Marine Air, West Coast

Marine Air, West Coast (MarAirWest) was a United States Marine Corps aviation training and administrative command established on 22 January 1943, which was responsible for the administration, training and equipment of the Marine Aviation Units on the West Coast during World War II.[1]

Marine Air, West Coast
ActiveJanuary 22, 1943 – October 1, 1947
Country United States of America
AllegianceUnited States
Branch United States Marine Corps
RoleTraining and Administration
Part ofAircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
Garrison/HQNaval Air Station San Diego
EngagementsWorld War II

History

Marine Air, West Coast was activated on January 22, 1943 as Marine Fleet Air, West Coast (MarFAirWest) at Naval Air Station San Diego, California under the command of Brigadier General Lewie G. Merritt. Its main purpose was administrating, training and equiping Marine Aviation Units on the West Coast of the United States. The first units of MarFAirWest were assigned in April 1943, when all aviation units from Fleet Marine Force, San Diego Area were reassigned. MarFAirWest was also responsible for providing personnel, equipment and other aviation material to the Aircraft Command, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.[2][3]

It was re-designated Marine Air, West Coast in January 1946 and authority for the new designation also consolidated the command with that of the Deputy Commander, Naval Air Bases (Marine Corps Activities), 11th Naval District, formerly situated at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Santa Ana, California. Its purpose remained the same - still responsible for supporting Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. The unit was deactivated on October 1, 1947 when the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing returned from overseas duty in China and assumed the commands roles and responsibilities.[4]

Commanding Generals
# Photo Name Rank Start of tenure End of tenure Retired rank Notes References
1 Lewie G. Merritt Brigadier General January 22, 1943 September 30, 1943 Major general Later commanded the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
2 William J. Wallace Brigadier General September 30, 1943 May 14, 1944 Lieutenant General Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, later served as Director of Marine Corps Aviation.
3 Francis P. Mulcahy Major General May 14, 1944 September 12, 1944 Lieutenant General Veteran of Guadalcanal and Okinawa Campaigns, previously commanded 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
4 Lawson H. M. Sanderson Brigadier General September 12, 1944 March 20, 1945 Major General Aviation Pioneer, veteran Guadalcanal Campaign, as Commanding officer of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Sanderson accepted the Japanese surrender of Wake Island in 1945.
5 Claude A. Larkin Major General March 20, 1945 July 24, 1945 Lieutenant General MAG-21 Commanding Officer at Ewa Field during Pearl Harbor attack.
6 Ivan W. Miller Brigadier General July 24, 1945 August 15, 1945 Brigadier General Veteran of Banana Wars and Pacific War.
7 William J. Wallace Major General August 15, 1945 August, 1946 Lieutenant General Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, later served as Director of Marine Corps Aviation.
8 Louis E. Woods Major General August, 1946 October 1, 1947 Lieutenant General Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, later served as Director of Marine Corps Aviation between October 15, 1943 - July 17, 1944.

Subordinate units

See also

Citations
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. "Marine Corps Chevron, Volume 2, Number 22, 5 June 1943". historicperiodicals.princeton.edu. Princeton University Library Websites. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  2. Rottman 2002, pp. 608.
  3. Fredriksen, John C. (2011). The United States Marine Corps: A Chronology, 1775 to the Present. ABC-Clio. p. 608. ISBN 978-1-59884-542-6. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  4. Rottman 2002, pp. 431.

References
Bibliography
  • Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle – Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313319065.
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