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Further Reading

Marine Aircraft Group 36 [MAG-36]

Marine Aircraft Group (Helicopter Transport) 36 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Facility, Santa Ana, on 2 June 1952. While one Marine helicopter squadron was making history in Korea, MAG 36 squadrons consisting of HMR's 361, 362 and 363, devoted long hours testing and improving the techniques of employing their HRS-1 helicopters in amphibious airborne ship-to-shore movements. After the termination of hostilities in Korea, MAG 36 continued to take part in many large scale operations, mostly with trips to Nevada in Operation "Desert Rock" to carry out an assault exercise on an objective near an actual atomic explosive.

MAG 36 was attached to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing on 5 September 1955 after the Wing's arrival at El Toro. On 16 March 1959, "Helicopter Transport" was dropped from MAG 36's designation. MAG 36 departed Santa Ana for duty in Vietnam in August 1965. During the same month it was attached to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, which by then had been committed wholly to the Southeast Asia fighting. MAG 36 landed from the decks of the USS Princeton at Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam in 1 September 1965. The movement was believed to be the first time an entire helicopter group was transported in this manner. MAG 36 also had the honor of being the first complete Marine Aircraft Group to arrive in the combat zone.

Following their landing, MAG 36 began construction of a complete air facility at Ky Ha, providing resupply, troop lifts, air strikes, recon inserts and extracts and medical evacuation for allied troops in the Southern I Corps area. These missions involved all aircraft ranging from UG-1 E gunships to CH-46 Sea Knights and UH-34 Sea Horses.

In the fall of 1967, MAG 36 moved to Phu Bai, and in early 1968, was heavily involved in thwarting the communist Tet Offensive. Throughout the battle for Hue, MAG 36 helicopters supported allied ground forces in and around the ancient city.

As the focal point of action switched from Khe Sahn to Leatherneck Square, MAG 36 aircrews continued to support Marines who where making movement in I Corps precarious for the enemy.

On 4 November 1969, MAG 36 redeployed from Vietnam to MCAS Futenma, culminating four years of outstanding combat service. VMGR-152, which had provided combat air refueling from detachments in Vietnam from Futenma since 1965, became a part of MAG 36. In the intervening years ending in 1972, MAG 36 assumed its support role, providing composite helicopter squadrons to the Marine Amphibious Unit afloat.

During May 1972, VMGR-152 redeployed detachments to Thailand and Vietnam to provide combat air refueling for 1st MAW fighter/attack aircraft until October 1972 when the detachment returned to Futenma. June 1972 saw MAG 36 opening a new chapter in Marine aviation history with operations against North Vietnamese waterborne logistics system by AH- 1J Sea Cobras in support of the 7th Fleet.

In early 1973, squadrons from MAG 36 participated in Operation "End Sweep," the joint Navy/Marine Corps mine sweeping effort in Haiphong Harbor. At the conclusion of this operation, MAG 36 resumed its ready posture, participating in numerous joint service exercises in Korea, the Philippine Republic, and Australia.

Fall of 1974 found MAG 36 squadrons preparing to execute Operation "Eagle Pull," the emergency evacuation of American civilians from Cambodia. With HMH-462 on twenty-four hour alert, MAG 36 was fully prepared for the successful evacuation, which came in April 1975. Fast on the heels of "Eagle Pull" came another mission of mercy. American and South Vietnamese civilians trapped by the North Vietnamese offensive were in great danger. MAG 36 responded by deploying all available helicopters aboard 7th Fleet ships, and in one 24-hour period on 29 and 30 April, evacuated over 7000 people from Saigon, South Vietnam. This incredible feat was the culmination of an all-hands effort requiring MAG 36 Marines to work around the clock for the entire period.

In the years that followed, MAG 36 continued to support fleet operations in the Pacific Theater. Marine Aircraft Group 36 became the linchpin in the Unit Deployment Program in WestPac. Disaster relief efforts in Kobe, Japan and operational support to Operation United Shield are current reminders of the flexibility and capabilities inherent in MAG 36.