Marine Air Control Squadron 1

Air Warning Squadron 1 was commissioned on September 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.[4] It was the first early warning squadron organized under the newly established 1st Marine Air Warning Group[5][4] The squadron's initial Table of organization and equipment had 14 officers and 192 enlisted Marines assigned.[6] On November 15 the squadron boarded trains in North Carolina bound for the West Coast. It arrived on November 22, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and began a short period of additional training prior to deployment.[6]

On December 29, AWS-1 personnel boarded the USS White Plains (CVE-66) headed for the Territory of Hawaii. It arrived at Pearl Harbor on January 4, 1944 and was transported to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa. Upon arrival it was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 22, 4th Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing and began training for combat missions in support of the World War II Pacific Campaign. After a short period of time at MCAS Ewa the squadron boarded the USS Mormacport on February 12 and sailed west for its first combat operation.

On February 20 1944, AWS-1 landed on Engebi as part of the larger Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign. The squadron set up its SCR-270 and SCR-527 radars and took control of the airspace over Eniwetok on March 1, 1944.[7] During its time on Engebi the squadron worked closely with the 10th Defense Battalion to ensure the aircraft it controlled were properly deconflicted from the battalion's air defense fires.[8] The first Japanese air raids against the Marines on Engebi occurred on the evening on March 8, 1944. Eight Japanese bombers, successfully employing chaff to deceive American radars, made three bombing runs over the course of an hour and a half.[7]

AWS-1 arrived off of Okinawa on April 19 and landed on Ie Shima on April 21, 1945 and began setting up its radars and air defense control centers.[9] The squadron was operational by the end of the month.[10] On July 9 the squadron sent a long range radar detachment to Iheya Island to further expand the radar coverage around Okinawa.[11]

Following the war the squadron remained on Ie Shima until February 1946. The squadron's forward echelon departed on February 23, 1946 onboard USS LST-690 arriving back in the States on March 29, 1946. Main body personnel and equipment were loaded onto USS LST-970 for transport back to the United States. With stops in Guam and Pearl Harbor en route, the main body did not arrive back at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA until April 14, 1946.[12] Upon arrival at MCAS Miramar the squadron was administratively assigned to Marine Air Warning Group 2. On August 1, 1946 the squadron was re-designated as Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 1 and in July 1947 it moved to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. In October 1947 the squadron was reassigned to Marine Air Control Group 2.[13]

MGCIS-1 radar site located at Yonpo Airfield, Korea in December 1950.

MGCIS-1 was alerted for duty in Korea on 5 July 1950 and reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 33 the following day.[9] At the outbreak of the war, MGCIS-1 was severely under strength. Additional Marines were joined from other squadrons within Marine Air Control Group 2 to fill out the squadron's ranks prior to deployment.[14] The squadron departed Long Beach Harbor on 14 July 1950 on board USS General A. E. Anderson. They arrived in Kobe, Japan on 1 August 1950 and set up operations at Itami Air Force Base, Honshu, Japan to be co-located with VMF(N)-513.[15]

On 10 September, MGCIS-1 personnel boarded the USS George Clymer (APA-27) departed Kobe. While enroute they established a secondary Tactical Air Control Center on board in case any of the primary control ships were knocked out during the upcoming assault. Following the Inchon landings on 15 September, the squadron came ashore on 17 September and established radars and a control center at Kimpo Air Base. They were partially operating by 20 September.[16] While at Kimpo, MGCIS-1 controlled combat air patrol aircraft in the airspace and cleared cargo aircraft into the field. The squadron secured operations on 10 October and returned to the port at Inchon to prepare for follow on tasking. Personnel and gear were loaded onto the USS Alshain and the USNS Marine Phoenix (T-AP-195) and departed the harbor on 17 September.[17]

The squadron was administratively transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 12 in October 1950. MGCIS-1 secured operations in Hungnam on 11 December and all personnel boarded an LST on December 13 as part of the Hungnam evacuation. While afloat, squadron controllers assisted their US Navy counterparts controlling hundreds of aircraft daily during the operation.[18] The squadron sailed for Pusan, Korea and set up its equipment at Pusan West AB (K-1) as it prepared for follow-on tasking. In April 1951 MGCIS-1 was again administratively transferred to under the control of MACG-2. MGCIS-1 participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone from July 1953 through March 1955. On February 15, 1954 the squadron received its current moniker of Marine Air Control Squadron 1[19].. In April 1955 the unit redeployed to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, and was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11).

The squadron was reduced to cadre status during March–April 1960. It was relocated during May 1960 to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona and reassigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Group, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. On February 1, 1972, the squadron was decommissioned.

11 years later in October 1983 the squadron was reactivated at Camp Pendleton, California, as Marine Air Control Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. They participated in Operation Desert Shield in Southwest Asia from August until October 1990, though some elements of MACS-1 remained in Saudi Arabia in support of MACS-2.

MACS-1 Relocated during Jun 1998 to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. Elements supported Operation Southern Watch, Iraq, March–April 2000 and in November–December 2000, and May–June 2001.

Elements of MACS-1 supported Operation Enduring Freedom, in Afghanistan from January–May 2002. This was followed by a deployment to Kuwait in February 2003 and participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 to present, both as an Air Control agency, and subsequently standing up several Security Companies.