1 00:00:00,978 --> 00:00:03,728 (dramatic music) 2 00:00:09,363 --> 00:00:13,446 ^- On August 20th 1942, the first allied air units 3 00:00:13,699 --> 00:00:16,668 ^to include elements of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 4 00:00:16,668 --> 00:00:18,346 landed at Guadalcana. 5 00:00:18,346 --> 00:00:21,472 They eventually became known as the Cactus Air Force, 6 00:00:21,472 --> 00:00:25,583 one of the most innovative hybrid units of World War II. 7 00:00:25,583 --> 00:00:27,302 Within 12 hours of arrival, 8 00:00:27,302 --> 00:00:30,755 their plans were performing their first combat missions. 9 00:00:30,755 --> 00:00:32,554 After only 10 days of fighting, 10 00:00:32,554 --> 00:00:35,948 they had already downed 56 enemy aircraft. 11 00:00:35,948 --> 00:00:38,005 General Geiger established the wing headquarters 12 00:00:38,005 --> 00:00:41,116 on the island on the 3rd of September. 13 00:00:41,116 --> 00:00:45,283 Two days later, first MALs Marine Aircraft Group 25, 14 00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:48,128 began the enormous job of defending the airfield, 15 00:00:48,128 --> 00:00:51,079 supporting marines in the fight, delivering supplies, 16 00:00:51,079 --> 00:00:53,192 and conducting personnel movements. 17 00:00:53,192 --> 00:00:54,608 Over a three month period, 18 00:00:54,608 --> 00:00:57,608 the force evacuated almost 3,000 casualties 19 00:00:57,608 --> 00:00:59,608 from the island via air. 20 00:00:59,866 --> 00:01:02,896 By mid September, over 1,000 aviation personnel 21 00:01:02,896 --> 00:01:05,034 were operating on Guadalcanal. 22 00:01:05,034 --> 00:01:09,062 Of these, three dozen were Army, over 60 Navy personnel, 23 00:01:09,062 --> 00:01:11,895 ^and the remainder were US Marines. 24 00:01:13,084 --> 00:01:17,074 By January 1943, estimates of total enemy losses 25 00:01:17,074 --> 00:01:20,137 as a result of Cactus Air Force Operations, 26 00:01:20,137 --> 00:01:22,321 ranged as high as 900 aircraft 27 00:01:22,321 --> 00:01:25,321 and more than 2,400 aircrew members. 28 00:01:25,851 --> 00:01:28,678 A steady rotation of squadrons to Guadalcanal 29 00:01:28,678 --> 00:01:30,908 sustained maximum combat efficiency 30 00:01:30,908 --> 00:01:35,018 in the forward areas and support to ground troops. 31 00:01:35,018 --> 00:01:38,086 The Cactus Air Force's support to the battle of Guadalcanal, 32 00:01:38,086 --> 00:01:39,500 would become the defining point 33 00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:41,780 for Marine Corps aviation in World War II 34 00:01:41,780 --> 00:01:43,947 and for the next 50 years. 35 00:01:44,164 --> 00:01:46,836 One of the great lessons learned from Marine Corps aviation, 36 00:01:46,836 --> 00:01:49,158 was the vital importance of quickly establishing 37 00:01:49,158 --> 00:01:53,325 expeditionary airfields during amphibious operations. 38 00:01:54,593 --> 00:01:58,095 1st MAL was expected to fight and win at Guadalcanal, 39 00:01:58,095 --> 00:02:00,542 and this is exactly what they did. 40 00:02:00,542 --> 00:02:02,102 Today and in the future, 41 00:02:02,102 --> 00:02:04,664 the same expectation of fighting and winning 42 00:02:04,664 --> 00:02:06,247 exists for 1st MAL. 43 00:02:06,918 --> 00:02:09,102 Many scenarios off our horizon 44 00:02:09,102 --> 00:02:10,453 will likely have 1st MAL again, 45 00:02:10,453 --> 00:02:13,425 generating a Cactus Air Force like capability. 46 00:02:13,425 --> 00:02:17,230 In support of 3MF, the combatant or unified commander, 47 00:02:17,230 --> 00:02:18,813 or the joint force. 48 00:02:19,310 --> 00:02:22,278 Just as we did 75 years ago in Guadalcanal, 49 00:02:22,278 --> 00:02:24,504 the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing will continue to be 50 00:02:24,504 --> 00:02:28,671 the Corps forward aviation combat element in the Pacific. 51 00:02:28,855 --> 00:02:33,022 Skilled, smart, and strong and ready to fight and win. 52 00:02:34,350 --> 00:02:37,100 (dramatic music)