thedrifter
09-05-05, 07:29 PM
Borrowed from Mark aka The Fontman
Marine Corps Air Station New River Information
New River
August 27,2005
Marines and sailors aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River serve as an integral element of the Fleet Marine Force. In April 1944, the air station was commissioned as Peterfield Point, named after a farmer whose tobacco field was a large part of the government purchase.
At the end of World War II, Peterfield Point was closed and reverted to a caretaker status until it reopened in October 1951 as Marine Corps Air Facility, Peterfield Point, Camp Lejeune. One year later, during the Korean War, it was renamed New River, after the river it bordered.
In 1968, the air station’s name changed again to Marine Corps Air Station (Helicopter) New River. The change marked the air station’s development from a small training base to a major tactical airfield. The “helicopter” designator was dropped in 1985.
In 1972, the airfield aboard New River was renamed McCutcheon Field after Gen. Keith B. McCutcheon, who is known as “the father of Marine helicopter aviation.”
New River’s mission is to provide support for its tenant units: Marine Aircraft Group 26; Marine Aircraft Group 29; Marine Wing Support Squadron-272; and a detachment of Marine Air Control Squadron-2, whose headquarters is at Cherry Point Air Station in Havelock.
New River also has Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, comprised of more than 500 personnel responsible for running various functions aboard the air station.
MAG 26 was commissioned on June 16, 1952, at MCAS Cherry Point, and relocated to New River in July 1954 to become the first helicopter group assigned here. The MAG aircraft includes the AH-1W Super Cobra, UH-1N Huey, CH-46E Sea Knight and the CH-53E Super Stallion.
MAG 26 has more than 2,000 Marines assigned to the following squadrons: Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-26; Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-461, the CH-53E squadron; and Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron-167, composed of AH-1W Cobras and UH-1N Hueys. There are three CH-46E squadrons, including Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-266, HMM-261and HMM-264. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204, the first MV-22 Osprey training squadron, which is responsible for training MV-22 pilots and aircrews. Also includes is VMX-22 or Marine Tiltrotor Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, which conducts tests and evaluation on the Osprey aircraft.
A major reorganization occurred on May 1, 1972, when Marine Helicopter Training Group 40 was deactivated and MAG 29 was born. MAG 29 is comprised of some 2,000 Marines assigned to the following squadrons: MALS-29, HMH-464, HML/A-269, HMM-365, HMM-263, HMM-162 and HMT-302. HMT-302 trains CH-53E pilots, air crew and maintenance personnel.
The Marines of both MAG 26 and MAG 29 have relied upon MWSS-272 for support on various exercises and missions. MWSS-272 was activated at New River in 1986 to provide essential aviation ground support for the rotary wing community.
Another part of the supporting cast in the overall operations aboard New River is MACS-2, Detachment B. The detachment’s 80 Marines provide air traffic control for the air station as well as maintaining necessary gear in the air traffic control towers, radar and other equipment used on deployments.
The Marines, sailors and civilians of H&HS make up the backbone of the air station’s daily operations. The H&HS personnel provide fuel, aircraft firefighting and rescue personnel, air traffic control and other necessary support personnel needed to run an air station.
New River’s two paved runways measure more than 5,000 feet. The air station is comprised of some 2,600 acres, of which about 560 acres are wetlands suitable only for wildlife ranges.
The commanding officer of MCAS New River is Col. Stephen Forand. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Massachusetts where he earned a bachelor of science degree. Forand is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Naval War College. He remained on the faculty in Newport as a member in the Strategy and Policy Department.
Ellie
Marine Corps Air Station New River Information
New River
August 27,2005
Marines and sailors aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River serve as an integral element of the Fleet Marine Force. In April 1944, the air station was commissioned as Peterfield Point, named after a farmer whose tobacco field was a large part of the government purchase.
At the end of World War II, Peterfield Point was closed and reverted to a caretaker status until it reopened in October 1951 as Marine Corps Air Facility, Peterfield Point, Camp Lejeune. One year later, during the Korean War, it was renamed New River, after the river it bordered.
In 1968, the air station’s name changed again to Marine Corps Air Station (Helicopter) New River. The change marked the air station’s development from a small training base to a major tactical airfield. The “helicopter” designator was dropped in 1985.
In 1972, the airfield aboard New River was renamed McCutcheon Field after Gen. Keith B. McCutcheon, who is known as “the father of Marine helicopter aviation.”
New River’s mission is to provide support for its tenant units: Marine Aircraft Group 26; Marine Aircraft Group 29; Marine Wing Support Squadron-272; and a detachment of Marine Air Control Squadron-2, whose headquarters is at Cherry Point Air Station in Havelock.
New River also has Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, comprised of more than 500 personnel responsible for running various functions aboard the air station.
MAG 26 was commissioned on June 16, 1952, at MCAS Cherry Point, and relocated to New River in July 1954 to become the first helicopter group assigned here. The MAG aircraft includes the AH-1W Super Cobra, UH-1N Huey, CH-46E Sea Knight and the CH-53E Super Stallion.
MAG 26 has more than 2,000 Marines assigned to the following squadrons: Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-26; Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-461, the CH-53E squadron; and Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron-167, composed of AH-1W Cobras and UH-1N Hueys. There are three CH-46E squadrons, including Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-266, HMM-261and HMM-264. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204, the first MV-22 Osprey training squadron, which is responsible for training MV-22 pilots and aircrews. Also includes is VMX-22 or Marine Tiltrotor Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, which conducts tests and evaluation on the Osprey aircraft.
A major reorganization occurred on May 1, 1972, when Marine Helicopter Training Group 40 was deactivated and MAG 29 was born. MAG 29 is comprised of some 2,000 Marines assigned to the following squadrons: MALS-29, HMH-464, HML/A-269, HMM-365, HMM-263, HMM-162 and HMT-302. HMT-302 trains CH-53E pilots, air crew and maintenance personnel.
The Marines of both MAG 26 and MAG 29 have relied upon MWSS-272 for support on various exercises and missions. MWSS-272 was activated at New River in 1986 to provide essential aviation ground support for the rotary wing community.
Another part of the supporting cast in the overall operations aboard New River is MACS-2, Detachment B. The detachment’s 80 Marines provide air traffic control for the air station as well as maintaining necessary gear in the air traffic control towers, radar and other equipment used on deployments.
The Marines, sailors and civilians of H&HS make up the backbone of the air station’s daily operations. The H&HS personnel provide fuel, aircraft firefighting and rescue personnel, air traffic control and other necessary support personnel needed to run an air station.
New River’s two paved runways measure more than 5,000 feet. The air station is comprised of some 2,600 acres, of which about 560 acres are wetlands suitable only for wildlife ranges.
The commanding officer of MCAS New River is Col. Stephen Forand. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Massachusetts where he earned a bachelor of science degree. Forand is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Naval War College. He remained on the faculty in Newport as a member in the Strategy and Policy Department.
Ellie