Marine Aircraft Group 40

Marine Aircraft Group 40 is a composite United States Marine Corps aviation unit that is based in Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. They served as the aviation combat element for 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade which was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom from spring 2009 through April 4, 2010 when they were relieved by the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd).[1][2] The group is currently composed of two CH-53 squadrons, one light attack helicopter squadron, one AV-8B Harrier II squadron, one MV-22 Osprey squadron, one KC-130 tactical aerial refueling squadron, one unmanned aerial vehicle squadron and an aviation logistics squadron.

Marine Aircraft Group 40
MAG-40's insignia
Active1990
2009-Present
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
TypeAviation Combat Element
RoleAssault Support
Close-in Fire Support
Part of2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Garrison/HQCamp Leatherneck
Motto(s)Assault, Attack, Control
EngagementsOperation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
* Operation Moshtarak

Mission

Provide air support to Marine Air Ground Task Force commanders.

Subordinate units

MALS 40 Smoking Aces (Bastion Bastards)

HMLA 169 Vipers

History

Gulf War

MAG-40 was originally stood up to support Exercise Teamwork and Exercise Bold Guard in Norway and West Germany in September/October 1990. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990 the MAG was designated as the aviation combat element of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. They began immediately deploying to the Persian Gulf. The group remained in the Persian Gulf as part of the Amphibious Task Force. During this time the group aviation assets included 20 AV-8Bs, 24 CH-46s, 14 CH-53s, 6 UH-1Ns, and 15 AH-1s.[4]

Afghanistan

MAG-40 was reactivated as a composite aircraft group which serves as the headquarters for all Marine aviation units in Afghanistan beginning in the spring/summer of 2009. The group was located at an airfield in southern Afghanistan and is made up of 50 to 100 aircraft.[5] During their time in Afghanistan, aircraft from the group flew just under 38,000 flight hours and moved over 141,000 passengers. They were relieved on April 4, 2010 by the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) and will return to MCAS Cherry Point.

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See also

Notes
  1. "Cherry Point Marines set to deploy". Havelock News. April 3, 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2009.
  2. "3rd MAW (Fwd.) Assumes Responsibilities From MAG-40". DVIDS. April 4, 2010.
  3. DESERT STORM - Marine Air Combat Elements Archived 2010-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Principal Deputy Under Secretary (Strategy and Resources) (April 1992). "Chapter Six - The Air Campaign". Conduct of the Persian Gulf War Final Report to Congress. U.S. Department of Defense. Posted in digital format by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Available in scanned version from The Department of Defense Reading Room and as pdf from NDU.edu Archived 2006-05-02 at the Wayback Machine. Find the author at DTIC Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. Talton, Trista (March 23, 2009). "Lejeune brigade prepares for Afghanistan". Marine Corps Times.

References
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
Bibliography
Web
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