Marine Aircraft Group 41 [MAG-41]
Marine Aircraft Group 41 was first organized at El Toro, California in January, 1943 as Marine Air Base Defense Aircraft Group 41. The unit was redesignated to its current name in 1944. MAG-41's mission was to supervise the training of attached squadrons for combat duty in the Pacific Theater. By WWII's end, approximately 20 fighter, dive and torpedo bomber squadrons had been trained by the Group. MAG-41 was subsequently deactivated in October, 1945.
MAG-41 was reactivated in July, 1962 at Naval Air Station Dallas, Texas. Currently, the squadrons that comprise the Group are: Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112), Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234), Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 (MALS-41), Marine Wing Support Squadron 471 (MWSS-471) and Marine Air Control Squadron 24 ATC Det (MACS-24 ATC Det). MWSS-471 and MACS-24 ATC Det are operationally commanded by another Group, but are under MAG-41's administrative control. VMFA-112 currently flies the F/A-18 "Hornet" and VMGR-234 flies the KC-130T aircraft.
In June, 1996, MAG-41 moved from its location at Naval Air Station Dallas to Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base (NAS/JRB) Fort Worth, Texas. NAS/JRB was previously Carswell Air Force Base, that was targeted for closure as a result of the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Act. In 1993, the closed base was redesignated as a NAS/JRB.
In late 2000, MAG-41 took part in the multi-national exercise "Bright Star 00" held in Egypt. Dating back to 1980, the exercise has been on alternating years since, with 1995 marking the first year that coalition countries began to participate in the operation. Bright Star 2000 was the largest held to date and was conducted by the U.S. Central Command. It consisted of more than 50,000 Allied coalition forces from 11 countries, including the United States (with more 18,000 personnel), Egypt, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and others. The Marine Corps component consisted of more than 2,000 Marines making up the Special Marine/Air Ground Task Force and the Air Combat Element. MAG-41 was tasked to be the ACE in support of a notional MAGTF and provide "Red Air" aggressors for the coalition forces. The Marine Corps' plan of attack was to use combined supporting arms with airpower as extension of that firepower. This was the largest exercise in which MAG-41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, has ever participated.
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