History

After it's inception, July 7, 1941, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing has been a vital asset to the American people. Premiering new capabilities constantly, 1st MAW has played a role in every major theater of war since World War II. After 77 years of dedicated service, 1st MAW takes pause only for a moment to note their accomplishments before moving forward to continue supporting the mission-- whatever it may be. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Natalie Dillon)

A retired World War II veteran Sam Folsom reflects on his time in the Marine Corps as a fighter pilot during World War II. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Austin Weck)

Maj. Stephen W. Pless commissioned in the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant in 1959. When he arrived in Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam as a captain, he would be given the chance to become the only Marine aviator of that conflict to receive the Medal of Honor. Pless, with the support of his crew, would disregard their own safety to save the lives of others--using their aircraft as a shield between an overwhelming Viet Cong force and four wounded U.S. Soldiers. During his tour in Vietnam, Pless was with Marine Observation Squadron 6, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Natalie Dillon)

Capt. Stan Solomon, who was a radio intercept operator for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, shares his experience as a Marine during the Vietnam War. Solomon was invited by 1st MAW Commanding General Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley, to be the 2018 1st MAW birthday ball guest of honor. Solomon is a native of New York. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Natalie Dillon)

Marine Aircraft Group 12 celebrates its 77th anniversary March 1, 2019 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, the first complete Marine air group to be transported by sea to a combat zone, launched from the USS Princeton to the shores of Vietnam, Sept. 1, 1965. Immediately, they began providing troop lifts, air strikes, medical evacuation, resupplies, and reconnaissance insertions and extractions in the southern area of operations. MAG-36 flew daily in support of Marines on the ground. Meanwhile, while many U.S. and South Vietnamese forces celebrated the Tet holiday, tens of thousands of North Vietnamese soldiers, Viet Cong guerrillas and local communist militants moved under the cover of night. Their objective was to simultaneously attack more than 100 U.S. and South Vietnamese occupied cities and bases. In the early hours of Jan. 31, 1968, the Communist-led Tet Offensive was in full force.

Marine Air Control Group 18’s 75th anniversary highlights an illustrious history of invaluable service. MACG-18’s lineage can be traced back to Marine Air Warning Squadron 2 which was activated on 8 January 1944 following the battle of Guadalcanal. MACG-18 has served in every war since World War II and they continue to serve faithfully today. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Dakota Heathwarr)

U.S. Marines and Sailors storm Iwo Jima, 1945. Known as Operation Detachment, the goal of obtaining Iwo Jima was to secure its valuable air space and to allow crippled American aircraft to receive field repairs. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Natalie Dillon)

On Jan. 11, 1945 the first elements of Marine Aircraft Group 24 landed on the south shore of the Lingayen Gulf on the western coast of the Luzon Islands in the Philippines. They provided close air support to nearly 175,000 Army forces that trekked across the 20-mile beach head. They made a major contribution to the large scale Army drive to retake the Philippines. See More

A multimedia piece sharing 1st Marine Aircraft Wings impact during the Korean War. On September 15, 1950, Marines stormed ashore on three Inchon beaches. 1st MAW assault squadrons quickly captured Kimpo Airfield, which assisted in turning the tide of the war. VMF-212 dropped the most ordnance out of any Marine Corps squadron in the Korean War. For 1st MAW's combat action, the wing was awarded two Korean Presidential Unit Citations. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Laura Gauna)

Hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, 36 Mitsubishi G3M3 bombers attacked Wake Island on December 8, 1941. The island was defended by 449 Marines from the 1st Marine Defense Battalion with aid from a detachment of 50 Marines from VMF-211 with 12 F4F-3 Wildcats. Wake Island remained under Japanese control until it was surrendered to the United States on September 4, 1945. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Alexia Lythos) See More

On August 20, 1942, the first allied air units, to include 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, landed at Guadalcanal. They became known as the “Cactus Air Force,” one of the most innovative, hybrid units of WWII. By September 11th, 1,014 aviation personnel were operating on Guadalcanal. Of these, 33 were Army, 64 Navy and 917 were Marines. The battle of Guadalcanal would become the defining point for Marine Corps aviation in WWII and for the next fifty years. In this multimedia package, Brig. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley, 1st MAW commanding general, speaks about their role during the battle of Guadalcanal. See More

HISTORY

Fighting and winning our nation’s battles since July 7, 1941, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing has distinguished itself from the South Pacific and snow-topped mountains of the Korean Peninsula to Southeast Asia’s tropical rainforest and Afghanistan’s parched deserts. Always a force in readiness, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stands poised to strike at a moment’s notice to seize the initiative. The fourteen streamers attached to the 1st MAW battle colors are a testament to the organization’s engagement in over seventeen years of combat on many battlefields, and the tenacity of its Marines and Sailors.

1st MAW boasts a broad spectrum of aircraft and equipment that can be configured for any mission requirement or task. We build airfields where none exist; we fly assault and support missions regardless of time or weather; and we control the skies in every clime and place to which we deploy. All our personnel are highly trained, motivated and committed to maintaining the “Tip of the Spear” in Marine aviation. We are the powerful right arm of the MEF.