Marine Aircraft Group 26

Marine Aircraft Group 26
Unit name	Marine Aircraft Group 26
Caption	Insignia of Marine Corps aviation
Dates	1942–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Role	Aviation combat support
Garrison	Marine Corps Air Station New River
Motto	Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)

Marine Aircraft Group 26

Marine Aircraft Group 26 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit established during World War II, providing tiltrotor, transport, and fixed-wing support to Marine Corps and joint operations. The group has participated in major conflicts including the World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and operations in Afghanistan. Its lineage and operational record connect it with major Marine Corps institutions such as Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, and joint commands like United States Central Command.

History

The group's origins date to expansions of Marine aviation in 1942 alongside units like 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, and squadrons formed during the Guadalcanal Campaign. During the World War II Pacific campaigns the group supported amphibious operations associated with the Guadalcanal Campaign, Bougainville campaign, and Philippine campaign (1944–45). Postwar restructuring tied the group to occupation duties near Okinawa and later Cold War deployments during the Korean War era, aligning with theaters overseen by United States Pacific Command and supporting operations related to the Taiwan Strait Crisis. In the Vietnam War, elements provided close air support, resupply, and medevac missions in coordination with units like 1st Marine Division and 3rd Marine Division. During the Persian Gulf War the group operated within task forces under United States Central Command and supported Operation Desert Storm. In the 21st century the group deployed aircraft and personnel to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, integrating with multinational coalitions and supporting counterinsurgency operations alongside units from United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Air Force.

Mission and Organization

The group's mission emphasizes assault support, airlift, aerial refueling, and support for expeditionary operations coordinated with formations such as Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and Marine Expeditionary Force. It functions within the aviation combat element construct defined by doctrine from Naval Doctrine Command and aligns with operational guidance from U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Organizationally the group is subordinate to a Marine Aircraft Wing and integrates logistics from commands like Marine Corps Logistics Command and aviation maintenance units comparable to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron. Its mission supports interoperability with joint and NATO partners including United States European Command and United States Indo-Pacific Command when forward deployed.

Units and Aircraft

Historically the group has included a mix of squadrons equipped with helicopters, tiltrotor aircraft, and fixed-wing transports similar to squadrons designated under Marine Aircraft Group structures. Aircraft types associated with the group's lineage include predecessors to modern platforms like the CH-46 Sea Knight, CH-53E Super Stallion, MV-22 Osprey, AH-1 Cobra, UH-1 Iroquois, and fixed-wing transports akin to the F/A-18 Hornet in Marine aviation contexts. Squadrons within the group mirror organizational models of units such as HMM-261, HMLA-167, VMM-261, and aviation logistics squadrons analogous to MALS-26. These squadrons operate in support roles that include close air support, heavy lift, assault support, and tactical transport for units like 1st Marine Division and special operations forces such as Marine Raider Regiment when directed.

Operational Deployments

The group's deployments span the Pacific theater in World War II campaigns, rotational deployments to Guam and Okinawa, and expeditionary support during the Vietnam War including operations near Da Nang and Chu Lai. During Operation Desert Storm and subsequent Operation Southern Watch elements supported airlift and logistics in the Persian Gulf region, coordinating with coalition partners including forces from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Kuwait. In the Global War on Terror the group provided aircraft to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, conducting medevac, troop movement, close air support, and aerial sustainment missions in coordination with commands such as Multi-National Force – Iraq and International Security Assistance Force. Humanitarian and disaster response missions have included participation in relief efforts after events affecting Haiti, Pakistan (2005 earthquake), and responses under U.S. Northern Command domestic support directives.

Base and Facilities

The group is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River near Jacksonville, North Carolina, sharing regional infrastructure with units from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and coordinating range operations with installations like Cherry Point and Parris Island. Facilities include aviation maintenance hangars modeled after standards used by Naval Air Systems Command, expeditionary airfields compatible with Expeditionary Airfield doctrine, and training ranges that interface with regional airspaces managed by Federal Aviation Administration and North American Aerospace Defense Command. Base support includes logistics provided by Marine Corps Installations East and medical facilities comparable to those at Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point.

Commanders and Leadership

Commanders of the group have historically been Marine aviation officers with backgrounds tied to organizations such as Naval Aviation Schools Command, former squadron command tours with units like HMLA-167 or VMM-262, and staff assignments within II Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Combat Development Command. Senior leadership coordinates with joint headquarters including U.S. Joint Forces Command equivalents and liaises with coalition air component commanders during deployments. Notable leadership paths for commanders often include attendance at professional institutions like the Naval War College and assignment histories involving commands such as Marine Aircraft Group 29 or Marine Aircraft Group 31.

Honors and Traditions

The group and its squadrons have received campaign streamers and unit citations related to actions in World War II, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and post-9/11 campaigns including Operation Enduring Freedom. Traditions reflect Marine Corps aviation heritage celebrated alongside entities like the Marine Corps History Division and commemorations connected to events such as Marine Corps Birthday observances. Unit insignia, mottos, and squadron lineage are preserved in archives held by institutions such as the National Museum of the Marine Corps and recorded in unit histories that reference engagements across the Pacific Ocean and Middle East theaters.

Category:United States Marine Corps aviation units