Marine Wing Support Squadron 473
Encyclopedia
Marine Wing Support Squadron 473 (MWSS-473) is a reserve aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps
. They are headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
, California with Detachment A at Naval Air Station Lemoore
, California and Detachment B at Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas. The squadron is part of Marine Wing Support Group 47
and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing
.
The squadron was re-activated in May 2007 and spent June at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
, Arizona and the rest of the summer at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
, California completing pre-deployment training.
They deployed in September 2007 to Al Asad Airbase in the western Iraq. They sent detachemnts at Al Qa'im, Rawah and Mudyasis. They returned in April 2008 after a seven month deployment.
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...
. They are headquartered 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...
, California with Detachment A at Naval Air Station Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base, located in Kings County and Fresno County, California. Lemoore Station, California, a census-designated place, is located inside the base's borders....
, California and Detachment B at Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas. The squadron is part of Marine Wing Support Group 47
Marine Wing Support Group 47
Marine Wing Support Group 47 is a United States Marine Corps aviation combat service support unit based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan that is currently composed of 3 squadrons, that provide the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Forces Reserve with complete airfield operation...
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
Provide all essential Aviation Ground Support requirements to a designated fixed-wing and rotor-wing components of an Aviation Combat Element (ACE) and all supporting or attached elements of the Marine Air Control Group.History
MWSS-473 completed an eight month deployment in Afghanistan in 2004–2005. The unit was composed of selected personnel from all three detachments that make up the squadron. During their deployment unit they fueled and loaded helicopters at various bases on the eastern end of Afghanistan. The unit also participated in humanitarian aide missions around Afghanistan. Notably, the squadrons fuel section was in charge of securing, filtering, and refueling helicopters and vehicles, heavy equipment was tasked with loading helicopters with ammunition and supplies. The unit experienced various rocket and mortar fire and did not sustain any casualties during the deployment.The squadron was re-activated in May 2007 and spent June at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma or MCAS Yuma is a United States Marine Corps air station which is the home to multiple squadrons of AV-8B Harrier IIs of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 and Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 , an air combat adversary...
, Arizona and the rest of the summer at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base...
, California completing pre-deployment training.
They deployed in September 2007 to Al Asad Airbase in the western Iraq. They sent detachemnts at Al Qa'im, Rawah and Mudyasis. They returned in April 2008 after a seven month deployment.
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