2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

• The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing was activated on July 10, 1941, in San Diego, California. • During World War II, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing played a crucial role in the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and Iwo Jima. • In 1952, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing became the first Marine Corps aviation unit to deploy jet aircraft to combat in Korea. • The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing has been awarded numerous unit citations for its service in conflicts such as the Persian Gulf War, Iraq War, and War in Afghanistan. • One of the units within the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461, holds the record for the longest sustained casualty evacuation in Marine Corps history during the Vietnam War. • In 2003, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing became the first Marine Corps unit to deploy Harrier jump jets in combat in Iraq. • The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing is based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina. • Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, also known as the "Checkerboards," is a unit within the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing with a long and storied history dating back to World War II. • The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing has a close working relationship with the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom, participating in joint training exercises and operations. • At any given time, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing has hundreds of aircraft at its disposal, including helicopters, fighter jets, and transport planes.