Aviation combat element


In the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element is the air arm of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. It provides rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft, support equipment, pilots, maintenance personnel, as well as command and control assets to the commander.

Role within the MAGTF

The majority of aircraft usage within the MAGTF is for close air support or transport for the ground combat element or logistics combat element, however, other specialized missions are available. The six main functions include: assault support, anti-air warfare, offensive air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance.
The aviation combat element, which contributes the air power to the MAGTF, includes all aircraft and aviation support units. The units are organized into detachments, squadrons, groups, and wings, except for low altitude air defense units, which are organized into platoons, detachments, batteries, and battalions. These units include pilots, flight officers, enlisted aircrewmen, aviation logistics and Navy aviation medical and chaplain's corps personnel, as well as ground-based air defense units, and those units necessary for command and control, aviation command and control, communications, and aviation ground support.

ACE Organization and size

The size of the ACE varies in proportion to the size of the MAGTF. A Marine Expeditionary Force has a Marine Aircraft Wing or MAW. A Marine Expeditionary Brigade holds a Marine Aircraft Group or MAG, reinforced with a variety of aircraft squadrons and support personnel. The various Marine Expeditionary Units command a reinforced squadron, with various types of aircraft mixed into a single unit.
Generally, MEF postings are permanent, while MEBs and MEUs rotate their ACE, GCE, and LCE twice annually. 1st and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wings are unique in that they are subordinate to III MEF and I MEF, respectively, while all other equivalent units numerical designators match the MEF to which attached.

Hierarchy of Marine Aviation units

[1st Marine Aircraft Wing]

ACE of III Marine Expeditionary Force
Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1America's Finest

[Marine Aircraft Group 12]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12Marauders
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121Green Knights
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242Bats
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152Sumos
Marine Wing Support Squadron 171The Sentinels

[Marine Aircraft Group 24]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24Warriors
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362Ugly Angels
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367Scarface
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463Pegasus
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3Phantoms

[Marine Aircraft Group 36]

[Marine [Air Control Group 18]]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18
Marine Air Control Squadron 4Vice Squad
Marine Air Support Squadron 2Pacific Vagabonds
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18

[2nd Marine Aircraft Wing]

ACE of II Marine Expeditionary Force
Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2Snake Eyes
The Deuce

[Marine Aircraft Group 14]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14Dragons
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1Banshee
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2Jesters
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3Moon Dogs
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4Seahawks
Marine Attack Training Squadron 203Hawks
Marine Attack Squadron 223Bulldogs
Marine Attack Squadron 231Ace of Spades
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252Otis
Marine Attack Squadron 542Tigers
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2Night Owls
Marine Wing Support Squadron 271Workhorse of the Wing

[Marine Aircraft Group 26]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26Patriots
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162Golden Eagles
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204Raptors
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261Raging Bulls
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263Thunder Chickens
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264Black Knights
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266Fighting Griffins
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365Blue Knights
Marine Wing Support Squadron 272Untouchables

[Marine Aircraft Group 29]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29Wolverines
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167Warriors
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269Gunrunners
Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302Phoenix
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366Hammerheads
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461Ironhorse
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464Condors
Marine Wing Support Squadron 274Ironmen

[Marine Aircraft Group 31]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31Stingers
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115Silver Eagles
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224Bengals
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251Thunderbolts
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312Checkerboards
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501Warlords
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533Hawks
Marine Wing Support Squadron 273Sweathogs

[Marine Air Control Group 28]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 28Olympians
Marine Air Control Squadron 2Eyes of the MAGTF
Marine Air Support Squadron 1 Atlantic Nomads
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28Spartans
2nd Low Altitude Air Defense BattalionDeath from Below

[3rd Marine Aircraft Wing]

ACE of I Marine Expeditionary Force
Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3

[Marine Aircraft Group 11]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11Devilfish
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101Sharpshooters
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225Vikings
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232Red Devils
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314Black Knights
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323Death Rattlers
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352Raiders

[Marine Aircraft Group 13]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13Black Widows
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122Werewolves
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211Wake Island Avengers
Marine Attack Squadron 214Black Sheep
Marine Attack Squadron 311Tomcats
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1Watchdogs

[Marine Aircraft Group 16]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16Forerunners
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161Greyhawks
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163Ridge Runners
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165White Knights
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166Sea Elk
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361Flying Tigers
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363Red Lions
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462Heavy Haulers
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465Warhorse
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466Wolfpack

[Marine Aircraft Group 39]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39Hellhounds
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164Knightriders
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169Vipers
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267Stingers
Marine Light Attack Training Squadron 303Atlas
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364Purple Foxes
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369Gunfighters
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469Vengeance

[Marine Air Control Group 38]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38
Marine Air Control Squadron 1Falconers
Marine Air Support Squadron 3Blacklist
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38Red Lightning
3rd Low Altitude Air Defense BattalionStingers

[Marine Wing Support Group 37]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Wing Support Squadron 371Sand Sharks
Marine Wing Support Squadron 372Diamondbacks
Marine Wing Support Squadron 373Ace Support
Marine Wing Support Squadron 374Rhinos

[4th Marine Aircraft Wing]

ACE of Marine Forces Reserve
Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
4th Marine Aircraft Wing Training Support Group

[Marine Aircraft Group 41]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41Desperados
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112Cowboys
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234Rangers
Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401Snipers
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764Moonlight
Marine Wing Support Squadron 471
Marine Wing Support Squadron 473

[Marine Aircraft Group 49]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49Magicians
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452Yankees
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772Hustler
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773Red Dogs
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 774Wild Goose
Marine Wing Support Squadron 472Dragons

[Marine Air Control Group 48]

Squadron NameInsigniaNickname
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 48
Marine Air Control Squadron 24Earthquake
Marine Air Support Squadron 6Lighthouse
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48Roar