MATCU-60 MABS=15 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Japan

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Branch

U.S. Marine Corps

Members

About MATCU-60 MABS=15 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Japan

Marine Air Traffic Control Unit 60 (MATCU-60) was a specialized air traffic control detachment operating under Marine Air Base Squadron 15 (MABS-15) at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, during the Cold War era. Established to provide expeditionary air traffic control services, MATCU-60 played a crucial role in supporting Marine aviation operations, ensuring safe and efficient movement of aircraft in the region. The unit was integral to joint training exercises and operational readiness, working alongside U.S. and allied forces throughout the Western Pacific. MATCU-60 was eventually deactivated as part of Marine Corps force restructuring, with its mission and personnel absorbed into other aviation command and control units.

Unit Members

Steve Fegette

U.S. Marine Corps

MATCU-60 MABS=15 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni JapanView Profile

Daniel Kortan

U.S. Marine Corps

MATCU-60 MABS=15 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni JapanView Profile

Photos

U.S. Marine Corps • 1976

About MATCU-60 MABS=15 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Japan

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Formation and Purpose: Marine Air Traffic Control Unit 60 (MATCU-60) was a specialized unit tasked with providing expeditionary air traffic control services, vital for the safe operation of Marine Corps aviation at forward and remote airfields. • Subordination: MATCU-60 was part of Marine Air Base Squadron 15 (MABS-15), under Marine Aircraft Group 15 (MAG-15), operating from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan. • Cold War Operations: During the Cold War, MATCU-60 played a key role in supporting U.S. and allied air activities in the Western Pacific, enhancing regional security against potential adversaries. • Deployments: The unit regularly deployed to various locations in the Pacific, including South Korea, Okinawa, and the Philippines, supporting exercises and real-world contingencies. • Technological Innovation: MATCU-60 operated advanced mobile radar and communications systems, making them among the first to bring rapid-deployment air traffic control capabilities to austere environments. • Joint Operations: They frequently worked hand-in-hand with U.S. Air Force and Japanese Self-Defense Forces, improving interoperability through joint training and combined exercises. • Typhoon Response: MATCU-60 personnel were often called upon to restore airfield operations following devastating typhoons, demonstrating their resilience and critical importance to MCAS Iwakuni. • Vietnam War Support: MATCU-60 and MABS-15 contributed to the Vietnam War effort by training and supporting units deploying south, and occasionally sending detachments for direct operational support. • Deactivation: As part of post-Cold War restructuring, MATCU-60 was eventually deactivated, but its legacy endures in the current Marine Air Traffic Control detachments. • Legacy and Recognition: Veterans of MATCU-60 maintain strong ties, sharing stories of their unique service in Japan, and the unit is remembered for its professionalism, adaptability, and camaraderie while stationed at MCAS Iwakuni.