Marine Air Control Squadron 1

Marine Air Control Squadron 1
MACS-1 Insignia
Active	1 September 1943 – present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Aviation Command & Control
Role	Aerial surveillance & Air traffic control
Part of	Marine Air Control Group 38 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Nickname	Falconers, "The Cursed Ones"
Engagements	World War II Korean War Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol Craig R. Doty

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 the I Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and fall under Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Subordinate units

Name	Location
Headquarters and Support Detachment	MCAS Yuma
Air Traffic Control Detachment Alpha	MCB Pendleton
Air Traffic Control Detachment Bravo	MCAS Miramar
Air Traffic Control Detachment Charlie	MCAS Yuma
Air Traffic Control Detachment Delta	MCAS Yuma
Early Warning Control Detachment	MCAS Miramar
Tactical Air Operations Center Detachment	MCAS Yuma
Expeditionary Air Field Detachment	MCB 29 Palms

Mission

Provide air surveillance, airspace management and the control of aircraft and surface-to-air weapons for anti-air warfare and offensive air support while independently or simultaneously providing continuous all-weather radar and non-radar ATC services as in integral part of the Marine Air Command and Control system (MACCS) in support of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), and Joint Force Commander.

History

World War II

Marine Air Control Squadron 1 was activated on 1 September 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, as Air Warning Squadron 1, 1st Marine Air Warning Group, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. In November 1943 they relocated to Miramar, San Diego, California and were reassigned to Marine Fleet Air, West Coast.

The squadron deployed during January 1944 to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and in February 1944 were reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 22, 4th Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing. During World War II they participated in the Marshall Islands Campaign and the Battle of Okinawa.

Following the war the squadron was reassigned and relocated numerous time to include:

• August 1945 to Marine Air Defense Command 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
• February 1946 to Marine Air Defense Command 2, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
• March 1946 to Marine Air Defense Command 2, Air, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
• April 1946 to Miramar, San Diego, California, and reassigned to Marine Air Warning Group 2, Marine Air, West Coast.
• Relocated 1 August 1946 as Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 2, Marine Air, West Coast.
• Relocated during July 1947 to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
• Reassigned during October 1947 to Marine Air Control Group 2, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Korean War

Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 1 was reassigned during July 1950 to Marine Aircraft Group 33 and subsequently deployed to the Republic of Korea. During the conflict they participated in the Battle of Inchon, Battle of Chosin Reservoir and fighting on the East Central Front, Western Front. During the war they were reassigned in October 1950 to Marine Aircraft Group 12 and in April 1951 to Marine Air Control Group 2. MACS-1 participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone from July 1953 through March 1955. Finally on 15 February 1954 they received their current moniker Marine Air Control Squadron 1. In April 1955 to they redeployed to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, and reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11.

1960 through 1990s

The squadron was reduced to cadre status during March–April 1960. They were relocated during May 1960 to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, and reassigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Group, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. On 1 February 1972, the squadron was deactivated. 11 years later in October 1983 the squadron was reactivated at Camp Pendleton, California, as Marine Air Control Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. They also participated in Operation Desert Shield in Southwest Asia from August until October 1990, though some elements of MACS-1 remained in Saudi Arabia in support of MACS-2.

MACS-1 Relocated during Jun 1998 to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. Elements supported Operation Southern Watch, Iraq, March–April 2000 and in November–December 2000, and May–June 2001.

Global War on Terror

Elements of MACS-1 supported Operation Enduring Freedom, in Afghanistan from January–May 2002. This was followed by a deployment to Kuwait in February 2003 and participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 to present, both as an Air Control agency, and subsequently standing up several Security Companies.

Notable former members

• Lee Harvey Oswald – fatally shot President John F. Kennedy in 1963.^[1]

Unit awards

•   Presidential Unit Citation with 3 Bronze Stars.

Battle of Okinawa – 1945.

Korean War – 1950 & 1951.

Operation Iraqi Freedom – 2003

•   Presidential Unit Citation (Army) Streamer.

Korean War – 1951

•   Navy Unit Commendation with 1 Bronze Star.

Korean War – 1952–1953.

Operation Desert Storm – 1990.

•   Meritorious Unit Commendation with 2 Bronze Stars.

1985–1987, 1988–1989, 1998–1999.

•   Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars.
•   World War II Victory Medal.
•   Navy Occupation Service Medal with “Asia.”
•   National Defense Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars.
•   Korean Service Medal with 1 Silver and 3 Bronze Stars.
•   Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star.
•   Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
•   Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

• AN/TPS-59
• United States Marine Corps Aviation
• Organization of the United States Marine Corps
• List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

1. ^ Timeline of the Life of Lee Harvey Oswald

External links

• MACS-1’s official website