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 3rd Marine Air Wing" (3rd
MAW)By Marc "Devil Dog Of The Web" Iseli / Updated Dec. 2025 The 3rd Marine Air Wing at El Toro in the early '80s was less a single unit and more a circus tent packed with every flavor of flying machine the Corps could scrounge up. El Toro was the West Coast’s answer to 'how many jets can you cram onto one patch of concrete before the neighbors start complaining?' Back then, the place was buzzing with Cold War paranoia, half the gear still smelling like Saigon, the other half so digital it needed a user manual thicker than a phone book. The F-4 Phantom II was still strutting around like it owned the joint, loud enough to rattle your fillings and belch enough smoke to make the EPA cry. You couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting an A-4 Skyhawk, a KC-130 Hercules from VMGR-352, or one of those RF-4B recce pigs skulking around looking for trouble. 
Major Groups at MCAS El Toro (1980–1983) Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) MAG-11 was the "Heavy Fighter" group. Aircraft: Primarily the F-4 Phantom II (mostly the F-4S model by 1983), Tactical Reconnaissance RF-B Phantoms, and the A-6E Intruder. Squadrons:
Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13) MAG-13 was the "Light Attack" group.Aircraft: Focused on the A-4M Skyhawk and the AV-8A Harrier. Squadrons: Included VMA-214 (the famous "Black Sheep" of Pappy Boyington fame) and VMA-311 (Tomcats).
Marine Wing Support Group 37 (MWSG-37) MWSG-37 was a major aviation ground support command, and its mission was to provide all aviation ground support functions for the wing’s aircraft groups stationed there.
Flash Forward 3rd Marine Airwing relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in 1999. On 21 June 2019, VMFA-314 retired the F/A-18A and began training on the F-35C and became the first Marine Corps squadron to transition to the F-35C, receiving its first aircraft on 21 January 2020. Lt Col Keith J. Stalder was the commanding officer of VMFA-531 from December 1990 until the squadron was decommissioned on 21 March 1992. In accordance with the 2025 Aviation Plan, VMFA-323 is to begin transitioning to the F-35C Lightning II in FY2029 and complete the transition by 2030. Alright, you glorious Rat Phixers and Phlyers, if we ever survived a TAD, a Det, or a BOHICA, who haven't, and you didn’t think I was the biggest gaff off in the squadron. Got a sea story, or some grainy photos your ex didn’t set on fire, and they’re only slightly illegal? Send ‘em by email, snail mail, or safety wire it to a carrier pigeon. I collect ‘em all, just nothing that would incriminate me. 80svmfp3@gmail.com Return To The Home Page  |
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