3rd Wing: Party to History : Marine Air Unit, Born in Wartime, Marks 50th Year
An array of military aircraft split the skies over the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station on Friday, accompanied by the strains of John Philip Sousa.
“Most military people operate on pride and adrenaline,” said Maj. Gen. Harold W. Blot, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered at the base. “It’s moments like this that keep you going.”
The moment was the 50th birthday party of the 3rd Wing, complete with an air show, gigantic birthday cake and Marine band playing “The Black Horse Troop,” “El Capitan” and “Semper Fidelis.”
“A lot of history resides right here in front of us today,” retired Gen. John K. Davis told the gathered crowd of Marines standing at attention.
That history began on Nov. 10, 1942, when the 3rd Wing was first commissioned at the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C. Consisting of one trainer aircraft, 13 officers and 25 enlisted Marines, the wing’s primary purpose was to organize and train fighter and bomber squadrons for deployment overseas.
By the height of World War II two years later, the group had grown to almost 16,000 people operating 465 aircraft. And today, according to Capt. Betsy Sweatt, the group’s director of public relations, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing operates 300 aircraft maintained by 14,000 enlisted personnel and about 1,700 officers.
“Our mission has been vital,” Sweatt said. “We’ve trained people for every war since World War II.”
Headquartered at El Toro since 1955, the wing’s primary function has been training and support. But some of its pilots and flight crews have also participated in the country’s wars. Many flew combat missions during World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater near Guam, fighting in the battle for Okinawa and in campaigns on the Solomon Islands, New Britain, Peleliu and the Philippines. In the early 1950s, 3rd Wing-based fliers fought in the Korean War. And during the Vietnam War, they flew thousands of sorties over Southeast Asia.
It was not until 1990, however, that the 3rd Wing was fully deployed for the first and only time in its history, to the Persian Gulf, where a contingent of more than 16,000 Marines operating 467 aircraft dropped almost 30 million pounds of bombs and ammunition.
“There are thousands of military personnel walking around alive today because of the efforts of the 3rd Wing” in the Gulf War, Davis said Friday.
To commemorate the group’s 50th anniversary, which coincided with the 217th birthday of the Marine Corps itself, several Marines ceremoniously marched an enormous cake onto the field where it was carefully cut and served to the guests, including several civilian VIPs. In keeping with tradition, some of the first pieces were given to the oldest active-duty Marine present, a 55-year-old gunnery sergeant, and to the youngest, a private first class born in 1974.
A slightly political note was sounded by Davis, who warned the Marines and guests to be wary of possible efforts by the federal government, especially in light of Tuesday’s election, to make cuts in the Marine Corps’ air power.
“When that happens, we won’t be much better off than the Army,” Davis said. “All we’ll have is helicopters. Then it could be hasta la vista Marine Corps.”
Finally, the oldest retired Marine present got his piece of cake. He was Lt. Gen. Frederick E. Leek, who had served as commander of the 3rd Wing from 1963 to 1966.
“This makes me feel old,” said Leek, 78. “I never thought I’d live so long.”
Today, he said, “the weapons systems have all changed. They’ve got a lot of things now that I never dreamed of.”
All of which makes Blot, the wing’s commander, confident of the group’s future.
“The wing is as good as it’s ever been,” he said. “The aircraft are in wonderful shape and the young Marines (operating) them are great.”