Marine Aircraft Group 13
MAG13 Official Logo
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Yuma, Arizona

01

Marines, Civilians Evaluate Wave Glider System

Engineers from the Naval Information Center and U.S. Marines analyze the Wave Glider at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, March 9,...

02

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362 Relief and Appointment Ceremony

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Mohammad Arzola, left, outgoing sergeant major of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 362, Marine Aircraft Group 16,...

03

Winter Fury 22 - HMLA-469 trains on San Clemente Island

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. William Ton, a crew chief assigned to Marine Attack Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine...

04

Winter Fury 22 - Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Brian Holloway, an MV-22B Osprey pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine...

05

Winter Fury 22: Marines Arrive in Moses Lake

U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, arrive in MV-22B Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine...

06

Birds view of the F35

PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 21, 2022) Marines of Marine Wing Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 and sailors of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 link up...

MAG-13 Leaders

Colonel Roy Nicka
Commanding Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 13

Colonel Roy Nicka is a 2000 graduate of United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science

Read Biography

Sergeant Major Cyprian D. Johnson
Sergeant Major, Marine Aircraft Group 13

Sergeant Major Johnson enlisted in the Marine Corps on 5 November 1996 and attended recruit training

Read Biography

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, MARFORPAC
Box 99180
Yuma, AZ 85369-9180

MAG-13 Duty Officer
(928) 269-2124

MAG-13 Deployment Readiness Coordinator
(928) 269-3386

3rd MAW Deployment Readiness Coordinator
928.269.4277
928.269.4278
928.269.4279

MCAS Yuma Lifeskills/Deployment ReadinessTrainer
(928) 269-6502

MAG-13 SharePoint

https://eis.usmc.mil/sites/mag13/SitePages/Home.aspx

The mission of MAG-13 is to provide task organized forces capable of conducting Offensive Air Support, Antiair Warfare, and Aviation Reconnaissance from expeditionary sites, both afloat and ashore, to Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), fleet, and unified commanders, as well as deploy the Marine Aircraft Group Headquarters as a Site Command capable of generating sorties and providing tactical Command and Control for the Marine Tactical Air Commander.

Marine Aircraft Group 13 was established on March 1, 1942 in San Diego as a response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. While participating in the Marshall Island campaign, Marine Aircraft Group 13 engaged in sustained combat operations against the Japanese on the Samoan Island of Tutuila, the Funafuti Atoll of the Ellice Islands, and the Majuro Atoll of the Marshall Islands.

Marine Aircraft Group 13 was deactivated on Nov. 30, 1945 after the conclusion of World War II, but was reactivated on March 15, 1951 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California in response to the Korean War. Between 1951 and 1965 Marine Aircraft Group 13 was assigned to various locations such as Kaneohe Bay, Atsugi and Iwakuni, Japan.

In September 1966 Marine Aircraft Group 13 deployed to Chu Lai airbase in the Republic of Vietnam and conducted combat operations against the North Vietnamese while flying the F-4B Phantom. The group returned to MCAS El Toro in October 1970 and was reassigned to MCAS Yuma, Arizona on Oct. 1, 1987.

In the early 1980's squadrons of Marine Aircraft Group 13 flew the A-4 Skyhawk and the AV-8A Harrier. In 1985 the Nightmares of Marine Attack Squadron 513 became the first Marine squadron to transition to the AV-8B Harrier. Throughout the later part of the 1980's the Wake Island Avengers of Marine Attack Squadron 211, the Blacksheep of Marine Attack Squadron 214 and the Tomcats of Marine Attack Squadron 311 transitioned to the AV-8B Harrier. In early 1990 Marine Aircraft Group 13 squadrons began upgrading to the AV-8B II Night Attack Harrier which incorporated a night vision compatible cockpit, and provided a true night attack capability. In November 1990 Marine Aircraft Group 13 deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Harriers from Marine Aircraft Group 13 were the first Marine Corps tactical strike platform to arrive in theater, and subsequently operated from various expeditionary basing postures. Operating from the King Abdul Aziz Naval Air Base Marine Aircraft Group 13 Harriers were based as close as thirty-five nautical miles from the Kuwait border making them the most forward deployed tactical strike aircraft in theater. After the Gulf War Marine Aircraft Group 13 Harriers deployed with the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units supporting combat operations in Somalia and Operation Southern Watch.

In 1999 Marine Aircraft Group 13 Harrier squadrons upgraded to the AV-8B II + which incorporated the APG-65 all-weather multimode airborne radar. Immediately following the 9/11 attacks Harriers aboard USS Peleliu (LHA-5) and the USS BonHomme Richard (LHD-6) attacked Al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan during the opening phases of Operation Enduring Freedom.

From October 2002 to September 2003, VMA-513 (-) (REIN) deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Throughout the year VMA-513 (-) (REIN) provided close air support, armed reconnaissance, combat escort and precision strike capability for American and Coalition units with the newly introduced LightningSS II Targeting Pod. In early January 2003 Marine Aircraft Group 13 deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operating from the USS BonHomme Richard (LHD-6) and Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait, Harriers of Marine Aircraft Group 13 destroyed Iraqi Republican Guard positions throughout Iraq, and provided critical close air support for United States Marines Corps ground force's advance to Baghdad.

Between 2003 and 2007 all four VMA squadrons of Marine Aircraft Group 13 made multiple deployments to Al Asad Air Base to support coalition combat operations in Iraq. During this period, Marine Aircraft Group 13 squadrons also deployed to Japan to support the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and provided Harrier detachments in support the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU).

In 2005, Marine Aircraft Group 13 squadrons upgraded the avionics and software systems of the AV-8B, enabling all weather precision strike capability. These warfighting enhancements were demonstrated in early 2006, when VMA-513 became the first Marine Harrier squadron to employ the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) in combat.

Aside from sustainment training and flying combat missions in 2006, MAG-13 was tasked to be the lead Type, Model, Series (TMS) platform manager to develop courses of action and solutions for the new Naval Aviation Readiness Integrated Improvement Program (NAVRIIP) for Marine Corps fixed-wing aviation.

Historically, in July 2007, VMA-513 participated in Exercise Bold Step aboard the British warship HMS Illustrious.

This opportunity to train along side our allies while operating from a British Naval vessel gave those who participated in the exercise a unique perspective of working in a combined training environment. This combined training significantly paved the way for a continued partnership in operations with our European allies. Additionally, VMA-211 was named Attack Squadron of the Year for 2007.

To round out 2007, VMA-513(-) was sent to Okinawa, Japan to provide support for the 31st MEU. They were sent to relieve VMA-214(-) who returned home after a one year deployment to the Far East. These 31st MEU deployments continue to be historic for the fact that, beginning in 2006 with VMA-311(-) and continuing through 2007, the Commanding Officers of VMA-311, VMA-214 and VMA-513 were embarked and deployed with the 31st MEU where they advised the MEU Commander on fixed-wing aviation and training operations.

Since September 2001, MAG-13 has amassed over 15,000 combat flight hours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In the future, MAG-13 will continue to support from land and sea.