Mouw embleem 2e Marine Aircraft Wing (Sleeve patch 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing 1943-44)

white backing

UITVERKOCHT / SOLD
Betaalwijzes

In late 1940, Congress authorized a naval air fleet of fifteen thousand aircraft. The Marine Corps was allotted a percentage of these planes to be formed into 2 air wings with 32 operational squadrons. On the advice of Navy and Marine advisors returning from observing the war in Europe these numbers were doubled very soon after. It was under this expansion program that the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing was activated in San Diego, California on 10 July 1941. Its first component was Marine Air Group Two which was based at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii. This gave 2nd MAW some of the oldest squadrons in Marine aviation Although the Hawaii-based squadrons sustained extensive damage during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, 2nd MAW contributed to 83 South Pacific combat operations. Marines and aircraft from 2nd MAW participated in major battles or campaigns at Wake Island, Guadalcanal, Midway, Saipan, Tinian, Guam and Okinawa. 2d MAW served as the headquarters for the Tactical Air Force, Tenth Army during the Battle of Okinawa. During three months of combat over the skies of Okinawa, squadrons from 2nd MAW accounted for 484½ planes shot down helping to create 21 new Marine Corps aces.[3] Following the surrender of Japan, 2nd MAW retained its headquarters on Okinawa and sent Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) to Yokosuka and other units to Omura and Nagasaki. In April 1946, 2nd MAW relocated to its present home at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina

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