Marine Wing Support Squadron 374 (MWSS 374) was an aviation ground support unit of the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

. They were based out of

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), also known as 29 Palms, is the largest United States Marine Corps base. The base covers a total area of 1,102 square miles. It was a census-designated place (CDP) officially known as Twentynin ...

, California. The squadron was part of Marine Wing Support Group 37 and the

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (abbreviated as 3rd MAW) is the major west coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, ...

.
/ref> MWSS-374 was officially deactivated on 31 March 2022, at Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center,(MCAGCC) 29 Palms,Ca. during a Sunset Ceremony.

Mission

They are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Twentynine Palms Expeditionary Airfield at MCAGCC, 29 Palms, CA.

History

In March 1977, General Louis H. Wilson, the 26th

Commandant of the Marine Corps Commandant of the Marine Corps may refer to: * Commandant of the Marine Corps (Indonesia) * Commandant of the Netherlands Marine Corps * Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps * Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps * Commandant of th ...

, activated the Expeditionary Airfield (EAF). The initial unit placed in charge of the EAF was designated Detachment MABS-11. Two years later, in July 1979, Detachment MABS-11 became operationally attached to

Marine Aircraft Group 16 Marine Aircraft Group 16 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar that is currently composed of four V-22 Osprey squadrons, four CH-53 Super Stallion squadrons, one Personnel Support Detachment, and ...

and was redesignated MAG-16, Detachment Bravo in 1982. Originally, only a cadre of Marines provided

caretaker Caretaker may refer to: Occupations * Janitor (chiefly in the United States), a person who cleans and maintains buildings such as hospitals and schools * Property caretaker, a person who cares for a property * Caregiver or carer (UK), a person wh ...

support for the EAF between exercises. However, during October 1989 MWSS-173 was transferred from

Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay or MCAS Kaneohe Bay is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) airfield located within the Marine Corps Base Hawaii complex, formerly known as Marine Corps Air Facility (MCAF) Kaneohe Bay or Naval Air Station (N ...

to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms in support of the EAF. 1990 MWSS-374 MCAS Tustin CA, was tasked with Support During Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Elements of MWSS-374 were in Country well prior to the beginning of the Gulf War, until relieved in late 1991, additionally some Elements Served in Kuwait during Combat. On 4 March 1993, MWSS-173 was deactivated and Aviation Ground Support Element (AGSE) was activated to continue operating and maintaining the EAF. On 1 April 1999, AGSE deactivated and was redesignated as Marine Wing Support Squadron-374. Currently the squadron is nearly 525 strong, and possesses the ability to operate a portable and tactical airfield including and maintaining ground support equipment for aircraft. Air traffic control services and maintenance are provided by a detachment of Marines from

MACS-1 Marine Air Control Squadron 1 (MACS-1) is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control squadron. The squadron provides aerial surveillance, air traffic control, ground-controlled intercept, and aviation data-link connectivity for ...

Det EAF, a subordinate unit of

(MACG-38). In the early '90s, the ATC operations were handled by MATCS-18 Det C (Marine Air Traffic Control Squadron 18, Detachment C) who operated under MWSS-173.

Global War on Terrorism

MWSS-374 deployed to

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

in support of

Operation Iraqi Freedom The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with the invasion by a United States-led coalition, which resulted in the overthrow of the Ba'athist governm ...

from February 2004 until August 2004, February 2006 until August 2006, and again from March 2008 to October 2008. MWSS-374 was also deployed in support of

Operation Inherent Resolve {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Operation Inherent Resolve , partof = the international military intervention against the Islamic State and the War on terror , image = , caption = U.S. Navy B ...

from September 2014 to April 2015.

References

External links

*
{{3rdMAW MWSS374

Mission

History

Global War on Terrorism

See also

References

External links