MAG 29

• Establishment: Marine Aircraft Group 29 (MAG-29) was activated on May 1, 1972, at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina, to support the growing needs of rotary-wing aviation in the Marine Corps. • Nickname: MAG-29 is known as the "War Eagles," a moniker reflecting their spirit and heritage in Marine Corps aviation. • Vietnam War Legacy: While MAG-29 itself was not present in Vietnam, its squadrons inherited the operational traditions and tactics developed during the Vietnam War, especially in helicopter assault and support missions. • Desert Storm Deployment: MAG-29 played a crucial role during Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991, deploying its helicopters to support coalition ground forces during the liberation of Kuwait. • Humanitarian Missions: Over the years, MAG-29 has been involved in several humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, including Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. • Aircraft Types: The group has operated a variety of helicopters, including the CH-46 Sea Knight, CH-53 Sea Stallion, AH-1 Cobra, and the modern MV-22 Osprey, showcasing their versatility in rotary-wing aviation. • Iraq and Afghanistan: MAG-29 deployed numerous times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, providing critical assault support, medevac, and logistics in combat zones. • Medal of Honor Heritage: Several Marines who served in MAG-29’s subordinate squadrons have earned high valor awards, contributing to the group’s distinguished reputation. • Integration with Navy: MAG-29 regularly trains and deploys with the U.S. Navy, supporting amphibious operations from ships and enhancing joint-service interoperability. • Modernization and Readiness: MAG-29 continues to modernize, incorporating state-of-the-art helicopters and unmanned aerial systems to maintain readiness for rapid deployment anywhere in the world.