Marine Air Base Squadron 13

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Marine Air Base Squadron 13
MABS-13 insignia from the 1960s
Active
  • 1 Aug 1942 – 30 Nov 1945
  • 1 Mar 1951 - Jun 1986
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnited States of America
BranchMarine Corps
TypeAviation ground support squadron
RoleEngineering/Logistics
Part ofN/A
Motto(s)"We Thrive on Adversity"
Engagements

Marine Air Base Squadron 13 (MABS-13) was a unit of the United States Marine Corps that provided airfield services and base operations in support of Marine Aircraft Group 13. Originally commissioned overseas during World War II, MABS-13 supported combat operations during both World War II and the Vietnam War. The squadron was last based at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and was decommissioned in June 1986 when the Marine Corps reorganized all of its aviation ground support units into combat formations that would train and operate the same in both peacetime and combat.[1] Since that date, no other Marine Corps squadron has carried the lineage and honors of MABS-13.

Mission[edit]

Provide necessary air base facilities and services (except airfield construction) for Marine Aircraft Group 13 when on an advanced base and supplement base facilities and services provided by a supporting air station or facility when based thereon.

Subordinate sections[edit]

  • Base Services
  • Communications
  • Launch and recovery
  • Motor Transport
  • Tactical Airfield Fuel Dispensing
  • Utilities[2]

History[edit]

World War II[edit]

Service & Maintenance Squadron 13 was commissioned on 1 August 1942 in Samoa.[3] The squadron's mission was to provide supply, personnel and maintenance support for Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13).[4] In February 1944 the squadron was moved to Funafuti where it assisted with construction and maintenance activities on the airfield.[3] On 22 March 1944, MAG-13 and SMS-13 moved again, this time to Majuro where it again began construction and maintenance activities at the base.[5] The squadron also inspected, serviced, and prepared 19 Vought F4U Corsairs for shipment. On 15 November 1945, squadron personnel embarked on the USS Makassar Strait at Kwajalein to return to the United States. SMS-13 arrived in San Diego, California on 29 November 1945 and was decommissioned on 30 November 1945 by authority of Marine Corps dispatch 111921.

Reactivation & the 1950s[edit]

Service & Maintenance Squadron 13 was reactivated on 1 March 1951 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. On 1 July 1951 the squadron was redesignated as Marine Air Base Squadron 13.[6] In February 1952, the squadron relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. From 7-13 April 1956 MABS-13 participated in its first field exercise in Hawaii when it supported Operation Mauka on the island of Kauai. Later that year the squadron also supported Operations Candlepower which simulated a nuclear bomb blast. In September 1958 the squadron deployed to Naval Air Station Atsugi to backfill Marine Air Base Squadron 11 which had been sent to Taiwan during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. MABS-13 personnel returned to MCAS Kaneohe Bay in March 1959.[3]

Vietnam War[edit]

In 1965 MABS-13 deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. In April 1966 the squadron was reassigned to the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. The squadron arrived at Chu Lai, South Vietnam on 9 September 1966. For the next four years MABS-13 supported fighter operations from the airfield until 15 September 1970 when Chu Lai was turned over to the United States Army.[7] Squadron personnel and equipment departed South Vietnam in September 1970 via air and sealift with everything returning to Southern California by early December.[8]

1970s & 1980s[edit]

On 16 December 1970, Marine Air Base Squadron 33 was decommissioned and the personnel and equipment were redesignated as MABS-13 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. The squadron was responsible for operating the Short Airfield for Tactical Support (SATS) at MCAS El Toro, one of only three operational SATS.[2]

Unit awards[edit]

Since the beginning of World War II, the United States military has honored various units for extraordinary heroism or outstanding non-combat service. This information is compiled by the United States Marine Corps History Division and is certified by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. MABS-13 has been awarded the following unit awards:[9]

Streamer Award Year(s) Additional Info
A streamer with red, gold, and blue horizontal stripes with a bronze star in the center Presidential Unit Citation Streamer 1966 Vietnam War
A green streamer with red, gold, and blue horizontal stripes along the top and bottom with one silver star in the center Navy Unit Commendation Streamer w/ one bronze star. 1967-68, 1969-70 Vietnam War
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer
World War II Victory Streamer 1942–1945 Pacific War
A red streamer with a horizontal gold stripe and three bronze stars in the center National Defense Service Streamer with one Bronze Star. 1951–1954, 1961–1974 Korean War, Vietnam War
A yellow streamer with two green horizontal stripes on the outside and three horizontal red stripes and two silver stars in the center Vietnam Service Streamer with two Silver Stars

A gold streamer with red horizontal stripes on the outer portions and a green palm in the center Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer 1965–1971

See also[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ "USMC Chronology - 1986". Marine Corps University. United States Marine Corps History Division. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b "MABS-13 Keeps MCAS El Toro Going". The Tustin News. Tustin, California. 3 February 1972.
  3. ^ a b c MABS-13 Lineage & Honors Certificate dtd 4 October 1985
  4. ^ Rottman 2002, pp. 411.
  5. ^ Spennemann, Dirk (1947). "Building the Navy's Bases - Majuro Naval Base". Marshalls - Digital Micronesia. Charles Sturt University. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Four New Squadrons To Be Commissioned". Santa Ana Register. Santa Ana, California. 29 June 1951.
  7. ^ "MABS-13 September 1970 Command Chronology" (PDF). Texas Tech University - The Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive. Marine Air Base Squadron 13. 8 October 1970. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  8. ^ "MABS-13 October-December 1970 Command Chronology" (PDF). Texas Tech University - The Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive. Marine Air Base Squadron 13. 15 January 1971. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  9. ^ "NAVMC 2922" (PDF). 13 May 2020. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 28 October 2023.

References[edit]

  • Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939–1945. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.

External links[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

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