Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24
Encyclopedia
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24 (MALS-24) is an aviation logistics
support unit of the United States Marine Corps
. Known as the "Warriors", they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 24
(MAG-24) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
(1st MAW) and are currently based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii
.
, Oahu
, Hawaii, as Headquarters and Service Squadron 24 and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 24, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
. They deployed during March 1942 to Efate, New Hebrides
. During June 1942, they relocated to Santa Barbara
, California and on 1 July 1942 they were redesignated as Headquarters Squadron 24.
The squadron redeployed during September 1943 to Efate
, New Hebrides
, and were reassigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
. They participated in the Battle of Bougainville and the Philippines Campaign, 1944-45. In September–October 1945 they were moved to Peiping, China and participated in the occupation of North China from October 1946 to April 1947. MALS-24 was relocated during May–July 1949 to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
, North Carolina
and assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
in November 1962.
. In February 2002, the squadron reverted back to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24.
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...
. Known as the "Warriors", they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 24
Marine Aircraft Group 24
Marine Aircraft Group 24 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe Bay that is currently composed of three CH-53D Sea Stallion squadrons, a personnel support detachment and a maintenance and logistics squadron...
(MAG-24) and the 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...
(1st MAW) and are currently based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Marine Corps Base Hawaii , formerly Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay and originally Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, is a U.S. Marine Corps base facility and air station located on the Mokapu Peninsula of windward O'ahu in the City & County of Honolulu. As of the 2000 Census, the base had a...
.
Mission
Provide aviation logistics support, guidance, planning and direction to Marine Aircraft Group squadrons on behalf of the commanding officer, as well as logistics support for Navy funded equipment in the supporting Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS), Marine Air Control Group (MACG), and Marine Aircraft Wing/Mobile Calibration Complex (MAW/MCC).- Provide intermediate level maintenance for aircraft and aeronautical equipment of all supported units and, when authorized, perform first-degree repair on specific engines.
- Provide aviation supply support for aircraft and Navy-funded equipment to all supported units.
- Provide Class V(a) ammunition logistics support to the MAG's squadrons. This support encompasses the requisitioning, storage, handling, assembly, transportation, and inventory reporting of Class V(a) ammunition. Be capable of planning for, and operating, an airfield ammunition issue point at expeditionary airfields.
- Interpret, implement, audit, inspect, and provide oversight for the MAG, CO, of all policies and procedures relating to the administration and management of operations and maintenance, Navy funds, aviation supply, and aircraft.
World War II
The squadron was activated on 1 March 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station EwaMarine Corps Air Station Ewa
Marine Corps Air Station Ewa was a United States Marine Corps air station that was located west of Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The base was hit during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and later served as the hub for all Marine aviation units heading into combat in the Pacific Theater...
, Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, Hawaii, as Headquarters and Service Squadron 24 and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 24, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing is the major east coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps and is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina...
. They deployed during March 1942 to Efate, New Hebrides
New Hebrides
New Hebrides was the colonial name for an island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The New Hebrides were colonized by both the British and French in the 18th century shortly after Captain James Cook visited the islands...
. During June 1942, they relocated to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, California and on 1 July 1942 they were redesignated as Headquarters Squadron 24.
The squadron redeployed during September 1943 to Efate
Éfaté
Efate is an island in the Agean Ocean which is part of the Shefa Province in The Republic of Maliki. It is also known as Île Vate. It is the most populous island in Vanuatu. Efate's land area of makes it Vanuatu's third largest island. Most inhabitants of Efate live in Port Vila, the national...
, New Hebrides
New Hebrides
New Hebrides was the colonial name for an island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The New Hebrides were colonized by both the British and French in the 18th century shortly after Captain James Cook visited the islands...
, and were reassigned to the 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...
. They participated in the Battle of Bougainville and the Philippines Campaign, 1944-45. In September–October 1945 they were moved to Peiping, China and participated in the occupation of North China from October 1946 to April 1947. MALS-24 was relocated during May–July 1949 to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point or MCAS Cherry Point is a United States Marine Corps airfield located in Havelock, North Carolina, USA, in the eastern part of the state...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
1949 – 1967
The squadron was redesignated 15 February 1954 as Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 24 (H&MS-24) and they participated in the Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
in November 1962.
1968 – present
MALS-24 (designated H&MS-24 at this time) was relocated to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii in April, 1968 and reassigned to the 1st Marine Brigade. They were redesignated 5 October 1988 as Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24. They were again redesignated 1 October 1994 as Marine Aviation Logistics Support Element, Kaneohe , and assigned to Aviation Support Element, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary ForceIII Marine Expeditionary Force
The III Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps that is forward-deployed and able to deploy rapidly and conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to amphibious assault and high intensity combat. III...
. In February 2002, the squadron reverted back to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24.
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