Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11
Encyclopedia
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 (MALS-11) is an aviation logistics
support unit of the United States Marine Corps
, part of Marine Aircraft Group 11
(MAG-11) , currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
and also part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
.
, Virginia. On 24 August 1922, Flight 1 was redesignated as Division 3, VO Squadron 3, First Aviation Group.
On 1 September 1924, Division 3 became Service Squadron, First Aviation Group. On 1 March 1929, the unit was again redesignated and remained Aviation Service Company 1, Aircraft Squadrons, East Coast Expeditionary Force until 18 January 1934, when it was redesignated Headquarters and Service Battalion 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Group, Fleet Marine Forces.
On 1 September 1941, the unit was redesignated as Headquarters and Service Battalion 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11
, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
. The unit's designation was changed on 1 February 1944 to Headquarters Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, Marine Air South Pacific.
During World War II
, Headquarters Squadron 11 participated in campaigns in the Solomon Islands
, New Britain
, Peleliu
, Central Pacific, and Philippines Islands campaign. On 15 February 1954, the unit was redesignated Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 11 (H&MS-11).
. H&MS-11 departed the Republic of Vietnam 1 June 1971 and joined the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
, California.
in support of Operation Southern Watch
, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In March 2004, MALS-11 was the recipient of the 2003 Marine Corps Aviation Association Marion Carl Award.
In 2009, MALS-11 was recognized as the Naval Aviation Enterprise AIRSpeed site of the year and also received the Marine Corps Aviation Association Col Don Davis award as best Aviation Logistics squadron of the year.
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
support unit of the United States Marine Corps
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...
, part of Marine Aircraft Group 11
Marine Aircraft Group 11
Marine Aircraft Group 11 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar that is currently composed of three F/A-18C squadrons, three F/A-18D squadrons, one fleet readiness squadron, one KC-130 tactical aerial refueling squadron and a maintenance and...
(MAG-11) , currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , formerly Naval Air Station Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force...
and also part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 3d Marine Aircraft Wing is the major west coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and provides the aviation combat element for I Marine Expeditionary Force...
.
Early years
The unit was activated on December 1921, as Flight 1, 2nd Air Squadron, Marine Flying Field, Marine Barracks, QuanticoQuantico, Virginia
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there are 561 people, 295 households, and 107 families living in the town. The population density is . There are 359 housing units at an average density of .-Racial composition:...
, Virginia. On 24 August 1922, Flight 1 was redesignated as Division 3, VO Squadron 3, First Aviation Group.
On 1 September 1924, Division 3 became Service Squadron, First Aviation Group. On 1 March 1929, the unit was again redesignated and remained Aviation Service Company 1, Aircraft Squadrons, East Coast Expeditionary Force until 18 January 1934, when it was redesignated Headquarters and Service Battalion 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Group, Fleet Marine Forces.
World War II
Marine Aircraft Group 11
Marine Aircraft Group 11 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar that is currently composed of three F/A-18C squadrons, three F/A-18D squadrons, one fleet readiness squadron, one KC-130 tactical aerial refueling squadron and a maintenance and...
, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
1st Marine Aircraft 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...
. The unit's designation was changed on 1 February 1944 to Headquarters Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, Marine Air South Pacific.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Headquarters Squadron 11 participated in campaigns in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
, Peleliu
Peleliu
Peleliu is an island in the island nation of Palau. Peleliu forms, along with two small islands to its northeast, one of the sixteen states of Palau. It is located northeast of Angaur and southwest of Koror....
, Central Pacific, and Philippines Islands campaign. On 15 February 1954, the unit was redesignated Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 11 (H&MS-11).
Vietnam War
On 7 July 1965 H&MS-11 relocated to Danang, Vietnam where they supported the first attacks by Marine aircraft against Viet Cong forces. During their time in Vietnam the squadron supported 12 different aircraft types including providing support to aircraft from Task Force 77 operating off Yankee StationYankee Station
Yankee Station was a point in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam used by the U.S. Navy aircraft carriers of Task Force 77 to launch strikes in the Vietnam War. While its official designation was "Point Yankee," it was universally referred to as Yankee Station...
. H&MS-11 departed the Republic of Vietnam 1 June 1971 and joined the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 3d Marine Aircraft Wing is the major west coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and provides the aviation combat element for I Marine Expeditionary Force...
at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located near Irvine, California.Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps aviation on the West Coast. Designated as a Master Jet Station, its four runways could handle the largest aircraft...
, California.
Persian Gulf War & the 1990s
On 5 October 1988, the squadron was redesignated Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11. During August 1990, MALS-11 deployed to Southwest Asia where the squadron supported Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. MALS-11 was awarded the Secretary of Defense Award for Maintenance Excellence for July 1991 through July 1992, and was again the Marine Corps' nominee in 1995, 1999 and 2000. On 1 July 1996, MALS-11 moved to MCAS Miramar in support of MAG-11.Global War on Terror
During 2002 and 2003, MALS-11 deployed to KuwaitKuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
in support of Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In March 2004, MALS-11 was the recipient of the 2003 Marine Corps Aviation Association Marion Carl Award.
In 2009, MALS-11 was recognized as the Naval Aviation Enterprise AIRSpeed site of the year and also received the Marine Corps Aviation Association Col Don Davis award as best Aviation Logistics squadron of the year.
See also
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
- Organization of the United States Marine CorpsOrganization of the United States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy . The most senior Marine officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for...
- List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units