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2022 Symposium 3 for your generous support!ARIZONAYuma Tom Miller SquadronCO - Col Chad Vaughnchad.vaughn@usmc.milXO - Col Billy McMillin, USMC (Ret)928-580-3131colusmcret@hotmail.comCALIFORNIACamp Pendleton – Mike Yunck SquadronCO - Col William Bartolomea XO - Col Patrick Gough, USMC (Ret)858-679-1755 ext 212pgough3775@aol.com San Diego—Marion Carl SquadronCO - Vacant TBD XO - Col Greg Goodman, USMC (Ret)858-361-9437gregory.l.goodman2@boeing.comPOC - Col Earl Wederbrook, USMC (Ret)858-577-1211earl@earlwederbrook.com COLORADORocky Mountain ChapterCO - Col Gary King, USMC (Ret)850-377-4703gakling18@gmail.comFLORIDAPensacola, Roy S. Geiger SquadronCO - Vacant XO - Col Joe Richards, USMC (Ret)850-516-2550jprichard46@gmail.comOrlando, John F. Bolt SquadronLtCol Tim Hill, USMC (Ret)407-356-7190timhillforida@gmail.comXO - Col Rick Packard, USMC (Ret)407-463-6479richard.j.packard@lmco.comHAWAIIKaneohe Bay Bruce Matheson SquadronCO - VacantMARYLANDPax River – John Glenn SquadronWebsite -mcaajgs.orgCO - Col Justin Eggstaffaero.eggs@gmail.comXO - Col Hank VanderborghtVanderborght22@gmail.comMASSACHUSETTSBostonCO - Col Joe Mahoney, USMC (Ret)617-786-0832jhmahoney@verizon.net POC - GySgt John Margie, USMC (Ret)508-690-1682jomargie@comcast.netNORTH CAROLINACherry Point – A. A. Cunningham SquadronCO - LtCol J.P. Doyle252-466-5011james.p.doyle@usmc.milNew River – Keith McCutcheon SquadronCO - Col Curtis Ebitz, Jr.curtis.ebitz@usmc.milOKINAWAMCAS Futenma - Joe FossCO - Col Brett Allison XO - Col Phil VanEtten, USMC (Ret)sumobuff@hotmail.comAT-LARGE SQUADRONSDevastate Charlie – Marine Air C2 SquadronCO - Col David Joseforskydavid.joseforsky@usmc.mil XO - Col Rey Masinsin, USMC (Ret)813-810-3271Rey.Masinsin@gd-ms.com POC - Col Curt Ames, USMC (Ret)540-295-5959Curtis.Ames@ngc.com 531 Gray Ghosts SquadronCO - Richard Elliottghostlore531@yahoo.com XO - LtCol Rich Richardson, USMC (Ret)ahr-amarine@md.metrocast.net Donald E. Davis– Marine Aviation LogisticsCO - Col Kevin McCutcheon, USMC (Ret)828-443-1560kevinmccutheon76@gmail.comPOC Gale Rodgersrodgers77oki@yahoo.comJohn R. Dailey SquadronCO - LtCol Jeff Buchanan, USMC (Ret)770-778-6576jbuch002@gmail.com XO - Jim Brubaker407-325-4518burbakerjr@earthlink.netRobert “Guy” Robinson SquadronCO - MSgt Kevin Bonner, USMC (Ret)808-551-7701jkbonner@sbcglobal.netSOUTH CAROLINABeaufort – The Great Santini Squadronthegreatsantinisquadron@gmail.comCO - LtCol Allen E. Szczepek, Jr. allen.szczepek@gmail.comXO - Maj John “Simple” Simpson, USMC (Ret)(843) 812-7197jwsimple@comcast.netTEXASDallas/Ft. Worth – Bob Galer SquadronVacantCorpus Christi – John Smith SquadronCO - VacantXO - VacantVIRGINIANorfolk – Darden-Schilt SquadronCO -VacantXO - Col Mike Soniak, USMC (Ret)757-574-3717msoniak@cox.netQuantico – Nighthawk SquadronCO—Kevin Wild, USMC (Ret)Khw7562@gmail.comXO—Damien MarshDamienmarsh@ﬂymarines.usWASHINGTONSeattle– Richard C. Mangrum SquadronLtCol Art Crowe, USMC (Ret)425-284-1455mangrumsquadron@gmail.comWASHINGTON, DCWashington, DC – Bransom-Capital SquadronCO - Col James Bardojames.bardo@usmc.milSQUADRONcontacts

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2022 Symposium 7 Lieutenant General Thomas L. “Stash” Conant, USMC (Retired) National CommanderLeadership & Board of Directors NATIONAL COMMANDER LtGen Thomas L. Conant, USMC (Ret)DEPUTY CMDR, WESTLtGen Terry Robling, USMC (Ret)DEPUTY CMDR, EAST MajGen Jon Gallinetti, USMC (Ret) TREASURER Col Romin Dasmalchi, USMC (Ret) ADJUNT Col Paul Fortunato, USMC (Ret) SERGEANT MAJOR SgtMaj Bill Oldenburg, USMC (Ret)LEGAL COUNSEL Col Art White, USMC (Ret)PREVIOUS NAT’L CMDRS LtGen Keith Stalder, USMC (Ret)LtGen John Castellaw, USMC (Ret)Gen William Nyland, USMC (Ret)WEST DISTRICT LEAD Col Earl Wederbrook, USMC (Ret)SOUTH DISTRICT LEAD Col Chris Seymour, USMC (Ret)SOUTHEAST DISTRICT LEAD Col John Gumbel, USMC (Ret)DISTRICT LEAD Col Laura Sampsel, USMC (Ret)NORTHEAST DISTRICT LEADCol Bruce Hulick, USMC (Ret)GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE LEAD Col Paul Croisetiere, USMC (Ret)MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE LEAD Col Michael Orr, USMC (Ret) STRATEGY COMMITTEE LEADCol Robert Claypool, USMC (Ret) AUDIT COMMITTEE LEAD Col Al Sullivan, USMC (Ret) AT-LARGECol Ben Matthews, USMC (Ret)Col John Ostrowski, USMC (Ret)MCAA StaffEXECUTIVE DIRECTORCol John Rader, USMC (Ret)DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND SENIOR EDITORRoxanne M. Kaufman rkaufman@ﬂymcaa.orgFINANCIAL SERVICES & MEMBERSHIPDebbie Martin «MARINE CORPS AVIATION ASSOCIATION«HEADQUARTERS 715 Broadway Street Quantico, VA 22134703–630–1903On this, our 50th anniversary as an organization, we recognize that Marines—and Marine aviation professionals, have been gathering since the days of Alfred A. Cunningham, to share stories, lesson, and experiences. Such interactions have kept Marine aviation as a signicantly eective force multiplier in support of our United States Marine Corps.As we do each year, I am honored to highlight our annual award winners. rough their excellence in performance, these warriors epitomize the true strength of our Marine Corps as being those who were the uniform and work each day to protect our freedom. My congratulations to each of our awardees! is year, we again are blessed with the presence of our Commandant, who is taking the challenge of shaping our Corps to face and our country’s future enemies insignicantly uncertain times. is year, as we “look back and lean forward,” I want to recognize the great work being done by our partner organization, the Marine Corps Aviation Association Community Services (MCAACS). rough its eorts, and the contributions of our sponsors and members, we have been able to support a good number of organizations that focus on assisting Marines and their families in time of loss and need. You will nd each of these organizations represented at our Symposium; I ask that you stop by each display to learn of the many ways in which they are supporting our Marine aviation family. So, as we celebrate this week, I ask all Marine aviation professionals to take a moment to reect on our signicant contribution of the large tapestry as we continue the traditions of fellowship that started in 1917, progressed through the mid-1930s when we held the rst organized banquet of the First Marine Aviation Force Veteran’s Association until today’s 50th meeting of the Marine Corps Aviation Association. We oer our deepest thanks to our industry sponsors and individual members, who provide the needed support for all that we accomplish. ey are the machine that drives our eorts, and we would be lost without them. Semper Fi and God bless.COMMANDER’Scall

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8 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgHONORARYchairmanOn 26 February 1991, Lieutenant Colonel Michael M. Kurth led 24 Cobra gunships from HMLA-369, supporting Marines on the ground who were on a mission to isolate the Kuwaiti International Airport during OPERATION DESERT STORM. He ew his Cobra for 10 hours, destroying at least 70 Iraqi vehicles, as burning oil elds charred the sky black. Kurth explained that the ying conditions that day were the worst he had ever seen, turning to quickly to black. ey had to y under the high-voltage powerlines [versus above], because they were worried about losing site of the ground and being unable to get back down.Kurth credits teamwork and determination in overcoming the conditions that day. He is proud that as a combined arms force, they were able to push through any challenges, both on the ground and in the air. He received one of two Navy Crosses awarded during the Gulf War.CITATION:e President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Michael M. Kurth, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Ocer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 (HMLA-369), during OPERATION DESERT STORM, on 26 February 1991. As the First Marine Division attacked north to prevent Iraqi forces from escaping, Lieutenant Colonel Kurth’s repeated acts of bravery in providing close in re support to embattled Marines helped collapse the Iraqi defenses. With visibility nearly impossible due to hundreds of burning oil eld res, and with total disregard for his own safety, he ew under and perilously close to high voltage power lines. Placing himself at grave personal risk to intermittent Iraqi ground and anti-aircraft re, Lieutenant Colonel Kurth ew continuously for ten hours during the most intense periods of combat, twice having to control crash his aircraft. Employing a commercially borrowed Forward Looking Infrared Radar and Laser Designator, he ew through the Al Burgan Oil Fields res, between the AH-1W holding pattern and Task Force Ripper’s forward lines, leading ight after ight of rearmed gunships to requesting units and then remaining dangerously exposed forward of friendly lines as he designated Iraqi armored vehicles for engagement. Lieutenant Colonel Kurth’s courage and fearless dedication rallied fellow Marines and resulted in the destruction of as many as 70 Iraqi armored vehicles destroyed that day. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy re, and utmost devotion to duty, Lieutenant Colonel Kurth reected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Services.Growing up in Waukegan, Illinois, Kurth’s father was a blue collar worker who worked for the railroad, and his Mother was a stay-at-home who worked hard. As the oldest (alpha) of ve children, he remarks with pride that his parents were not only able to send all ve of them to college but also retire at a younger age than he did. After graduation from high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin, graduating with a degree in English Literature in June 1971. After completing Ocer Candidate’s School and e Basic School in 1972, Kurth reported to his rst duty station—the Recruiting Station in Chicago, Illinois. By 1974, he was with the First Marine Division. It was there that he would meet Jim “Johnny Rie” Ryder. According to Kurth, Ryder was notorious for being fearless and proved his reputation to be true when he was shot down in a -G model Cobra. In typical Marine fashion, Kurth had quite the story to tell about shootdown. Ryder’s boldness that day and subsequent mentoring became a great source of strength and inspiration for Kurth. The 2022 Honorary ChairmanLieutenant Colonel Michael M. Kurth“ It’s just an amazing feat of courage and airmanship. It’s rare, and it’s for this reason he’s the only Marine aviator to receive the Navy Cross.”Brigadier General omas V. Draude, (Assistant Commander, 1st Marine Division during the war)AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURINGGulf WarSERVICE:Marine CorpsRank:Lieutenant ColonelDivision: 1st Marine DivisionGENERAL ORDERS:Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and MedalsMike and Debbie in Limu, Peru, 2012.

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Starting in 1978, he would begin his long association with then-Colonel Chuck Pittman on various special taskers to include being the rst liaison to the Republic of Korea Air Force 10th Fighter Wing during the biggest deployment near the DMZ since the Korean War. Kurth was in the second class at MAWTS-1 in 1980, and would come back as an instructor at MAWTS-1 from 1981 – 1985. While serving in this capacity, he became the subject matter expert for DIA on Soviet helicopters and the only rotary-wing member of the European Tactics Analysis Team. He would work closely with VX-5 to develop air-to-air employment tactics and weapons for helicopters. He would also provide advice to the U.S. Army on their Air-to-Air Field Manual. Kurth then worked with the rst V-22 crew station group and working closely with the U.S. Army’s TF-160 ying the AH-6 in support of their early Special Operations training and missions. In 1986, he began working with the team who created the rst Employment/ Deployment Guide for the V-22 that was used to sell the program to Congress. Kurth met his future wife, Debbie, through his brother in 1987. He is quick to credit her as being his “superpower” in his successes in life. He ended his Marine Corps career as a Colonel in 1996. He started consulting with MacDonnell Douglas in 1997, thinking that he would quit when the rst airline contacted him. And then the airlines went on strike. Like he repeats frequently, it was a comedy of errors, and it was pure luck that he ended up staying at Boeing and eventually advancing to Senior Vice President. He again retired in January 2013. His biggest piece of advice looking back is to always challenge yourself, be truthful, and remember that people are relying on you to do the right thing.DUTY ASSIGNMENT CHRONOLOGYMar 1972 – May 1972: OCS, Quantico, VA.Jun 1972 – Nov 1972: Basic School, Quantico, VA.Nov 1972 – Jan 1973: Recruiting, Chicago, IL.Jan 1973 – Mar 1973: Supply School: Montford Point, NC.Mar 1973 – Sept 1974: Platoon Commander/Ordnance Oicer, 1st Marine Division.Sept 1974 – Jan 1975: VT-1 Student, Saufly Field ( T-34B)Jan 1975 – Apr 1975: VT-6 Student, Milton Field (T-28)May 1975 – Aug 1975: HT-8 Student, Milton Field (TH-57)Aug 1975 – Nov 1975: HT-18 Student, Milton Field (H-1)Jan 1976 – Mar 1976: H&Ms 29 New River, Special AssignMar 1976 – May 1976: HML-167 RAG, New River (UH-1N)Jun 1976 – Sept 1976: HML-268 Career Planner, New River (UH-1N)Sept 1976 – Nov 1976: HMH-461 Flight Line Oicer, Caribbean Cruise (UH-1N/CH-53)Dec 1976 – Sept 1977: HML-268 Flight Line Oicer/Maintenance Oicer, New River (UH-1N)Oct 1977 – Mar 1978: MAG-29, Adjutant, New River (AH-1J/T, OV-10A, UH-1N).May 1978 – Sept 1978: HML-367, Logistics Oicer, Hamby Field, Okinawa (AH-1J/UH-1N)Oct 1978 – Feb 1979: MAG-36 (Provisional) Liason Oicer, 10th Fighter Wing ROKAF, Suwon Korea (AH-1J/UH-1N)Mar 1979 – May 1979: HML-367 Logistics Oicer, Hamby Field Okinawa (AH-1/UH-1N)Jun 1979 – Oct 1979: HML-267 Training Oicer, Camp Pendleton (UH-1N)Oct 1979 – Feb 1980: HML-367 Operations Oicer, Camp Pendleton (UH-1N)Feb 80 – Mar 1980: MAWTS-1 WTI CRS, Yuma, AZ (UH-1N)Apr 1980 – May 1981: HML-367 Operations Oicer, Camp Pendleton (UH-1N)June 1981–May 1985: MAWTS-1 Instructor, Yuma (multiple models U/AH-1, AH-6, CH-46, other fixed and rotary)Jun 1985 – Aug 1985: USS Hepburn, Sea of Japan (H-2)Aug 1985 – Jun 1986: Student, USMC Command and Sta CollegeJul 1986 – Nov 1986: MAG-36 Operations Oicer, Futenma (UH-1N)Dec 1986 – Mar 1987: Cmdr Det HMLA-369 CAX 29 Palms, (UH-1N/AH-1W)Dec 1987 – Dec 1988: HMLA-369 XO, Camp Pendleton (UH-1N/ AH-1W)Jan 1989 – Jun 1989: HMLA-369 XO, Futenma (UH-1N/AH-1W)Jul 1989 – Nov 1989: HMLA-369 XO, Camp Pendleton (UH-1N/AH-1W)Nov 1989 – Feb 1990: HMLA-369 CO, Camp Pendleton (UH-1N/ AH-1W)Feb 1990 – May 1990: Prov MAG-39 CO 29 Palms (UH-1N/ AH-1W)Jun 1990 – Jun 1991: HMLA-369 CO, Camp Pendleton, various locations Saudi Arabia (UH-1N/AH-1W)Aug 1991 – Jun 1992: Student Naval War CollegeAug 1992 – Jun 1996: MCAS Tustin, XO (C-12/T-34/UH-1N/ AH-1W)Total Flight Hours: 5,244; Carrier/Ship Landings: Rotary Wing 1,526; Flight Hours: Helo - 4,208 Prop: 1,035 COMBAT TOURS: Desert Shield/Storm, August 1990 - March 1991 HMLA-369 (AH-1W/UH-1N) 216 hours, 3 Strike/Flight Awards AVIATION CMDS: CO/XO, HMLA-369, October 1987 - June 1991 CO, Prov MAG-39, Feb. - Apr. 1990XO, MCAS Tustin, August 1992 - February 1996 COMBAT AWARDS: Navy CrossAir Medal w/Flight Strike Numeral 3 and Combat VCombat Action Ribbon2022 Symposium 9 Saunders, Kurth, and Milstead.The “Lovebirds” at the Kissing Statue at Love Park in Dec 2012.

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10 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgHONORARYchairmanThe 2022 Honorary ChairmanGeneral William L. “Spider” Nyland, USMC (Ret)On 2 October 1946, General William L. “Spider” Nyland, USMC (Ret), made his way into the world early and was delivered by a Navy Flight Surgeon on Coronado Navy Base, weighing a mere four plus pounds. His speedy and atypical arrival pretty much sums up his personality—living life to the fullest, enjoying the ride, and being grateful to have been part of something bigger than oneself. Growing up in a Navy family, Nyland always knew he wanted to serve his Country. Albeit he felt a little uncomfortable telling his career Navy Father, a Destroyer Captain, that he wanted to go into the Marine Corps. But it was worth the risk– “he couldn’t see himself driving a ‘boat’ in circles, but felt certain that he could point and shoot a .45 as told.” He remembers the conversation about going into the Marine Corps with his father well. His father’s only response was for him to do something that made him happy. roughout his service, and beyond, Nyland continues to demonstrate his need to give back through teaching, mentoring, and preparing the next generation of leaders. Other than his family and his Service to Country and Corps, he believes that teaching as a Senior Mentor for the National Defense University in the “Capstone”, “Keystone” and “Pinnacle” programs is one of his greatest accomplishments. He welcomes the opportunity to shape future leaders and make them appreciate “that they are no longer the best pilot, the best infantry ocer, etc., but in care of people for which there is no job more important … and that keeping oce hours is an essential part of leading.”When asked about his own career, Nyland likes to say that he was just “lucky to have had good mentors, like ‘Zorro’ (General Jack Dailey) and ‘Beak’ Howell (Lieutenant General Jeerson Howell) and many others who showed me the way.” Another part of his incredible legacy is his family. He and Brenda have been married for over 30 years, and have daughters, Brandy and Leslie, and son, Matthew, and four grandkids, and two spoiled dogs. When it comes to his feelings about Miss Brenda, he boasts about a sign he hung in their fth wheel camper that says, “I wish I would have met you sooner …” Marine Corps CareerGeneral William L. “Spider” Nyland served as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. from September 2002 until September 2005. He retired from active duty 1 November 2005.General Nyland was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps under the NROTC Program upon graduation from the University of New Mexico in 1968. In addition to attaining an Master’s of Science degree from the University of Southern California in 1980, his formal military education includes e Basic School in 1968, Naval Aviation Flight Training in 1969, Amphibious Warfare School in 1975, Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in 1977, College of Naval Command and Sta, Naval War College in 1981, and Air War College in 1988.After ight training, he was assigned to VMFA-531. en-First Lieutenant Nyland was ordered to Vietnam, where he ew 122 combat missions as a Radio Intercept Ocer (RIO)with VMFA-314 and -115 over Southeast Asia. In later tours he ew additional combat sorties in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. His other tours included Instructor RIO, VMFAT-101; Squadron Assistant Operations Ocer and Operations Ocer, VMFA-115; and Brigade FORSTAT and Electronic Warfare Ocer, 1st Marine Brigade. General Nyland also served as Operations Ocer and Director of Safety and Standardization, VMFA-212; Aviation Safety Ocer and Congressional Liaison/Budget Ocer, HQ, U.S. Marine Corps; and Operations Ocer, Marine Aircraft Group-24, 1st Marine Amphibious Brigade. He commanded VMFA-232, the Marine Corps’ oldest and most decorated ghter squadron, from July 1985 to July 1987.General Nyland subsequently served as section chief for the Central Command section, European Command/Central Command Branch, Joint Operations Division, Directorate of Operations (J-3), Joint Sta, Washington, D.C. In July 1990, he assumed command of Marine Aviation Training Support Group (MATSG) in Pensacola. Following his command of MATSG, On the occasion of his retirement after 37 years in the Marine Corps, General William “Spider” L. Nyland, USMC (Ret) was recognized by the Florida House of Representatives. Congressman Je Miller said:“… [its] not only the end of an illustrious career replete with many honors; it also marks the beginning of several initiatives which, by virtue of his strategic vision, dynamic leadership and accomplished diplomatic skills, will ensure that U.S. national strategy is prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.”Nyland soaking up his time at VMFA-232.

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2022 Symposium 11 Naval Flight Oicer insigniaDefense Distinguished Service MedalNavy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of MeritDefense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service MedalAir Medalw/Strike/Flight numeral "8"Joint Service Commendation MedalJoint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 1 oak leaf clusterNavy Unit CommendationNavy Meritorious Unit Commendationw/ 4service starsNational Defense Service Medalw/ 2 service starsVietnam Service Medal w/ 1 service starKosovo Campaign Medalw/ 1 service starGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalKorea Defense Service MedalArmed Forces Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbonw/ 6 service starsVietnam Gallantry Cross unit citationVietnam Civil Actions unit citationVietnam Campaign MedalEXPERT RIFLE badge(4TH AWARD) EXPERT PISTOL badge(several awards)Oice of the Joint Chiefs of Sta Identification Badgehe assumed duties as Chief of Sta, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing on 5 July 1992, and assumed additional duties as Assistant Wing Commander on 10 November 1992. He was promoted to Brigadier General on 1 September 1994, and was then assigned as Assistant Wing Commander, 2nd MAW serving in that billet until 1 December 1995.He served next on the Joint Sta, J-8, as the Deputy Director for Force Structure and Resources, completing that tour on 30 June 1997. General Nyland was advanced to Major General on 2 July 1997, and assumed duties as the Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC. He served next as the Commanding General, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS Cherry Point, NC, from July 1998 to June 2000. He was advanced to Lieutenant General on 30 June 2000, and assumed duties as the Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, HQMC. He next served as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation on 3 August 2001. He. was advanced to the grade of General on 4 September 2002 and assumed his duties as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on 10 September 2002, retiring on 1 November 2005. Civilian LifeAfter retirement, General and Mrs. Nyland returned to Pensacola. ough he enjoys shing, traveling, and a much-anticipated annual trip to Sandals with Miss Brenda, he Non Profit BoardsMember, Board of Directors, Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation, New York, NY Member, President’s Council, Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, FL Chairman Emeritus, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Member, Board of Directors, Sacred Heart Health System, Sacred Heart Hospital, Pensacola, FLOther PositionsInstitute for Human Machine Cognition (IHMC) — Deputy Director for Defense R&Dcontinues to oer consulting services from his home oce. In addition, he is a former fellow for the Institute of Defense & Business and served in an instructional role for Duke University (College of Continuing Education) in leadership training performed in support of BAE for four years. Nyland is active as a Senior Mentor for the National Defense University in the “Capstone”, “Keystone” and “Pinnacle” programs. He formerly served as the Chairman of the Board for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (twice) and as the Chairman for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation. He also served as e National Commander for the Marine Corps Aviation Association from January 2007 – 2010, for which we are grateful. A Newly Winged Second Lieutenant Nyland. Gen Nyland & Family at his promotion to General on 4 Sept 2002.

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2022 Symposium 13 In 1938, some twenty years after the close of World War I, former aviation Marines who had deployed to France in 1917 – 1918, under the leadership of Major Alfred A. Cunningham and served in the First Marine Aviation Force (FMAF), gathered to ocially establish a veteran’s organization. ough many of these veterans had gathered informally, as the years passed, they realized that their legacy needed solidied as a “voice” to perpetuate and protect the legacy of Marine aviation. is group would become known as the First Marine Aviation Force Veteran’s Association (FMAFVA). Sergeant James “Nick” E. Nicholson, a young feisty Marine at the time, was one of the most vocal supporters behind this newly formed Association. He was also the artist behind the FMAF insignia that was displayed on Marine aircraft in France in World War I, and the follow-on logo for the FMAFVA. e legacy of Nicholson’s FMAF insignia continues in many forms to this day: “e Flying Leathernecks” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 have proudly connected to their roots by displaying the revised insignia since 2016 (After receiving permission from MCAA, of course!). Nicholson is often referred to as “e Father of MCAA,” because of his campaigning to transition from the Old Guard FMAFVA to the new/all-aviation MOS and aviation supporters MCAA; and we honor him annually as the namesake of our Non-Commissioned Ocer Leadership Award. Another FMAF vet, Karl Schmolsmire Day piggybacked on Nicholson’s enthusiasm and spearhead the FMAFVA as he climbed through the ranks in the Marine Corps, eventually handing the FMAFVA baton over to the Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) in 1972. While Karl S. Day is not a name that immediately comes to mind when you think of Marine Corps’ aviation legends, he is someone who we all should know. Day was born in Friendship, Indiana, on 30 May 1896. Saying that he grew up in a small town is an understatement, as even today the town’s population is 49 residents. After graduation from high school, he attended and graduated from Ohio State University in Athens, Ohio. Left:Lieutenant General Karl DayPHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSBelow:On hand to inspect the arrival of the coveted Cunningham Award at HQMC on 29 Jan 1962, was Colonel Francis “Cocky” Evans, Marine aviator number four and the ﬁrst Naval aviator to loop a seaplane (by surviving), and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David M. Shoup. FMAFVA gifted the trophy to the Marine Corps on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Marine aviation. PHOTO COURTESY: MCAA

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14 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgHe entered the Marine Corps Reserve in 1917, and went to e Ocer School at Quantico, Virginia, and then o to ight training. When the FMAF Commanding Ocer, Major Cunningham went looking for volunteers at the Ocer’s Candidate School to deploy, Day stepped forward and was activated. He sailed with the FMAF to France on 18 July 1917, along with 107 ocers and 654 enlisted Marines. However, due to numerous administrative and logistical errors, the Marines’ planes would not arrive until September. Consequently, he and his squadron mates would y DeHaviland-9aircraft with Royal Air Force, Squadron 218. Day conducted bombing missions against enemy aerodromes, submarine bases, ammunition dumps, and railroad junctions, and was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in combat. Like most Reserve aviation Marines after the war, Day was returned to inactive status. He worked numerous civilian jobs for the next ten years, until he returned to aviation with the Curtiss Wright Flying Service in 1929. A few years later, he would accept a job ying for American Airlines and later teach instruction at one of its training facilities. In 1933, he became a card carrying member of the Caterpillar Club, when he had to bailout of a plane. After the Marine Corps stood up its rst Reserve aviation unit near New York City (Floyd Bennett Field) in 1935, now Major Day became the rst commanding ocer of the unit there. He served as CO until he was reactivated in December 1940. It was during his time at Floyd Bennett Field that he gained the reputation as one of the foremost experts On 9 November 1956, the FMAFVA gathers at the Hotel Park Sheraton in New York, New York. PHOTO COURTESY: MCAAPresentation of the 2021 James Maguire Award. (L to R) Congressman Jack Bergman; LtGen Thomas Conant, MCAA National Commander; LtGen Mark Wise, DCA; Rader50 aircrew; and Grey Hagwood on stage during the Awards Aviation Banquet in July 2021 in Dallas, Texas.

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2022 Symposium 15 in early instrumentation and “blind” ying techniques. He would go on to publish “Instrument and Radio Flying” in 1938. His interwar experiences and prociencies would prove invaluable to Naval and Marine aviation in World War II. In 1940, Day was again activated and served as a sta member to the Commander Aircraft Battle Force, Vice AdmiralWilliam Halsey, Jr. It was during this assignment that he witnessed many pilot shortcomings on carrier approaches and takeos, and in bad weather operations. Day was not shy about sharing his assessments with Naval Aviation leadership. As a result, he received orders to the Aviation Training Division, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics in 1942, and was then transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, to activate and command Operational Training Squadron 8. Now a lieutenant colonel, Day painstakingly oversaw every aspect of pilot and ground crew training on the North American PBJ-1 Mitchell multi-engine bomber. In 1944, Day would take part in the capture of Peleliu and become the Peleliu Air Base Commander; a base that was essential to prestaging of the Philippine operation. e following year he commanded MAG-21 while also serving as the CO of the Transport Air Group. As his Group, MAG-21, was doing work-ups for the Allied invasion of Japan, the Japanese surrendered. By the end of the war, Day was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one star. In 1948, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the Volunteer Training Unit in New York. Day was promoted to major general and became the President of the Marine Corps James E. Nicholson’s Draft Card PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSMajGen Fontana (Left), MCAA National Commander, and James Nicholson, Secretary, after meeting with Marines from HQMC. PHOTO COURTESY: MCAAReserve Ocers Association in 1948 and held this title until 1956. From 1954 – 1957, he represented the Marine Corps on the Reserve Forces Policy Board. He rose to the rank of lieutenant general at the end of that assignment, becoming the only Reserve Marine to attain that rank in 1957. After retirement, he continued working for American Airlines until June 1962 and passed away in Mineola, New York, on 19 January 1973.Because of the eorts of Day, James Nicholson, and the core FMAFVA members, membership swelled from 21 to 500 members. With support and membership, they were able to become the voice of Marine aviation, fullling their charter and promulgating their proud legacy. ey were also aecting change within the Marine Corps by ensuring that the aviation community would receive equal billing.

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16 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgAt their annual meeting in 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Henry Lloyd Tallman who served in Oye, France as a gunnery sergeant, put forth a motion to request that the fourth line, rst verse of the Marine Corps Hymn be modied to read: “In air, on land, and sea.” e Adjutant, James Nicholson quickly penned and put forward this resolution to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General omas Holcomb. In it, Nicholson respectfully highlighted that, “…Nothing, in our opinion, could do more to recognize and pay tribute to the air arm of our corps, past, present, and future.” General Holcomb responded with Letter of Instruction 267, ocially approving the change on 21 November 1942. Sadly, the ranks of this spirited group began to dwindle by the 1960s, but FMAFVA members still had more to oer. In 1962, in tandem with Headquarters Marine Corps, they created the Alfred A. Cunningham Award to recognize the Marine aviator of the year. e elaborate trophy was rst awarded to then-Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr., for his orbit around the earth. Steered by the oce of the Deputy Chief of Sta for Aviation (DCS/A), FMAFVA Marines (along with a group of active duty Marines) proposed to expand Association’s charter. A memorandum was presented to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Leonard F. Chapman, Jr. on 4 October 1970, recommending that the Association be opened up to all aviation Marines or Navy who had served or were serving in Marine aviation units. Even though Marine Corps leadership was on board with moving forward, many members of the Old Guard were initially hesitant to give up the FMAFVA moniker and charter. On 15 October 1970, DCS/Air obtained the Commandant’s approval to create a Blue Ribbon Planning Group consisting of Lieutenant General Karl Day, Major General Paul Fontana, Major General Homer Hill (DCS/Air), and Mr. James Nicholson. Ten days later, at the annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia, members of the FMAFVA approved the transition to MCAA. By February 1971, a formal panel was created to establish a constitution, bylaws, and to broaden the charter. On 23 October 1971, FMAFVA was ocially disbanded, and its assets were transferred to MCAA. At their nal meeting, FMAFVA President, Morton B. Rosenthal proclaimed, “We come now to our moment of regret, but we should not feel sorry, as we are being perpetuated in the nest of traditions of the Marine Corps.” Many of the biggest advocates of the transition slapped the table at that meeting; however, the ocial incorporation happened in March of 1972. MCAA’s logo which was based on the FMAF and FMAFVA insignia was ocially approved by the JAG at Headquarters Marine Corps and then the U.S. Registrar of Copyrights, Sam B. Warner on 7 September 1972. An excerpt from the rst annual convention at the Conrad Hotel in Chicago, Illinois: MCAA recognized eight Marines and nine units for outstanding contributions. Honored guests included the Commandant, General Robert E. and Mrs. Cushman; Sergeant Major Pictured here is a FMAF roster with both Cunningham and Nicholson. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 17 Dailey, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps; Astronauts Gerald Carr, Major Jack Lousma, Major Bob Overmeyer, and Mrs. Ross, the donor of the Pete Ross. e announcement from the evening read; “e Awards Banquet was broadcast by Colonel Dick Stark, a loyal MCAA member … opening remarks were by General Carson Roberts, who completed 17 Aviation Awards and 11 charters, closing remarks by the Commandant and the benediction, all within 90 minutes … there were no at spots or tedious oratory …there was a standing ovation for Corporal Lester E. Cox, Jr. a poster-quality Marine with a chest full of ribbons, who had just come back from Vietnam. He arrived at the ceremony directly from Brooke Army Hospital where he has[d] been convalescing from burns incurred in the process of rescuing others from his chopper when it was shot down in Vietnam a few months ago…probably the single most important accomplishment derives from the extra eort that went into insuring that the original FMAFVA members—who we referred to them as the founding nucleus of MCAA—we felt that they were a genuine part of the organization who presence was needed …nearly 50 of the old gang attended, including Lieutenant General Karl Day.” e original MCAA charter read: Maintain and nourish the fraternal bonds which exist within the Marine aviation community.Encourage, recognize, and reward distinguished professional performance on the behalf of individual and units by sponsoring an annual awards program.Keep the membership informed on trends, goals, technology which bear present readiness and future capabilities of Marine aviation and its component. MARINE CORPSAVIATION ASSOCIATIONLeft: The First Marine Aviation Association logo designed by James Nicholson. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSCenter: Current MCAA logoRight: The Flying Leatherneck’s logoPHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSMCAA NATIONAL COMMANDERS1972 LtGen Carson A. Roberts1973 MajGen Paul J. Fontana1974 LtGen Frank C. arin1975 BGen Jay W. Hubbard1976 MajGen Alan Armstrong1977 LtGen William G. rash1978 MajGen Ralph H. Spanjer1979 LtGen omas H. Miller1980 LtGen Philip D. Shutler1981 MajGen Norma Gourley1982 LtGen George C. Axtell1983 BGen Robert E. Galer1984-85 Col Michael J. Hutter1986 MajGen Leo LeBlanc1987-88 MajGen Gregory A. Corliss1989-90 Gen John K. Davis1991-92 LtGen Charles H. Pitman1993-95 Gen Joseph J. Went1996-06 Gen John. R. Dailey2007-10 Gen William L. Nyland2010-12 LtGen John G. Castellaw2012-18 LtGen Keith J. Stalder2018-20 LtGen Jon. M. Davis 2020 LtGen omas L. ConantContribute to the preservation of the record and memorabilia of Naval Aviation in general and Marine Corps aviation in particular. Since the original charter in 1972, MCAA has continually looked to expand its commitment to Marine aviation. It is nowhere more evident than our annual Awards Program with 28 Aviation Awards, spanning several communities and MOSs within Marine aviation. During Covid, we created a new philanthropic arm, the Marine Corps Aviation Association Community Services (MCAACS) so that our members, Marine supporters and donors can set up planned giving and estate planning. We annually partner with A+ Rated charities like the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the Semper Fi & America’s Fund, and Warriors & Quiet Waters to make sure that our aviation Marine families have what they need. We have added additional support and funding for our 25 Squadrons for professional military education and events, and most recently reestablished Life Memberships for our members so that they can give back to provide Marines with Aircrew and Naval Aviator wings. MCAA is fortunate to collaborate with our 51 Corporate partners to make this happen. In expanding the scope of what FMAFVA membership envisioned for MCAA in 1972, we honor them daily. Much like the Old Guard formalized these two Associations, in 1938 and in 1972, MCAA has formalized its unique role within Marine aviation and consistently looked for ways to expand this role and further perpetuate the legacy of Marine aviation for the next 50 years and beyond. Looking back at the FMAFVA charter and leaning forward with the MCAA mission, there is one dening thing that makes us unique: Our Membership. Marines from all ranks and MOSs and retirees stood up these two great Associations and as such, have continually looked for ways to better align our priorities with the ever-changing needs of their fellow Marine.

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18 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgCAPTAIN JOSHUA P. WALDRONGUNNERY SERGEANT JESSE L. HUBBARDCAPTAIN LUKE A. STEPHENSONGUNNERY SERGEANT ROBERT Y. LEEVMFA-211, MAG-13, 3D MAWMAJOR SOPHIA E. FUNDERBURKSTAFF SERGEANT DUSTIN J. CHEUVRONTVMA-223, MAG-14, 2D MAWMALS-13, MAG-13, 3D MAWVMGR-352, MAG-11, 3D MAWMWSS-373, MAG-11, 3D MAW 2D LAAD BN, MACG-28, 2D MAWALFRED A. CUNNINGHAM AWARDKENNETH W. SOUTHCOMB AWARDROBERT GUY ROBINSON AWARD PAUL G. VESS AWARDROBERT M. HANSON AWARDEARLE HATTAWAY AWARDGAINES B. GILBERT AWARDLAWSON H.M. SANDERSON AWARDDONALD E. DAVIS AWARDHENRY WILDFANG AWARDJAMES E. HATCH AWARD EDWARD S. FRIS AWARDe MCAA Awards Program is one of the largest aviation-based awards programs in the country and at the core of our mission. e Aviation Awards Program began in 1962, when we presented the Alfred A. Cunningham Award to then-Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. after he made history on 20 February 1962, as the rst American to orbit Earth. Glenn was selected out of a nal roster of over ve hundred highly qualied candidates to become one of the seven original Project Mercury astronauts. He was the only Marine in the group and spent over three years preparing for his Friendship 7 ight.Much like Alfred A. Cunningham, “e Father of Marine Corps Aviation”, Glenn embodied the ethos of a Marine; we see that same commitment throughout Marine Corps aviation history and in our young Marines today.Every prestigious Aviation Award is named in honor of a Marine who made noteworthy contributions in their eld, with two exceptions: the Commandant’s Aviation Award and the Silver Hawk Award. e 28 awards span the spectrum of Marine aviation and recognize Marines of all ranks who are nominated by their superiors and vetted through Headquarters Marine Corps.We are privileged to recognize our 2022 Award Recipients in San Diego, and we look forward to watching them as they continue to forge their paths of excellence in defense of our Nation’s defense.

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Marine Aviator of the YearCaptain Joshua P. WaldronVMFA-312, MAG-31, 2D MAWFor outstanding meritorious service while serving as Pilot Training Ofﬁcer, VMFA-312, MAG-31, 2D MAW from 1 January to 31 December 2021. A talented aviator and inspirational instructor, Captain Waldron’s impacts were felt ﬂeet-wide. He demonstrated his aviation mastery through the attainment of four instructor qualiﬁcations, culminating with his designation as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor. Captain Waldron led the training and designation of six section leads, two Strike Fighter Tactics Instructors, and two Fighter Attack Instructors. During deployment, Captain Waldron trained all ﬁghter attack squadrons in Carrier Air Wing FIVE on the implementation of the personal computer debrieﬁng system, which directly enhanced combat readiness and interoperability for Navy and Marine Corps squadrons. During exercise Cope North, he became known for his superlative efforts in large force employment with the joint and coalition partners. Captain Waldron’s exceptional professionalism, personal initiative, and total dedication to duty reﬂected credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.20 Alfred A. Cunningham AwardRolls-Royce North AmericaEstablished in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Alfred A. Cunningham, the ﬁrst Marine aviator, by the First Marine Aviation Veterans’ Association for the most outstanding contribution to Marine aviation by a Marine aviator.ALFRED A. CUNNINGHAM AWARDSPONSORED BY

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Marine Naval Flight Officer of the YearCaptain Luke A. StephensonVMFA(AW)-533, MAG-31, 2D MAWFor professional achievement while serving as Weapons Systems Ofﬁcer Training Ofﬁcer, VMFA(AW)-533, MAG-31, 2D MAW from 1 January to 31 December 2021. During this period, Captain Stephenson performed his duties with a sense of purpose and initiative uncommon among his peers. He developed an annual training program to produce combat qualiﬁcations, instructor qualiﬁcations, and elevate squadron tactical performance standards while deployed on the Unit Deployment Program 21.1 and at home. Selﬂessly, he trained aircrew across MAG-31, coordinating, and developing multiple group-level large-force exercises, which enabled all squadrons to enhance readiness, work with external aviation assets, and produce high-level aircrew qualiﬁcations and designations. A superb tactician and teacher, he enthusiastically led his aircrew to the highest standards of brieﬁng, execution and debrieﬁng in all events, ensuring no training opportunity was lost. Captain Stephenson’s professional ability and personal initiative reﬂected credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.22 Robert Guy Robinson Award Northrop Grumman Mission SystemsEstablished in honor of First Lieutenant Robert Guy Robinson, a Medal of Honor recipient in WWI and a pioneer of the Naval Flight Ofﬁcer specialty, for the most outstanding contribution by a Marine naval ﬂight ofﬁcer.ROBERT GUY ROBINSON AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Aviation Ground Officer of the YearMajor Sophia E. FunderburkMWSS-373, MAG-11, 3D MAWFor professional achievement in the superior performance of her duties as Ofﬁcer-in-Charge, MWSD-373, MWSS-373 from January 2021 to December 2021. Major Funderburk led her detachment through a highly condensed pre-deployment timeline of just over 50 days. Just before deploying, she received two LAAD attachments: one from 2D and one from 3D LAAD Battalions. Her detachment took over the ACE’s supply accounts and prepared to displace from Kuwait to Saudi Arabia by 1 June 2021. Her leadership ensured that 100 short tons of ground cargo were relocated using opportune air. In July 2021, she deployed a team of 15 members to a joint airbase in Syria to conduct airﬁeld damage-repair using cold patch material to repair 2,800 square feet of runway. She deployed 117 Marines and Sailors to Kabul, Afghanistan to supplement the evacuation control center in support of OPERATION ALLIES REFUGE. Major Funderburk’s exceptional professionalism, initiative, and total dedication to duty reﬂected credit upon herself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.Earle Hattaway Award 23Rolls-Royce North AmericaEstablished in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Earle Hattaway, the ﬁrst recipient of the Marine Aviation Ground Ofﬁcer of the Year Award, for the most outstanding contribution to Marine aviation by an aviation ground ofﬁcer.EARLE HATTAWAY AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Air Command/Control Officer of the YearMajor Scott W. CatonMASS-2, MACG-18, 1ST MAWFor outstanding meritorious achievement in the performance of his duties while serving as Wing Aviation Command and Control Ofﬁcer, 1st MAW, and Operations Ofﬁcer, MASS-2 from 1 January to 31 December 2021. Major Caton expertly integrated the Wing’s Air Control Plan into two United States’ Indo-Paciﬁc Command Exercises: Paciﬁc Fury and Combined Command Post Training 21. His work was instrumental in ensuring the III Marine Expeditionary Force’s ACE was uniﬁed with the 613th and 607th Air Operations Centers’ operational plans. At MASS-2, Major Caton authored an Operations Plan to synchronize the Squadron’s warﬁghting functions into four lines of effort: Operational Readiness, Digital Interoperability, Strategic Relevance, and Innovation and Modernization. He has greatly contributed to the strategic relevance of the 1st MAW, setting the Wing on a trajectory of strategic deterrence and operational success. Major Caton’s exceptional professionalism, tireless work ethic, and exemplarily tactical mindset reﬂected credit on himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.24 Robert F. Gibson Award General Dynamics Mission SystemsEstablished in honor of Colonel Robert F. Gibson, a pioneer in the concept of integrated air control group detachments supporting Marine aviation around the globe, for the most outstanding contribution to Marine aviation by an ofﬁcer serving in a Marine command and control unit.ROBERT F. GIBSON AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Aviator or NFO with the Earliest Naval Aviation Designation DateLieutenant General Steven R. RudderCOMMANDING GENERAL MARFORPAC Lieutenant General Steven R. Rudder assumed his current position as the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Paciﬁc and Commanding General Fleet Marine Force, Paciﬁc on 16 July 2020.Rudder is a native of Canton, CT, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in June 1984. He previously served as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps.His previous assignments include: Serving in Co B, 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion; Student, NAS Pensacola, FL, designated a Naval Aviator; HMT-303, AH-1J helicopter training; HMLA-367, Maintenance Quality Assurance Ofﬁcer and Weapons and Tactics Instructor; unit deployments to Futenma, Okinawa, and Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM; HMM-161 (REIN), Weapons and Tactics Ofﬁcer deploying with the 11th MEU(SOC) back to North Arabian Gulf; AH-1 Division Head, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One; Operations Ofﬁcer, HML/A-167; Future Operations Ofﬁcer, deploying with the 22nd MEU(SOC) to EUCOM and CENTOCM AOR, HMM-261(REIN); Ofﬁce of Net Assessment, the Ofﬁce of the Secretary of Defense serving as Mr. Andrew Marshall’s Military Assistant; Squadron Commander, HML/A-167 deploying to EUCOM AOR in support of Dynamic Mix; Senior Watch Ofﬁcer, OIF, 3rd Marine Air Wing Tactical Command Center; J5 Lead planner for Afghanistan and Pakistan, CENTCOM, Tampa, FL; deployed to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Qatar in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; Commander, Marine Air Group 26, deploying to Al Asad, Iraq, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 9.1; Branch Head of Aviation Expeditionary Enablers, Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation; Legislative Assistant to the Commandant, Headquarters Marine Corps, Ofﬁce of Legislative Affairs; Commanding General, 1st Marine Air Wing, Okinawa, Japan; deployed Wing to Thailand and South Korea; Director of Strategic Planning and Policy (J5), U.S. Indo-Paciﬁc Command.Lieutenant General Rudder holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Boston University, a Masters of Military Studies Degree from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.Personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat ‘V’, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Air Medal Strike Flight 4, Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star and Combat ‘V’, Joint Achievement Medal and Navy Achievement Medal.Silver Hawk Award 25The Boeing CompanyEstablished to honor the active duty Marine aviator or Marine naval ﬂight ofﬁcer holding the earliest designation date.SILVER HAWK AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Flight Student of the YearFirst Lieutenant Jordan M. AndersonHT-28, MATSG-21, TECOMFor the most outstanding performance of a Marine Flight Student completing the Chief of Naval Aviation Training Advanced Helicopter Syllabus in 2021. While assigned to Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHT at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, First Lieutenant Jordan M. Anderson distinguished himself from his peers by earning an 80.0 Naval Standard Score, a score attained by less than one percent Student Naval Aviators. His composite score upon designation as an Naval Aviator on 27 August 2021 was 320.00, placing him on the Training Air Wing FIVE (TW-5) Commodore’s List with Distinction, an honor given to only four percent of the students who complete training at TW-5. He was also recognized as a Distinguished Graduate and received the Daedalian Award. He continues to distinguish himself at HMHT-302 by excelling in the initial stages of training. First Lieutenant Anderson’s initiative, exceptional achievement, and total devotion to duty reﬂected great credit himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy. 26 Frank E. Petersen Jr. Award Collins AerospaceEstablished in honor of Lieutenant General Frank E. Petersen, Jr. the ﬁrst African American Marine Corps general ofﬁcer and Marine aviator, to recognize superior performance of a Marine ﬂight student.FRANK E. PETERSEN, JR. AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Enlisted Marine Aircrewman of the YearSergeant Harrison D. LeneaveVMM-261, MAG-26, 2D MAWFor professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as MV-22B Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Quality Assurance Representative for VMM-261, MAG-26, 2D MAW from 1 January to 31 December 2021. Following meritorious promotion to his current rank, Sergeant Leneave ﬁlled critical billets throughout a squadron deployment in support of North and West Africa Response Force 21.2. As a crew chief instructor, he ﬂew 189.5 hours while instructing 37 initial training events. His sage maintenance expertise was relied upon to safely transport and maintain aircraft throughout the global force movement, including long embarkation towing evolutions. He also reviewed 111 maintenance action forms through the completion of 828 maintenance man-hours in a six-month period. Serving in both formal and informal leadership capacities, he assumed the role of Division Senior Enlisted Representative (Forward) with supervision of 25 Marines prior to the squadron’s redeployment. Sergeant Leneave’s initiative, perseverance, and total dedication to duty reﬂect credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Danny L. Radish Award 27BAE Systems Electronic SystemsEstablished in honor of Master Gunnery Sergeant Danny L. Radish, who served in Marine aviation with distinction and heroism for over 23 years, for the most outstanding contribution by a Marine enlisted aircrewman.DANNY L. RADISH AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Aviation Maintenance Marine of the YearSergeant Alejandro J. VergeslopezMALS-24(-), MAG-24, 1ST MAWProfessional achievement in the superior performance of his duties as Dynamic Component Repair Supervisor, MALS-24, MAG-24, 1st MAW from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. Sergeant Vergeslopez performed his duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. While serving aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in support of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE, he skillfully balanced the demands of four technical work centers with a robust operational tempo, leading and training his Marines through over 8,000 maintenance actions and 31,000 maintenance man-hours. Facing a ﬂeet-wide upsurge in environmental control system discrepancies, he distinguished himself as the preeminent environmental control system maintainer within Marine Corps aviation by troubleshooting and correcting numerous onboard oxygen generation systems, cabin pressure, and bleed air system discrepancies on Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18C, E, F, and G series aircraft. Sergeant Vergeslopez’s exceptional professional ability, initiative, and loyal dedication to duty reﬂected credit on himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.28 Willie D. Sproule Award Elbit Systems of AmericaEstablished in honor of Gunnery Sergeant Willie D. Sproule, a leader in the ﬁeld of aviation maintenance who served with distinction for over 30 years, for the most outstanding contribution by an enlisted Marine serving in a maintenance billet.WILLIE D. SPROULE AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Aviation Supply Marine of the YearGunnery Sergeant Jesse L. HubbardMALS-11, MAG-11, 3D MAWFor professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties as Supply Management Division Staff Noncommissioned Ofﬁcer-in-Charge, MALS-11 from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. Gunnery Sergeant Hubbard distinguished himself as the most valuable Aviation Supply Marine within 3D MAW and the Marine Corps. His innovative techniques of inventory, reports management, work center alignment, and effective training resonated throughout the aviation supply community and served as the example for retail supply chain management’s effectiveness. Gunnery Sergeant Hubbard’s logistical acumen and critical judgment were crucial in the development of Retail Supply Chain Modernization changes to the Aviation Supply Desktop Procedures. His processes resulted in the Supply Management Division’s Audit Branch score of 100 percent on the 2021 3D MAW Functional Area Assist inspection and have been replicated within the aviation supply community. Gunnery Sergeant Hubbard’s exceptional professionalism, initiative, and total dedication to duty reﬂected credit on himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Kenneth W. Southcomb Award 29Elbit Systems of AmericaEstablished in honor of Gunnery Sergeant Kenneth W. Southcomb, a leader in the ﬁeld of aviation supply who served with distinction for 30 years, for the most outstanding contribution by an aviation supply Marine.KENNETH W. SOUTHCOMB AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Avionics Marine of the YearGunnery Sergeant Robert Y. LeeVMM-364, MAG-39, 3D MAWFor professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties as an MV-22B Avionics Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representative, from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. Gunnery Sergeant Lee served as the ultimate force multiplier whose skills and intellect were essential for the unprecedented support to the Marine Corps and Joint Force during this year. His efforts in quality control, excellence in execution, and drive for mission accomplishment spread like wildﬁre through the squadron’s maintenance department. These efforts drastically inﬂuenced the material readiness of the squadron’s aircraft leading to an astounding average 70.1 percent mission-capable rate for the year. This readiness provided an unprecedented ability for the squadron to progress in ﬂight leadership, which in turn enabled the “Purple Foxes” to support units throughout the Marine Corps and the Joint Force within Central Command. Gunnery Sergeant Lee’s initiative, perseverance, and total dedication to duty reﬂected credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.30 Paul G. Vess Award BAE Systems Electronic SystemsEstablished in honor of Master Gunnery Sergeant Paul G. Vess, a leader in the ﬁeld of avionics, who served with distinction for over 30 years, for the most outstanding contribution by an electronics technician.PAUL G. VESS AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Ordnance Marine of the YearSta Sergeant Dustin J. CheuvrontVMFA(AW)-533, MAG-31, 2D MAWFor outstanding achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as a Quality Assurance Safety Observer, Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representative, and Staff Noncommissioned Ofﬁcer-in-Charge, VMFA(AW)-533, MAG-31, 2D MAW from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. As an Ordnance Quality Assurance Safety Observer, he was instrumental in the successful conduct of daily ﬂight operations. As a Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representative, Staff Sergeant Cheuvront logged over 130 man-hours across 56 maintenance actions and ensured the safe for ﬂight and arming of more than 200 aircraft. He directly supervised over 400 ordnance loading evolutions, resulting in the expenditure of over 157,000 pounds of ordnance. His extensive knowledge and dependability contributed greatly to the Ordnance Division’s success and squadron mission accomplishment. Staff Sergeant Cheuvront’s motivation and unwavering dedication to duty reﬂected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Gaines B. Gilbert Award 31Raytheon TechnologiesEstablished in honor of Master Gunnery Sergeant Gaines B. Gilbert, a leader in the ﬁeld of aviation ordnance who served with distinction for 39 years, for the most outstanding contribution by an aviation ordnance technician.GAINES B. GILBERT AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Command/Control Marine of the YearMaster Sergeant Kevin W. HaunschildMACG-28 DET, 24 MEUFor meritorious service while serving as the Staff Non-Commissioned Ofﬁcer-In-Charge for the 24th MEU, MACG-28 Detachment from 1 January to 30 November 2021. During this period, Master Sergeant Haunschild demonstrated impeccable leadership during non-combatant evacuation operations from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. He held his position on the airport and provided safe control of aircraft for seventeen days after all local control agencies evacuated as crowds of unknown Afghans swarmed the airﬁeld and small arms ﬁre erupted. On multiple occasions, Master Sergeant Haunschild placed himself in harm’s way for the total beneﬁt of the evacuation and to the detriment of time required for hostile forces to develop and execute attacks, directly ensuring the continuation of the non-combatant evacuation operation. By his unmatched dependability, perseverance, and devotion to duty, Master Sergeant Haunschild reﬂected credit upon himself, and his actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.32 Kenneth A. Innis Award Lockheed MartinEstablished in honor of Master Gunnery Sergeant Kenneth A. Innis for the most outstanding contribution by an enlisted Marine in the air command and control ﬁeld.KENNETH A. INNIS AWARDSPONSORED BY

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Aviation Ground Marine of the YearMaster Sergeant Dustin J. BertMWSS-273, MAG-31, 2D MAWFor meritorious service while serving as Operations Chief, MWSS-273, MAG-31, 2D MAW from 1 January to 31 December 2021. In this capacity, Master Sergeant Bert skillfully planned and facilitated uninterrupted Aviation Ground Support for multiple exercises and deployments, to include the unit’s deployment to Service-Level Training Exercise 2-21, HMLA-167’s deployment for training, VMFA-224’s dynamic force employment, and HMLA-269’s deployment for training. Additionally, within ﬁve days of notiﬁcation, he facilitated the task organization and deployment of a 100-Marine company in support of OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME. Furthermore, he skillfully managed to drive the unit to maintain a T-1 readiness status, despite the unit’s high operational tempo and competing requirements. Master Sergeant Bert’s steadfast leadership, commitment to mission success, and complete dedication to duty reﬂected credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Jack W. Demmond Award 33Northrop GrummanInnovation SystemsEstablished in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Jack W. Demmond, who served Marine Corps aviation with versatility and distinction for over 29 years, for the most outstanding contribution by a ground Marine serving with Marine aviation.JACK W. DEMMOND AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Aviation Non-Commissioned Officer LeadershipSergeant Alisher A. TanimuraMALS-13, MAG-13, 3D MAWFor professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties as squadron Training Chief, MALS-13, MAG-13 3D MAW from 1 January to 31 December 2021. Sergeant Tanimura effectively trained and led his Marines, preparing them for success. His superb leadership resulted in three meritorious Corporal promotions, one meritorious Sergeant promotion, and two Marine of the Quarter selections. As the Martial Arts Instructor Trainer and Program Manager, he directly instructed and contributed to producing 20 Martial Arts Instructors and 109 belt certiﬁcations for all units aboard MCAS Yuma, Arizona. As the unit’s lead Force Fitness Instructor, he quickly reduced the number of Body Composition and Remedial Conditioning Programs’ Marines by 63 percent. Sergeant Tanimura’s exceptional professional ability, initiative, and loyal dedication to duty reﬂected great credit upon himself and were keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.34 James E. Nicholson Award Raytheon TechnologiesEstablished in honor of Lieutenant Colonel James E. Nicholson, “The Father of the MCAA,” who served with distinction as a member of the First Aeronautic Company in WWI, for the most signiﬁcant leadership by a noncommissioned ofﬁcer in Marine aviation.JAMES E. NICHOLSON AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Acquisition Excellence in Marine AviationLieutenant Colonel James V. ReynoldsPMA-274For meritorious service while serving as the Integrated Product Team Lead for the VH-92A, Presidential Helicopters Program (PMA-274), Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, from 1 January to 31 December 2021. Through Lieutenant Colonel Reynolds’ leadership, a DoD highlighted contract challenge was resolved, Initial Operational Capability was declared for the VH-92A, the ﬁrst production aircraft were delivered and the VH-92A passed the White House Military Ofﬁce operational evaluation. Additionally, he refocused the 400 person workforce from the development phase to production and sustainment. Through long-term strategic planning, he encompassed the entire 40-year lifecycle of the VH-92A, instead of only addressing near-term objectives; as a result, the program will beneﬁt from calculated savings of multiple billions of dollars over its lifecycle. Lieutenant Colonel Reynold’s leadership ability, personal initiative, and unswerving devotion to duty reﬂected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Michael A. Hough Award 35Teledyne FLIREstablished in honor of Lieutenant General Mike Hough, who served as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation and Director of the Joint Strike Fighter Program, to recognize superior achievement and excellence by a Marine assigned to the acquisition ﬁeld. MICHAEL A. HOUGH AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Exceptional Achievement in Marine AviationSergeant Christian E. SmellieVMFA-122 MAG-13, 3D MAWProfessional achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as Collateral Duty Inspector, Flight Equipment, VMFA-122, MAG-13, 3D MAW from 1 January to 31 December 2021. Sergeant Christian E. Smellie used his vast technical expertise and maintenance knowledge to modernize F-35 maintenance procedures across the enterprise. He created procedures to implement a quick response scanner to quickly and accurately track maintenance data that could be documented in the autonomic logistics information system. He designed and engineered a three-dimensional printed tool that marks the location for the ﬂexible linear shape charge manifold holes on the F-35B canopy. He also developed an electronic maintenance document for ﬂight support equipment that improved tracking inventory, ordering, and inspections to reduce errors in tasks. Most importantly, he shared all of his work with multiple F-35B squadrons so they could also take advantage of the improved maintenance procedures, Sergeant Smellie’s initiative, perseverance, and total dedication to duty reﬂected credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.36 James Maguire Award PiaseckiEstablished in honor of Gunnery Sergeant James Maguire, the ﬁrst enlisted Marine ordered to aviation duty and served with Alfred A. Cunningham, for the most signiﬁcant contribution to Marine aviation by an individual or squadron, not otherwise recognized.JAMES MAGUIRE AWARD SPONSORED BY

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and 3,600 statute miles; beginning from Long Island, NY and landing in Paris, France. Lindbergh, the ‘Lone Eagle’, is a legacy member of e Distinguished Flying Cross Society. e Distinguished Flying Cross Society itself (DFCS) was founded in 1994, as a 501(c) (19) nonprot organization, headquartered in San Diego, CA, and is made up of those men and women who were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and their relatives. e Society currently has more than 6,000 members and was founded on the fraternity and fellowship among military iers. It seeks to preserve the rich heritage and historical narratives of those who are recipients of the DFC and to educate the general public, especially the youth of America, on the values of courage, patriotism and character; those very characteristics upon which America was founded. By doing so, it elevates the awareness of the award itself and demonstrates to the public that The DFC has been awarded to pilots and air crew in all ve of our services (United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force and the United States Coast Guard). Recipients represent a diversity of backgrounds, ethnicity, rank and gender whose aerial achievements were chronicled from the chaos of combat, to epic rescues, out to the very edges of space. e Distinguished Flying Cross medal was established by an Act of Congress on July 2, 1926 to recognize the heroism of World War I pilots. However, the rst Distinguished Flying Cross citations were presented to civilian Pan American Flight crews on 2 May, 1927 by President Calvin Coolidge, for their ve ship, 22,000 mile ight. President Coolidge presented the rst Distinguished Flying Cross medal, on 11 June, 1927, to then Captain Charles A. Lindbergh of the Army Air Corps Reserve, for his solo ight of 33.5 hours a very small cross section of ordinary Americans can and have accomplished extraordinary things under extremely dicult conditions while in ight. e Character Development Program (CDP), produced by the Medal of Honor Foundation as an educational outreach, has recently been recognized by the DFCS as an extremely worthy cause and eorts are underway to lend the support of our membership toward that eort. An active scholarship program exists for the descendents of DFCS members. If you are a DFC recipient and would like to see the historical narrative of your award preserved to serve as an inspiration for future generations, go to the DFCS website at (www.dfcsociety.org) for information and requirements for joining our ranks. Families of a deceased DFC recipient are also encouraged to enroll their loved one posthumously and become an Associate member. For additional information, call our Toll-free number at 1- 866-332-6332.The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is our nation’s highest award for aerial achievement. As a valor decoration, it ranks fourth in order of precedence, and is awarded to recipients for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial ﬂight. Call to Action All DFC Marines!

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Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron of the YearVMFA-211MAG-13, 3D MAWFor outstanding contributions to Marine Corps aviation from 1 January to 31 December 2021. Marines of VMFA-211 embarked upon a historic and unprecedented deployment with United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group-21. The squadron ﬂew more than 2,438 ﬂight hours and 1,530 sorties in support of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE, freedom of navigation operations spanning three separate combatant commands, and countless NATO and allied exercises. Marines and Sailors forged into the unknown with professionalism, tact, and tactical acumen. The “Wake Island Avengers” of VMFA-211 successfully demonstrated the capabilities and strengths of a ten plane F-35B squadron and what it can provide a carrier strike group. From the aircrew, maintainers, and support staff, VMFA-211 has provided the ﬁghting edge and embodied the Marines Corps’ ethos of dynamic and interoperable ﬁghter attack aircraft that provide depth, longevity, and lethality to the battlespace were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.38 Robert M. Hanson AwardLockheed MartinEstablished in honor of Captain Robert M. Hanson, a Medal of Honor recipient and Ace who shot down 25 enemy aircraft before being killed in action, for the most outstanding ﬁghter attack squadron in Marine aviation.ROBERT M. HANSON AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Attack Squadron of the YearVMA-223MAG-14, 2D MAWFor outstanding contributions to Marine Corps aviation from 1 January to 31 December 2021. Over the course of their deployment with the 24th MEU and two highly successful Deployments for Training, Service-Level Training Exercise 2-21 and Dawgs and Hawgs, the VMA-223 “Bulldogs” executed over 1,880 sorties totaling over 3,200 ﬂight hours, employed 120,721 pounds of ordnance, and created a new Mission Commander. The Bulldogs persevered through a viral pandemic and severe manpower shortages while successfully continuing to obtain valuable pilot training and qualiﬁcations. They also concurrently excelled in maintenance inspections, while facilitating the absorption of VMAT-203, as well as being deployed with the 24th MEU. Overseas, the Bulldogs participated in ﬁve multinational large force exercises and provided critical air support over Kabul in August 2021, directly contributing to the evacuation of American Forces from Afghanistan. Through their unwavering devotion and tireless dedication to duty in the face of signiﬁcant challenges, the Marines and Sailors of VMA-223 reﬂected credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. 40 Lawson H. M. Sanderson Award BAEEstablished in honor of Major General Lawson H. M. Sanderson, a pioneer in the development of dive-bombing and close air support in Marine aviation, for the most outstanding attack squadron in Marine aviation.LAWSON H. M. SANDERSON AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron of the YearVMGR-352MAG-11, 3D MAWFor meritorious achievement from 1 January to 31 December 2021, VMGR-352 distinguished itself through superior levels of mission execution and support to 3D MAW, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, Service-Level Training Exercise, and I MEF; increasing combat readiness to all elements. The squadron enabled successful evolutions for Expeditionary Operations Training Group Paciﬁc, Weapons and Tactics Instructor courses, Exercise Summer Fury, Summer Exercise, Integrated Training Exercise, Winter Fury, Mountain Exercise, Adversary Force Exercise, Allies Strike, and Large Scale Exercise 2021. The Radiers’ expertise in critical and necessary skill sets made it possible to provide direct support to the largest noncombatant evacuation operation in American history, OPERATION ALLIES REFUGE. They demonstrated unmatched support in the execution of 2,213 sorties for 6,187 hours, delivering 3,918,245 pounds of fuel, 5,365,695 pounds of cargo, and 11,044 passengers. The Raider’s exceptional performance is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Lockheed MartinEstablished in honor of Major Henry Wildfang, who served with distinction and heroism as a transport pilot, for most outstanding aerial refueler transport squadron in Marine aviation.HENRY WILDFANG AWARD SPONSORED BYHenry Wildfang Award 41

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Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron of the YearHMH-465MAG-16, 3D MAWFor exceptional achievement by a Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron, from 1 January to 31 December 2021. During this period, the Marines and Sailors of HMH-465 “Warhorse” set the standard for warﬁghting as the heavy-lift cornerstone of Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The Squadron achieved the highest levels of combat readiness while supporting the future of Marine Corps warﬁghting tactics. Lifting an 11,200 pound communication system and a 7,000 pound compact track loader in support of Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations while on Unit Deployment Program 21.1, to providing assault support transport of combat troops to Baledogle and Kismayo Somalia on the 15th MEU, the Warhorse’s success in executing heavy-lift operations is driven by their professionalism and bias for action; demonstrated by their motto, “Take the Reins.” Their commitment to warﬁghting, epitomizes the fundamental attributes of the Keith B. McCutchen Award. Through their unrelenting determination, perseverance, and steadfast devotion to duty, the Marines and Sailors of Marine HMH-465 reﬂected great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. 42 Keith B. McCutcheon Award SikorskyEstablished in honor of General Keith B. McCutcheon, a pioneer helicopter pilot and a visionary in the development of Marine Corps aviation doctrine, for the most outstanding heavy helicopter squadron in Marine aviation.KEITH B. MCCUTCHEON AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Unmanned Aircraft Squadron of the YearVMU-2MAG-14, 2D MAWFor outstanding contributions to Marine Corps aviation from 1 January to 31 December 2021. During this period, VMU-2 set the standard with its operations, conducting 300 sorties for 1,366 ﬂight hours through the employment of the RQ-21A on a Marine Expeditionary Unit deployment and training exercises. The unit’s detachment in support of 24th MEU returned having executed 93 sorties and totaling 702 ﬂight hours, while providing valuable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for units at sea and on the ground. Additionally, VMU-2 reinforced the value of Unmanned Aerial Systems by conducting joint exercises utilizing its digital interoperability, expanding the aviation and ground unit situational awareness of the battlespace. The Avionics Maintenance Department maintained elite levels of readiness, achieving a nearly perfect 93.2 percent grade on its Aviation Logistics Management Assist Team evaluation. Through their devotion and dedication, the Marines and Sailors of VMU-2 reﬂected great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.44 John I. Hudson Award InsituEstablished in honor of Lieutenant General John I. Hudson to recognize superior achievement by a Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle SquadronJOHN I. HUDSON AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron of the YearVMM-364MAG-39, 3D MAWFor meritorious service, professional achievement, and sustained superior performance from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. The “Purple Foxes” of VMM-364 demonstrated their dominance across all combat operational domains sublimely blending tactics, risk management, and will-do warﬁghting esprit. The Purple Foxes fought in three countries from two continents, supported a National Mission Joint Task Force as a conventional tiltrotor unit, established a new expeditionary advance airbase, and provided the ﬁrst integrated forward staging in several austere locations, contributing to coalition forces’ ability to close with and destroy Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Al Qaeda forces. The Purple Foxes managed risk across a wide spectrum of desert and littoral combat operations while surpassing the 10,000 hour mishap-free milestone with an unblemished 100 percent mission success rate. Through their continuous display of professionalism and total devotion to duty, the members of VMM-364 have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.Fred McCorkle Award 45Bell-BoeingEstablished in honor of Lieutenant General Fred McCorkle, whose leadership and dedication contributed to the success of the V-22 program, for the most outstanding tiltrotor squadron in Marine aviation.FRED MCCORKLE AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron of the YearHMLA-269MAG-29, 2D MAWFor extraordinary performance during operations from 1 January to 31 December 2021 in support of II MEF. During this period, HMLA-269 answered the nation’s call by sending a detachment of Marines in support of the 24th MEU, which operated in areas to include the North Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf. During this time, the remainder of “The Gunrunners” continued to display their professionalism by executing numerous training operations both inside and outside of the Continental United States. The squadron supported several training missions aboard Moody Air Force Base, effectively executed operation Jaded Thunder, successfully completed Service-Level Training Exercise 3-21, and increased international diplomatic relations during Exercise UNITAS. Throughout 2021, the Gunrunners logged more than 5,186 ﬂight hours, 2,881 sorties, and expended over $3,000,000 worth of ordnance in support of countless ground training events. Through their complete dedication to the mission, the Marines of HMLA-269 reﬂected credit on themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.46 John P. Giguere Award BellEstablished in honor of Captain John P. Giguere, killed in action during a pilot rescue mission in Grenada, for the most outstanding light attack helicopter squadron.JOHN P. GIGUERE AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron of the YearMALS-13MAG-13, 3D MAWFor outstanding contributions to Marine aviation during calendar year 2021. MALS-13 “Black Widows”, provided superb logistical and maintenance support to numerous units inside and outside MAG-13. They provided exceptional aviation logistics support for the 2021 bilateral deployment with the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy, Her Majesty’s Ship, Queen Elizabeth. The squadron spearheaded the F-35B T/M/S lead responsibilities by developing distribution plans for F-35 aircraft, support equipment, and a speciﬁc playbook for Autonomic Logistics Information System procedures across the entire Fleet Marine Forces. Analyzed demand data that right-sized the F-35 Base Spares Package with industry, resulting in proper redistribution of parts to the correct sites. The squadron standardized F-35 weapons systems procedures and distribution plans that ensured deployed readiness. As the lead aviation logistics unit, the squadron supported 59 aircraft consisting of six T/M/S during Service-Level Training Exercise 1-22 that resulted in all mission requirements being met. By their distinctive achievements, professionalism, and unfailing devotion to duty, the Marines of MALS-13 reﬂected great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Donald E. Davis Award 47CAEEstablished in honor of Colonel Donald E. Davis, who designed the Marine aviation logistics support program, for the highest degree of leadership, logistic expertise, innovation, and superior accomplishments in support of Marine aviation.DONALD E. DAVIS AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Wing Support Squadron of the YearMWSS-373MAG-11, 3D MAWProfessional achievement in the superior performance of duties as MWSS-373 from 1 January to 31 December 2021. Distributed across eight countries in support of global force management and theater security cooperation exercises, the Marines and Sailors of the “ACES” proved to be ever-ready, tactically proﬁcient, and ﬂexible to the needs of Marine Corps. From the ﬁrst-in-kind expanded aviation ground support detachment to the 15th MEU, to the formation and deployment of the last Marine Wing Support Detachment to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command, to Evacuation Control Center operations in Kabul, Afghanistan, and the execution of a Defense Innovative Readiness Training project on Catalina Island. In total, MWSS-373 support resulted in 2,116,909 gallons of fuel dispensed to over 3,758 aircraft; 114,740 motor transport miles driven moving over 29,028,943 pounds of cargo; a truly monumental period for the “ACES”. Marines of MWSS-373’s exceptional professionalism, initiative, and total dedication to duty reﬂected credit upon themselves and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.48 James E. Hatch Award L3 HarrisEstablished in honor of Colonel James E. Hatch, designer of the Marine Wing Support Group and its subordinate squadrons, for the most outstanding wing support squadron who enhances support to aviation by furnishing transportation, engineering, and communication essentials.JAMES E. HATCH AWARD SPONSORED BY

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Marine Air Command/Control Unit of the Year2d LAAD BnMACG-28, 2D MAWFor outstanding contributions from 1 January to 31 December 2021. 2D LAAD Battalion led the aviation command and control community in support of operations around the globe, spanning three theaters and supporting the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command, Unit Deployment Program, Marine Rotational Force-Europe, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, and the 24th MEU. During these deployments, 2D LAAD paved the way in Counter Unmanned Aerial System airspace integration and deconﬂiction, resulting in 129 UAS detections, 12 kinetic engagements, 22 non-kinetic engagements, defense of 5,800 United States and joint coalition personnel, and assets valued over $18,800,000. In addition, the Battalion exempliﬁed aviation command and control while reducing signature in the Indo-Paciﬁc Command for Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations from a successful Stinger Live Fire shoot off a MK-V1 patrol boat. They continue to shape future doctrine and employment of aviation command and control as they execute operations and exercises around the world. The accomplishments of the Marines of 2D LAAD Battalion were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.Edward S. Fris Award 49Raytheon SolipsysEstablished in honor of Major General Edward S. Fris, a pioneer in the development of Marine Corps aviation command and control, for the most outstanding air command and control squadron in Marine aviation.SPONSORED BYEDWARD S. FRIS AWARD

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Superior Performance in Marine AviationMACS-2MACG-28, 2D MAW For outstanding contributions to Marine Corps aviation from 1 January to 31 December 2021. Over the past year, MACS-2 represented the pinnacle of aviation command and control support. In March 2021, Marines with MACS-2 deployed to Naval Air Station Oceana, providing critical air trafﬁc control services while the air station’s organic equipment underwent extensive repairs, enabling continued ﬂight operations. In May 2021, MACS-2 immediately deployed an air trafﬁc control capability to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, supporting over 590 launch and recovery sorties in support of a Dynamic Force Employment. In August 2021, a MACS-2 Marine Air Trafﬁc Control Mobile Team, attached to the 24th MEU, provided vital air trafﬁc control services in support of the largest non-combatant evacuation of more than 120,000 personnel from Kabul, Afghanistan. In all, the squadron supported 9 deployments across 4 theaters as well as 25 training exercises spread around the globe. Marines of MACS-2’s accomplishments were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.50 Commandant’s Aviation Trophy Pratt & WhitneyEstablished to recognize superior performance and accomplishment of all assigned tasks by a Marine squadron.COMMANDANT’S AVIATION TROPHY SPONSORED BY

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52 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgMarine Aviation SafetyVMGR-152MAG-12, 1ST MAWFor an exemplary service record while safely executing unparalleled aviation support to Marine Corps Forces Paciﬁc from 1 January to 31 December 2021, VMGR-152 raised the bar again in Marine aviation for professional excellence and aviation safety. Conducting ﬂight operations within an area of 70,000,000 square miles, the “Sumos” demonstrated an unmatched focus on mission accomplishment and ﬂying safety while amassing 5,630 ﬂight hours and 1,861 sorties with zero ﬂight mishaps. Surpassing 16,280 Class-A mishap-free ﬂight hours, the Sumos supported all six functions of Marine aviation, transporting 5,000,000 pounds of cargo; 12,962 passengers; and 2,700,000 pounds of aviation fuel. The Sumos’ irrefutable safety mindset in the tireless conduct of their missions is the standard throughout the Paciﬁc. Exemplifying Marine aviation at its best, the sustained superior performance of VMGR-152 reﬂects great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest standards of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.52 Pete Ross AwardGEEstablished in honor of First Lieutenant Joseph “Pete” Ross, who perished while ﬂying during a drill at Naval Air Station Glenview, IL, for the Marine aviation unit compiling the best safety record over the past year.PETE ROSS AWARD SPONSORED BY

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2022 Symposium 53 1962 to 2021Past Aviation AwardeesALFRED A. CUNNINGHAM AWARD 2021 Capt Joshua E. Hazeldean2020 Capt Valerie K. Smith2019 Capt George W. Carpenter2018 Capt Daniel J. Bono2017 Capt Hugh E. Anderson2016 LtCol Steve E. Gillette2015 Capt Jason R. Caster2014 Capt Jason T. Stephenson2013 Maj Robert J. Weingart2012 Maj John E. Grunke2011 Capt Gregory J. Youngberg2010 Capt Henry J. Hortenstine2009 Maj Scott W. Wadle2008 Capt William G. Heiken2007 Maj C. W. Hasle2006 Maj Ricardo Martinez2005 Capt G. J. Pawson2004 Capt Matthew C. Shortal2003 Capt Scott D. Schoeman2002 Capt J.M. Holtermann2001 LtCol Steven W. Busby2000 LtCol Andrew W. O’Donnell Jr.1999 Maj Michael L. Lawrence1998 Captain Kevin J. Wolfe1997 Maj John Robert Parker1996 Capt Robert J. Charette Jr.1995 LtCol Wallace G. Duncan Jr.1994 LtCol Martin D. Peatross1993 Capt Mark A. Dungan1992 LtCol Daniel A. Driscoll Jr.1991 LtCol Michael M. Kurth1990 LtCol John G. Castellaw1989 LtCol Robert J. Garner1988 LtCol Larry D. Outlaw1987 LtCol Stephen D. Haley1986 Maj Ivan M. Behel1985 Capt Michael C. Albo1984 Col Laurence R. Medlin1983 LtCol William G. Barnes Jr.1982 Maj Bruce B. Knutson Jr.1981 LtCol Alfred J. Allega1980 Maj T. David Seder1979 Maj Mike D. Ryan1978 Col Walter R. Ledbetter1977 Col Harvey D. Bradshaw1976 Maj R. H. Brinkley1975 LtCol James L. Bolton1974 LtCol Michael P. Sullivan1973 Maj Howard L. DeCastro1972 Maj Lee T. Lasseter1971 Maj David G. Vest1970 Capt John J. Barrett1969 LtCol Paul W. Niesen1968 Maj David L. Althoff1967 Maj Vincent J. Guinee Jr.1966 LtCol Charles H. Ludden1965 Capt Raymond R. Powell1964 LtCol Thomas J. Ross1963 Col Michael R. Yunck1962 LtCol John H. Glenn Jr.ROBERT GUY ROBINSON AWARD2021 Capt James Hernandez2020 Capt Alexander Betzel2019 Capt Daniel L. Jewett2018 Capt Philip R. Schmitz2017 Capt Christopher A. Smith2016 Maj Jason P. Whittaker2015 Capt Anthony J. Cesaro2014 Capt Bradley N. Buick2013 Maj Matthew A. Brown2012 Capt David C. Dunsworth2011Maj Marc E. Blankenbicker2010 Capt John Cimina2009 Capt Brian A. Adams2008 Maj Anthony Baggs2007 Maj H.W. Qualkinbush2006 Capt J. L. Purdon2005 Capt M. D. Williams2004 Capt Charles B. Dockery2003 Maj Joseph E. Maybach2002 Maj J.A. Craft2001 Maj John H. Pylant2000 Maj Chris Pappas, III1999 Maj David A. DeMorat1998 Capt John P. Farnam1997 Capt Francisco M. Ball1996 Maj Justin B. Orabona1995 LtCol Jeffrey A. White1994 Maj Barry B. Bizzell1993 LtCol Terry G. Robling1992 Maj Henry J. Krauss1991 Maj Richard J. Findlay1990 Maj John A. Blum1989 Capt Mark F. McKeon1988 Maj Terry L. Breithaupt1987 Maj Michael I. Mott1986 LtCol Joseph C. Garbrous1985 LtCol Richard C. Kindsfater1984 LtCol James E. French1983 Maj Wayne A. Stanley1982 Maj David Vanesselstyn1981 Maj George P. Sweeney III1980 Capt Gary P. Newell1979 Maj Richard G. Hoopes1978 Maj Leonard R. Fuchs Jr.1977 LtCol Gerland C. Lindgren1976 Maj O. E. Hay1975 CWO3 Don E. Diederich1974 Maj William T. Bridgham Jr.1973 CWO-3 John C. Bardon1972 Capt William D. Carr Jr.1971 Capt John D. CummingsEARLE HATTAWAY AWARD2021 1stLt Travis D. Soubie2020 Maj Calischaran James2019 Capt Zachary V. Smith2018 Capt Kristina F. Warren2017 Capt Kevin F. Champaigne2016 Maj Michael J. Malone2015 Capt Devin D. Johnson2014 Capt Narciso Corral2013 CWO-2 Theodore B. Hensley2012 CWO-2 Charles T. Dine2011 CWO-2 Ricky J. Savage2010 CWO-2 Nathan Young2009 Capt Matthew J. Neely2008 Capt Jonathan Goins2007 Capt A. A. Angell2006 Capt L. R. Domitrovits2005 Capt R. A. Dill2004 CWO3 Steven P. Hulse2003 Maj Kris S. Karnetsky2002 Maj W. E. Hidle2001 Maj John F. Sisson2000 Maj Brent E. Meeker1999 Maj Roosevelt G. Lafontant1998 Maj Paul F. Callan1997 Maj Jerald D. Holm1996 CW0-2 Robert A. Murphy1995 Maj Byron F. Stebbins1994 Maj Lloyd L. Denn1993 Maj Paul F. Lease1992 Capt Kevin T. McCutcheon1991 Maj Bonnie J. Robison1990 Maj Steve S. Demers1989 LtCol John E. Torsak1988 Col Donald E. Davis1987 Maj Richard Christiansen1986 Capt Ernie L. Ellis1985 Capt Michael J. Cooper1984 Capt Stephen C. Lambeth1983 CWO-3 Leroy Sanderson1982 Capt Robert E. Fugate1981 Capt Donald Schwartz Jr.1980 1stLt Mark C. Hunt1979 Maj Donald B. Frost1978 Maj Frederick M. Stitcher1977 1stLt Herbert Donahue Jr.1976 Capt D. Ratcliffe1975 Capt Courtney B. Payne1974 Capt Vernon L. Clark1973 Capt Louis E. Sergeant Jr.1972 LtCol Earle HattawayROBERT F. GIBSON AWARD2021 1stLt Jonathan B. Watkins2020 Capt Matthew Duncan2019 Maj Chad E. Troyer2018 Capt Steven E. Nye2017 Capt Michael R. Jacobellis2016 Maj Jason A. Lambert2015 Capt Benjamin J. Kiley2014 Maj Jason A. Sharp2013 Maj Kenneth W. Phelps III2012 Capt Christopher J. Forsythe2011 Maj Koichi Takagi2010 Capt Michael J. Pruden2009 Capt Christopher M. Nelson2008 Capt Amanda Donnelly2007 1stLt Andrea L. Goeman2006 Capt D. A. Funkhouser2005 Capt K. M. Karcher2004 Maj Lorna M. Mahlock2003 Maj Christopher S. Richie2002 Maj K. A. Knarr2001 CWO James M. Graham II2000 Capt Matthew Culbertson1999 Major John C. Reimer1998 Major Jeffery S. Carusone1997 Capt Blaise R. Strandquist1996 Capt Michael C. Bogna1995 Capt Rodney D. Burnett1994 Maj William L. Clemente1993 Capt Robert S. Crosetto1992 Capt Paul D. McGraw1991 Capt Mark R. Cyr1990 Capt Mark R. Cyr1989 Capt Dale L. Kratzer1988 Capt Chad W. Hocking1987 Capt Francis W. Chesney1986 Capt Kelvin K. Womack1985 Capt Randolph L. Hill1984 Maj William L. Groves1983 Capt Richard J. Martin Jr.1982 Maj Jimmie T. Turner1981 Maj Timothy J. Balch1980 MSgt Bobbie D. Hodges1979 1stLt Timoth J. Kirk1978 Capt William W. Smith

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54 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.org1977 Capt Paul F. Cibuzar1976 GySgt W. E. Grogan1975 Maj Mitchell Steinberg1974 Maj James W. Bierman1973 CW0-4 Robert D. Favreau1972 1stSgt Frederico VercelesSILVER HAWK AWARD2021 LtGen Robert F. Hedelund2020 LtGen Robert F. Hedelund2019 LtGen Robert F. Hedelund2018 Gen Glenn M. Walters2017 Gen Glenn M. Walters2016 LtGen Robert E. Schmidle Jr.2015 LtGen Kenneth J. Glueck2014 Gen James F. Amos2013 Gen James F. Amos2012 Gen James F. Amos2011 Gen James F. Amos2010 Gen James F. Amos2009 Gen James F. Amos2008 Gen James F. Amos2007 LtGen Jack W. Bergman2006 LtGen Jack W. Bergman2005 Gen William L. Nyland2004 Gen William L. Nyland2003 Gen William L. Nyland2002 LtGen Michael P. DeLong2001 LtGen Frederick McCorkle2000 MajGen Thomas A. Braaten1999 Gen Terry Dake1998 LtGen Terry Dake1997 LtGen Jefferson Davis Howell Jr.1996 General Richard D. Hearney1995 LtGen Harold W. Blot1994 MajGen Richard L. Phillips1993 MajGen Richard L. Phillips and MajGen Clyde L. Vermilya1992 Gen John R. Dailey1991 LtGen Royal N. Moore and MajGen Michael P. Sullivan1990 MajGen Michael P. Sullivan1989 Gen Joseph J. Went and LtGen John I. Hudson1988 LtGen John I. Hudson1987 LtGen Frank E. Petersen Jr.1986 LtGen Frank E. Petersen Jr.1985 MajGen Frank E. Petersen Jr.1984 MajGen Leo J. LeBlanc Jr.1983 MajGen Leo J. LeBlanc Jr.1982 MajGen Leo J. LeBlanc Jr.1981 LtGen William J. White1980 LtGen Andrew W. O’Donnell1979 LtGen Thomas H. Miller1978 CWO-4 Henry Wildfang and MajGen Frank Lang1977 CWO-4 Henry Wildfang1976 CWO-4 Henry Wildfang1975 CWO-4 Henry Wildfang1974 MajGen Arthur H. Adams1973 MajGen Arthur H. Adams1972 MajGen Norman J. AndersonFRANK E. PETERSEN, JR AWARD2021 1stLt Douglas J. Haas2020 1stLt Jody Lamb2019 1stLt Emilee N. Johnson2018 1stLt Daniel J. Lengyel2017 1stLt Samantha A. Sirois2016 1stLt Curtis C. King2015 1stLt Kyle K. McLeodDANNY L. RADISH AWARD2021 SSgt David Gooden2020 Sgt Cameron D. Colucci2019 Sgt Derek A. Levi2018 SSgt Gilbert B. Hopper2017 Sgt Cameron A. Koerner2016 Sgt Ryan A. Hetu2015 Sgt Nathaniel T. Lubinus2014 GySgt James E. Garner2013 Cpl Benjamin L. Hebert2012 Sergeant James R. Reyes2011 SSgt Bart C. Davis2010 Sgt Frank Conrad2009 SSgt Bryan E. Campbell2008 Sgt Matthew R. Crooks2007 Sgt T. D. Martinez2006 Cpl N. A. Robinson2005 GySgt P. O. Burgess2004 SSgt Wade M. Davis2003 Sgt Bryan K. Cox2002 SSgt A. D. Ritacco2001 Sgt Joshua C. Eveslage2000 Sgt Robert J. Ostrander1999 Sgt Bruce W. Keller1998 Sgt Dennis L. Pennington1997 SSgt Sean M. Sterling1996 Sgt Scott A. Pﬁster1995 Sgt Kenneth W. JourdanFixed-Wing1994 MGySgt Ehore N. Dicandiatt1993 GySgt Jerry L. Lewis1992 MSgt Cary M. Depew1991 MSgt Bruce A. Taylor1990 Sgt Michael V. Davis1989 Sgt Scott S. Steele1988 MSgt James R. Noe1987 SSgt David Rodriguez1986 CWO-3 Edward J. Delehant1985 CWO-3 Terry D. Ruhter1984 CWO-3 Timmy A. Bahr1983 GySgt Cary M. Depew1982 CWO-2 James R. Kikta1981 SSgt Daniel A. Weier1980 GySgt Earl E. Lipford1979 MGySgt Edward T. Hunt Jr.1978 CWO-2 Terry D. Ruhter1977 Sgt David R. Gorton1976 GySgt S. D. Alvarez1975 MSgt Thomas J. Guthrie, Jr.1974 GySgt Donald Schwartz Jr.1973 GySgt Edward C. Rinehart1972 SSgt Richard F. SmithHELICOPTER1994 SSgt Joseph Womack1993 Cpl James H. Brown1992 Sgt Leonard R. Domitrovitis1991 Sgt Richard N. Gravel1990 Sgt Thomas E. Newman1989 Sgt David A. Brown1988 Sgt James E. Bowling, II1987 Sgt Micharel R. Bishop Jr.1986 Sgt Michael H. Schmitt1985 SSgt David H. Dielman1984 GySgt Kelly M. Neidigh1983 Cpl Gregory S. Floyd1982 Sgt Bobby G. Clement Jr.1981 Sgt Kenneth R. Boone1980 SSgt Dewey L. Johnson1979 Sgt Ralph Rainey1978 SSgt G.T. Chavarria1977 SSgt Tery R. Armstrong1976 Cpl G. E. Estepp1975 Sgt Joseph F. Kerce1974 Sgt Robert D. Brooking1973 SSgt James T. Connacher1972 Cpl Lester E. Cox Jr.WILLIE D. SPROULE AWARD2021 GySgt Larry Aldridge2020 Sgt Gage Mohelsky2019 SSgt Nicholas J. Harrel2018 GySgt Robert M. Surozenski2017 Sgt Keanu B. Kinney2016 GySgt Ronald L. Strzalkowski2015 GySgt Mark A. Eastmead2014 Sgt Kevin M. Adcock2013 Cpl Sean A. Radcliff2012 SSgt Chad D, Brown2011 Sgt Justin H. Mauldin2010 GySgt Donald Wilson2009 Sgt Esteban Amezquitazamora2008 Cpl Brandyn C. Gutche2007 Sgt R. P. Roberthon2006 SSgt Eric Williams2005 SSgt B. M. Rioux2004 GySgt Jersey J. Bray2003 SSgt Troy A. Bissen2002 Sgt J. D. Clement2001 Cpl Michael L. Youngblood2000 SSgt Ruben Garibay, Jr.1999 GySgt Brian E. Trimble1998 SSgt Francis Masterson III1997 GySgt Oscar G. Adley1996 Sgt Robert A. Petersen1995 SSgt Paul D. Kogut1994 Cpl Willie J. Timms Jr.1993 Sgt Steven M. Dalrymple1992 Sgt Rodney W. Troup1991 Cpl Dale M. Harp1990 Cpl Thomas E. Covey1989 Sgt Edwin Jimenez1988 Sgt Steven R. Davis1987 Sgt Margie E. Traub1986 Cpl Joseph D. Gamble1985 SSgt Lou Ann Rickley1984 Sgt Jesus L. Zarate1983 Sgt David L. Washa1982 Sgt Bernard A. Leever1981 Sgt Valerio D. Capote1980 Sgt Neil V. McCarty1979 Cpl Jose R. Guzman1978 Sgt David B. Shrader1977 Sgt Stephen P. Givens1976 Cpl M. A. Bogaczyk1975 Sgt Stephen H. Foreman1974 Sgt Rickey A. Hess1973 Sgt Ronald L. Harvin1972 Sgt Gary GriswoldKENNETH W. SOUTHCOMB AWARD2021 GySgt Monica L. Williams2020 GySgt Joagensky Dor2019 MSgt Edgard J. Norori2018 MSgt Jeffrey J. Swindell2017 MSgt Willie J. Milline2016 MSgt Olga J. McCray2015 Sgt Teresa Morman2014 MSgt Rodolfo Flores Jr.2013 Cpl Michael L. Denney2012 MSgt Erika E. Johnson2011 Sgt Catalina Delgado2010 MSgt Scott Kieweg2009 MSgt Frank C. Orduno2008 Sergeant Javier Lopeztapia2007 SSgt A. M. Hayes2006 GySgt T. L. Adkins2005 GySgt R. W. Rowe2004 MSgt Anthony J. Jackson2003 GySgt David Parulis2002 GySgt W. B. Downing2001 GySgt James M. Pasko2000 SSgt Alan J. Papke1999 GySgt Mark Obey1998 GySgt Kenneth W. Oisten1997 SSgt Michael L. Shideler1996 SSgt Michael S. MartinPAUL G. VESS AWARD2021 Sgt Coltrane Dilley2020 Sgt Sean Mahoney2019 Cpl Kyle M. LeClair,2018 GySgt Ryan J. Straub2017 SSgt Christopher E. Norman2016 SSgt Juan Ogomuro2015 GySgt Brian D. Hoover2014 Sgt Eric J. Smith2013 Cpl Mario A. Cabrera2012 Sgt Christopher A. Green2011 Sgt Ryan J. Straub2010 Sgt Steve Bougnadeth2009 SSgt Thomas M. McNelis2008 Sgt Michelle Carter2007 SSgt C. C. Wilson2006 GySgt G. C. Krenek2005 GySgt J. H. Kreitzer2004 Sgt Henry L. Sapp

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2022 Symposium 55 2003 GySgt Duwayne W. Darby2002 GySgt A. L. Garrant2001 GySgt Arlington A. Finch2000 Sgt Brandy R. Vaughn1999 SSgt James F. Lewellyn1998 SSgt Dale W. Benton1997 Sgt Robert Vanravenswaay1996 SSgt Adam R. Chitty1995 GySgt James T. Baker1994 SSgt Andrew McLaughlin1993 Cpl Kurt E. Peterson1992 GySgt Ronald G. Hayward1991 SSgt Charles W. Anderson1990 SSgt Walter B. Jarek1989 Cpl Lansden R. Good III1988 Cpl James H. Parish Jr.1987 GySgt Ronald H. Cowles1986 SSgt Karl E. Duggin1985 GySgt Donald L. Erickson1984 GySgt Edward G. Robinson1983 SSgt James C. Addington1982 Sgt Dennis K. Ellis1981 GySgt James O. Stephens1980 SSgt John A. Chemsak1979 GySgt Samuel E. Cooper1978 GySgt Barry B. Mertz1977 GySgt Raymond ClapsadleGAINES B. GILBERT AWARD2021 Sgt Nicholas D. Bedford2020 Sgt John Sagrillo2019 Sgt Christopher J. Borghese2018 Sgt Jordan A. Rubio2017 Sgt Shane M. Tietje2016 Sgt Tyler J. Bluder2015 SSgt Francisco A. Valdez2014 Sgt Jason T. Connolly2013 GSgt Juan G. Jimenez Jr.2012 Sgt Blake A. Cooper2011 Sgt Nicholas W. Passage2010 Sgt Cleavland Smith2009 GySgt Sean C. Kuietauskas2008 Sgt Brian D. Kolterman2007 Sgt J. D. Quigley2006 Sgt J. H. Barr2005 Sgt B. A. Roczicka2004 SSgt Carl E. Moser2003 Sgt Zachary F. Ritter2002 Sgt B.D. Auten2001 SSgt Gary L. Shopper2000 SSgt Michael T. Kuzniar1999 Sgt Sally D. Morris1998 Sgt Anthony J. Ramos1997 SSgt Mark A. Mitchell1996 Sgt Porﬁrio A. Velasquez-Torres1995 SSgt Gary L. Glisan1994 SSgt Lisa A. Borbe1993 SSgt John A. GraboskiKENNETH A. INNIS AWARD2021 SSgt John P. Lukasiewicz2020 GySgt Tricia Harrell2019 Cpl Colton R. Vaughan2018 GySgt Anthony R. Maggard2017 MSgt Lance A. Gruben2016 WO Michael L. Ott2015 MSgt Herbert A. Smith2014 SSgt Adele Grullon-Knupp2013 GSgt Justin E. Hackworth2012 GySgt Jeffrey P. Riley2011 Sgt Xavier W. Wethington2010 SSgt Gene A. Gibbs2009 MSgt Gary G. Gumienny2008 GySgt Rachel L. Eltz2007 SSgt K. J. Williams2006 Sgt N. A. Norville2005 GySgt J. A. Dobbins2004 GySgt Russell T. Sinclair2003 SSgt Charles C. Robinett2002 GySgt R. G. Eskam2001 Sgt Michael Soto2000 GySgt Vernon K. Abshire1999 Sgt Victor B. Watts1998 SSgt Kenneth C. Reynolds1997 GySgt Carol A. Franssen1996 Sgt Andrew C. Johnson1995 SSgt Dean L. Jones1994 MGySgt Donald L. Kopff1993 GySgt Samuel R. Schmidt1992 GySgt Timothy P. Bougher1991 SSgt Brent W. Pforthmiller1990 Cpl Derek R. Andersen1989 Sgt Timothy J. Didas1988 Sgt Brian E. DundonJACK W. DEMMOND AWARD2021 SSgt Thomas J. Warren2020 Cpl Ashley Hernandez2019 SSgt Marcus Penate2018 GySgt Jonathon E. Thornton2017 Sgt Jordan M. Mercado2016 MSgt Christopher D. Collins2015 Sgt Robert B. Plumb2014 SSgt Victor Carmona Jr.2013 SSgt Jose A. Zazueta2012 Sgt Joy E. Spears2011 GySgt Tracy Wilson2010 MSgt Steven Lemke2009 SSgt Robert Leatherman2008 SSgt Blair R. Clark2007 SSgt B. A. DeBusk2006 SSgt S. L. Leonard2005 SSgt K. D. Voss2004 SSgt Hector M. De La Pena2003 SSgt Elibert S. Ginez2002 Sgt C. B. Peoples2001 SSgt Michael S. Hounshell2000 GySgt Lisa C. Beeksma1999 Sgt Ronald R. Phillips1998 Sgt Paul F. Smith1997 Sgt Ralph A. VanAssche1996 SSgt Timothy King1995 Sgt Mark L. UngerJAMES E. NICHOLSON AWARD2021 Sgt Tyshaun J. Brown2020 Sgt Joseph J. McDonnell2019 GySgt Rodger K. Bond2018 SSgt Jamie L. Murray2017 Sgt Brandon D. Young2016 SSgt Jimi A. Banda2015 Sgt Jason Alvarez2014 Sgt Zachary A. Kirk2013 Sgt Brett S. Johnson2012 Sgt Cory J. Sowell2011 Sgt Joshua D. Obermier2010 Sgt Ryan Fuss2009 Sgt Thomas M. Reed2008 GySgt Arthur W. Cochran2007 GySgt Brian J. O’Toole2006 Sgt E. J. Amezquitazamora2005 GySgt Anthony Garcia2004 GySgt Marvin M. Magcale2003 GySgt Vincent F. Young2002 GySgt R. J. Watson2001 SSgt Daniel W. Annunziata2000 SSgt Trisha A. Schmidt1999 MGySgt Jeffery A. Davis1998 SSgt Rosa A. Clarke1997 Sgt Sarah L. Hart1996 Sgt Daniel C. Gutierrez1995 GySgt Clayton T. Kribs1994 GySgt Timothy P. Hinger1993 SSgt Michael A. Hoffman1992 SSgt Robert G. Meserve1991 GySgt William R. Shearer1990 MGySgt John E. Merchant1989 MGySgt Robert D. Targett1988 GySgt George C. Johnson1987 MSgt Tommy Lane Jr.1986 MSgt William R. Grifﬁth1985 MSgt Daniel Smith III1984 MSgt James W. Varney1983 Sgt John A. Lopresti1982 MSgt Robert MacLaughlin1981 GySgt John K. Jones1980 MSgt Donald J. Turk1979 MSgt Hershal A. Buchann1978 MSgt Edward D. Boyd1977 Sgt David L. FordMICHAEL A. HOUGH AWARD 2021 Maj John E. Willett2020 Maj Nathaniel Thayer2019 GySgt Nathan J. Marple2018 Maj Robert F. Guyette2017 LtCol Brian J. Taylor2016 SSgt Scott A Colagrossi, II2015 LtCol Vasilios E. Pappas2014 Maj Josue M. Diaz2013 GSgt Johnny L. Kilgore2012 LtCol Jason R. Maddocks2011 LtCol Matthew G. Kelly2010 LtCol Eldon E. Metzger2009 LtCol Eric J. Ropella2008 GySgt Benjamin Gonzalez2007 LtCol J. E. RectorJAMES MAGUIRE AWARD2021 The Air Crew of RAIDR502020 MGySgt Timothy Huber2019 GySgt Michael L. Felton2018 Capt Joshua P. Brooks2017 GySgt Clinton J. DuClos2016 Cpl Steven F. Emond2015 SSgt Joseph Napolitano2014 Cpl Gavin L. Christian2013 Cpl Clayton J. Rice2012 VMR Belle Chase2011 GySgt Garry D. Sandy2010 Cpl William H. Rogers Jr.2009 Capt John C. Reeves2008 Capt Luke T. Watson2007 LtCol R. L. Bomhold2006 LtCol J. E. Munroe2005 MWSG-372004 LtCol Kevin L. Gross2003 VMU-12002 Sgt D. R. Pash2001 Maj Douglas S. Kurth2000 Maj Richard Coleman Jr.1999 CWO Crane P. Dauksys1998 1stLt Brian J. Shortsleeve1997 MAWTS-11996 LtCol Paul Pisano1995 MAWTS-11994 1stLt Eric L. Rine1993 Maj Christabol H. Mendez1992 Capt George B. Brown1991 MGySgt Ronald A. Perez1990 MSgt Cecil D. Walden1989 GySgt Mallie F. Elkins Jr.1988 MSgt Michael S. Mullen1987 Capt Raymond C. Ferrara1986 Maj Joseph E. Noble1985 MSgt Timothy J. Brinton1984 Maj Howard B. Eddins III1983 Capt Mark C. Hunt1982 Cdr Manley Carter, USNR1981 Col James D. JahnROBERT M. HANSON AWARD2021 VMFA-3232020 VMFA-2322019 VMFA-115, MAG-312018 VMFA(AW)-2422017 VMFA(AW)-5332016 VMFA-1212015 VMFA-3142014 VMFA-3122013 VMFA-2512012 VMFA(AW)-5332011 VMFA-2322010 VMFA-1122009 VMFA-1222008 VMFA-2322007 VMFA(AW)-2422006 VMFA(AW)-3322005 VMFA(AW)-2422004 VMFA-312

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56 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.org2003 VMFA-3232002 VMFA-2512001 VMFA(AW)-1212000 VMFA(AW)-3321999 VMFA-3121998 VMFA-1221997 VMFA-3121996 VMFA-2321995 VMFA(AW)-3321994 VMFA-3121993 VMFA-3121992 VMFA(AW)-2421991 VMFA-2351990 VMFA-1151989 VMFA-4511988 VMFA-1151987 VMFA-1151986 VMFA-3231985 VMFA-2121984 VMFA-1121983 VMAT-1011982 VMFA-1151981 VMFA-2351980 VMFA-3231979 VMFA-3331978 VMFA-5311977 VMFA-1121976 VMFA-3231975 VMFA-3231974 VMFA-2321973 VMFA-3331972 VMFA-1151971 VMFA-1151970 VMFA-2121969 VMFA-2511968 VMFA-314LAWSON H. M. SANDERSON AWARD2021 VMA-2142020 VMA-2232019 VMA-2232018 VMA-2312017 VMA-2232016 VMA-223 2015 VMA-2112014 VMA-3112013 VMA-2112012 VMA-2232011 VMA-2312010 VMA-2142009 VMA-3112008 VMA-2312007 VMA-2112006 VMA-2112005 VMA-5422004 VMA-5132003 VMA-5422002 VMA-2232001 VMA-3112000 VMA-2231999 VMA-2231998 VMA-2111997 VMA-2141996 VMA-2111995 VMA-2111994 VMFA (AW)-5331993 VMFA (AW)-2421992 VMA-2311991 VMA-3111990 VMA-3311989 VMA(AW)-2241988 VMA-3111987 VMA-2141986 VMA (AW)-2421985 VMA(AW)-3321984 VMA-2111983 No Award Given1982 VMA-2141981 VMA(AW)-5331980 VMA(AW)-5331979 VMA(AW)-121HENRY WILDFANG AWARD2021 VMGR-1522020 VMGR-3522019 VMGR-1522018 VMGR-3522017 VMGR-3522016 VMGR-3522015 VMGR-2522014 VMGR-3522013 VMGR-2342012 VMGR-2522011 VMGR-3522010 VMGR-3522009 VMGR-1522008 VMGR-3522007 VMGR-2522006 VMGR-1522005 VMGR-2522004 VMGR-3522003 VMGR-2342002 VMGR-2342001 VMGR-1522000 VMGR-3521999 VMGR-2521998 VMGR-2341997 VMGR-2521996 VMGR-1521995 VMGR-2521994 VMGR-1521993 VMGR-352ROYAL N. MOORE AWARD2019 VMAQ-22018 VMAQ-32017 VMAQ-42016 VMAQ-22015 VMAQ-32014 VMAQ-32013 VMAQ-12012 VMAQ-42011 VMAQ-22010 VMAQ-12009 VMAQ-42008 VMAQ-12007 VMAQ-32006 VMAQ-12005 VMAQ-22004 VMAQ-12003 VMAQ-12002 VMAQ-12001 VMAQ-32000 VMAQ-21999 VMAQ-41998 VMAQ-11997 VMAQ-21996 VMAQ-11995 VMAQ-4KEITH B. MCCUTCHEON AWARD2021 HMH-4632020 HMH-4642019 HMH-3662018 HMH-4632017 HMH-7722016 HMH-464 2015 HMH-3662014 HMH-4612013 HMH-3612012 HMH-4612011 HMH-4662010 HMH-4632009 HMH-4642008 HMH-3622007 HMH-4652006 HMH-4662005 HMH-7692004 HMH-4652003 HMH-4622002 HMH-4652001 HMH-4612000 HMH-4641999 HMH-4661998 HMH-4621997 HMH-3611996 HMH-4621995 HMH-3611994 HMM-2681993 HMM-1641992 HMM-2651991 HMLA-3691990 HMM-1631989 HMM-2611988 HMLA-1691987 HMM-2611986 HMLA-2691985 HMM-1631984 HMM-261EDWARD C. DYER AWARD2015 HMM-3642014 HMM-3642013 HMM-2682012 HMM-2622011 HMM-1652010 HMM-2682009 HMM-1612008 HMM-2612007 HMM-2622006 HMM-2662005 HMM-2682004 HMM-1612003 HMM-1612002 HMM-1632001 HMM-1612000 HMM-2651999 HMM-2661998 HMM-2641997 HMM-3651996 HMM-2631995 HMM-365JOHN I. HUDSON AWARD 2021 VMU-12020 VMU-22019 VMU-12018 VMU-32017 VMU-22016 VMU-2FRED MCCORKLE AWARD2021 VMM-1612020 VMM-3642019 VMM-363, MAG-242018 VMM-1612017 VMM-264 (Rein)2016 VMM-365 2015 VMM-3632014 VMM-2652013 VMM-3652012 VMM-2662011 VMM-3652010 VMM-2612009 VMM-2662008 VMM-263JOHN P. GIGUERE AWARD2021 HMLA-3692020 HMLA-1692019 HMLA-3672018 HMLA-1692017 HMLA-2672016 HMLA-269 2015 HMLA-3692014 HMLA-1692013 HMLA-2692012 HMLA-2672011 HMLA-3672010 HMLA-2692009 HMLA-3672008 HMLA-7732007 HMLA-1692006 HMLA-1672005 HMLA-7732004 HMLA-3692003 HMLA-2672002 HMLA-169

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2022 Symposium 57 2001 HMLA-2692000 HMLA-1671999 HMLA-2691998 HMLA-3691997 HMLA-1691996 HMLA-3691995 HMLA-269DONALD E. DAVIS AWARD2021 MALS-392020 MALS-362019 MALS-262018 MALS-122017 MALS-392016 MALS-13 2015 MALS-122014 MALS-362013 MALS-122012 MALS-362011 MALS-162010 MALS-262009 MALS-112008 MALS-292007 MALS-11/162006 MALS-26 (REIN)2005 MALS-162004 MALS-112003 MALS-392002 MALS-312001 MALS-142000 MALS-131999 MALS-121998 MALS-361997 MALS-311996 MALS-361995 MALS-141994 MALS-361993 MALS-121992 MALS-361991 MALS-14JAMES E. HATCH AWARD2021 MWSS-1722020 MWSS-3712019 MWSS-2722018 MWSS-3722017 MWSS-1722016 MWSS-272 2015 MWSS-2742014 MWSS-3722013 MWSS-2732012 MWSS-3732011 MWSS-3742010 MWSS-3712009 MWSS-2732008 MWSS-1712007 MWSS-2732006 MWSS-3722005 MWSS-2732004 MWSS-3742003 MWSS-3732002 MWSS-1722001 MWSS-3712000 MWSS-2731999 MWSS-3711998 MWSS-2711997 MWSS-1721996 MWSS-2741995 MWSS-1721994 MWSS-1741993 MWSS-3731992 MWSS-2711991 MWSS-174EDWARD S. FRIS AWARD2021 MACS-12020 MASS-22019 MACS-22018 MACS-12017 MACS-42016 3D LAAD2015 MACG-38 (FWD)2014 MACG-28 (FWD)2013 VMU-22012 MACS-42011 MACS-22010 MTACS-282009 MTACS-382008 MACS-22007 1st Stinger Battery2006 VMU-12005 VMU-22004 MTACS-382003 MACS-22002 MACS-42001 MACS-242000 2d LAAD1999 MTACS-281998 MASS-11997 MACS-61996 MTACS-281995 MWCS-181994 MACS-41993 MATCS-38,1992 MASS-11991 2d LAAD1990 MASS-21989 MASS-21988 3d LAAD1987 MAGG-181986 MACS-21985 2d LAAMCMC AVIATION AWARD2021 VMFA-3232020 VMM-1652019 VMFA-1212018 VMGR-1522017 VMX-12016 VMFA-2512015 VMM-2612014 VMGR-2522013 VMGR-1522012 VMU-32011 VMGR-1522010 VMU-22009 HMM-2652008 VMU-12007 HMH-3632006 HMM-1612005 MACS-12004 HMH-4642003 VMFA(AW)-1212002 HMT-3032001 VMGR-2342000 HMM-3651999 HMM-2651998 MWSG-371997 VMFA-2321996 VMFA-2511995 VMGR-2521994 SOES Cherry Point1993 VMGR-1521992 VMGR-1521991 HMM-2661990 VMFAT-1011989 VMFA-2511988 VMGR-3521987 HMH-4641986 VMAT-2031985 HML-2671984 H&MS-121983 VMFP-31982 HMA-3691981 VMGR-3521980 VMFA-5311979 VMGR-2521978 VMFA-2511977 VMA-2231976 VMAQ-21975 VMA(AW)-2241974 VMFA-1151973 HMH-4631972 VMA(AW)-2241971 HMM-2621970 VMFA-3141969 VMO-6PETE ROSS AWARD2021 VMFT-4012020 VMGR-1522019 HMLA-3692018 VMFA-3122017 VMM-262 (Rein)2016 VMFT-4012015 VMGR-3522014 HMLA-1692013 HMH-4632012 HMM-2622011 VMGR-4522010 HMLA-3692009 HMM-1612008 HMLA-3692007 HMLA-7752006 HMLA-3692005 VMA-2232004 HMLA-3692003 HMM-2612002 VMFA-2322001 HMH-7692000 VMFA-1121999 HMLA-7751998 HMH-7691997 HMLA-7731996 HMM-7641995 HMM-7641994 VMFA-1341993 VMFT-4011992 VMFA-1341991 VMFA-1341990 VMAQ-41989 VMAQ-41988 VMA-1421987 VMA-3221986 VMA-1421985 VMFA-1221984 VMFA-1121983 VMA-1241982 VMFA-3211981 VMA-1241980 VMFA-112VSTOL PILOT OF THE YEAR AWARD1992 Capt Stephen D. Hawkins1991 Maj Kenneth G. Williams1990 Maj Randy S. Siders1989 Maj Charles S. Patton1988 Maj Duane D. Thiessen1987 Maj Henry Joe Coble1986 LtCol John W. Capito1985 Capt Douglas Smith1984 LtCol Michael D. Ryan1983 Maj Richard H. Priest1982 Maj Edward B. Cummings1981 LtCol P. Drax Williams1980 LtCol Fred E. Ogline1979 Capt Charles E. Davis, Jr.1978 Maj William K. Callahan1977 LtCol John T. Tyler1976 Col John R. Braddon

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2022 Symposium 59 Two of the squadrons ordered back to Vietnam, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 (VMFA-115) and VMFA-232, were close at hand in the Western Pacic. e third squadron, VMFA-212 was at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. e deployment order that came on 6 April 1972, said to deploy immediately. VMFA-232, the “Red Devils,” had just returned to home base, Iwakuni, Japan, ve days earlier from a training deployment in the Philippines. ey had own their aircraft hard on the deployment. One of its pilots recalled that the squadron had only two of twelve aircraft in an “up.” (In this sense, “Up” means capable of operational ying.) e aircraft had a variety of downing gripes from a bad radar to something more critical like hydraulic, electrical, or engine issues. e urgency of the situation demanded that the squadron launch all their aircraft as soon as reasonably possible. Evidently any “safe for ight” issue was repaired such that they could make the ight to the Philippines. At about 1000 the commanding ocer called an all ocers meeting and broke the news: “e s$!# has hit the fan in Vietnam, go home and pack your gear, we are ying to the Philippines this afternoon.”3 e Red Devils ew all 12 of their aircraft that day to Naval Air Station Cubi Point, Philippines. e next day they ew into Da Nang. VMFA-115, the “Silver Eagles,” arrived at Da Nang the same day, 7 April. ese two squadrons ew their rst combat sorties two days later. e third squadron, VMFA-212, the “Lancers,” arrived a week later, having own from Hawaii.4 As can be expected, considering the circumstances, these squadrons ew at an intense pace, up to 50 sorties per day. e priority mission was close air support for South Vietnamese soldiers and marines who fought to stem the Communist tide. Most of the missions were to nearby targets in Military Region 1 (MR-1), the northern part of South Vietnam. Combat sorties were own from Da Nang until mid-June. It was an election year, and President Richard M. Nixon faced re-election. Domestic politics being what they were, he promised the American people that he was ending the war and bringing the troops home. Squadrons returning to Vietnam, however, indicated otherwise and threatened the manpower ceiling there. e answer for the Da Nang-based squadrons was displacing to ailand. e Air Force had operated from bases in ailand throughout the Vietnam War, so the Da Nang-based squadrons and those squadrons owing in from the U.S. had a ready home. However, there was no room for the Marine squadrons at the burgeoning ai Air Force bases.5 e Marine F-4 squadrons instead deployed to an extremely austere aireld in east-central ailand, named Nam Phong.6 Calling to mind a popular recruiting poster from this time and a popular country and western song of the day by Lynn Anderson, the Marines who went there called it the “Rose Garden.”7Envisioned as an F-111 base, Nam Phong had originally been funded at $25–30 million. e U.S. Air Force A-6 loaded for bear. PHOTO COURTESY: J. YANCY BOUNDS, PROVIDED BY JOHN BINFIELD

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2022 Symposium 61 stopped construction on the base in 1967, when it realized that it did not need another ailand base. What was built was a very nice, 10,000-foot-long concrete runway, with associated taxiways and a ramp, but very little else. ere were a few small buildings and an aircraft hangar that had been brought in from another ai base. ere the base sat now ve years later, surrounded by encroaching jungle on three sides and farmers’ elds on the other. e closest city of any size was Khon Kaen about 15 miles away. Believing that the deployment to Nam Phong would only last 60 to 90 days, Admiral omas H. Moorer, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Sta, on 11 May approved the move of the Marine squadrons to Nam Phong, on an “austere basis.” is was a “gross understatement” according to Commanding General of the 1st MAW, Major General Leslie E. Brown. It would have taken many months of work and certainly more than the $5–7 million that was allocated, to make the base anything but austere. It certainly t the Marine denition of expeditionary, and with a targeted date of 10 June to go operational, it would also test the Marine claim of having a rapid response capability. Brigadier General Andrew W. O’Donnell, who became the rst commander of the Marine mini-wing that operated from Nam Phong, designated Task Force Delta, led a site survey group to Nam Phong on 18 May. What he found was not encouraging. He reported that, “ere was no roads, no water, no power.” e base was not deserted however. A couple thousand ai troops were undergoing covert training conducted by Americans belonging to an organization called, Controlled American Source.8 ey occupied the few small structures there.9Despite the base’s austerity, O’Donnell and his team determined that with some basic improvements, it could support air operations, certainly for the short term. On 24 May, OPERATION COMMANDO EXPRESS commenced, the code name for the Pacic Air Forces rapid activation and development of Nam Phong. ey had all of three weeks to get the base ready.10e rst Marines arrived by Marine KC-130 on 24 May. More gear, equipment, and personnel followed by Military Airlift Command aircraft and Marine KC-130s and helicopters. Within a week, 43 C-141 loads, 3 C-5A loads, and 11 C-130 loads delivered 377 Marines, 94 construction battalion sailors (Seabees), 60 Airmen, 91 contractors, and 1, 399 tons of material. By 29 May, pieces of construction equipment were in operation.11 In eect, the Air Force airlift represented a type of “beach” assault. Whereas Marines used Navy landing craft to land on beaches, here they used Air Force transports to land on an inland beach. e work was tough and urgent and made even tougher by the rainy season’s high heat and humidity. Extensive clearing was required for a cantonment area and access roads. e construction force erected over 300 strong back huts (tents with a lumber frame) for living spaces and another 128 similar tents for maintenance and administration workspaces. Although months later, the tents used for living quarters were converted to Southeast Asia huts, they

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62 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgremained incredibly hot, temperatures in them often exceeded 100 degrees. e only air-conditioned spaces at Nam Phong were in those spaces that had equipment that required cooling—the communications center and avionics repair spaces. A 200,000-gallon tactical aireld fuel dispensing system (TAFDS) was also set up. is was a 1950s Marine investment into expeditionary air operations. It contained interconnected self-sealing fuel bladders laid out on the ground surrounded by berms. Once the base was fully operational, the TAFDS pumped over two million gallons of fuel monthly. An ordnance storage area, or bomb dump, was also made ready for the tons of ordnance that Marine jets would employ. Four fast-erect shelters, called “wonder arches,” where aircraft could be worked on and sheltered also went up (Constructed of corrugated metal, open at both ends they also had a layer of reinforced concrete as an added layer of protection from shelling and rockets.) Other structures were begun, including a permanent mess hall and base hospital complex, although these were not completed until August. In the rst few weeks, everyone ate C-rations. Potable water ran out within a couple of days, and the Marines resorted to drinking Singh beer provided by ai civilians, until more water was available.12e base was stocked with the raw materials for air combat. Fuel was convoyed in from Udorn Air Force Base (about 65 miles north) by ai contract truckers, and ordnance was trucked in from the ai port of Sittahip a twelve-hour drive away. Generators provided electricity, although initially, unreliably. It was well into August before reliable electricity was available to the tent city and maintenance areas, a situation that had a deleterious eect on aircraft maintenance. Two kilometers of upgraded piping was installed that by 21 July brought a supply of water to the aireld; this water was made potable by a Seabees-installed water purication system. Additional ramp space was laid, and Marines built and installed equipment and gear to handle air operations on base, including a control tower, approach lighting, arresting gear, a Fresnel lens. (A Fresnel lens was a lighting system at the end of the runway that displayed lights to pilots ying an approach to land if their ight path was high, low, or spot on. Aircraft carriers had the same system and radar to provide precision ground controlled approaches.) e 640-acre-sized base was initially wide open to the surrounding terrain. Later an eight-foot high chain link fence, topped with concertina wire, was erected with guard towers at intervals. ai military personnel manned the towers, backed up by Marine troops. Two rie companies from the 9th Marines deployed to Nam Phong for aireld security. To comply with the ai stipulation that no American ground combat troops operate in ailand, these Marines were transferred from the 9th Marines to the 1st MAW, thus they were “wingers” not grunts. A contingent of 12 guard dogs further bolstered security. Quarters for the dogs were built and aptly named the “pooch hooch.” Instead of Communist attacks, the biggest danger to operations and troop well-being came from the illicit drugs brought aboard base by ai civilians (and some guards) who sold them to Marines. At this time, drugs were a serious problem for all Services, including Marines. ailand was notorious for the potency of its drugs and rampant drug tracking.General O’Donnell, in the meantime, worked out the terms of occupancy with ai leaders and gained designation of the aireld as a Royal ai air base which meant that a ai colonel was the base commander. Missing the desired operational date by only two days, on 12 June, ight operations commenced when four Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 36 (H&MS-36) arrived. Four days later, a section of VMFA-115 F-4Bs own by the MAG-15 commander ocer, Colonel K. O’Keefe, and the skipper of VMFA-115, Lieutenant Colonel K.A. McFerren,1* roared out of Da Nang and ew a close air support mission in MR-1. Instead of returning to 1* Col A.W. Talbert took command of MAG-15 on 9 Aug 1973 and remained in command throughout the deployment. LtCol Hank C. Ivy took command of VMFA-115 on 23 July 1972 and led it throughout the remainder of the Nam Phong deployment.

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64 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgDa Nang, they ew west into ailand and landed at Nam Phong. ese were the rst MAG-15 tactical aircraft to arrive at the new base. e remainder of the Silver Eagle jets arrived later that day, each repeating what the rst section had done by ying a combat mission rst then “bingo-ing.” (Bingo is aviation terminal used when the aircraft is at a fuel state that it is necessary to return to base into Nam Phong. erefore, the displacement to the Rose Garden did not entail an interruption in air support.)Missions had to be own the next day also. Jeerson D. Howell, the squadron’s maintenance ocer recalled the challenges this tasking incurred: “I’ll never forget, walking down the ight line; it’s pitch black and there is no light, no electricity, so people have kerosene lanterns out there trying to work on the airplanes. I see this glow in the night, and they had brought a company of ground Marines to provide security, and I’ve got a young Marine rieman leaning up against an F-4 external fuel tank smoking a cigarette. I said, ‘Young man, do you understand what you’re doing?’ I found my maintenance control chief, Gunny Sibley. I asked him how many airplanes we had up. He said, ‘Not enough.’ He had worked all the previous night and all day getting the airplanes ready to y to Nam Phong. I said, ‘Do you think they’re going to be able to get it done?’ He said, ‘I’m mighty tired Boss. It’s been a long night and day to get here.’ I said, ‘I know, but do you think we’re going to be able to get those birds up?’ He said, ‘Well, what do you want me to do about it?’ I said, ‘Let your conscience be your guide.’ And I walked o. at poor guy, he’s down there an hour later working, and they got the birds up and we ew the frag.”13e Red Devils of VMFA-232 arrived on the 20th, as did a squadron of Grumman A-6A Intruders. is squadron, Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron 533 (VMA(AW)-533), the “Hawks,” replaced the third F-4 squadron, VMFA-212, to bolster the 7th Air Force’s all-weather, night attack capability. e F-111 was the only other aircraft in country that could y missions in these conditions. A detachment of four Lockheed-Martin KC-130F Hercules transport aircraft of Marine Aerial Refueling Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152) also joined Task Force Delta. ese aerial refueling/transports had the essential mission of providing airborne fuel for Marine tactical jets on their now long, combat missions into South Vietnam and Laos, and later, Cambodia. Completing the Task Force Delta stable of aircraft were the early arriving CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters which had the search and rescue responsibility for Task Force Delta. In three weeks the Marines, supported by Air Force cargo ights and U.S. Navy construction assistance, had established a functioning air base around a bare bones runway. Gradually all of the non-Marine support personnel left, except a small contingent of soldiers who operated the secure telephone facility: 14 Seabees, and 30 airmen who operated an aerial port. Otherwise, Air Force “participation in the operation was minimal.”14 Now it was up to the Marines to keep the Rose Garden operating so that Marine tactical aviation power could be brought to bear on the enemy. Performing the myriad tasks required to run a modern military aireld, fell generally on the 360 Marines of Marine Air Base Squadron 15 (MABS-15). Over 2,200 people lived and worked at Nam Phong. e “MABSters” (slang for the acronym MABS) were responsible for everything from providing the bare necessities of living—food, water, living quarters, electrical power, and sanitation—to the sophisticated and complex duties implicit in operating a modern (although living conditions were certainly not modern) tactical aireld. ese included, air trac control, crash and rescue, aircraft refueling and arming, weather reporting and forecasting, arresting gear operations, runway maintenance, aireld lighting, and motor transport. Other MABS-15 Marines provided or supported activities that bolstered morale, such as: post oce operations, religious programs, and medical and legal services. ey also provided for a post exchange, including two mobile barbershops with ai barbers, billeting and embarkation, and clubs for ocers and enlisted. MABS-15 also supported community relations through civic action programs. Air trac control was the purview of a detachment from Marine Air Trac Control Unit 62. Nam Phong was a busy airbase, in November 1972, they handled 5,887 tower operations, 579 ground controlled approaches, and 53 tactical air navigation approaches.15Living conditions at the Rose Garden remained austere if not primitive, although they improved slowly but steadily. Conditions, however, resembled what Marine aviators might Runway at Nam Phong. PHOTO COURTESY: DR. ALLSION

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2022 Symposium 65 have experienced at Guadalcanal in 1942. Tents served as quarters, outdoor toilets were standard, and human waste was burned in barrels, the smell of which was a regular feature of Rose Garden life. ere were constant reminders that only a few months before the base belonged to the jungle, the mud, the bugs, and other jungle inhabitants such as the nine-foot-long King Cobra that Marines discovered in the bomb dump. Expeditionary hygiene was the order of the day as Floyd “Fleet” Lentz, a VMFA-115 radar intercept ocer recalled: “We cold water shaved…outside the north side of the hooch, under a canvas awning held up by tent poles. A piece of perforated portable runway matting served as an all-weather outdoor deck…during heavy monsoonal rain, the ground owed with muddy water, our hootches were at the bottom of the hill. For that reason, all the hootches were built two feet o the red clay and sand. Bathing, except for two or three times near the end of my time in country, was done via a ‘whore’s bath’. Each man had a plastic dish. Adjacent to the water bualo was a black rubber open-topped tank the size of a small outdoor swimming pool. Once a week a tractor-trailer tanker truck made a run to the river, came back and lled this thing up. e procedure went: walk down in ip ops, naked as a jaybird, reach in, ll up bowl, and pour it over the self. Soap and shampoo were optional, but often used. Repeat the process until clean.”16In sum, it was not a good deal for the Marines, Da Nang, except for enemy rocket attacks, was a much more livable base. e Marines, although well aware that the Air Force was living on air bases comparable to U.S. bases, assumed this was “par for the course” for Marine squadrons and “continued to march.” e icing on the Rose Garden deal was that the enlisted Marines, aircraft mechanics, and support troops, all had their combat pay stopped because they were no longer in a combat zone. Nevertheless, Task Force Delta Marines bent to the task at hand, they kept the eld operating, and the combat power of the 50 Marine tactical jets was brought to bear as part of the American air campaign to save South Vietnam. Air Operations After deployment to Nam Phong, the focus remained close air support (CAS) for indigenous ground troops in South Vietnam and Laos. During the late spring when the North Vietnamese oensive peaked, and after, when South Vietnamese troops began to push the Communists back and regain lost ground, the demand for CAS was “insatiable.”17 Marine aviators had a reputation as being CAS experts, and the Rose Garden aviators did not diminish this reputation. VMFA-232 used call sign “Motion,” VMFA-115 “Blade,” and, VMA(AW)-533 “Tiny.” CAS was Marine aviators’ forte, the manifestation of the Marine air-ground team ethos. A Raven forward air controller (FAC), the call sign for volunteer USAF FACs who covertly operated in Laos. ey were organizationally, under the U.S. Ambassador in Laos, and operated with indigenous forces. ey wore civilian garb and worked directly with Air America, whose customer was the CIA. Colonel H. Ownby, (USAF), call sign Raven 26, recalled meeting a senior squadron pilot of one of the F-4 squadrons at a social event. e Marine aviator asked him, “Do you know what my primary MOS (military occupational specialty) is?” Ownby, replied, “Fighter pilot?” e Marine replied, “No, rieman. My secondary MOS is ghter pilot.”18Raven 26 recalled that the Marines, “Did what you wanted them to, Marines were Marines.” eir precision and expertise in close air support was obvious and appreciated by the Air Force FACs who directed strike missions. One of the FACs, Col Darrel D. Whitcomb (USAF), Raven 25, recalled: “e Marines wanted a very, very precise determination of where we wanted the bombs to go, because those guys could hit like that. You wouldn’t do that for the Air Force guys, they were not nearly as accurate. Doing close air support the Marine aviators got down and dirty, they put their MK-82 ‘Snake Eye’ bombs right in the hole.”19Raven 25, Colonel Whitcomb, recalled a particularly eective airstrike that highlighted the aggressiveness of the Marine aviators. As he ew in an O-1 Birddog aircraft over the Plaines de Jars in Laos, he was suddenly taken under re by an enemy 12.7mm antiaircraft gun. It had unique tracer rounds that looked like a stream of re hose water snaking up. It was perched on a razorback ridge, a dicult position to hit. A bomb too low would not have the desired eect, as it would be absorbed by the ridge; a bomb too high would sail well beyond the target. He called for an airstrike and a Blade ight, two VMFA-115 Phantoms checked in. As they orbited, on station, Raven 25 briefed them on the strike. Suddenly, the 12.7 unleashed another stream of re at the O-1. e Marine lead pilot said, “I’ve got a total talley-ho on that guy, I’m going to a****** that son of a b****!” Whitcomb cleared them hot, and the lead ghter rolled into an attack dive. As the F-4 came down, the 12.7 spewed re directly at it, head on. Whitcomb was sure they were going to be hit as the stream of re arched over and around the Phantom. At the last minute, the Marine pilot released a 500-pound bomb that squarely hit the gun position and blasted it o the ridge.20Whitcomb also noted the impressive capability of the A-6A as a close air support platform. It carried a tremendous load of ordnance and fuel and could stay over a target long enough to ensure maximum destruction. During the battle to retake Quang Tri in the late summer of 1972, he recalled that Marine A-6s would make multiple runs, dropping a single bomb, on the enemy. Multiple attack runs subjected the aircrew to increasing danger of being hit by enemy re. Nevertheless, the Marines “wanted to do their job” and provide as much support for as long as possible to friendly troops.Another FAC, Captain Jim Mardis, (USAF), Nail 29, wrote the squadrons a thank you letter. In it, he said:“You have always done your part with excellence and professionalism, and sierra hotel teamwork. Whenever I needed bombers, I called Cricket or Hillsboro [control agencies for the Air Force strikes]… whenever I needed surgeons, it was ‘g********,’ send me Blade or Motion [radio call signs for VMFA-115 and -232 respectively]

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66 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgNOW!… You are the best in the world.”21Marine F-4s and A-6s also ew interdiction missions in Route Package 1 (RP-1, southern portion of North Vietnam) and Laos, striking Communist supply convoys as part of OPERATIONS BARREL ROLL and STEEL TIGER. e missions to Vietnam now were much longer, it was 300 miles to most Vietnam targets, and aerial refueling was always required, and it was always Marine KC-130s that provided it. is was another reason the FACs liked working with the Marine aircraft. With their own tankers on-station, they were available to work targets for an extended time. In many instances, Marine jets landed at Da Nang, where a detachment of H&MS-36 Marines refueled and rearmed them. ey then ew another strike before returning to Nam Phong. Targets in Laos were closer, and Marines ew many CAS and interdiction strikes into Laos, especially the Plaine De Jars area supporting friendly troops battling the North Vietnamese. Air operations in Laos were in support of friendly Laotians and ais ghting the North Vietnamese. e Communists had no qualms of using Laos as a road network to move supplies and equipment as part of the overall goal of conquering South Vietnam. Communist antiaircraft was a danger regardless of where the strikes occurred. A VMFA-232 jet own by Captain W.D. Anderson with RIO, Captain Donald C. Breuer was hit with antiaircraft artillery re as it attacked a heavily defended Steel Tiger target in eastern Laos. Anderson was recovered within two hours by a USAF “Jolly Green Giant” HH-53 with minor injuries. ere was no conrmed ejection or contact with Breuer, and it was presumed that he died in the crash.e VMA(AW)-533, Hawks, ew a large number of day-attack missions in MR 1 and 2 and Laos. ey also “hunted at night” in RP-1 where they looked for enemy vehicles hauling supplies south. e A-6A had an automatic moving target indicator that presented moving ground targets on the aircraft radar. e Intruders then attacked. ese missions required a high skill level of both the pilot and the bombardier/navigator. ey were own single ship, in the dark, at low level over heavily defended enemy territory. e limited road network in RP-1 made their ight proles predictable, and the enemy “stacked” their antiaircraft artillery along the route. e Hawks adjusted by varying ingress and egress routes. e Hawks lost three aircraft and crews on missions over enemy territory. A Hawk aircraft, own by Captain Leonard Robertson and bombardier/navigator (B/N) First Lieutenant Alan J. Kroboth, was struck and downed by enemy re on 7 July 1972, as they attacked an enemy supply point just south of the demilitarized zone near Khe Sanh. Robertson was killed in the crash, but Kroboth ejected. He was seriously injured in the ejection, was captured by the Communists, and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner. He was released in March 1973. On 12 October 1972, a VMA(AW)-533 A-6 was hit by enemy re on a night low-level reconnaissance mission in RP-1. Neither the pilot, Captain John R. Peacock, or the bombardier/navigator, First Lieutenant William M. Price, were ever recovered. Another A-6 was lost on 27 December 1972, again on a night armed reconnaissance mission searching for moving vehicular targets in RP-1. Both the pilot, Captain Ralph J. Chipman, and bombardier/navigator, First Lieutenant Ronald W. Forrester, were missing in action.Marine Phantom squadrons also participated in Linebacker missions. is resulted from an agreement reached between General O’Donnell and the commander of the 7th Air Force, General John Vogt, U.S. Air Force. Vogt needed additional ghters to protect those aircraft that supported the strike aircraft—aerial tankers, reconnaissance, command and control, and search and rescue aircraft, from MiGs. O’Donnell wanted an air-to-air mission for his ghter squadrons to give them an opportunity to get a MiG and to provide justication for the Marines to have rst line ghters.22 -Initially, only VMFA-232, ying the last model of F-4, ew the missions. e rst was own on 4 July. In September, however, VMFA-115 was brought in to Linebacker operations. Getting this mission was a real morale boost to the ghter crews of both squadrons. e Linebacker missions were not without danger. A Red Devil F-4 own by First Lieutenant Sam G. Cordova with RIO First Lieutenant Darrell L. Borders was lost a Linebacker mission, near the Laotian-North Vietnamese border on 26 August 1972, when a MiG came from low and hit the Phantom with an air-to-air missile. Cordova and Borders ejected. Borders was rescued, but Cordova was never located. His remains were returned to the United States in 1988.Instead of the Nam Phong deployment lasting only two or three months as originally envisioned, it stretched out months, to the end of 1972, with little indication that the end was near. Marine aviators had patches made that said: “Task Force Delta 90–120 days.” Marines hoped a new year would bring a new duty station. is seemed to be a good possibility, especially as the war wound down and combat operations ceased in North Vietnam (14 January) and South Vietnam (28 January). ey continued to y combat missions but now only in Laos. Laotian combat ceased however on 22 February. Hopes for departure were dashed when three days later the Rose Garden squadrons were ordered to strike targets in Cambodia in support of the Khmer Republic. It was only a single day’s worth of sorties; the training regime resumed but not a retrograde. Hopes for an exit from the Rose Garden were dashed again on 30 March, when the F-4 squadrons resumed Cambodian missions; this time they continued daily. eir mission was interdicting enemy lines of communication and destruction of supply caches. e A-6s joined in these missions on 11 May. Cambodian combat continued until 15 August. e war was nally over for the Rose Garden Marines. e Marines left the same way they came in. e squadrons ew to other bases, and the Marines and their gear and equipment left in Air Force and Marine transport aircraft. Truck convoys between Nam Phong and Sattahip took the heavier equipment to military sealift command ships. e four H&MS-36 helicopters were broken down and ferried down river to port.

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2022 Symposium 67 e three squadrons of Task Force Delta in its fteen-month deployment at Nam Phong made a signicant contribution to the Southeast Asian air war. e Phantom and Intruder force of almost 50 aircraft ew 10,215 combat sorties, during which they dropped 24,584 tons of bombs. Ten of these aircraft were lost: ve to enemy action and one in an operational accident. Eight Marine aviators were lost, either KIA, MIA, or taken prisoner. e KC-130s ew 2,168 combat sorties and passed 4,568, 533 gallons of jet fuel to Task Force Delta jets. e four helicopters of H&MS-36, Detachment D ew 2,956 sorties, 80 of which were search and rescue sorties, in which they rescued 12 aircrewmen. An impressive search and rescue mission occurred on 19 December 1972. A USAF B-52 returning from a Linebacker raid in North Vietnam at 0100 crashed 12 miles east of Nam Phong. Just before the bomber crashed, the seven crewmen ejected. All seven airmen were rescued within 15 minutes by two CH-46 helicopters of H&MS-36. No Service is totally self-contained, but at the Rose Garden in 1972 and 1973, the Marine Corps proved that it had the capability to deploy a potent aviation force to an austere base, operate largely self-suciently, and eectively execute a range of combat missions. Most of the credit for this is due the Marines of the Rose Garden who did a lot with a little and made up for what they did not have with gritty determination and dedication. Notes1. Between 1 April and 13 May 1972, 189 F-4s, 12 F-105s, 8 EB-66s, and 54 B-52s were deployed to Southeast Asia. Earl H. Tilford, Setup: What the Air Did in Vietnam and Why, (Maxwell Air Force Base: Air University Press, 1991), 227–228.2. is article relies on the 1972–1973 Command Chronologies for the units involved and Maj Charles D. Melson and LtCol Curtis G. Arnold, e War at Would Not End-U.S. Marines in Vietnam, 1971–1973, (Washington: History and Museums Division, HQMC, 1991). 3. Col Lew E. Hoyt, interview with Fred Allison, 3 November 2012, digital recording, (Quantico, VA: Oral Hist Coll, HD). Japanese political sensitivities precluded the squadron from ying directly to Da Nang from Japan. 4. e focus of this article is the squadrons that eventually deployed to Nam Phong, ailand, which would have included only these mentioned F-4 Phantom squadrons, and Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron 533 that was deployed later. It is not my intent to neglect or disparage the superb performance of other Marine squadrons that operated in Southeast Asia at the same time. ese included a detachment of EA-6A “Electric” Intruders from Marine Photo-Reconnaissance Squadron 1, a ve plane contingent of TA-4Fs which spotted for naval gunre, Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 333 aboard the USS America, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 a CH-46 squadron that ew in support of Army of the Republic of Vietnam troops, Marine Attack Squadron 369 ying AH-1J Cobras aboard a Navy amphibious carrier o the east coast of North Vietnam, and two Marine attack squadrons, Marine Attack Squadron 211 and 311, ying Douglas A-4E Skyhawks, ying from Bien Hoa aireld and were critical to the defense of An Loc and Saigon. 5. Stephen P. Randolph, Powerful and Brutal Weapons, (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2007), 112.6. One wonders why the Marine F-4s were sent to a separate base while U.S. Air Force bases in ailand, such as Udorn, Korat, Ubon, and Takhli, were supporting F-4 ight operations. On the one hand, the Air Force claimed that the bases were already at capacity with tactical jets. Secondly, the Air Force and Marines ew dierent models of F-4s, and parts commonality was not automatic. e present tenants of Nam Phong, a special operations group called Controlled American Source (CAS), no doubt the trainers for the ai troops, approached the American Ambassador to ailand suggesting that Detachment 1 of the 56th Special Operations Wing (which ew T-28s) be redeployed from Udorn to Nam Phong and the Marine squadrons go to Udorn and occupy the space freed by their displacement. is would keep activities at Nam Phong at a “low exposure level” and keep CAS from having to vacate their facilities.” is proposal was strongly objected to by Gen Lew Clay, USAF, Commander, Pacic Air Forces, who contended that Udorn was “saturated operationally with ghter aircraft.” See “Southeast Asia Air Augmentation, 1972,” Headquarters, Pacic Air Forces, (Maxwell AFB, AL: U.S. Air Force Archives), 59–60; hereafter designated: “SEA Augmentation report;” and Randolph, 108–110.7. is was a takeo on a then popular country and western recording by Lynn Anderson: “I Didn’t Promise You’re a Rose Garden,” and a Marine Corps recruiting poster where a menacing drill instructor glowered down on a recruit.8. “SEA Augmentation report.” 9. BGen Andrew O’Donnell, brieng to 1st MAW ocers, 1972, (Quantico, VA: Oral History Collection, History Division), hereafter, “O’Donnell brief.”10. SEA Augmentation report, 63.11. SEA Augmentation report, 63.12. LtGen Jeerson D. Howell interview with author, 9 May 2006, 134–135, (Quantico, VA: Oral History Collection, History Division), hereafter Howell intvw.13. Howell intvw.14. SEA Augmentation report, 62–63.15. Bruce Martin, “MABS’ MOB,” Leatherneck Magazine, (Quantico, VA: July 1969), 46–51.16. Col Fleet Lentz, “e Rose Garden,” unpublished manuscript, May 2010, author’s possession, History Division, Quantico, VA, 41–42. 17. O’Donnell brief.18. H. Ownby interview with Fred Allison, 29 September 2015, recording, (Quantico, VA: Oral History Collection, History Division).19. Col Darrel D. Whitcomb, USAF, interview, 23 September 2015, (Quantico, VA: Oral Hist Coll, History Division), hereafter Whitcomb intvw.20. Ibid.21. Nail 29 Forward Air Controller to e Old Heads of “Blade” and “Motion,” 18 October 1973, Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 115 Command Chronology, 1 July–31 December, (Quantico, VA: History Division), part 4, enclosure 1. 22. O’Donnell brief. O’Donnell explained that the Navy was after the Marines’ F-4Js—the most modern type—for their carrier squadrons. He “took the oensive to get into the air-to-air business to defend the Marine position in keeping the Js and [in the future] getting later ghters.” Dr. Allison manages the oral history program for the U.S. Marine Corps History Division. He is a career Marine Reserve ocer, served as a radar intercept ocer in F-4 Phantoms, and was designated an air combat tactics instructor. A Texas native, he has a PhD in Military History from Texas Tech University (2003). His dissertation is entitled “e Black Sheep Squadron: A Case Study in U.S. Marine Corps Innovations in Close Air Support.”

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68 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgWING UPDATE1ST MAW OKINAWA“Cactus Air Force”“ We struck at Guadalcanal to halt the advance of the Japanese.We did not know how strong he was, nor did we know his plans.We knew only that he was moving down the island chain and that he had to be stopped.”—Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift, Commanding General 1st Marine Division1st Marine Aircraft WingOn 7 August 1942, dawn’s light revealed a collection of amphibious forces poised to land on Guadalcanal, a 60-mile long island that was the site of the rst Allied eorts to halt Japanese expansion in the Pacic theater. e Battle of Guadalcanal became the longest campaign of the Pacic War and included forces from all branches of the U.S. military. Marine Corps legends such as Lieutenant Colonel Lewis “Chesty” Puller, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, and Captain Joe Foss participated in the erce ghting that continued until early 1943, achieving distinction that still resonates through our United States Marine Corps.1 On Guadalcanal, the primary focus of eort was the Japanese aireld on the northern side of the island that would have allowed the Japanese to interrupt sorely needed supply routes sustaining Australia and New Zealand.2 Although taken by U.S. forces only two days after making landfall, the aireld remained a hotly contested commodity for months. e captured eld was later renamed Henderson Field in honor of Major Lofton R. Henderson, the Commanding Ocer of Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron 241, and the rst aviator to die during the Battle of Midway.3 Henderson Field had a monumental strategic impact on both the Battle of Guadalcanal and Pacic theater campaigns that followed. Initially comprised of F4F-4 Wildcats from Marine Fighter Squadron 223 and SBD-3 Marines with MWSS-171 and Airmen with the Andersen Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron extinguish a ﬁre during a controlled burn exercise at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Jul 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 69 1ST MAW OKINAWADauntless Bombers from Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 232, assets from the Quantico, Virginia-based 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), Henderson Field grew to incorporate U.S. Army, Air Force, and U.S. Navy operations as well. is collection of Henderson Field aviators and their assets became known as the “Cactus Air Force,” drawing its moniker from the allied codename for the island of Guadalcanal. Aided by its itinerant ground support the Cactus Air Force would down more than 150 Japanese aircraft in its rst 5 weeks, while simultaneously ghting Japanese ground forces, the oppressive jungle environment, and unreliable logistics. With its innovative and ground-breaking hybrid success, the Cactus Air Force dened the future of Marine Corps aviation in World War II and beyond.4,5Just as at Guadalcanal, and now in Okinawa, Japan-based 1st MAW continues to achieve signicant accomplishments in aviation concepts and technologies that lay the foundation for future innovation for Marine Corps aviation. As the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal draws near, 1st MAW is paying homage to the historic island battle and intrepid Cactus Air Force warriors by changing its call sign from “Icepack” to “Cactus.”is change symbolizes the strong ties to 1st MAW’s MAG-12 and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel pose for a photo during a tour aboard Japanese Ship Izumo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, 1 Oct 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSA KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft with VMGR-152 is de-iced before takeoff from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, 9 Dec 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSMarines with VMFA-121 load ordnance on an F-35B Lightning II aircraft at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, 26 Jan 2022. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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70 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgheritage, while it simultaneously looks to the future of aviation warfare.e Wing is the III Marine Expeditionary Force’s (III MEF) forward-deployed stand-in aviation combat element in the Indo-Pacic Region, supporting naval, joint, ally and partner forces across III MEF’s area of operation. It is well-postured to be the vanguard for innovation in Marine Corps aviation.Whether experimenting with Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), providing forward command and control, air and missile defense, or contributing to maritime area of operation awareness, 1st MAW will lead aviation innovation as Force Design 2030 is fully implemented. “1st MAW is the cornerstone of III MEF’s ability to compete, campaign, and ght in this critical and contested region,” says Lieutenant General James W. Bierman, III MEF Commanding General. “In the best traditions of Marine aviation, the Marines and Sailors of 1st MAW continue to demonstrate sturdy competence, innovation, and reliability as they conduct the critical function of Marine aviation from forward-deployed installations, expeditionary positions, and amphibious shipping.” On 1 December 2021, Major General Brian Cavanaugh, 1st MAW’s Commanding General, attended the activation of the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) Marine Aircraft Group. e activation, led by Lieutenant General Tae-sung Kim of the ROK Marine Corps, included the signing of an agreement 2ndLt Meredith DeLong, a combat engineer ofﬁcer with MWSS-172, observes Marines loading a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during a ﬁeld exercise at Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, 3 Nov 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSMarines of MAG-24 host a static display for WWII Veterans at MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, HI, 6 Dec 2021. MAG-24 hosted a static display of aircraft from HMLA-367, VMM-268, and HMH-463. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSROK Marine Corps LtGen Tae-sung Kim, commandant of the ROK Marine Corps, gives a speech to U.S. and ROK Marines and civilians during the ROK Marine Aircraft Group Activation and Commanding Ceremony in Pohang, South Korea, 1 Dec 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 71 1ST MAW OKINAWAbetween U.S. and ROK Marine Corps forces.is agreement will support technology sharing between the militaries and improve interoperability of aviation forces, and further enhance the Marine Corps’ ability to conduct operations in the air and on land in support of security, stability, and regional prosperity. Marine Air Control Group 18In July 2021, Marine Air Control Group 18 (MACG-18), assigned to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma in Okianwa, Japan, conducted unprecedented training in the Indo-Pacic region during Ryukyu Vice. Ryukyu Vice was a joint xed-wing command and control exercise that provided critical training to 1st MAW tactical air control personnel.e training included live-ight oensive, defensive, and counter-air scenarios, and practice with air intercept control, supported by the use of Marine Air Control Squadron 4’s (MACS-4) AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar. e A/N TPS-80 G/ATOR is a multi-mission air surveillance system that can detect, identify, and track airborne threats including cruise missiles, aircraft and remotely piloted vehicles, as well as rocket, artillery and mortar re. e radar’s use in the Indo-Pacic region provides streamlined, interoperable features that allow further and more powerful communication capabilities with our joint and bilateral forces. Cpl Katelynne Eber, a UH-1Y Venom helicopter crew chief with HMLA-169, on deployment to Okinawa as part of the UDP scans the horizon while ﬂying over Okinawa, Japan, 29 Sept 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSLCpl Nicholas Christ (right) and LCpl Beau Arsenault (left), LAAD Gunners with Alpha Battery, 2nd LAAD Battalion, assigned to MACG-18, 1st MAW ﬁre a Stinger Launch Simulator during a ground threat reaction training event with HMH-462 in Okinawa, Japan, 9 Sept 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSMarines with MWHS-1 takeoff from a landing zone using a UH-1Y Venom helicopter attached to HMLA-169 during a Special Patrol Insertion and Extraction rigging training exercise on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, 9 Sept 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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72 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgMarine Aircraft Group 12 On 3 October 2021, in the waters just o of Japan, two F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 (VMFA-242), MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, conducted the rst-ever landing of F-35B Lightning II aircraft aboard a Japanese ship.e landing was part of a bilateral eort to validate the capability of short takeo and vertical landing operations on a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel. e successful trial proved that the JS Izumo (DDH183)could support the takeos and landings of STOVL aircraft at sea, providing additional options for future air defense in the Indo-Pacic and further cementing the U. S. and Japanese alliance. During the fall and winter of 2021, KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft and Marines assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152) conducted various training events at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. eir training included conducting low level static line drops with U.S. Soldiers from 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, and in-ight threat reaction drills over training areas in Alaska. VMGR-152 Marines also assisted the U.S. Marine Corps 4th Law Enforcement Battalion, delivering supplies and personnel to remote Alaskan communities in support of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Marines with VMGR-152 specialize in training at various locations all over the world and provide III MEF with various services such as aerial deliveries, troop transport and logistical movements throughout the Indo-Pacic region.Marine Aircraft Group24 At Marine Corps Base Hawaii, the re-designation of Marine Wing Support Detachment 24 (MWSD-24) and the activation of Marine Wing Support Squadron 174 (MWSS-174) increased 1st MAW’s capacity to provide tailored aviation ground support to the squadrons of MAG-24. is action complemented Commandant General David Berger’s vision for modernizing the Marine Corps by expanding the MAW’s reach and lethality in support of maritime and joint operations and its ability to operate in geographically dispersed and austere environments. e re-designation also meets the Marine Corps’ objective to have a support squadron at each Marine Corps air station. “A full-size MWSS in Hawaii is postured to better support III MEF as a whole,” said Lieutenant Colonel Gideon Grissett, Commanding Ocer of MWSS-174. “is reorganization increases the capacity of a Marine aviation combat element and improves our ability to support the six functions of Marine aviation with a focus on temporary, austere and potentially contested locations ashore.” As part of its activation, MWSS-174 will gain approximately 200 additional Marines, increasing its capacity in the six aviation ground support activities it previously provided as a smaller detachment. As an example, the squadron will now be able to simultaneously provide full aireld services while operating three forward arming and refueling points. Marine Aircraft Group 36 In the summer of 2021, Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 (HMLA-169) executed A U.S. Sailor directs a Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with VMFA-242 aboard Japanese Ship, Izumo off the coast of Japan, 3 Oct 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSA CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter assigned to HMH-466 (on deployment to Okinawa as part of the UDP) carries an air defense missile silo during an external lift at MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, 27 Jan 2022. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 73 1ST MAW OKINAWAone of the longest maritime HMLA self-deployment ights in 1st MAW history during exercise Tiltrotor/Rotary Wing (TR/RW) 2107. TR/RW 2107 was a unilateral exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan that demonstrated 1st MAW’s capabilities to maintain combat-readiness in a maritime environment. “e signicance of self-deploying HMLA-169 over 1,200 miles demonstrates our ability to execute Distributed Maritime Operations under the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations construct,” said Lieutenant Colonel Eric Fleming, Commanding Ocer of HMLA-169. e EABO construct was tested again by MAG-36 during Kamandag 5 held in the fall of 2021. Kamandag 5 served as the culminating event of the III MEF, Unit Deployment Program squadron exercise continuum, which integrates various elements of III MEF and conducts experimentation of emerging concepts, while enabling III MEF to train together for standing operational requirements. “KD5N was extremely valuable because it allowed the MEF to further rene Expeditionary Advanced Base TTPs [tactics, techniques and procedures] established in the previous IWX [Indo-Pacic Warghting Exercise], and it provided the opportunity to experiment with and provide feedback to MLR [Marine Littoral Regiment] C2 [Command and Control] structure and task organization,” said Major Gil McMillan, a UH-1Y Venom pilot and the lead planner for this exercise. “is training oered a vital opportunity to practice and develop EAB concepts across the MEF with elements of the Division, the Wing, and MLG operating against a peer adversary. We were able to establish a repeatable training assessment framework that can be applied across III MEF in the future.”1st MAW could not be what it is today without its 80 plus years of vibrant and distinguished history guiding its way.From the Pacic eater during World War II, through every major conict since, 1st MAW has proven that today — and in the future — it will continue to be a skilled, smart and strong ghting force, ready to ght and win in the Pacic.“I remain proud and appreciative of the contributions of each member of this tireless MAW,” said Lieutenant General Bierman.”For more information regarding 1st MAW accomplishments, please visit the 1st MAW Defense Visual Information Distribution Service at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/1MAW or any of 1st MAW’s social media sites on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.e point of contact for any questions is 1st MAW Marine Corps Communication Strategy and Operations Oce at 1STMAWCOMMSTRAT@usmc.mil.1 Nye, L. (2020, August 10). One of WWII’s Toughest Battles began 78 years ago - here are 7 things you didn’t know about Guadalcanal. Business Insider. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.businessinsider.com/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-battle-of-guadalcanal-2018-8#2-the-only-coast-guard-medal-of-honor-ever-bestowed-was-for-service-at-guadalcanal-2 2 Michal. (2017, July 10). e Solomon Islands Campaign: Guadalcanal. e National WWII Museum | New Orleans. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/solomon-islands-campaign-guadalcanal.3 (n.a.). (n.d.). Lofton R. Henderson. Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/2320427 4 (n.a.). (n.d.). Birth of Guadalcanal’s Cactus Air Force. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nnam/education/articles/history-up-close/birth-of-guadalcanals-cactus-air-force.html 5 (n.a.). (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica, inc. Battle of Guadalcanal. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-GuadalcanalA Marine refuels a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon, assigned to Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron 26, at MCAS Futenma during exercise Noble Fusion, 6 Feb 2022. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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74 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgWING UPDATE2ND MAW CHERRY POINT2nd Marine Aircraft WingCalendar year 2021 showcased the resilience and dedication of the Marines and Sailors of 2D Marine Aircraft Wing (2D MAW). e character of 2D MAW personnel was made evident by the countless tasks that were completed to improve readiness and meet support requirements as members of II Marine Expeditionary Force’s (II MEF) Aviation Combat Element (ACE). During the year, 2D MAW supported numerous Continental United States and world-wide contingencies and training exercises, executed the six functions of Marine aviation across the range of military operations, and tackled diverse challenges to include the continued impact of COVID-19, the withdrawal from Afghanistan, as well as innovating and testing concepts from the Commandant’s Planning Guidance and Force Design 2030.In 2021, 2D MAW units ew a combined total of over 80,000 hours; more than the two previous years with two fewer squadrons assigned. e Wing also saw a 14 percent reduction in aviation mishaps, a 16 percent reduction in mishap rates, and a 94 percent reduction in the total cost of mishaps. is increase in ight hours, in conjunction with diligent management of aviation personnel and assets, and the reduction in mishaps resulted in the MAW continuously maintaining required training and combat readiness in order to fulll a broad spectrum of mission essential task lists. e execution of robust training plans coupled with unmatched logistical, administrative, and maintenance support made it possible for 2D MAW to answer the call to support the Marine Expeditionary Unit, North African Response Force, MEF Exercises, Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course, Integrated Training Exercise (ITX), Mountain Warfare Exercise, Navy TOPGUN, community relations, and a myriad of detachments and deployments. Ultimately, the hard work and dedication from all those assigned to the Wing was validated by the Wing nishing 2021 with the highest training readiness level possible and the highest Aircraft Mission Capable rates in over ve years. roughout this time, personnel supported 39 squadrons with more than 80 dierent logistical requirements involving the movement of over 8,000 Marines, Sailors, and civilians and more than 5,000 short tons of cargo. ese movements and detachments allowed for training of new pilots and aircrew, increased prociency and readiness of all 2D MAW personnel, and resulted in the timely deployment of prepared Marines in support of military and humanitarian operations. Marines of 2D MAW continue to produce the product our nation requires. ey also answered the nation’s call to support our allies and neighbors. e Wing rapidly deploy a Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (Reinforced) within 24 hours of notice with lift assistance from its own Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron to support the Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief eorts of OPERATION UNIFIED EFFORT in Haiti. e Wing’s ability to rapidly deploy the exact force needed validated concepts to internally source, deploy, and redeploy requested assets in support of disaster relief missions; it provided over 150 Marines, including 5 medical ocers, in support of OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME, an eort to secure housing and employment for 70,000 vulnerable Afghan refugees resettling in the United States. e Marines, Sailors, and civilians of all subordinate units and 2D MAW proper have a superb work ethic, working behind the scenes to ensure they remain steadfast and prepared to respond around the globe.VMU-4 recover the RQ-21A Blackjack during unmanned air system training at Camp Talega, CA, 10 Apr 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 75 2ND MAW CHERRY POINTMarine Aircraft Group 14roughout 2021, Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) focused on maintaining combat readiness and accomplishing its primary mission: Conduct oensive air support, anti-air warfare, electronic warfare, assault support, and air reconnaissance operations in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) or joint and coalition forces, as well as conducting Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) training in order to provide combat capable aircrews to operational squadrons. Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 (VMGR-252) continued to support Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF) in both the European and African eaters with KC-130J aircraft. “Team Otis” continued its multi-year commitment to this operational environment while simultaneously supporting squadron Detachment for Training (DFT) events, 2D MAW requirements, and ights in support of the KC-130J Fleet Replacement Detachment. Team Otis also supported Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) eorts in Haiti as part of OPERATION UNIFIED EFFORT. VMGR-252 provided 8 KC-130J ights consisting of 69 ight hours, movement of 132,000 pounds of cargo, and 95 personnel from Marine Corps Air Stations (MCAS) New River and MCAS Cherry Point to Naval Base Guantanamo Bay over a period of 5 days. Furthermore, Team Otis rose to another important and late notice mission, supporting OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME and the 26th MEU with multiple aircraft. is operational support consisted of rapid movement of 66 passengers and more than 67,000 pounds of cargo, over the course of 12 sorties, and was crucial to standing up the Afghanistan refugee processing center and camp located in Virginia. eir training support and exercises included Harvest Hawk, Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) 1-22, and joint U.S Army training with the 82nd Airborne and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. In every clime and place, AV-8B Harriers from MAG-14 focused on cold-weather training, breaking with recent historical norms of training for duties in the Central Command area of responsibility (AOR). Marine Attack Squadron 542 (VMA-542) conducted a DFT to Alpena, Michigan, while VMA-231 went further north to train at Canadian Forces Base Cold Lakes, Canada. e challenges and diculties of operating in extreme environments yielded valuable lessons to apply in future conicts. During this time, the Great American “Bulldogs” of VMA-223 also deployed with the 22nd MEU, ying in support of operations during the evacuation of the Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.VMFA-115 ﬂy alongside Finnish Air Force Fighter Squadron 31 over Rissala Air Base, near Kuopio, Finland, 18 Jun 2021. Marines with VMFA-115 deployed to Kuopio, Finland in support of Squadron Visit ILVES (Finnish for “Lynx”). PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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76 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgMarine Attack Training Squadron 203 (VMAT-203) deactivated in support of the Marine Corps’ transition from the AV-8B Harrier to the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, marking the end of an era. e squadron’s origin dates back to 1947, when it was originally designated as VMT-1. e squadron has trained Marines on a variety of aviation platforms and was ocially tasked with the mission of training Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier pilots in 1983 as VMAT-203 (A Fleet Replacement Detachment will continue to train Harrier pilots until the sundown of the AV-8B Harrier in the years to come).In addition, Marine Unmanned Vehicle Squadron 2 (VMU-2) executed sorties in support of WTI 2-21, ITX 3-22 and 2D MAW frags. MAWTS-1 certied Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operators and qualied weapons ocers during these events at Cannon Air Defense Center, Speedbag Expeditionary Aireld, and Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic.Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 (MALS-14) provided exceptional support to six xed-wing squadrons and various commands stationed on and around MCAS Cherry Point across 22 major deployments and training exercises. MALS-14 provided support to SPMAGTF-CR-CC, the 24th MEU, North Africa Response Force (NARF), KC-130 support to SPMAGTF-CR-AF, and aviation logistics support for DFTs throughout the year in North America. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 271 “Workhorses” underwent a reorganization to optimize the squadron to support the changing needs of the Marine Corps. In doing so, a new Aviation Mobility Company was formed with two operationally ready and deployable forward arm and refueling point (FARP) teams. While continuing to validate this new model, MWSS-271 was tasked to deploy to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (VMM-266) to support the Haiti HA/DR eorts in the form of food services and utilities after earthquakes and a hurricane devastated the country. In September, the Workhorses supported OAW with personnel in Fort Pickett, Virginia, providing tents, utilities, and security for Afghan nationals entering the United States. Marine Aircraft Group 26e “Blue Diamonds” of MAG-26 provided world-class assault support at home and abroad amid the challenge of the second year of a global pandemic. During 2021, every eet squadron in the MAG deployed, returned from deployment, or began a pre-deployment training cycle. MAG-26 Marines supported combat operations, multi-national exercises with key allies, and Marine and joint service training at home. e FRS continued their support of Marine, Air Force, and Navy tiltrotor training. Despite this incredible tempo, the Blue Diamonds achieved the highest readiness and ight hours numbers in a decade, surpassing the goal of an Cpl Matheus Stitt, the Marine of the quarter for Air Trafﬁc Control, MCAS New River, looks through binoculars at a control tower on MCAS New River, NC, 13 May 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 77 2ND MAW CHERRY POINTaverage 70 percent mission-capable rating and 100 percent of the sortie-based training plan. e “Golden Eagles” of VMM-162 (REIN) deployed with the 24th MEU from March to October aboard the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and conducted operations throughout Europe and Southwest Asia. e Golden Eagles began their deployment operating in the United Kingdom, Norway, and Spain in support of the U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet, before proceeding to the 5th Fleet AOR, where they maintained a crisis response posture to support evacuation operations in Afghanistan. In August, VMM-162 (REIN) supported the operations in Afghanistan with AV-8Bs ying combat sorties over Kabul, RQ-21s maintaining near-constant surveillance over Hamid Karzai International Airport, air trac control services that keeping the Hamid Karzai Aireld open, and MV-22s in the North Arabian Sea maintaining personnel recovery alert throughout the operation. In the fall, VMM-263 welcomed detachments from across 2D MAW and stood up as the aviation ACE for the 22nd MEU. Sailing twice in the latter half of 2021 during pre-deployment training exercises, they will deploy in early 2022 with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group. MAG-26 also continued to provide assault support and crisis response to U.S. Africa Command as the ACE for the NARF. VMM-266, -261, and -365 each served in the NARF during 2021, initially in Moron, Spain, and then in Sigonella, Italy. Ospreys from MAG-26 provided a critical capability to Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa (MFEA), and supported MFEA operations throughout Europe and Africa. MAG-26 performance in the air was supported by exceptional performance on the ground. MWSS-272 supported WTI 1-22 in Yuma, Arizona, and spent the latter part of the year preparing to provide aviation ground support above the Arctic Circle in Norway during Exercise Cold Response 22. MALS-26 delivered support despite budget challenges, critical parts shortages, supply chain disruptions, and other ongoing challenges related to COVID-19. In overcoming these challenges, MALS-26 was instrumental in the rapid increase of mission-capable rates and ight hour completion rates throughout 2021, that set the standard for MV-22 execution across the eet. Marine Air Control Group 28Marine Air Control Group 28 (MACG-28) remained heavily engaged in coordinating support for contingency operations, unit and service level training, and integrating newly elded capabilities during 2021. MACG-28 eestablished the importance of prociency across all warghting functions to prepare the agencies of the Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) to ght and win against a peer adversary. While they trained for high-end conict, the Marines of the MACCS provided critical enablers to the service’s medical response to continue recruit training at Parris Island and the Department of Defense (DoD)-wide response to the Afghanistan evacuation. e control group’s deployments included the 24thMEU, a battery minus in support of III MEF Unit Deployment Program (UDP), one Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) section to the SPMAGTF-CR-CC 21.2, NARF 21.2, Defense Support of Civil Authority (DCSA), and Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) 21.2. Major training events MACG-28 supported included:Service-Level Training Exercise (SLTE 2-21 and 3-21), WTI 2-21, DYNAMIC CAPE 21, SPEARHEAD THUNDER 21, Large Scale Exercise 21 (LSE-21) , Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 (MWCS-28) Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation (MCCRE), Air Trac Control MCCRE, COPE JAVELIN, PEGASUS FLIGHT 22.1, REINDEER I/JOINT VIKING, RED FLAG 21-1, 21-2, and 21-3, SPARTAN SHIELD 21-4 and 21-7, ASTRAL KNIGHT 21, FORMIDABLE SHIELD 21 and ARCTIC CHALLENGE 21. e training continuum rened perishable skills in amphibious operations and developed institutional knowledge required to conduct high-intensity combat operations in austere environments.Subordinate units of MACG-28 remained highly engaged with Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 28 (MTACS-28) planning and executing four major exercises during a global pandemic. e squadron further provided the Tactical Air Command Center (TACC) during LSE 21 and WTI 2-21. Marine Air Support Squadron 1 (MASS-1) led the MACG-28 detachment of 582 Marines and Sailors to provide the services and agencies of the MACCS, while rening tactics, techniques, and procedures for contested environment operations and integrating the MEF Information Group (MIG) liaisons into 1stLt Eric L. Taylor, a UH-1Y Venom helicopter pilot with HMLA-269, boards his aircraft at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA, 6 Apr 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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78 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgcurrent operations. e unit provided subject matter expertise to multiple operational planning teams as well as MEF and MAW exercises, training both battle stas on MACCS employment.Overall,2021was an unprecedented and highly successful year for MACG-28. Despite having to overcomeobstacles presented by a pandemic, MACG-28 showcased its ability to employ the MACCS across the full range of military operations. Marine Aircraft Group 29e Marines and Sailors of MAG-29 entered 2021 with an aggressive plan focused directly on warghting and combat readiness generation while simultaneously supporting forward-deployed crisis response forces and advancing new capabilities across attack, utility, and heavy lift aviation. e early part of the year saw every operational squadron committed to supporting SLTE 2-21, 3-21, and WTI 2-21 while the “Condors” of Heavy Marine Helicopter 464 (HMH-464), the “Gunrunners” of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 (HMLA-269), and the “Wolverines” of MALS-29 provided detachments to the 24th MEU forward-deployed and the “Hammerheads” of HMH-366 provided a detachment to the 31st MEU in Okinawa. MWSS-274 was deactivated during this time as MAG-29 began implementing Force Design 2030.Over the summer, the “War Eagles” of MAG-29 began rening assault support concepts of employment aligned with Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations to better support warghting in a dispersed and distributed environment. is eort culminated in early December with MAG-29 conducting a Command and Control (C2) exercise composed of organic MAG-29 squadrons distributed across 6 sites geographically separated across the eastern seaboard by more than 1,400 miles from Brunswick, Maine, to Key West, Florida. Signicant initiatives within this eort included aviation-specic TTPs development, distributed aviation logistics and sustainment, and Digital Interoperability-enabled C2 utilizing Marine Air-Ground Tablet (MAGTAB) capability extended via Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) to provide low-latency and real-time over-the-horizon (OTH) data, voice, message, and display.During the fall, the “Warriors” of HMLA-167 and Ironhorse of HMH-461 provided detachments in support of the 22nd MEU, the Gunrunners of HMLA-269 sent a detachment to Peru in support of UNITAS 21, every squadron provided support to SLTE-21 and WTI 1-22, and the Phoenix of HMHT-302 closed out the calendar year exceeding every production requirement for CH-53E pilots, aircrew, and maintainers. In September, HMH-461 ew their last CH-53E ight and prepared for transition to the CH-53K King Stallion, marking a transformative and exponential leap in heavy-lift warghting capability.roughout the year, MAG-29 squadrons pushed to train in unfamiliar environments such as: Grayling, Michigan; Brunswick, Maine; Fort Carson, Colorado; Alpena, Michigan; Boise, Idaho; Savannah, Georgia; El Centro, California; MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; and Key West, Florida. ese unique DFT evolutions maximized warghting preparedness and combat readiness generation.MAG-29 closed out 2021 executing more than 20,000 ight hours. is was possible because of historically high aircraft readiness rates, the dedication of assigned Marines and Sailors, and an unmatched work ethic across the MAG. In early 2022, MAG-29 will deploy to Norway in support of Exercise Cold Response 22 and remains focused on our primary task – warghting and combat readiness generation. Marine Aircraft Group 31During 2021, MAG-31’s F/A-18 ghter squadrons either deployed or executed DFTs, both within the US and across the globe. Each evolution was facilitated by remarkable support from MALS-31, which not only ensured the supply chain was poised to provide uninterrupted support, but also thoroughly managed numerous Bureau Numbers (BuNo) within the MAG. During this time, MAG-31 saw the reactivation of MWSS-273 and the transfer of an F-35 JSF training squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502 (VMFAT-502), to 3D MAW. VMFAT-501 continued to train replacement F-35B pilots at a remarkable pace and broadened the scope of the F-35 program by executing multiple DFTs that tested the maintenance supply capabilities, programmatic security, and infrastructure of the program. MWSS-273 provided support to the A UH-1Y Venom helicopter pilot with HMLA-269, ﬂies over Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA, 6 Apr 2021. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 79 2ND MAW CHERRY POINTentirety of 2D MAW through DFTs and SLTE, by supporting humanitarian eorts at Fort Picket during OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME, and by providing reghting capabilities at home station MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, and enabling continuous ight operations.MAG-3l maintained a keen focus on joint operations, as well as naval integration throughout the year, as demonstrated by participation in monthly large force exercises to continue to improve interoperability within the DoD. Each large force exercise included members from air and ground units such as Air Force F-l6s and F-15s during RAZOR TALON as well as Joint Terminal Air Controllers from Marine Raiders and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic during CAROLINA THUNDER. e MAG-31 Commanding Ocer, Colonel Shawn Basco, personally served as the liaison with the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Weapons School (MPRWS) to introduce the MAG to P-8 capabilities through a ramp familiarization and onboard ight demonstration. In May 2021, the P-8 was included in the MAG’s Command Post Exercise and subsequently refueled at a FARP at MCAS Beaufort, established by Marines from MWSS-273. MAG-31 personnel participated in two follow-on iterations of the MPRWS WTI course in April and October 2021, providing tactical air (TACAIR) subject matter experts for graduate-level simulation events at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. MAG-31 continued the emphasis on naval integration through participation in the Harry S. Truman Strike Group’s Composite Unit Training Exercise, in which intelligence and TACAIR aircrew embarked and planned twelve F-35 and 16 F/A-18 sorties into Carrier Strike Group Air Plan in October 2021.e year, 2021 was a year marked by a high operational tempo for the operational F/A-18 squadrons. Beginning in March, both Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA-312) and Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 (VMFA(AW)-533) deployed to the Pacic AOR. VMFA-312 supported the Dynamic Force Employment (DFE), which required minimal time between notication and deployment. VMFA(AW)-533 deployed in support of UDP 2-21. e power projection of these two squadrons to a dynamic and volatile area of the world signicantly improved national and partner nation security. e other two F/A-18 squadrons, VMFA-115 and VMFA(AW)-224, both deployed on short notice to support DFE opportunities. VMFA(AW)-224 (May) and VMFA-115 (December) both deployed to the Central Command AOR to support contingency operations and combat operations as part of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. Despite the operational commitments that the units of MAG-31 shouldered, personnel continued to support two SLTEs, two WTI courses, and two TOPGUN courses throughout the year. In the spring of 2021, VMFAT-501 executed a DFT to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. e intent of the exercise was to maintain and y aircraft where there is no pre-existing maintenance support, a mission not commonly executed by a training squadron. On this occasion, new pilots and maintainers were provided with the opportunity to deploy and obtain critical training to support and improve not only their technical, but also their professional skillsets. Establishing the F-35B aircraft detachment at MacDill Air Force Base and reporting Full Operational Capability highlighted the squadron’s ability to execute expeditionary operations. While supporting operations across the globe, MALS-31’s logistical support networks exceeded expectations. Superior aviation logistics support was provided to four F/A-18 squadrons and two F-35 training squadrons, encompassing 124 aircraft, sustaining ight operations across the United States, Saudi Arabia, Finland, Japan, and Guam. e squadron developed multiple process improvement initiatives and incorporated cost-saving eciencies for the continuous utilization of the legacy F/A-18 program. Furthermore, progressive actions have been implemented to expand future F-35 logistical support. MALS-31’s dedicated eorts resulted in 14,803 ight hours for 6,767 sorties and 180 tons of expended ordnance. e most remarkable accomplishment for MAG-31 was that all of the operational and training commitments were executed while maintaining the highest aircraft readiness with a training rating of T-1, and ying more ight hours per squadron than has been executed in nearly a decade. MAG-31 remained at the forefront of Marine Corps in aviation readiness and the projection of combat power in 2021.Marines with 1st LAR Battalion plan for air support from MAG-29 during a Fire Support Coordination Exercise at Marine Air-Ground Combat Center, CA, 5 Apr 2021. Marines with 1st LAR and MAG-29 are integrated as part of SLTE 3-21. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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80 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgWING UPDATE3RD MAW MIRAMAR3rd Marine Aircraft WingThroughout 2021, the Marines of 3D Marine Aircraft Wing (3D MAW) remained committed to conducting the six functions of Marine aviation while supporting both scheduled and short notice deployments and exercises. rough CONUS-based training and OCONUS support to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC), multiple Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU), and multiple deploying squadrons and detachments to support the Unit Deployment Program (UDP), 3D MAW ew 93,373 ight hours and 54,398 sorties in support of training, scheduled deployments, and other contingency operations. While conducting both structural and functional transitions across our Groups and Squadrons, the Wing remains committed to providing combat ready, expeditionary aviation forces capable of short notice, world-wide employment in response to regional combatant commanders, component commanders and Marine Air-Ground Task Force tasking.Marine Aircraft Group 11For Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) 2021 was an aggressive period of large force exercise execution with an emphasis on joint operations and Maritime Employment. To kick o the year, Miramar hosted a slew of Type/Model/Series events, including Naval, Air Force, and Royal Canadian Air Force platforms participating in 3D MAW’s annual Winter Fury Exercise. MAG-11 took the reins and showcased their ability to plan and operate in the Joint environment and excel in all six functions of Marine aviation. While heavily involved in the planning and execution of several operations, and with limited assets, MAG-11 was able to deploy a strike ghter presence to Honolulu, Hawaii, on 72 hours’ notice for ird Fleet tasking. Not long afterwards, Exercise Summer Fury further exhibited 3D MAW capabilities by organically conducting a long-range strike operation with an emphasis on Maritime Employment. is marked a MAG-wide shift in focus to attack maritime targets. For the remainder of 2021, MAG-11 began planning and executing its high level series of Sea Denial exercises. Training at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) during Black Flag and Bat Wars marked the rst two installments in a series of ve events that MAG-11 is poised to support throughout 2022.MAG-11 executed several deployments and detachments throughout 2021, supporting operations across the globe, including several SPMAGTF-CR-CC detachments and one UPD to Iwakuni, Japan. Most notably, the “Death Rattlers” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 (VMFA-323) worked through a long and arduous deployment aboard USS Nimitz supporting OPERATIONS INHERENT RESOLVE, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, and Octave Quartz, marking the nal carrier deployment for the F/A-18C Legacy Hornet.Marine Aircraft Group 13MAG-13 provided oensive air support, anti-air warfare, and command and control of aircraft functions throughout 2021, leading the MAW in fth-generation aircraft transition. During this year, the MAG and supported three deployments, stood up the third of four F-35B squadrons as part of the TACAIR transition, transferred multiple newer Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) F-35’s to MAG-12, supported SLTE 1-22 with the full MAG sta in the fall, and supported numerous training exercises. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 (MALS-13) provided continuous aviation logistics support for twenty-six F-35B aircraft, helped to sundown the RQ- 21A Blackjack Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and helped prepare for the nal AV-8B deployment of West Coast Harriers. MALS-13 also functioned as the point of entry for all aviation logistics support for Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 aircraft including MV-228, AH-1Z, UH-1Y, CH-53E, and F-35B Training Management System.In May, VMFA-122 Det A returned from the 15th MEU. e squadron planned and conducted advanced training in all mission essential tasks, and successfully prepared a four-jet deployment for Training (OFT) to Moses Lake, Washington, in support of 3D MAW long-range strike, and a four-jet deployment for training (DFT) to Volk Air and Ground Base, WI, in support of Exercise Northern Lightning. Additionally, the squadron supported VMFA-225 until Initial Operational Capability (IOC).

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3RD MAW MIRAMARroughout the year, VMFA-225 continued to grow in size and receive aircraft. e focus of the squadron’s eorts was training all Marines in their respective disciplines and establishing programs to facilitate its eventual safe for ight certication. e squadron achieved IOC in mid-September, paving the way to Full Operational Capability in the coming year.In August 2021, Marine Attack Squadron 214 (VMA-214) deployed with 10 pilots, 6 aircraft and 94 Marines on the 11th MEU. Since then, they’ve travelled to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR) and supported various missions for the Joint Force Air Component Commander.In December 2021, VMFA-211 redeployed to Yuma, having conducted a deployment on HMS Queen Elizabeth, alongside F-358s from the Royal Air Force. 2022 Symposium 81 An MV-22B Osprey with VMM-364 “Purple Foxes” lands during section and division conﬁned area landings at Holtville Airﬁeld, CA. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSCpl Kevin Morales, an aircraft avionics technician, U/AH-1, with HMLA-267, connects the AN/ALQ-231(V)3 to a UH-1Y Venom on MCAS Camp Pendleton, CA. The AN/ALQ-231(V)3 enhances the airborne electronic warfare capability for ﬁxed- and rotary-wing aircraft by maintaining a distributed and adaptable network to defend against current and future threats. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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82 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgDuring the eight-month deployment, VMFA-211 supported numerous international missions including contingency operations, dissimilar air combat training with foreign and partner forces and training for qualications, currency and prociency.Over the course of the year, Marine Unmanned Aerial Squadron One (VMU-1) continued to grow Marine Corps’ UAS capabilities by being the rst and only Marine Corps unit to y Group 5 MQ-9 aircraft. roughout 2021, VMU- 1 executed missions in support of combat operations in the CENTCOM AOR, providing cutting-edge reconnaissance platform capabilities for the Marine Corps.roughout the year, MAG-13 and its subordinate units participated in numerous exercises, including Red Flag, Integrated Training Exercise, Northern Lightning, Steel Knight, Summer Fury, WTI courses, enhancing combat prociency, pursuing major training goals, and continuing to lead from the front in readying the 3D MAW for continued legacy sundown and F-35B transition.e “Black Widows” of MALS-13 remained vigilant through the challenging times and continued to provide expeditious support to every squadron across MAG-13. MALS-13 Marines maintained a strong presence on every exercise and deployment; always ensuring the highest level of support was provided and the mission was accomplished.is was an exceptional year for MWSS-371. e squadron performed the full spectrum of aviation ground support, providing superior support services to aviation operations, deployments, projects, and exercises. MWSS-371 conducted countless forward arming and refueling points to provide fuel and reghting support to squadrons conducting eld carrier landing practices, pre-deployment qualications, or aviation training. Furthermore, engineering support was provided to numerous projects ranging from Arizona to California to Washington.Marine Aircraft Group 16roughout 2021, MAG-16 continuously supported 3D MAW’s mission to provide combat-ready expeditionary aviation forces to MAGTF, eet, and unied commanders by conducting assault support exercises and operations across the globe. During this period, MAG-16 supported numerous exercises, including Summer Fury, Winter Fury, Jaded under, Steel Knight, Service-Level Training Exercise, and 73 fragmentary order missions in support of I MEF tasking. Operationally, MAG-16 deployed squadrons and detachments in support of the 11th and 15th MEU’s, East Africa Response Force, SPMAGTF-CR-CC 21.1, UDP 21.1, and UDP 21.2. In line with Force Design 2030, MAG-16 deactivated Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 (VMM-166). MAG-16 pushed the boundaries of Digital Interoperability (DI) by equipping fteen aircraft with DI hardware and successfully incorporated DI on six exercises. MAG-16 supported the local community by training three dierent squadrons to assist with wildre Cpl Alexander Young, aviation logistics information management systems (ALIMS) specialists with MALS-11 operates the autonomic logistics information system (ALIS) utilizing ALIMS on MCAS Miramar, CA. The ALIMS is the premier information technology department for the Aviation Logistics community trained a myriad of Program of Record systems such as ALIS. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 83 3RD MAW MIRAMARreghting eorts. roughout 2021, MAG-16 squadrons ew 19,577 ight hours in support of Marine, Joint, and Combatant Commanders.Marine Aircraft Group 39MAG-39’s focus of eort was the generation of combat-ready forces to support Global Force Management commitments, managing Force Design (FD) impacts to structure, and executing an operational approach designed to ensure MAG-39 aligns with and supports the Commandant’s Planning Guidance and FD 2030 initiatives. MAG-39 hosted an H-1 Operational Advisory Group to ensure the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) prioritizes and pursues the capabilities required to support the Commandant’s vision by 2030. MAG-39 also addressed the complexities of Distributed Aviation Operations through several large-scale exercises, including Winter Fury, Pacic Sentry, Summer Fury, and Steel Knight. Some highlights include use of the T-AVB, rst Anti-Submarine Warfare operations from U.S. Marine Corps aircraft, Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance operations conducted with Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School Pacic MH-60R, and Oensive Counter Unmanned Aircraft System with TPS-80 ground controlled intercepts.During 2021, MAG-39 began a test program on behalf of the H-1 program to locally house attrition reserve aircraft. e program, known as the reconstitution reserve, regularly rotates aircraft from squadrons deployed on the UDP into a Tension Fabric Structure. e purpose of the program is to achieve a local war time reserve that is rapidly deployable, reduce aircraft transfer requirements, and increase pride of ownership by reducing systemic aircraft churn among squadrons. In addition, MAG-39 has begun hosting eet wide modications for the T/M/S including Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure System and UH-1Y oorboard upgrades. Modications will expand to include Link 16 and APR-39D(V)2 during scal year 22.Headquarters (HQ) and HQ Squadron-39 “Fortress” supported nine squadrons while executing warghting command and control operations during Summer Fury 2021. MALS-39 “Hellhounds” completed a deployment in support of SPMAGTF 21.2 and the 11th MEU in addition to supporting every MAG-39 exercise. MALS-39 continued to set the example for aviation logistics and sustainment for the Marine Corps, deploying nearly 25 percent of the squadron in support of MAG-39 and other global requirements. e Hellhounds’ eorts in additive manufacturing, maintenance inspections of MAG-39 squadrons, and parts inventory management also positively impacted readiness.HMLA-169 “Vipers” participated in multiple MAGTF exercises beginning with Winter Fury. In February, e Vipers completed a DFT to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, before deploying with the 11th MEU. e rest of the squadron deployed in support of UDP 21.2 and the 31st MEU returning in November 2021.HMLA-267 “Stingers” began 2021 on deployment with the 15th MEU, UDP 21.1, and the 31st MEU. Upon returning to Camp Pendleton, the Stingers provided aircrew and aircraft to be available for Wild Land Fire Fighting (WLFF) from November until mid-December. In December, HMLA-267 executed a squadron detachment to Gila Bend, Arizona.HMLA-369 “Gunghters” started the year supporting Winter Fury 2021. From March to April, HMLA-369 conducted a unit detachment to El Centro, California. e Gunghters had a second dual sited detachment to both Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma and Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, in June and then participated in Summer Fury. e Marines with MAG-13 conduct a Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance mission aboard a simulated naval vessel at KNOZ range, Yuma, AZ. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSTOPAn F-35C from VMFA-314, the Marine Corps’ First Operationally Capable F-35C squadron, prepares to launch from USS Abraham Lincoln. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSBOTTOMLCpl Logan Dunziellas, a jet engine mechanic with VMFA-122, poses for a picture in front of an F-35B Lightning II. His job is to perform engine maintenance, refueling, aircraft dispatch actions, and aircraft return actions. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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84 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgGunghters then allocated aircrew and assets for WLFF standby for a month before their deployment. In November, HMLA-369 deployed to Okinawa, Japan in support of UDP 22.1 and the 31st MEU. HMLA-469 “Vengeance” returned from deployment at the end of 2020 to participate in Winter Fury 2021. Vengeance stood WLFF standby for the month of August and sent a unit detachment to support SLTE 1-22.Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 “Atlas” sustained excellent performance and even conducted a DFT to El Centro. During 2021, Atlas trained over 100 replacement aircrew, series conversion, refresh syllabus, and crew chief aviators.VMM-164 “Knightriders” returned from a deployment on the 15th MEU in June. is was the rst MCAS Camp Pendleton MEU ACE in several years.VMM-364 “Purple Foxes” participated in Winter Fury 2021 while simultaneously executing CNAF inspections. e Purple Foxes deployed in support of SPMAGTF 21.1 where they operated from multiple sites across the Middle East. MWSS-372 “Diamondbacks” following a successful deployment returned from SPMAGTF 21.1 in April, where they immediately began playing a critical role in planning for Summer Fury 2021. In July, MWSS-372 established two separate forward arming and refueling points and conducted refueling operations, security, and the construction of expeditionary sites for MAG-39 to operate.Marine Air Control Group 38Marine Air Control Group 38 (MACG-38) connected the air and ground elements of the Fleet Marine Force by employing its task-organized Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) during scores of service and joint-level exercises and in support of real-world operations across the globe. In addition to supporting these exercises and operations as a group, the Squadrons and Battalion of MACG-38 further distinguished themselves through the following actions and activities.e 3d Low Altitude Air Defense (3d LAAD) Battalion supported WTI 2-21 with three platoons and provided Ground-Based Air Defense for MACG-58. Battery A was in direct support of 1st Marine Regiment during SLTE 3-21. Conducted a change of command to welcome Lieutenant Colonel Yurisic. e 3d LAAD Battalion deployed a detachment to support the 11th MEU and L-MADIS operations. Supported Summery Fury 21 with two platoons from Battery B. e battalion conducted a live re Stinger exercise aboard Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, in accordance with Training and Readiness Requirements. Battery B provided a platoon to support 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in the Raid Planners Course, Air Assault Raid Course, and Mechanized Assault Course. Battery A completed Machine Gun Tables 1 and 2, as well as Rie Tables 3 through 6 in preparation for the UDP. e battalion conducted a condence chamber to improve battalion readiness. Battery A supported National Training Center Exercise 21-10 in order to complete their Marine Rehearsal Exercise prior to deployment.Marine Air Control Squadron 1 (MACS-1) Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC) Detachment and Early Warning and Control Center (EW/C) Detachment were re-designated as Air Defense Company Alpha and Air Defense Company Bravo, respectively. ey directly supported Program Management Oce (PMO) Ground/ Air Tasking Oriented Radar and PMO GBAD tests for integration of the MACCS in advanced kill webs, employed a Tactical Air Operations Center in support of WTI course 2-21, an Aviation Command and Control (AC2) Node in support of Summer Fury 21, an EW/C in support of WTl-1-22, and Multifunction Air Operations Centers in support of Coalition Virtual Flag 22-1 and Steel Knight 22. During Summer Fury 21, MACS-1 Air Intercept Controllers directed an AH-1 in an Anti-Air Warfare mission which resulted in the destruction of three drones, marking a rst for Marine Corps Air Defense. During WTI 2-21, the TAOC also simultaneously supported utilization of a microwave line-of-sight radio system for distributed operations, and experimental integration of the LRIP-9 and Army Long-range Persistent Surveillance radar systems.Five UH-1Y Venoms with HMLA-469 ﬂy into San Clemente Island to insert Marines with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division during Exercise Venom Storm. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 85 Air Trac Control Detachments Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie were re-designated as Air Trac Control Companies Kilo, Lima, and Mike, respectively. ey directly supported two iterations of Red Flag Rescue with tower, Tactical Air Navigation and Marine Air Trac Control Mobile Team (MMT) services to enhance safety of ight for xed- and rotary-wing aircraft. When MCAS Miramar was undergoing an aireld Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrade, MATCD B provided the AN/TPN-31 ATNAVICS with nine ATC radar technicians, in order to provide a contingency means of precision approach capability for the aireld. MACS-1 acted as the primary precision approach radar for eight months, while MCAS Miramar upgraded the ILS approach system. is enabled 500 ight operations and ensured safety of ight onboard MCAS Miramar. MACS-1 supported SLTE 1-22 by deploying MMT’s to 23 FARP, three live Assault Landing Zones, two Pickup Zones, one Aerial Delivered Ground Refueling operation, and one Base Defense Zone. Over the course of this year, more than 240 ight operations were supported by MACS-1 Air Trac Control Companies.Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38 (MTACS-38) participated in multiple training operations including Winter Fury 21, WTI Course 2-21, Pacic Sentry 21, Summer Fury 21, SLTE 2-21, and Coalition Virtual Flag 22-1. MTACS-38 provided Tactical Air Command capabilities to multiple Aviation Command and Control nodes during each of these evolutions, validating the MACCS’s ability to pass command authorities in a denied and degraded environment. MTACS-38 provided pivotal training and equipment to multiple MAG’s, enhancing the ACE’s ability to eectively manage aviation assets and increasing employment options. MTACS-38’s eorts allowed the MACCS to conduct training inuenced by operation orders, building on experience in the execution of site command and the concept of aviation Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations. Additionally, MTACS-38 conducted a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation, achieving a 96 percent overall grade and provided support elements to SPMAGTF-CR-CC 21.1, and the 15th and 11th MEU while maintaining a robust operational tempo.Marine Air Support Squadron-3 (MASS-3) provided Direct Air Support Center (DASC) capabilities for control of aircraft in support of the FMF, while participating in several operations and exercises. MASS-3’s focused and deliberate eorts over the past year centered on modernizing the AC2 community through testing and implementation of the Multi-Function Air Operations Center (MAOC). e MAOC is a command and control (C2) node that blends elements of the DASC, TAOC, and intelligence and information warfare assets that enable execution of command and control in a distributed manner against a peer adversary. MASS-3 participated in exercises WTI 2-21, Summer Fury 21, Coalition Virtual Flag, Jagic C2 Virtual Flag, SLTE 1-22, and Steel Knight 22. During Steel Knight 22, MASS-3 experimented not only with the MAOC concept, but also experimented with the integration of future weapon systems such as Common Aviation Command and Control System Small Form Factor, Virtual AEGIS Weapon System, and Free Space Optics. is experimentation was vital in the renement of tactics, techniques, procedures and concepts of employment that support naval integration and Marine Corps participation in Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations. In addition to the exercises MASS-3 supported, they also provided detachments to the 11th MEU, TACRON Det, SPMAGTF 20.2, 21.1, 21.2, and Task Force Oceania.Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 (MWCS-38) provided communications support to over 20 exercises and 7 operational deployments across 4 combatant commands, including direct support to Carrier Strike Group 21 aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, and led testing and implementation of emerging distributed AC2 concepts and EABO in support of Force Design 2030. MWCS-38 maintained a consistent, forward deployed posture throughout the year, enabling detachments of Marines on the 15th and 11th MEU, Task Force Koa Moana 21, SPMAGTF-CR-CC and the East Africa Response Force. MWCS-38 also embedded a communication detachment aboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth, supporting the rst-ever Marine Corps F- 35B deployment aboard an allied nation’s naval vessel. Additionally, as the MACG-38 and ACE lead for Steel Knight 22, MWCS-38 led the planning, detailed coordination, and awless execution of the annual combined Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and 1st Marine Division training evolution, supporting kill-webs and kill-chains, strengthening the relationship with 1st MARDIV, culminating in the Spring 2022 Maritime Raid Force-Darwin [5th Marines serving as command element] deployment.3RD MAW MIRAMARLtCol Alexander Goodno, CO of VMFA-225, greets another Marine during his ﬁnal checks, before boarding his jet at MCAS Yuma, AZ. VMFA-225 participated in their ﬁrst ﬂight as an F-35B squadron. This marked the end of the ﬁrst phase in the transition from a legacy F/A-18D Hornet squadron to an F-35B squadron. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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86 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgWING UPDATE4TH MAW NEW ORLEANS4th Marine Aircraft WingThe mission of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (4th MAW) is to augment, reinforce, and sustain the Active Component as an operational aircraft wing under a Total Force construct.e 4th MAW is currently comprised of over 6,800 Marines and 114 aircraft assigned to 4 groups and 20 squadrons. ey conduct daily distributed operations from 18 sites in 14 states with rotary- and xed-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial systems to include: AH-1Z, UH-1Y, CH-53E, MV-22B, KC-130J, F/A-18A/C, F-5F/N, UC-12F/W, UC-35D, and RQ-21A. In addition to operating eet aircraft, 4th MAW has instructor pilots training future Marine aviators in every type/model/series in the Chief of Naval Aviation Training (CNATRA) Naval Aviation training pipeline. It functions as a fully operational Marine Aircraft Wing integrating three core capabilities in support of the Marine Corps’ Total Force: aircraft operations, aviation ground support, and aviation command and control. During 2021, personnel provided support from units, detachments, and individual augments across the range of military operations in support of six Combatant Commands as well as the Department of State. is included support to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) operations, joint requirements, service-level operations, and training exercises, and Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) events. Marine and Sailors of 4th MAW made signicant progress in accordance with the Aviation Plan Reserve Integration Strategy in 2021. is progress focused on completing the development of reserve squadrons as Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775 (HMLA-775(-) reached its Full Operational Capability, HMLA-773 completed its transition from the AH-1W SuperCobra to the AH-1Z Viper.Additionally, in accordance with the Commandant’s Force Design 2030, Marine Unmanned Aerial Squadron 4 (VMU-4) prepared to deactivate and ceased ight operations of the RQ-21A in December of 2021, and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 (VMGR-452) began preparations to transfer aircraft and deactivate in scal year 2022.As an operational reserve, personnel stand ready for real-world emergent and preplanned requirements.In order to do so, Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES), Marine Forces Command, and 4th MAW routinely review applicable policies and authorities to determine how their capabilities can most eectively be employed to support Combatant Commanders’ operational requirements. As an integral part of the Marine Corps’ Total Force Generation Process, 4th MAW works closely with Reserve Marines with MWSS-473, 4th MAW, perform ﬁrst aid on a simulated casualty on Red Beach, as an MV-22 Osprey aircraft with VMM-764 lands to extract the casualty at MCB Camp Pendleton, CA, 9 Apr 2022. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSCpl Edward McDougald, an aircraft ordnance technician with VMFA-112, MAG-41, 4th MAW, conducts pre-ﬂight checks on an F/A-18 Hornet aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, 19 Oct 2021. VMFA-112 is in Japan for a six-month cycle as part of the Unit Deployment Program, where they are helping maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Paciﬁc area of operations. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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88 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgActive Component. is was achieved by aligning essential resources in order to rapidly reset/ret units and detachments and by redirecting training to appropriate mission sets as dictated by the current threat environment and higher headquarters. In doing so, 4th MAW supported SPMAGTF operations, joint and service level exercises, and training worldwide; amassing over 23,791 total hours own in 2021 by the squadrons of 4th MAWConcerns of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the pandemic’s potential operational impact to all units within 4th MAW, continued to be a consideration in 2021. COVID-19 mitigation policies across 4th MAW allowed for continued sourcing of all requirements with procient and combat-ready units, while further enhancing enduring and habitual relationships with the Active Component and the Joint Force.e Wing activated Marines to support real-world requirements both in support of Training and Education Command (TECOM) eorts in the continental United States and in support of three Combatant Commands sourcing Global Force Management requirements outside of the continental United States. In support of TECOM, 4th MAW activated Marines to support both Marine Corps Recruit Depot Paris Island and San Diego, providing much needed support to processing the training of the next generation of Marines. Additionally, Marine Corps Reserve Instructor Pilot personnel activated from MATSG-42 in order to support pilot production goals supporting the Naval Aviation pilot training pipeline. In support of Marine Forces Central Command, 4th MAW activated and mobilized a UC-35D detachment from VMR Andrews and members of the Aviation Command and Control Team for duty as battle directors and liaison ocers to the United States Central Command’s Air and Space Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. In support of Marine Forces Europe and Africa Command, 4th MAW activated and mobilized a UC-12W detachment from VMR Belle Chasse and KC-130J detachment from VMGR-234 for duty assigned to the North Africa Response Force (NARF). In support of Marine Force Pacic Command 4th MAW activated and mobilized an F/A-18 Unit Deployment Plan formation comprised of the Marines assigned to VMFA-112 and MALS-41.Personnel participated in multiple exercises providing relief and supporting training for the Active Component Marine Corps and sister services. e scope of exercise support ranged from individual augments to the sourcing of large detachments, incorporating multiple Chairman of the Joint Chief of Sta and Joint National Training Command exercises, including Red Flag Alaska & Red Flag Nellis, Exercise Jaded under, Exercise Emerald Warrior, Pacic Fury, Combined Command Post Training, Exercise Northern Lightning, and multiple IRT evolutions.In addition to these diverse theater-wide exercise contributions, 4th MAW also provided critical support to Marine Corps service-level training exercises to include the Service-Level Training Exercise, Weapons & Tactics Instructor Course, Reserve Integrated Training Exercise, MARFORRES Tactical Air Control Party / Joint Tactical Air Controller (TACP/JTAC) Rodeo, Marine Special Operations Command’s Exercise RAVEN, and various Marine Fighter Reserve Marines with MWSS-473, 4th MAW, conduct an aircraft salvage and recovery exercise during a training scenario at MCB Camp Pendleton, CA, 9 Apr 2022. The Marines of MWSS-473 will use this training as practice towards a certiﬁcation exercise during integrated training exercise, which takes place at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 89 4TH MAW NEW ORLEANSTraining Squadron (VMFT) adversary support to the Fleet.In addition to exercise and training support, FRAG relief and dedicated mission support was regularly provided to Combatant Commanders, 1st MAW, 2D MAW, 3D MAW, I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), II MEF, III MEF, TECOM, and U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force units in the form of logistical support runs, airborne aerial refueling support, parachute operations support, close air support and community relations events support.is support was provided by KC-130J, MV-22B, AH-1Z, UH-1Y, CH-53E, UC-35, and UC-12 aircraft, pilots, and aircrew.Reserve pilots assigned to MATSG-42 based in Pensacola, Florida, ew over 5,200 ight hours in instructor pilot augment support to several Marine Corps Fleet Replacement Squadrons and CNATRA primary and advanced ight training squadrons. ese ight hours are in addition to the hours own by 4th MAW Squadrons in support of CNATRA and Fleet Readiness Squadron Cpl Robert Sponable, a UH-1Y Venom helicopter crew chief with HMLA-775, MAG-41, 4th MAW, ﬁres an M134 GAU-17/A minigun out of a Venom helicopter during a joint training evolution with the U.S. Navy on MCB Camp Pendleton, CA, 27 Oct 2021. The reserve Marines of HMLA-775 provide aviation support that enables I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton tenant commands to maintain and enhance their combat readiness. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSMarines with MAG-41 ofﬂoad toys at a warehouse in Fort Worth, TX, 10 Dec 2021. The Marines volunteered, alongside members of the community, to sort through thousands of toys donated during the 2022 Toys for Tots season. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 91 A Marine with HMLA-775 executes pre-ﬂight checks and procedures on an AH-1Z attack helicopter before take-off at Naval Air Facility El Centro, CA, 7 Feb 2022. PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPSThe Harrier, Harrier II, and the Marine Air-Ground Task ForceLONNORDEENDuring the past 50 years, the AV-8A Harrier and AV-8B Harrier II have provided the leading edge of Marine close air support. From 1971 through the 1980s, the AV-8A Harrier demonstrated its vertical and/or short take-o and landing (V/STOL) capability, enabling the Marine Corps to test new airpower concepts.e second-generation Harrier II built on this experience and brought new technology and improved performance to the force. Much like the F/A-18 and the F-16, the Harrier II represented an inection point in the design of tactical aircraft; computer design, breakthrough manufacturing, assembly and evolutionary growth were both incorporated. is enabled long-term growth and the incorporation of new weapons systems.Since the 1970s, Harriers have regularly deployed as a part of the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) on amphibious assault ships assigned to an Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). An ESG usually is composed of one 40,000-ton LHD/LHA (which carries most of the aircraft and more than half of the personnel and equipment of the MEU) and two smaller amphibious landing ships. e ACE provides support for the 1,200 Marines assigned to combat units of the three ships of the ESG. Usually six Harrier IIs, nine pilots, and about ninety support personnel from a Marine Corps Harrier II squadron are assigned to a composite squadron. Prior to 2015, this unit included a squadron of CH-46 medium-lift helicopters, but more recently it included MV-22 Ospreys, a detachment of CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopters plus a smaller number of AH-1Z SuperCobra attack helicopters, UH-1N/Y liaison helicopters, and several hundred support personnel and ight crews.e ACE is always part of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), that includes a command element, and ground force and combat support elements. A MAGTF can range in size from a MEU deployment to a division+ force as elded in the Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq CampaignPath To TheHarrierLieutenant General omas H. Miller, USMC (Ret), former Deputy Chief of Sta for Aviation, remarked: “In late 1966 (as a Colonel) I was given the Air Weapons Systems Requirements Branch at HQ, USMC, and I worked under Major General Keith B. McCutcheon, Deputy Chief of Sta, Aviation. My job was to determine what weapons systems, aircraft, helicopters, bombs, and other things the Corps needed to do its job …In mid-1968, I had a young ocer in my oce, Lieutenant Colonel John Metzko … came to me one day and said, ‘I have just seen a lm that I have gotten from the British Embassy that describes the latest version of the Kestrel jet also known as the Harrier. I would like to have you come see the lm.So, we put it on the machine, and I watched it and I was abbergasted!Colonel Miller and Lieutenant Colonel Metzko briefed Major General McCutcheon and showed him the Harrier lm. Major General McCutcheon scheduled a meeting with the Commandant of the Marine Corps,

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92 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgGeneral Leonard F. Chapman, Jr. After viewing the lm, the Commandant supported nding out more about the Harrier. General Chapman asked if it would not be smart to send a general ocer over on the mission?Colonel Miller and Lieutenant Colonel Bud Baker traveled to England to investigate the Harrier. Lieutenant General Miller continued, “John Farley was the head pilot for the [British] Harrier at that time, so we sat for two or three days with John, going over the idiosyncrasies of the airplane and everything. Finally, John said, instead of going through the routine of ying the airplane conventionally rst, we will go ahead and do the ’press ups,’ as they called them. First, we did some runs down the runway to get a feel for the braking stop, which sets the nozzles ahead of the hover position ...We’d go up to thirty knots of indicated speed, and then we’d pull the nozzle into the braking stop and come up on the power to slow down. en, we would go up to sixty knots and try it. Bud [Lieutenant Colonel Baker] got going through the same process, and he gave the jet too much power. He automatically pulled back on the stick and became airborne to about four or ve feet o the ground. So, Bud was the rst American to actually “y” the Harrier.Colonel Miller and Lieutenant Colonel Baker’s ight test report was enthusiastic. ey stated in the report that the Harrier could perform the same light attack role as the A-4 Skyhawk was doing in Vietnam and even provide self-defense in air combat. However, the Harrier could y from a 1,000-foot strip or amphibious assault ship rather than a 6,000-foot runway. e Marine Corps saw the promise of a exible close air support (CAS)aircraft for protection of its ground forces that could go wherever the Marines went, independent of aircraft carriers or long runways ashore, and able to provide responsive air support for the Marine rieman.Now the Marine Corps had to sell the benets of the U.K.-built a V/STOL Harrier to the Department of Defense and Congress. e U.S. Navy’s initial budget request for scal year 1970 did not include funding the Harrier. In 1969, a funding request for twelve Harriers was added to the 1970 proposed budget with the support of Congress; it was the initial funding for 12 of a planned buy of 114 Harriers that would be delivered to the Marine Corps over a 5-year period. e new aircraft was given the designation AV-8A Harrier for the single-seat aircraft and TAV-8A for the two-seat trainer.e Marine Corps eventually received 102 AV-8A’s and 8 TAV-8A’s between 1970-1983. Marine Attack Squadron 513 (VMA-513), “e Flying Nightmares,” transitioned from the F-4 Phantom to become the rst Marine squadron. is squadron was declared operational at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina, in May 1971. During many exercises, Harrier pilots and support crews showed that they could y from roadways, damaged runways, and open ground. Colonel Greg “K-9” Kuzniewski, USMC (Ret) commented on his transition to the Harrier: “At the time I started my class to transition to the Harrier in early 1973, with people like Mike Ryan and George Goodwin, there were actually more astronauts than Harrier pilots. We started o in VMA-513, which was the rst (and only) Harrier squadron, and thenstood upVMA-542, and later came the training squadron. I had icons like John Capito and Joey Anderson in my rst class. Eventually Headquarters moved all of the Harrier squadrons to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, to centralize operations”.Harrier squadrons shared the task of six-month deployments to provide support for Marines in the Western Pacic and deployments at sea. e AV-8As proved they could operate from a wide variety of naval vessels, ranging from aircraft carriers to amphibious

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94 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgassault ships. Admiral Elmo “Bud” Zumwalt, Jr. transformed the LPH,USS Guamto what was called the interim sea control ship. A detachment from VMA-513 operated from USS Guamin 1972 to demonstrate this concept.By the late 1970s the Marine Corps had four Harrier units and three attack squadrons—VMA-513, -542, -231, and VMAT-203, the training squadron, operating from MCAS Cherry Point.In 1977, VMA-513 moved to Yuma, Arizona, and one squadron rotated yearly to the Western Pacic. During the rst ten years of operational service (1971-1981) the AV-8A Harrier experienced the highest loss rate for a ghter aircraft in naval aviation. However, this rate was equal to or lower than that experienced by Marine F-4 Phantom and F-8 Crusader communities when these high-performance ghters were rst placed into service and similar to that experienced by the Royal Air Force (RAF) with its Harrier eet.AVB Harrier IIIn 1973, the Marine Corps released an operational requirement for an improved version of the AV-8A. is new aircraft (initially termed the “AV-16”) was to have twice the range/payload of the AV-8A, improved avionics, and a higher thrust engine with development eorts to be shared by the U.S. and U.K. Governments. McDonnell Douglas led the design team for the AV-8B in concert with British Aerospace and Rolls Royce since the U.S. Government provided the bulk of development funds. Following the demonstration of new engine inlets and a new supercritical wing on two YAV-8B prototypes, in April 1979, the U.S. Government gave McDonnell Douglas a contract to develop the AV-8B for the Marine Corps. International Harrier II ProgramIn June 1981, the U.K. Government also announced its intention to replace rst generation RAF Harriers with the Harrier II built by British Aerospace. e rst production AV-8B was delivered to the Marine Corps in 1983, and the rst of 22 two-seat TAV-8B trainer entered service in 1986.Spain ordered 12 AV-8Bs from the United States in 1983, and the rst of 60 RAF GR. Mk. 5 Harrier IIs was delivered in 1988. By 1990, the Corps had largely replaced its A-4s and AV-8As and elded an all AV-8B Harrier II V/STOL strike force which included four squadrons (VMA-211, -214, -311, and -513) at MCAS Yuma in Arizona, and three squadrons plus the large operational training unit (VMA-223, -231, -542, and VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina.Lieutenant Colonel Ted Herman began ying the Harrier in 1973, and over the next 19 years had the good fortune to y the A-4, AV-8A/C, Spanish Navy AV-8s, and the AV-8B. He recalled:I transitioned to the AV-8A just as the second Harrier squadron (VMA-542) was forming at MCAS Beaufort... I came to the squadron with about 1,200 hours in the EA-6A and the TA-4J. ‘My rst two ights were conventional’ take-o and landings. e fully fueled 16,500-lb jet had 21,800 lbs. of thrust that came on within 2.5 seconds of slamming the throttle to full power. e acceleration was awe-inspiring, which blurred the instrument panel for the rst few ights and pushed the jet to take-o speed within four seconds or so. By the time a Harrier reached the end of a 10,000-ft USAF runway, the aircraft would have reached almost 400 knots …e AV-8B was a dierent machine when compared to the AV-8A. As a next generation combat aircraft, it was supplied with an extensive ground training system that included simulators, maintenance trainers, a formalized training syllabus and a full-time training (it was an “electric jet”) squadron. e heavier Harrier II carried 2,000 lbs. more internal fuel than the AV-8A. It was more versatile in the V/STOL regime, although the jet was not as responsive as the original Harrier. e bigger wing, huge aps, and stronger stability controls system (stabs), coupled with an electronically-controlled engine, allowed the pilot to carry much more weight into a small eld, y farther and turn harder. e electronic engine control also made shipboard work and conned area operations safer and more predictable.Herman added: e AV-8B’s mission computer and Inertial Navigation Attack System (INAS) not only improved bombing solutions, but they also gave the pilot extremely accurate navigation and performance calculations.e 25 mm GAU-12 cannon was much more accurate, powerful and reliable, and had a higher cyclic rate (3,600 rounds per minute) than the slow-ring 20 mm or 30 mm-cannon of the A-4 or the AV-8A, respectively. Accurate strang in the AV-8B was possible from as high an altitude as 7,000 ft in a 30-degree dive, as well as in ten-degree dives. Bombing during daylight was easy and the pilot had many options. As he rolled in on target, he could immediately convert from CCIP [Constant Computed Impact Point bombing system] to an auto-drop or toss with a simple thumb selection on the stick. Using the 10-power television Angle Rate Bombing System (ARBS) ‘sweetened’ the solution by allowing better pipper placement on the target. e beauty of the ARBS was that it allowed pilots to use the systems that suited them best, resulting in extremely ne accuracy.Operation Desert Shield/Desert StormMarine AV-8Bs from VMA-311 and -542 were among the rst tactical aircraft to be sent to the Middle East in support of OPERATION DESERT SHIELD following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Eventually three 20-plane AV-8B squadrons and a 6-plane detachment ew a squadron from Kuwait and a detachment operated from USS Tarawain support of OPERATION DESERT STORM. Marine pilots ew 3,380 combat missions in the AV-8B day attack version of the Harrier II and delivered 5.9 million pounds of high explosive bombs, cluster munitions, and other ordnance. During the 41 days of intense strike operations against Iraqi forces, ve Harrier IIs were lost in action to SAMs/AAA, and operational causes killed two pilots, and three were taken prisoner. At the end of the Gulf War in 1991, the AV-8B Harrier II was highlighted by General Norman Schwarzkopf and DoD as one of the great performers.

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2022 Symposium 95 VMA-513, “Nightmares” – Became the rst unit to y the AV-8A. Initiallystationed at MCAS Beaufort, SC, in 1971, and then moved to MCAS Cherry Point, NC, and later to MCAS Yuma, AZ, in 1977. e Nightmares transitioned to the AV-8B in 1987, and supported OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, OIF, and in OEF the squadron was in Afghanistan for over a year because there was no one to relieve them. It was deactivated in 2013. HARRIER & HARRIER II SQUADRONSVMA-542, “Tigers” – Second unit to y the AV-8A was established at Cherry Point, NC in 1973 and ew the AV-8A/C until 1986 when they transitioned to the AV-8B. e squadron has supported OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, OEF, OIF, and made dozens of deployments in support of the Global War on Terror, and operations over Libya, they are still ying the AV-8B today.VMA-231, “Ace of Spades” – ird squadron to transition to the AV-8A located at Cherry Point, NC. In 1976-77 the squadron deployed on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) and operated in the Mediterranean. e squadron transitioned to the AV-8B in 1985 and supported Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Deny Flight, OIF, OEF, and the Global War on Terror.VMAT-203, “The Hawks” – Located at Cherry Point, the squadron transitioned from A-4 Skyhawk training to AV-8A transition training for pilots and squadrons. e rst AV-8Bs arrived in 1984, and this unit was the focal point for all Harrier transition training until the unit changed to a eet replacement detachment assigned to MAG-14 in late 2021.VMA-331, “Bumblebees” – is unit transitioned from the A-4M in 1985 at Cherry Point, NC. VMA-331 deployed to Asia and supported Desert Shield/Desert Storm ying from USS Nassau, becoming the rst VMA to conduct operations from an LHA ship. e squadron was deactivated in 1992.VMA-223, “Bulldogs” – e squadron converted from the A-4M in 1987 at Cherry Point, NC. ey supported OPERATION SHARP EDGE in Liberia, OEF, OIF, and the Global War on Terror.VMA-311, “Tomcats” – is unit transitioned from the A-4M in 1989 at MCAS Yuma, AZ. is was the rst Harrier II squadron to deploy to Desert Storm/Desert Shield and later deployed to OIF and OEF. e Tomcats was deactivated at MCAS Yuma, AZ, in 2020 and transitioned to the F-35B.VMA-211, “Wake Island Avengers” – Located at MCAS Yuma, AZ, transitioned from the A-4M to the AV-8B Night Attack aircraft in 1990. ey supported many detachments as well as OIF and OEF and transitioned to the F-35B in 2016.VMA-214, “Black Sheep” – e squadron has a long and proud history dating back to its establishment in 1942. In June 1989, the Black Sheep introduced single-seat xed-wing “night attack” aircraft to the Marine Corps with the rst operational squadron ofAV-8B Night Attack Harrier IIs. Deactivated in 2020, the squadron was redesignated a VMFA in March 2022, and transitioned to the F-35B.

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96 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgHarrier II UpgradesEven before the Gulf War, the Corps was moving forward with improvements to the AV-8B, which, with its electro-optical Angle Rate Bombing System, was essentially a visual light-attack aircraft optimized for CAS and strike. In June 1987, the rst Harrier II Night Attack prototype (the 87thAV-8B modied to include night attack capability) rolled o the assembly line in St. Louis, Missouri. is new version of the AV-8B added a forward-looking infrared sensor in the nose, an upgraded heads-up display, digital moving map, two-color cockpit displays, and cockpit lighting compatible with night vision goggles. ese improvements allowed pilots to eectively y and ght at night. e Night Attack Harrier II also incorporated a larger Leading-Edge Root Extension (LERX), which improved agility and turn rate and four upward and downward ring cha/are dispensers were added in the aft fuselage. e Marine Corps received its rst of 66 production AV-8B Night Attack aircraft in September 1989, with initial deliveries going to squadrons located at MCAS Yuma. e RAF also bought the night attack aircraft, which they named the GR. Mk. 7: earlier production GR. Mk 5 aircraft were upgraded to include these features. In 1990, ight testing began for the integration of the AV-8B Night Attack airframe with the new F402-RR-408 engine, which provided 3,000 pounds of additional thrust and durability enhancements. is engine was eventually retrotted into all Marine Corps’ AV-8B Night attack aircraft. At the same time, the squadrons were packing to move to the Gulf to support OPERATION DESERT SHIELD, the Governments of the U.S., Italy, and Spain were negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a collaborative program to create a more capable version of the Harrier II. In September 1990, the Governments of the U.S., Spain, and Italy agreed to fund the integration of the Hughes APG-65 multi-mode radar and other systems into the AV-8B. is new AV-8B Harrier II Plus combined the night attack upgrades, higher-thrust Rolls Royce F402-408 engine, and the APG-65 radar, giving the Harrier II the capability to perform air defense, ghter, strike, and reconnaissance missions. e Corps funded the production of 27 new AV-8B Harrier II Plus aircraft and 74 of the older AV-8B day attack aircraft were remanufactured to the Harrier II conguration. Italy bought 16 Harrier II Plus aircraft for its naval aviation force that operates from the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, and Spain purchased 8 new Harrier II Plus and funded the remanufacture of ve Situated on an LPH are: a CH-46, CH-53D, OV-10s, AV-8As, and an AH-1 PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. MARINE CORPS

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2022 Symposium 97 of its older AV-8B aircraft to the Plus conguration to y from its sole aircraft carrier, Principe de Asturias.Development of the Harrier II capabilities continued and in the 1990s, USMC Harrier II aircraft were retrotted with Global Positioning System Capability and the Automatic Target Hando System (ATHS), which provided for the exchange of targeting data between ground units and pilots to enhance strike eectiveness. Another Harrier II upgrade which proved has demonstrated it utility over Afghanistan and Iraq was the integration of the Northrop Grumman LITENING II forward looking infrared and laser designation pod. Mounted on a pylon, the LITENING II pod allowed Harrier pilots to detect and track tactical targets from above the range of anti-aircraft re and shoulder-red IR guided surface-to-air missiles like the SA-7 and SA-14, which proved to be lethal in the rst Gulf War and Bosnia/Kosovo Conicts. Over the life of the Harrier II Program, new computer software has been introduced to the weapons system every few years to expand mission capabilities and performance. e Harrier II has a unique conguration with a vectored thrust engine, which allows for Short Take-o and Vertical Landing (STOVL) operations from ships and land bases. As a result of a number of factors including the design of the aircraft, maintenance, support, training, and the challenging sea and land operational environment, Harrier II aircraft losses have been higher than that of other TACAIR systems. e Marine Corps, Navy, and industry have worked together to identify issues and implement corrective actions.Operational ExperienceHarrier II squadrons have operated for months at a time in Japan and participated in exercises around the world. Six-plane detachments also have made regular deployments aboard LHA and LHD amphibious assault ships.During OPERATION RESTORE HOPE in Somalia (December 1992 - March 1994) Marine Harrier II crews provided the only xed-wing tactical air cover and armed reconnaissance. Harrier IIs again operating from amphibious assault ships supported humanitarian missions in Rwanda (April 1994) and OPERATION UNITED SHIELD in Somalia (January 1995 - March 1996). Harrier IIs have also assisted in many other humanitarian operations in Liberia, the Central African Republic (April - August 1996), Albania (March 1997), Zaire/Congo, and Sierra Leon (April-June 1997). From 1992-1992, four U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships equipped with Harrier IIs supported NATO OPERATION PROVIDE promise air activities over Bosnia. AV-8Bs provided support for the Marine Corps helicopter force successfully rescued U.S. Air Force pilot Captain Scott O’Grady following the downing of his F-16 by a Bosnian SA-6 SAM. Harrier IIs ew from ships in the Adriatic and deployed to Bosnia in March and May 1998, where they ew escort and reconnaissance missions in support of NATO humanitarian operations. During OPERATION ALLIED FORCE over Kosovo (April-May 1999) Harrier II pilots ying from ships in the Adriatic ew numerous strike operations in support of the successful NATO strikes, which led to a cease re and deployment of peacekeeping forces.Operation ENDURING FREEDOMHarrier II aircraft were among the rst U.S. tactical air units to be deployed to the region to support OEF over Afghanistan after the 9-11 attack. Marine pilots ew hundreds of strike sorties from amphibious assault ships in the waters o Pakistan. is was a critical contribution since political factors severely limited the availability of air bases for U.S. and coalition forces. Eventually, Italy deployed Giuseppe Garibaldi (its sole aircraft carrier) armed with Harrier II Plus aircraft in support of OEF.Marine Harriers IIs were also the rst tactical aircraft to y operations from bases within Afghanistan. From 2001 to 2013, USMC Harrier IIs maintained a presence in Afghanistan in support of ongoing U.S. peacekeeping operations VMA-211, -214, -231, -311, -513 and -542 providing 16 deployments from amphibious ships or in country bases. RAF Harrier II’s lled in during 2004-2007 at times when Marine AV-8Bs were not available. Major Peter Lee, Detachment Ocer-in-Charge for the VMA-542 LEFT:Well wishes for Saddam from the Ordnance Department. PHOTO COURTESY: COL “RUSTY” JONESCENTER:The AV-8B “Crew Station”. PHOTO COURTESY: MCDONNELL DOUGLASRIGHT:Riding home on JFK. PHOTO COURTESY: COL “RUSTY” JONES

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98 MCAA Journal www.ymcaa.orgHARRIER & HARRIER II VARIANTSAV-8A Harrier - e United States bought 102 AV-8As and 8 TAV-8A trainers 1970-83. e aircraft were close in conguration to the aircraft own by the R A F.AV-8C Harrier - Starting in 1979, 47 Harriers were upgraded with radar warning systems, cha/are dispensers to enhance survivability, the outmoded inertial navigation system was deleted and the CCIP (Constant Computed Impact Point) bombing system was incorporated . An add-on lift enhancement system proved to be dicult to maintain. Six aircraft were tted with onboard oxygen generation system for validation.AV-8B Harrier II - e Harrier II aircraft and systems have gone through at least ve major modication cycles to add capability for modern combat operations.AV-8B Day Attack Aircraft- e Marine Corps bought 166 Harrier IIs and it served from 1983-2004 until they were remanufactured into more the Harrier II Plus or retired. e Spanish Navy bought 12 similar AV-8B day attack aircraft from the U.S. production line.AV-8B Night Attack Aircraft - e Marine Corps bought 66 of the improved Night Attack Harrier II which included the upgraded -408 RR Pegasus engine, night vision systems and other upgrades.AV-8B Harrier II Plus - rough cooperative funding and development the APG-65 radar-equipped AV-8B Harrier II Plus was created. e US bought 116, Spain 13 and Italy 16 Harrier II+ aircraft.USMC/Spanish/Italian TAV-8B- All three nations that bought and ew the Harrier II bought two-seat trainer versions. CHARACTERISTIC RADAR NIGHTATTACKDAYATTACKAircraft Length (feet) 4 7. 7 5 46.33 46.33Aircraft Height (feet) 11.66 11.66 11.66Aircraft Wingspan (feet) 30.35 30.35 30.35Operating Weight Empty (pounds) 14,912 13,968 13,705Maximum Vertical Takeo Weight (pounds) 20,752 20,752 19,185Maximum Short Takeo Weight (pounds) 32,000 32,000 31,000Internal Fuel Weight (pounds) 7, 762 7, 76 2 7, 7 6 2Maximum External Fuel Weight (pounds) 8,073 8,073 8,073Data for a chart above: AV-8A- length 47.2, height 11.3, wingspan 25.3, empty wt. 12,200 lb., MVTO 17, 959 lb. MTOW 26,000, internal fuel 5,500 lbs., 4,000 lbs.AV-8B deployment in 2006 o USS Iwo Jimacommented: “We both ew with two tanks, a LITENING pod, a GBU-12 (LGB) and lighter night attack jets carried the gun pods. We used the gun a bit in Afghanistan in 2006 but carried GBU-38 JDAMs and also GBU-12s. One jet would carry the JDAM and the other a GBU-12, since it could hit moving targets. With the JDAM you could adjust the impact angle and it had a greater stando with more exibility. I did not have a preference as long as we had one on each jet. We would launch a pair of jets in the morning and then a bit later another section of AV-8Bs into Afghanistan and we would do our work and come back at night. Most of the time we ew in the day but sometimes our missions extended well into the night. At this time, in 2006, there were no Marines in theater, so we ew in support of NATO. I ew for the Italians, the Canadians in Kandahar Province, the Dutch, the British, and Special Forces with U.S. Air Force terminal controllers. e accents and the cultures were dierent, and the groups had various levels of support requirements. In 2006, we ew all over the place in support of coalition forces. We got routed around the country based on who ever needed air support and supplied ISR and on call CAS”. e LITENING was originally the targeting pod solution for Marine AV-8s, but it proved superior to all other targeting pods ying in all services, so very quickly became the choice of Wing, FAC, and FAC-A. Its success was such that it would be acquired for the whole of Marine TACAIR following OIF-1.Operation SOUTHERN WATCHIRAQI FREEDOMHarrier II squadrons began embarkation on U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships and supporting OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH and ying to bases in Kuwait not long after the Gulf War. is support started with the VMA-311 detachment o USS Peleliuin January 1997, and regular no-y zone operational support continued until OIF in 2003.

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2022 Symposium 99 In OIF, USS Bataan,USS Bonhomme Richard,USS Tarawa,andUSS Nassaudeployed AB-8Bs for OIF. Elements from four Harrier II squadrons including: VMA-211, -223, -311, and -542 deployed on the ships for the Persian Gulf.VMA-214 ew to Kuwait, where they operated alongside GR. Mk 7 Harrier IIs of the RAF. Some 60 Harrier IIs, more than 40 percent of the 3rdMAW’s xed-wing oensive air support aircraft, ew from amphibious assault ships operating in the Persian Gulf.e Marine STOVL strike force was a much-appreciated capability since airelds in the theatre were limited due to geographical and political aspects. In 26 days of combat operations (March 19-April 13, 2003) Marine Harrier II pilots ew 7 days a week and 24 hours a day for a total of some 2,000 sorties and 3,000 combat ight hours. Harrier IIs dropped more than three quarters of a million pounds of ordnance in support of air war and CAS for the advance of the 1stMarine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Army, and British forces. As these forces advanced, Harriers began operations from a forward site 60 miles south of Baghdad. Deployments in Iraq to support peacekeeping operations continued until March 2008.Colonel Ben Hancock commented:“I was the senior Marine adviser for MARCENT to CENTCOM at Al Udeid airbase in Qatar (in 2009) and supported Marine operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Marines prefer Marine jets or attack helicopters overhead in a reght, even though USAF and NATO allies have some great aircraft and capability in theater as well. e main dierence between Marine and other CAS pilots is that most of the time Marine CAS pilots in support of a unit they have close relationship with. e vast majority of the Marine JTACs are pilots and many of the pilots in theater have worked with some of the ground ocers at company, battalion, and regimental levels”.CONCLUSIONe Harrier II has successfully demonstrated the utility of STOVL capability in operations supporting U.S. objectives from peacekeeping, humanitarian eorts to full-scale conicts. roughout the life of the Harrier II, the Marine Corps, and industry has maintained this STOVL TACAIR platform on the leading edge through ongoing improvements in systems, equipment, and training. e 2019 Marine Aviation Plan for the AV-8B called for avionics and software upgrades and integration of new weapons (AIM-9X Block II, AIM-120C, and APKWS guided rocket). e Marine Corps’ plan is to replace both the AV-8B and F/A-18 Hornet with a mix of F-35B STOVL and F-35C Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. However, until the JSF is elded current plans call for the AV-8B Harrier II to remain in service through 2028.VMA-542 with the 22nd MEU on USS Wasp. PHOTO COURTESY: S. BLOCKBERGER

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Although first chartered in 1972, the genesis of the organization dates back to World War I with the First Marine Aviation Force Veterans. As a result, sharing the legacy and heritage of Marine aviation and bringing aviation Marines, both active duty and retired together is at the core of our mission.MCAA promotes and recognizes professional excellence in Marine aviation, supports the fraternal bond of its membership, preserves Marine aviation heritage, and safeguards the future of Marine aviation through awards programs, events and publications.MCAA currently has 53 corporate members. A large part of our membership comes from the aerospace industry. Through our corporate membership and generous donations, we support numerous awards, scholarship programs and the Semper Fi fund. MCAA also supports aviation memorials and aircraft museum restorations. Join TodayMembership is Open to Military and Civilains703.630.1903 | www.ﬂymcaa.orgThe Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) is a non-proﬁt 501(c)19 Veteran’s Organization.Receive our publications 4 times a year.715 Broadway Street, Quantico VAIn This IssueMarine Aviation’s First Medal of Honor RecipientsOPERATION TAILWINDThe Battle to get Marine Aviation on CarriersFall 2019/Winter 2020The Magazine of Marine Aviationwww.ymcaa.orgTheIn This IssueGeneral Christian SchiltOPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (Part One)An Unexpected LayoverSpring 2021e Magazine of Marine Aviationwww.ymcaa.orgTheMARINE CORPS AVIATION ASSOCIATIONwww.ymcaa.orgHONORING EXCELLENCE IN MARINE AVIATIONIn This Issuee 2021 Aviation Award WinnersSeeing the Future OPERATION ICEBERG2021www.ymcaa.orgCelebrating 75 Years of HMX-1 | A Fight to the Death | Operation Iraqi Freedom Part 3 e Magazine of Marine AviationFall 2021