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The USMC currently operates over 1,300 aircraft. It is the only Marine force in the world with a major air arm (The Royal Marines fly helicopters and light fixed-wing aircraft while the Soviet Naval Infantry operates some helicopters).

The Marine Air Wing (MAW) is the major aviation command of the USMC. There are three active and one reserve MAW that are assigned both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The wings vary in size and composition, with an active MAW having some 300 aircraft of all types. Within each wing are several Marine Air Groups (MAG), each group generally controlling specific aircraft squadron types.

The 1st MAW is based in Japan (Iwakuni) and on Okinawa (Futenma) where the wing headquarters is located. However, most of its squadrons are rotated to the Far East on a six-month basis from Marine Aircraft Group 24 at Kaneohe, Jawaii, with some of the units coming from the 3nd and 2nd MAWs.

The 2nd MAW, with headquarters at Cherry Point, NC, has aircraft squadrons based on the east coast while the 3rd MAW, with headquarters at Marine Crops Air Station (MCAS) El Toro, CA, has its squadrons on the West Coast and at Yuma AZ.

A MAW is generally paired with a division to form a Marine Amphibious Force (MAF), an air group with a reinforced regiment to form a Marine Amphibious Brigade (MAB) and a composite squadron with a reinforced battalion to form a Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU). A composite squadron generally consist of 4 CH-54, 12 CH-46, 4 AH-1 and 4 UH-1N helicopters deployed on an LHA or LPH and accompanying amphibious ships. In addition 4-8 AV-8 Harriers may also be assigned to the squadron, depending upon mission and aircraft and ship availability.

1st Marine Aircraft Wing
MAG-12
VMA(AW)-224
VMA-311
VMAQ-2 Detachment
MAG-15
VMFA-232
VMFA-233
VMFP-3 Detachment
MAG-36
HMM-262
HML/A-267
HMH-462
VMO Detachment
VMGR-152

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
MAG-14
VMAQ-2
VMA(AW)-332
VMA(AW)-533
VMAO-1
VMGR-252
VMGRT-253
MAG-26
HMM-261
HMM-264
HMM-266
HMM-362
HML/A-167
HMT-204
MAG-29
HMM-162
HMM-263
HMM-365
HMH-464
HML/A-269
VMO-1
MAG-31
VMFA-115
VMFA-122
VMFA-251
VMFA-312
VMFA-333
VMFA-451
MAG-32
VMAT-203
VMA-223
VMA-231
VMA-331
VMA-542

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
MAG-11
VMFP-3
VMFA-313
VMFA-531
MAG-13
VMA(AW)-121
VMA-211
VMA-214
VMA(AW)-242
VMA-513
VMGR-352
MAG-16
HMM-164
HMM-166
HMM-268
HMH-361
HMH-363
HMH-462
HMH-465
HMH-466
HMT-301
MAG-39
VMO-2
HML/A-169
HML/A-367
HML/A-369
HML/A-267
HMT-303
Combat Crew Readiness Training Group 10
VMFAT-101

1st Marine Amphibious Brigade
MAG-24
VMFA-212
VMFA-232
VMFA-235
HMM-165
HMM-262
HMM-265
HMM-364
HMH-463

Marine Fighter-Attack Squadrons
VMFAT-101 12 F-4S
VMFA-115 12 F/A-18A
VMFA-122 12 F/A-18A
VMFA-212 12 F-4S
VMFA-232 12 F-4S
VMFA-235 12 F-4S
VMFA-251 12 F/A-18A
VMFA-312 12 F-4S
VMFA-314 12 F/A-18A
VMFA-323 12 F/A-18A
VMFA-333 12 F/A-18A
VMFA-451 12 F/A-18A
VMFA-531 12 F/A-18A

Marine Attack Squadrons
VMA(AW)-121 10 A-6E
VMAT(AW)-202 10 A-6E
VMAT-203 15 TAV-8A/AV-8B
VMA-211 15 A-4M
VMA-214 15 A-4M
VMA-223 20 AV-8B
VMA(AW)-224 10 A-6E
VMA-231 20 AV-8B
VMA(AW)-242 10 A-6E
VMA-311 15 A-4M
VMA-331 20 AV-8B
VMA(AW)-332 10 A-6E
VMA-513 20 AV-8B
VMA(AW)-533 10 A-6E
VMA-542 20 AV-8B

Marine Electronic Warfare Squadrons
VMAQ-2 15 EA-6B

Marine Photo-Reconnaissance Squadrons
VMFP-3 21 AF-4B

Marine Refueling-Transport Squadrons
VMGR-152 12 KC-130F
VMGR-252 12 KC-130F/R
VMGR-352 12 KC-130F/R
VMGR-253 12 KC-130F

Marine Observation Squadrons
VMO-1 18 OV-10A/D
VMO-2 18 OV-10A/D

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadrons
HMT-204 6 CH-53A, 6 CH-46E
HMT-301 6 CH-53A/D/E, 6 CH-46E
HMT-302 12 CH-53E
HMH-361 18 CH-53A/D
HMH-362 18 CH-53A/D
HMH-363 18 CH-53A/D
HMH-461 18 CH-53A/D
HMH-462 18 CH-53A/D
HMH-463 18 CH-53A/D
HMH-464 12 CH-53E
HMH-465 12 CH-53E
HMH-466 12 CH-53E

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadrons
HMM-161 12 CH-46E
HMM-162 12 CH-46E
HMM-163 12 CH-46E
HMM-164 12 CH-46E
HMM-165 12 CH-46E
HMM-261 12 CH-46E
HMM-262 12 CH-46E
HMM-263 12 CH-46E
HMM-264 12 CH-46E
HMM-265 12 CH-46E
HMM-266 12 CH-46E
HMM-268 12 CH-46E
HMM-364 12 CH-46E
HMM-365 12 CH-46E

Marine Utility/Attack Squadrons
HML/A-167 12 UH-1N, 12 AH-1T
HML/A-169 12 UH-1N, 12 AH-1J
HML/A-267 12 UH-1N, 12 AH-1T
HML/A-269 12 UH-1N, 12 AH-1T
HMT-303 24 UH-1N
HML/A-367 12 UH-1N, 12 AH-1J
HML/A-369 12 UH-1N, 12 AH-1J

Marine Helicopter Squadrons
HMX-1 UH/VH-1N, VH-3S, CH-46E, CH-53D, V
VH-60

MARINE AIR RESERVE
4th Marine Aircraft Wing
VMFT-401 12 F-21A
MAG-41
VMFA-112 12 F-4S
VMFA-134 12 F-4S
VMFA-321 12 F-4S
VMGR-234 12 KC-130F/T
MAG-42
VMA-124 15 A-4M
VMA-131 15 A-4M
VMA-133 15 A-4M
VMA-134 15 A-4M
VMA-142 15 A-4M
VMA-322 15 A-4M
VMAQ-4 18 EA-6A
MAG-46
VMO-4 18 OV-10A
VMGR-452 12 KC-130F
HMA-773 24 AH-1J
HML-767 24 UH-1N
HML-771 24 UH-1N
HMM-764 18 CH-46E
HMM-774 18 CH-46E
MAG-49
VMGR-234 12 KC-130F
HML-776 24 UH-1N
HMH-769 18 CH-53A/D
HMH-772 18 CH-53A/D
HMH-777 18 CH-53A/D