In the United States Marine Corps, the Aviation Combat Element or Air Combat Element (ACE) is the aviation component of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The ACE is task organized to perform the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of MAGTF operations. The ACE is led by an aviation headquarters which employs rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft in conjunction with command and control, maintenance and engineering units.
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Role within the MAGTF The majority of aircraft usage within the MAGTF is for close air support or transport for the Ground Combat Element (GCE) or Logistics Combat Element (LCE), 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 (ACE), which contributes the air power to the MAGTF, includes all aircraft (fixed wing, helicopters, tiltrotor, and UAV) 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 (aircraft maintenance, aviation electronics, aviation ordnance, and aviation supply) 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 (management and planning for manpower, intelligence, operations and training, and logistics functions), aviation command and control (tactical air command, air defense control, air support control, and air traffic control), communications, and aviation ground support (e.g., airfield services, bulk fuels/aircraft refueling, crash rescue, engineer construction and utilities support, EOD, motor transport, ground equipment supply and maintenance, local security/law enforcement, and the wing band).
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 (known as a composite squadron). 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
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 America's Finest
Marine Aircraft Group 12
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 Marauders Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 Green Knights Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 BatsMarine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 SumosMarine Wing Support Squadron 171 The Sentinels
Marine Aircraft Group 24
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24 WarriorsMarine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268Red Dragons Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 Lucky Red Lions Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153 Hercules Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 Phantoms Marine Wing Support Squadron 174 Gryphons
Marine Aircraft Group 36
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 Bladerunner Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 Flying Tigers Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 Dragons UDP squadrons from II and III MEFs Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 Firebirds
Marine Air Control Group 18
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes 1st LAAD Battalion Death from Below Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Vice Squad Marine Air Support Squadron 2 Pacific Vagabonds Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18 Warriors
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 Snake EyesThe Deuce
Marine Aircraft Group 14
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 Dragons Marine Attack Squadron 223 Bulldogs Marine Attack Squadron 231 Ace of Spades Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 Otis Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 Tigers Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron 2 Night Owls
Marine Aircraft Group 26
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 Patriots Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 Golden Eagles Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 Raptors Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 Raging Bulls Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 Thunder Chickens Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 Fighting Griffins Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 Blue Knights
Marine Aircraft Group 29
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 Wolverines Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 Warriors Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 Gunrunners Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302 Phoenix Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 Ironhorse Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 Condors
Marine Aircraft Group 31
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 Stingers Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 Bengals Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 Checkerboards Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 Warlords Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533 Hawks
Marine Air Control Group 28
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes Marine Air Control Squadron 2 Eyes of the MAGTF Marine Air Support Squadron 1 Atlantic Nomads Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 Spartans 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Death from Below Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 Workhorse of the Wing Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 Untouchables Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 Sweathogs
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3
Marine Aircraft Group 11
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 Devilfish Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 Red Devils Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 Tomcats Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 Black Knights Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 Death Rattlers Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 Raiders Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502 Flying Nightmares
Marine Aircraft Group 13
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 Black Widows Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 Werewolves Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 Wake Island Avengers Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 Black Sheep Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 Vikings Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 Watchdogs
Marine Aircraft Group 16
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 Forerunners Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 Greyhawks Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 Ridge Runners Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 White Knights Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 Flying TigersMarine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362Ugly Angels Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 Heavy Haulers Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 Warhorse Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 Wolfpack
Marine Aircraft Group 39
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 Hellhounds Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 Knightriders Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 Vipers Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 Stingers Marine Light Attack Training Squadron 303 Atlas Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 Purple Foxes Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 Gunfighters
Marine Air Control Group 38
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Stingers Marine Air Control Squadron 1 Falconers Marine Air Support Squadron 3 Blacklist Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 Red Lightning Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 Sand Sharks Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 Diamondbacks Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 Ace Support Marine Wing Support Squadron 374 Rhinos
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Training Support Group
Marine Aircraft Group 41
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 Desperados Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 Cowboys Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 Rangers Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 Snipers Marine Fighter Training Squadron 402 Grim Reapers Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 MoonlightMarine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775Coyote Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4 Evil Eyes Marine Wing Support Squadron 471 Marine Wing Support Squadron 473
Marine Aircraft Group 49
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49 Magicians Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 Yankees Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 Hustler Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 Red Dogs Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 774 Wild Goose Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 Dragons
Marine Air Control Group 48
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 48 Marine Air Control Squadron 24 Earthquake Marine Air Support Squadron 6 Lighthouse Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48 Roar
See also Marine Air-Ground Task Force United States Marine Corps Aviation List of United States Marine Corps aircraft wings List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units
References