Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21
Encyclopedia
Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 21 (MATSG-21) is a United States Marine Corps
aviation
training group
that was originally established in 1922 as the 2nd Aviation Group. During World War II
the unit was known as Marine Aircraft Group 21 (MAG-21). Squadrons from MAG-21 fought in many of the opening battles of the war to include the Battle of Wake Island
, Battle of Midway
and as part of the Cactus Air Force
during the Battle of Guadalcanal The group was deactivated following the end of the war and was not reactivated until 2000 when the Marine Aviation Detachment at Naval Air Station Pensacola
, Florida
was renamed MATSG-21. The core of the MATSG personnel is derived from 175 officer instructors and 550 student naval aviators/naval flight officers.
s and special detail advisors. While the MATSG's mission is administrative in nature, the command monitors the flow of students through the Naval Air Training Command, provides Marine Corps discipline and Marine Corps peculiar training..
The 2nd Aviation Group was formed at Naval Air Station San Diego in August 1922. They were redesignated Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force in July 1926. January 8, 1934 saw another name change, this time to Aircraft Two, Fleet Marine Force
. On May 1, 1939 they were redesignated again to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Group. The group was sent overseas to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa
, Hawaii
in January of 1941. There they consolidated with the headquarters of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
July 10, 1941 and less than a month later they were redesignated Marine Aircraft Group 21.
. Squadrons from MAG-21 fought at the Battle of Wake Island
, Battle of Midway
and as part of the Cactus Air Force
during the Battle of Guadalcanal but the group itself remained at MCAS Ewa until February of 1943 when they departed for Banika in the Russell Islands
. By June 1943, MAG-21's squadrons were fighting large scale operations against Japanese installations in the northern Solomon Islands
. The group moved to Efate
in November 1943 and remained there until June of 1944. Their final destination during the war was on Guam
where they were based from August 1944 until the end of the war..
The squadron returned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
in March 1946 with follow on movement to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
, North Carolina
. They were deactivated in April 1947.
directed the re-designation of Marine Aviation Training Support Group NAS Pensacola as Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21. All Marine Aviation Training Support Groups were redesignated to promote a sense of Marine Corps identity and tradition and allow them and their history to live on.
(MOS) school to begin with the Marine Peculiar Training described on the unit website. Training includes leadership education and development, martial arts, pistol qualification, tactics, community involvement, physical fitness and professional military education.
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
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
training group
Group (air force unit)
A group is a military aviation unit, a component of military organization and a military formation. Usage of the terms group and wing differ from one country to another, as well as different branches of a defence force, in some cases...
that was originally established in 1922 as the 2nd Aviation Group. 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...
the unit was known as Marine Aircraft Group 21 (MAG-21). Squadrons from MAG-21 fought in many of the opening battles of the war to include the Battle of Wake Island
Battle of Wake Island
The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on 23 December 1941, with the surrender of the American forces to the Empire of Japan...
, Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
and as part of the Cactus Air Force
Cactus Air Force
Cactus Air Force refers to the ensemble of Allied air power assigned to the island of Guadalcanal from August 1942 until December 1942 during the early stages of the Guadalcanal Campaign, particularly those operating from Henderson Field...
during the Battle of Guadalcanal The group was deactivated following the end of the war and was not reactivated until 2000 when the Marine Aviation Detachment at Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
was renamed MATSG-21. The core of the MATSG personnel is derived from 175 officer instructors and 550 student naval aviators/naval flight officers.
Mission
Provide administration and training support to all Marines aboard NAS Pensacola, NAS Whiting Field and CID Corry Station. They also provide ceremonial support for base and local events in the form of color guardColor guard
In the military of the United States and other militaries, the color guard carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag...
s and special detail advisors. While the MATSG's mission is administrative in nature, the command monitors the flow of students through the Naval Air Training Command, provides Marine Corps discipline and Marine Corps peculiar training..
Early years
Fleet Marine Force
The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...
. On May 1, 1939 they were redesignated again to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Group. The group was sent overseas to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa
Marine 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...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in January of 1941. There they consolidated with the headquarters of the 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...
July 10, 1941 and less than a month later they were redesignated Marine Aircraft Group 21.
World War II
MAG-21 suffered 17 casualties and all 21 of their aircraft were destroyed during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. Squadrons from MAG-21 fought at the Battle of Wake Island
Battle of Wake Island
The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on 23 December 1941, with the surrender of the American forces to the Empire of Japan...
, Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
and as part of the Cactus Air Force
Cactus Air Force
Cactus Air Force refers to the ensemble of Allied air power assigned to the island of Guadalcanal from August 1942 until December 1942 during the early stages of the Guadalcanal Campaign, particularly those operating from Henderson Field...
during the Battle of Guadalcanal but the group itself remained at MCAS Ewa until February of 1943 when they departed for Banika in the Russell Islands
Russell Islands
The Russell Islands are two small islands, as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the Central Province of the Solomon Islands. They are located approximately 48 km northwest from Guadalcanal. The islands are partially covered in coconut plantations, and have a copra and oil factory at...
. By June 1943, MAG-21's squadrons were fighting large scale operations against Japanese installations in the northern 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...
. The group moved 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...
in November 1943 and remained there until June of 1944. Their final destination during the war was on Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
where they were based from August 1944 until the end of the war..
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...
in March 1946 with follow on movement 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...
. They were deactivated in April 1947.
2000
In May 2000, the Commandant of the Marine CorpsCommandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
directed the re-designation of Marine Aviation Training Support Group NAS Pensacola as Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21. All Marine Aviation Training Support Groups were redesignated to promote a sense of Marine Corps identity and tradition and allow them and their history to live on.
2004-2005
Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis nearly destroyed the historic [NAS Pensacola] including the buildings used to house MATSG-21. This forced relocation resulted in the current location on Farrar Rd. in the Parachute Rigger Building.2006-Present
The command currently oversees training along the Gulf Coast to include Recon and Reserve activities. Additionally the Enhanced Training Program provides Marines waiting for their Military Occupational SpecialtyMilitary Occupational Specialty
A United States military occupation code, or a Military Occupational Specialty code , is a nine character code used in the United States Army and United States Marines to identify a specific job. In the U.S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes is used...
(MOS) school to begin with the Marine Peculiar Training described on the unit website. Training includes leadership education and development, martial arts, pistol qualification, tactics, community involvement, physical fitness and professional military education.
See also
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups
- National Museum of Naval AviationNational Museum of Naval AviationThe National Museum of Naval Aviation is a military and aerospace museum located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The museum opened in 1962....