Marine Aircraft Group 43

Marine Aircraft Group 23 returned to Hawaii from Guadalcanal on November 19, 1942. The group's personnel were split up into four cadres that were used to form the initial personnel for four additional Marine aircraft groups.[1] One of these four new groups, Marine Aircraft Base Defense Group 43, was activated on January 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California.[2] For its first two years MABDG-43 was the headquarters that oversaw training at MCAS El Centro and also participated in the defense of the west coast.[3] On xx Oct/Nov 1944 the group's group's mission was changed. It was tasked with coordinating and controlling the air defense fight for the upcoming invasion of Okinawa. It was re-designated Marine Aircraft Group 43 (MAG-43) on December 10, 1944.[3]

MAG-43 Marines manage the vertical plotting board inside the Air Defense Control Center during the Battle of Okinawa.

The group embarked on the USS Carteret (APA-70) at San Diego, California on January 24, 1945. It arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 30 January and established itself at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa. For the upcoming Battle of Okinawa, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2d MAW) was made available to serve as the headquarters for the Tactical Air Force (TAF). The TAF was in command of all land-based aircraft during the battle. MAG-43's role for the battle was to serve as the headquarters for the Tactical Air Force's Air Defense Command (ADC) which had BGen William J. Wallace in command.[4] On February 22 the group embarked on the USS Allendale and sailed west.

Mission at Okinawa[5]
1) Control all fighter aircraft assigned to Tactical Air Force in execution of all assigned defensive and offensive missions.
2) Establish and Air Defense Command and Air Defense Control Center as soon as possible.
3) Assuming control of air defense including anti-aircraft artillery and searchlights from Commander, Air Support Control Units on order.
4) Establish and operate and early warning net.
5) Furnishing direct defense of the area in conjunction with fleet aircraft present.
6) Be prepared from time of initial establishment for emergency assistance to shipborne Air Support Control Units in handling carrier aircraft forced to land ashore.

On April 1, the group arrived off the coast of Okinawa, Japan and finally went ashore April 3. The Group's Expeditionary Air Defense Control Center, callsign Handyman, went on the air on April 7, 1945 based out of three LVTs modified with extra radios.[4] On April 16, MAG-43 established its full Air Defense Control Center (ADCC) in a farmer's house about a half mile southeast of Yontan Airfield in the village of Yomitan. By June 30, MAG-43 consisted of 1,926 Marines with another 505 attached US Army personnel.[6]

On August 1, 1945, MAG-43 was re-designated as Marine Air Defense Command 2 (MADC-2) under the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. That same month it moved from its position in Yomitan to higher ground on the eastern side of Okinawa just north of Nakagusuku Castle.

The group arrived in San Diego on board the USS Waukesha (AKA-84) on April 15, 1946 and was assigned to Marine Air West Coast at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. On August 1, 1946 the group was again re-designated this time as Marine Air Control Group 2 (MACG-2). On September 19, 1946, MACG-2 relocated to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. A year later on October 1, 1946 it was placed under the operational control of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

MACG-2 re-enlistment sign on K-3 Air Base during the Korean War.

At the outbreak of the Korean War, MTACS-2 and MGCIS-1 from MACG-2 were transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 33 to provide air support and air defense capabilities for the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade.[7] Both squadrons were severely under strength and additional Marines were joined from other squadrons within MACG-2 to fill out the ranks prior to deployment.[8] On August 3, Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 2 and Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 3 were commissioned under MACG-2 to replace the transferred units. Manpower for these new squadrons came from the recently activated Marine Corps Reserve.[7]

On March 4, 1951, MACG-2 departed MCAS El Toro for San Francisco, California. The Group departed San Francisco the next day on board the USS General W. F. Hase (AP-146). It arrived at Kobe, Japan and established headquarters at Itami Air Force Base. Between April 11–20 MACG-2 personnel were transported to South Korea via aircraft and naval shipping.[9] MACG-2 established its headquarters at K-3 Air Base outside of Pohang and for the rest of the month was busy constructing its camp, quarters and working spaces.[10] [9]

While in Korea, MACG-2 was responsible for providing, operating and maintaining the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing's (1st MAW) tactical headquarters which was known as the Tactical Air Control Center (TACC). The TACC exercised operational control and direction of Marine Corps aircraft operating in Korea.[11]

In February 1952 the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing's Electronic Countermeasures Section was transferred under MACG-2 which also oversaw the Wing's airborne early warning capability that was provided by MACG-2's radar equipped AD-1 Skyraiders. The Electronic Countermeasures Section was utilized to find and classify North Korean radar sites. This section eventually became Marine Composite Squadron 1 (VMC-1) on September 15, 1952.[12]

MACG-2 departed Korea on May 25, 1955 on board the USS Washburn (AKA-108). The ship arrived at San Pedro, California on June 11 and the group immediately returned to MCAS El Toro. MACG-2 was deactivated at MCAS El Toro on July 28, 1955.

MAG-43 was reactivated at Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pennsylvania on July 1, 1962.[15] On February 1, 1965 the Group was transferred underneath the newly reactivated 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. The group was deactivated as part of the post-Vietnam drawdown of forces on September 1, 1972.[16]