In the desert of Arizona Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma is home to
Marine Air Wing 3. Its Marine Air Group 13 has five squadrons assigned.
These are equipped with the AV-8NB Harrier, F-35B Lightning II and the
RQ-7B UAV. Other tenants are Marine MAW-4 equipped with the F-5N (former
Swiss Air Force F-5E) and assigned to aggressor role, VMX-1 with its
helicopters (its F-35B's are stationed at Edwards AFB), VMU-1 flying
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and the H&HS.
The MAG-13 squadrons, as well as their sisters, have of will transition
from the F/A-18C/D Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II to the F-35B short
takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant, and the F-35C carrier variant
(CV). F-35B's will operate from US Navy
Amphibious Assault
Ships and deploy as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit. F-35C's
will operate from US Navy
Aircraft Carriers and deploy as part of a
Carrier Air Wing.
MCAS Yuma based squadrons:
|
Wing |
Group |
Squadron |
Aircraft |
Code |
Nickname |
|
MAW-3 |
MAG-13 |
VMFA-122 |
F-35B |
DC-xx |
The Flying leathernecks |
|
MAW-3 |
MAG-13 |
VMFA-211 |
F-35B |
CF-xx |
Wake Island Avengers |
|
MAW-3 |
MAG-13 |
VMA-214 |
AV-8B/B+/B+(R) |
WE-xx |
Black Sheep |
|
MAW-3 |
MAG-13 |
VMA-311 |
AV-8B/B+/B+(R) |
WL-xx |
Tomcats |
|
MAW-3 |
MAG-13 |
VMU-1 |
RQ-7B |
WG-xx |
Watchdogs |
|
MAW-4 |
MAG-41 |
VMFT-401 |
F-5N |
LS-xx |
Snipers |
| |
MAWTS-1 |
VMX-1 |
AH-1Z |
MV-xx |
Mihi Cura Futuri |
| |
MAWTS-1 |
VMX-1 |
UH-1Y |
MV-xx |
Mihi Cura Futuri |
| |
MAWTS-1 |
VMX-1 |
MV-22B |
MV-xx |
Mihi Cura Futuri |
| |
|
H&HS |
UC-12F |
5Y |
|
| |
|
H&HS |
HH-1N |
5Y |
|
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|
Abbr. |
Full squadron name |
|
|
|
|
H&HS |
Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron |
|
|
| VMA |
Marine Attack Squadron |
|
|
|
| VMFA |
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron |
|
|
|
| VMFT |
Marine Fighter Training Squadron |
|
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| VMU |
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron |
|
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| VMX |
Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron |
|
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MCAS Yuma is also home to the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course and
support other visiting squadrons to support their training operations
over the nearby Arizona ranges. During our visit MCAS hosted below
squadrons:
|
Wing |
Group |
Squadron |
Aircraft |
Code |
Nickname |
MCAS |
|
MAW-2 |
MAG-14 |
VMAT-203 |
(T)AV-8B/B+ |
KD-xx |
Hawks |
MCAS Cherry Point, NC |
|
MAW-3 |
MAG-39 |
HMLA-469 |
UH-1Y |
SE-xx |
Vengeance |
MCAS Camp Pendleton, CA |
|
MAW-3 |
MAG-39 |
HMLA-469 |
AH-1W |
SE-xx |
Vengeance |
MCAS Camp Pendleton, CA |
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