine Forces Reserve. They are based Buckley Air Force Base
, Aurora
, Colorado and fall under Marine Air Control Group 48
and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing
.
. They were redesignated Marine Air Control Squadron 23 on 1 March 1954. In January 1961 they were again redesignated Marine Air Control Squadron, Sub Unit #1. In 1966, they were reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 42
and a year later to Marine Air Control Group 48
.
The squadron also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from July 2008 until January 2009 to Al Asad, where they successfully preformed the unit's primary mission. The detachment, of less than 100 Marines, received high praise from senior officers at the group level. It was the first and only time the unit had brought it's colors into a combat zone as MACS-23.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
aviation command and control squadron. The squadron provides aerial surveillance and air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
for the Marine Forces Reserve. They are based Buckley Air Force Base
Buckley Air Force Base
Buckley Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Aurora, Colorado, that was established by the U.S. Army in 1943. The base was named in honor of the World War I Army pilot 1LT John Harold Buckley.-Overview:...
, Aurora
Aurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
, Colorado and fall under Marine Air Control Group 48
Marine Air Control Group 48
Marine Air Control Group 48 is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Naval Station Great Lakes that is currently composed of 6 squadrons that provide the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Forces Reserve with a tactical headquarters, positive and procedural...
and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing
4th Marine Aircraft Wing
The 4th Marine Aircraft Wing is the reserve airwing of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana but its subordinate units are scattered throughout the United States...
.
Mission
Detect, identify and control the intercept of hostile aircraft and missiles, and provide navigational assistance to friendly aircraft.1949 to 1989
The squadron was activated on 16 October 1949 as Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 23 (MGCIS-23). They were part of the Marine Air Reserve Training Command and were based out of Naval Air Station Denver, ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. They were redesignated Marine Air Control Squadron 23 on 1 March 1954. In January 1961 they were again redesignated Marine Air Control Squadron, Sub Unit #1. In 1966, they were reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 42
Marine Aircraft Group 42
Marine Aircraft Group 42 was a United States Marine Corps reserve aviation unit based at Naval Air Station Atlanta, Georgia. Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation, MAG-42 was deactivated in 2008.-History:...
and a year later to Marine Air Control Group 48
Marine Air Control Group 48
Marine Air Control Group 48 is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Naval Station Great Lakes that is currently composed of 6 squadrons that provide the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Forces Reserve with a tactical headquarters, positive and procedural...
.
1990 to present
The squadron participated in support of Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from October, 1990 through April of 1991. On 30 June 1992 they were redesignated Marine Air Control Squadron 24, Detachment A. Two years later they again changed names this time becoming Marine Air Control Squadron 24, Tactical Air Operations Center Detachment. On 8 March 1997 the squadron took its current name.The squadron also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from July 2008 until January 2009 to Al Asad, where they successfully preformed the unit's primary mission. The detachment, of less than 100 Marines, received high praise from senior officers at the group level. It was the first and only time the unit had brought it's colors into a combat zone as MACS-23.
Awards
Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
with 2 Bronze Stars
- 1985–1986
- 1990–1991
- 1994–1995