1 00:00:01,802 --> 00:00:04,552 (dramatic music) 2 00:00:15,101 --> 00:00:16,934 - On January 11, 1945, 3 00:00:17,785 --> 00:00:20,734 ^the first elements of Marine Aircraft Group 24 4 00:00:20,734 --> 00:00:23,669 landed on the south shore of Lingayen Gulf, 5 00:00:23,669 --> 00:00:27,836 on the western coast of Luzon island in the Philippines. 6 00:00:27,877 --> 00:00:30,908 Almost immediately, they provided close air support 7 00:00:30,908 --> 00:00:33,325 to nearly 175,000 Army forces 8 00:00:34,241 --> 00:00:36,774 that trekked across the 20 mile beachhead. 9 00:00:36,774 --> 00:00:38,559 - After landing at Lingayen, 10 00:00:38,559 --> 00:00:40,665 with the assault forces on D-Day, 11 00:00:40,665 --> 00:00:44,195 MAG-24 operated continuously against Japanese forces, 12 00:00:44,195 --> 00:00:46,778 flying a series of more than 8,000 sorties, 13 00:00:46,778 --> 00:00:49,726 despite relentless air and ground force opposition. 14 00:00:49,726 --> 00:00:50,856 To this day, MAG-24, 15 00:00:50,856 --> 00:00:53,091 as part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 16 00:00:53,091 --> 00:00:55,734 continues to conduct operations and exercises 17 00:00:55,734 --> 00:00:57,512 throughout the Pacific. 18 00:00:57,512 --> 00:00:58,345 Its mission: 19 00:00:58,345 --> 00:01:01,790 to provide combat ready expeditionary aviation forces 20 00:01:01,790 --> 00:01:04,656 capable of short notice worldwide employment 21 00:01:04,656 --> 00:01:08,823 in support of Marine air and ground task force operations. 22 00:01:09,545 --> 00:01:11,878 - Though we've gone through major transitions 23 00:01:11,878 --> 00:01:13,597 in the form of new missions, 24 00:01:13,597 --> 00:01:14,747 new platforms, 25 00:01:14,747 --> 00:01:15,938 new capabilities, 26 00:01:15,938 --> 00:01:18,418 and new units since the Philipinnes campaign, 27 00:01:18,418 --> 00:01:20,665 the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing remains 28 00:01:20,665 --> 00:01:23,386 an integral part of America's expeditionary force 29 00:01:23,386 --> 00:01:25,252 and readiness in the Pacific. 30 00:01:25,252 --> 00:01:27,821 We must remain skilled, smart, and strong, 31 00:01:27,821 --> 00:01:30,071 and ready to fight and win. 32 00:01:30,987 --> 00:01:33,570 (plane engine) 33 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:37,069 (dramatic music)