Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1
Encyclopedia
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 is the headquarters element of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
and is located at Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler
on Okinawa, Japan.
, Virginia. Five months later, the Japanese
struck Pearl Harbor
. Shortly thereafter, the Squadron moved to NAS San Diego, California, in defense of the West Coast
, which at the time was considered a potential Japanese target. As the Wing staff grew Headquarters Squadron often split to cover the advance and rear echelons. During World War II
, the Squadron saw duty at Guadalcanal; New Caledonia
; Espiritu Santo
, New Hebrides
; Emirau Island
, St. Matthias and Solomon Islands
; Bougainville; and Zamboanga
, Philippine Islands. After World War II, Headquarters Squadron moved to China to carry out the peacetime mission of disarming Japanese troops and repatriating Chinese nationals. The squadron arrived in Tientsin in October 1945, and remained until May 1947, when it moved to Barrigada Heights, Guam
, before transferring to MCAS El Toro. Headquarters Squadron participated in exercises, joint maneuvers, organized reserve training and other peacetime operations.
. Following the truce, Headquarters Squadron relocated to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. The unit deployed to Danang, South Vietnam
in July, 1965 to support the 1st MAW in Southeast Asia. The Squadron remained in Danang until April 1971 when it returned to MCAS Iwakuni. In 1975, Headquarters Squadron moved with the 1st MAW Headquarters to its current home at Okinawa.
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...
and is located at Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler
Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler
Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler is a United States Marine Corps base located in the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa. It was named for legendary Marine Smedley D. Butler.-Installations:...
on Okinawa, Japan.
Mission
The mission of Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 is to provide administrative and supply support for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters.World War II
The Squadron was organized on 7 July 1941, in 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. Five months later, the Japanese
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
struck Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. Shortly thereafter, the Squadron moved to NAS San Diego, California, in defense of the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
, which at the time was considered a potential Japanese target. As the Wing staff grew Headquarters Squadron often split to cover the advance and rear echelons. 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 Squadron saw duty at Guadalcanal; New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
; Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
, 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...
; Emirau Island
Emirau Island
Emirau Island, also called Emira, is an island in the Bismarck Archipelago located at . It is currently part of the New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea. The local language is a dialect of the Mussau-Emira language...
, St. Matthias and 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...
; Bougainville; and Zamboanga
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
, Philippine Islands. After World War II, Headquarters Squadron moved to China to carry out the peacetime mission of disarming Japanese troops and repatriating Chinese nationals. The squadron arrived in Tientsin in October 1945, and remained until May 1947, when it moved to Barrigada Heights, 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...
, before transferring to MCAS El Toro. Headquarters Squadron participated in exercises, joint maneuvers, organized reserve training and other peacetime operations.
Korean War until present
In September, 1950, when it deployed to Korea in support of the Wing throughout the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Following the truce, Headquarters Squadron relocated to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. The unit deployed to Danang, South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
in July, 1965 to support the 1st MAW in Southeast Asia. The Squadron remained in Danang until April 1971 when it returned to MCAS Iwakuni. In 1975, Headquarters Squadron moved with the 1st MAW Headquarters to its current home at Okinawa.
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....
- List of United States Marine Corps aviation support squadrons