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1st Marine Aircraft Wing

 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Korea

Subordinate Units

12th Marine Air Group

33nd Marine Air Group

 Korea
 US Marine Corps

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) played a crucial role in the Korean War, providing air support for United Nations forces during the conflict that took place from 1950 to 1953. The wing was activated on August 1, 1950, in response to the rapidly evolving situation on the Korean Peninsula.

During the early stages of the war, the 1st MAW operated primarily from bases in Japan. As UN forces faced challenges on the Korean Peninsula, the wing quickly adapted to the dynamic nature of the conflict. Marine aviators flew a variety of missions, including close air support, interdiction, and reconnaissance.

One notable operation involving the 1st MAW was the amphibious landing at Inchon in September 1950. This operation, led by General Douglas MacArthur, aimed to recapture Seoul and turn the tide of the war. The 1st MAW provided air cover and support during this daring and successful maneuver.

As the conflict progressed, the 1st MAW continued to support ground forces, engaging in intense air-to-air combat and strategic bombing missions. The wing's aircraft faced challenges such as adverse weather conditions and the presence of enemy aircraft, but they played a pivotal role in maintaining air superiority.

The winter conditions in Korea added another layer of complexity to the operations. Harsh weather and challenging terrain tested the resilience of both personnel and aircraft. Despite these challenges, the 1st MAW continued to execute its missions effectively.

1st Marine Aircraft Wing Korea Missing in Action

There are 112 soldiers of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Korea still listed as missing in action.

  Second Lieutenant Jack N. Ballmer 212th Marine Attack Squadron 04/16/1951
  Major Deane M. Barnett 121st Marine Attack Squadron 01/04/1953
  Captain Walter D. Bean 212th Marine Attack Squadron 11/21/1950
  Major John W. Beebe 542nd Marine Fighter Squadron 09/24/1950
  Major Marvin L. Berg 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 11/30/1950
  Captain Leon J. Bernal 212th Marine Attack Squadron 03/11/1951
  Major Grover R. Betzer 312th Marine Attack Squadron 05/02/1953
  Captain John S. Bostwick 311th Marine Fighter Squadron 05/10/1952
  First Lieutenant Wayne E. Boyles 212th Marine Attack Squadron 09/30/1951
  Captain Judson J. Bradway 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 09/20/1951
  Captain Austin E. Brenneman 312th Marine Attack Squadron 05/28/1951
  Captain James B. Brown 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 05/30/1953
  First Lieutenant James M. Brown 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 08/15/1952
  Captain William P. Brown Headquarters Squadron 02/24/1952
  Second Lieutenant Carl H. Bruggemeier 212th Marine Attack Squadron 02/03/1953
  Lieutenant Colonel Jack L. Brushert 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 11/20/1950
  Major Charles W. Buntin 121st Marine Attack Squadron 01/29/1952
  Captain Byron M. Burbage 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 07/24/1951
  Master Sergeant Edgar Cameron 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 05/16/1952
  Captain Lewis H. Cameron 212th Marine Attack Squadron 08/05/1952
  Major James E. Carlton Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242 04/17/1967
  First Lieutenant John M. Chamberlain 121st Marine Attack Squadron 03/29/1953
  Captain Donald H. Clark 311th Marine Fighter Squadron 12/05/1952
  Captain Ralph R. Clary 121st Marine Attack Squadron 08/29/1952
  Captain Walter A. Clinnin 312th Marine Attack Squadron 01/17/1952
  Captain George R.D. Cross 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 10/25/1952
  Major James H. Crutchfield 312th Marine Attack Squadron 11/04/1951
  Captain Calvin K. Currens 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 07/03/1951
  Master Sergeant Leon F. Devillier 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 10/31/1951
  Captain Kenneth L. Dodson 312th Marine Attack Squadron 03/05/1952
  Captain Donald W. Dorn 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 10/29/1951
  Second Lieutenant David B. Evans 121st Marine Attack Squadron 09/30/1952
  Captain Bobbie N. Foster 212th Marine Attack Squadron 06/21/1952
  First Lieutenant James L. Frazier 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 04/30/1951
  Captain William K. Garmany 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 07/13/1951
  Captain James L. Garrison 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 02/14/1953
  Major Scott G. Gier 212th Marine Attack Squadron 03/21/1951
  Major Robert W. Gilardi 312th Marine Attack Squadron 01/06/1952
  Second Lieutenant James A. Gleaves 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 04/14/1951
  First Lieutenant John B. Goery 312th Marine Attack Squadron 12/27/1952
  Master Sergeant William R. Goodall 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 06/12/1952
  Captain Harold L. Green 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 05/16/1952
  Major Nolan A. Green 212th Marine Attack Squadron 05/08/1951
  Second Lieutenant Wych E. Guion 121st Marine Attack Squadron 10/08/1952
  Major Malcom C. Hagan 311th Marine Fighter Squadron 05/11/1952
  Major Max H. Harper 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 04/16/1953
  Sergeant James V. Harrell 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 05/30/1953
  Master Sergeant Julius G. Harrington 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 10/12/1951
  Captain Rayman G. Heiple 212th Marine Attack Squadron 05/21/1953
  Master Sergeant James W. Hernden 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 06/29/1951
  Master Sergeant Howard F. Heyliger 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 10/18/1951
  Captain Harold Hintz 312th Marine Attack Squadron 11/16/1951
  First Lieutenant Howard F. Hoelzel 121st Marine Attack Squadron 12/01/1951
  Major Frank S. Hoffecker 311th Marine Fighter Squadron 08/12/1951
  Lieutenant Colonel William L.G. Hughes 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 10/30/1951
  Major John W. Johnson 212th Marine Attack Squadron 04/23/1952
  Master Sergeant Robert L. Kapplemann 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 07/15/1952

  First Lieutenant Frank L. Keck 311th Marine Fighter Squadron 07/17/1953
  Technical Sergeant Karl V. Kludt 542nd Marine Fighter Squadron 09/24/1950
  Master Sergeant Don W. Koontz 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 03/02/1951
  Major Robert J. Kuhlman Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242 01/17/1969
  Second Lieutenant Joseph H. Kuney 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 03/26/1952
  Colonel Peter D. Lambrecht 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 08/15/1952
  Captain Walter E. Lindberg 332nd Marine Attack Squadron 07/09/1953
  First Lieutenant Orville J. Lipscomb 212th Marine Attack Squadron 04/25/1951
  Lieutenant Colonel Walter E. Lischeid 214th Marine Fighter Squadron 09/25/1950
  Major George N. Major 311th Marine Fighter Squadron 01/03/1952
  Captain Gene R. Mauldin 212th Marine Attack Squadron 10/04/1952
  First Lieutenant John J. McBride 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 06/09/1952
  Captain William S. McCarson 212th Marine Attack Squadron 12/06/1951
  Lieutenant Colonel James M. McGarvey Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242 04/17/1967
  Second Lieutenant Daniel G. Melendrez 121st Marine Attack Squadron 10/15/1952
  Captain Jerry Elmer A. Miller 311th Marine Fighter Squadron 12/26/1950
  Captain Cornelius T. Montgomery 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 10/10/1951
  Master Sergeant Albert J. Morton 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 10/18/1951
  Staff Sergeant James A. Morton 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 07/29/1951
  Technical Sergeant Richard E. Mullett 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 06/15/1952
  Captain John D. Nadelhoffer 212th Marine Attack Squadron 01/26/1952
  Major Edwin G. Nelson 212th Marine Attack Squadron 12/18/1952
  Captain Forest A. Nelson 212th Marine Attack Squadron 08/06/1952
  Major James W. Nelson 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 03/02/1951
  Captain William H. Ness 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 04/03/1952
  Technical Sergeant Hugh F. Newell 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 12/07/1950
  Captain Robert I. Nordell 311th Marine Fighter Squadron 07/17/1953
  Captain Bruce M. Pass 212th Marine Attack Squadron 10/22/1952
  Captain Paul R. Piana 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 07/10/1952
  Major Richard A. Polen 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 10/17/1950
  Captain Perry W. Porter 212th Marine Attack Squadron 05/18/1951
  Major Morris L. Potter 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 06/12/1952
  Captain William J. Rainalter 312th Marine Attack Squadron 04/22/1951
  Major Charles I. Rice 212th Marine Attack Squadron 04/22/1951
  Captain Leonard Schneider 312th Marine Attack Squadron 10/25/1951
  Major Robert R. Scott 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 06/15/1952
  Captain Jeremiah D. Shanahan 214th Marine Fighter Squadron 07/27/1951
  First Lieutenant Marshall E. Simonson 311th Marine Fighter Squadron 01/02/1951
  Lieutenant Colonel George U. Smith 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 06/29/1951
  Captain Herbert D. Smith 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 12/21/1951
  Major Carl E. Soreide 212th Marine Attack Squadron 07/23/1952
  Second Lieutenant Stuart L. Spurlock 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 11/21/1952
  Captain James A. Stevenson 312th Marine Attack Squadron 09/14/1951
  Captain Franklyn H. Stratton 312th Marine Attack Squadron 06/16/1951
  Captain Duane A. Swinford 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 07/15/1952
  Master Sergeant Boyd T. Teague 312th Marine Attack Squadron 11/11/1950
  Captain Lote Thistlethwaite 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 07/04/1953
  Captain Ralph H. Thomas 312th Marine Attack Squadron 10/16/1951
  Captain Merco J. Verrant 212th Marine Attack Squadron 05/14/1953
  First Lieutenant Alfred J. Ward 212th Marine Attack Squadron 01/19/1951
  Captain Bigelow Watts 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 06/17/1951
  Staff Sergeant William H. Westbrook 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 07/04/1953
  Captain Robert H. White 513th Marine Night Fighter Squadron 07/29/1951
  Captain Wallace N. Wood 323rd Marine Attack Squadron 01/07/1952
  Captain Warren M. York 214th Marine Fighter Squadron 10/29/1951

1st Marine Aircraft Wing Korea Recovered Missing in Action

There are 7 soldiers of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Korea that have been identified and recovered.

 Colonel Lewis H. Abrams Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242 Missing: 11/25/1967, Recovered: 4/11/1995
 Captain Patrick R. Curran Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242 Missing: 09/29/1969, Recovered: 2/11/2000
 First Lieutenant Arthur D. Delacy 323rd Marine Attack Squadron Missing: 10/07/1951, Recovered: 5/24/1956
 Major Hugh M. Fanning Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242 Missing: 10/31/1967, Recovered: 7/17/1984
 First Lieutenant Edward L. Frakes 311th Marine Fighter Squadron Missing: 10/03/1951, Recovered: 12/5/1993
 Major Stephen J. Kott Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242 Missing: 10/31/1967, Recovered: 7/17/1984
 Lieutenant Colonel Luther A. Lono Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242 Missing: 09/29/1969, Recovered: 2/11/2000

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