#1762 MAG-12, F-35B Lighting II and KC-130 Hercules print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1762 - Marine Aircraft Group 12, MALS-12, MWSS-171, VMGR-152, VMFA-121 & VMFA-242, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
The mission of Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12 is to conduct air reconnaissance, electronic warfare, anti-air warfare, offensive air support, control of aircraft and missiles, and assault support from advanced bases, expeditionary bases, or sea bases supported by organic aviation logistics and aviation ground support logistics, as required by III Marine Expeditionary Force and United States Indo-Pacific Command, and to be prepared to conduct such support and engagement operations as may be directed. Marine Aircraft Group 12 was activated at Camp Kearney, California, on 1 March 1942, and, shortly thereafter, deployed to the Pacific. From December 1942 until the cessation of hostilities in late 1945, the Group participated in numerous World War II operations in the Solomon Islands and Philippines, supporting the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as Philippine guerrilla forces. For such service, the Group earned the Army Distinguished Unit Award and the Navy Unit Citation. Through the end of the Korean Conflict, the Group participated successfully in numerous operations and accumulated over 80,000 effective combat sorties against enemy troops, installations, vehicles, and countless other vital targets. A second Navy Unit Citation was awarded for its Korean War service. In 1956, after nearly six years in Korea, MAG-12 was withdrawn to Iwakuni, Japan, and remained there, conducting close air support for Fleet Marine Forces in the Western Pacific until 1965. In May 1965, MAG-12 deployed to Chu Lai, Vietnam, to support Marine infantry and other allied forces in their engagements against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army units. The Group participated in many large operations, including the recapture of Hue City and the relief of besieged units at Khe Sanh. Two more Navy Unit Citations were received as a result of the Group’s contribution to the Vietnam War effort. After almost five years of combat, MAG-12 was withdrawn from the Republic of Vietnam in February 1970 and reestablished at Iwakuni, Japan. MAG-12’s stay in Japan, though, was short. Again, in May 1972, MAG-12 deployed to Vietnam and conducted combat operations from Bien Hoa Air Base until finally withdrawing from war in January 1973. MAG-12 then returned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The Group conducted numerous humanitarian and contingency operations throughout the western Indo-Pacific in the 1990s and during Operation Southern Watch in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from May 2002 to June 2002. In 2017, MAG-12 became the United States’ first permanently forward-deployed aviation unit with 5th generation aircraft, the F-35B Lightning II aircraft. To this day, MAG-12 has participated in hundreds of joint and multinational training exercises, continually honing its ability to fight tonight. Currently, MAG-12 consists of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, and four operational flying squadrons: Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, and one Unit Deployment Program squadron. Always faithful, Marine Aircraft Group 12 still retains its well-deserved title: “THE READY GROUP.”