{{Use American English|date=March 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name= Marine Aircraft Group 40 |image= MAG40logotrans.gif |caption= MAG-40's insignia |dates= 1990<br/>2009 – present |country= [[United States]] |allegiance= [[United States|United States of America]] |branch= [[United States Marine Corps]] |type= Aviation Combat Element |role= [[Assault Support]]<br/> Close-in Fire Support |size= |command_structure= [[2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade]] |current_commander= |garrison= [[Camp Leatherneck]] |nickname= |patron= |motto= Assault, Attack, Control |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= '''[[Operation Desert Storm]]'''<br/>'''[[Operation Enduring Freedom]]'''<br/>* [[Operation Moshtarak]] |anniversaries= }}
'''Marine Aircraft Group 40''' is a composite [[United States Marine Corps]] aviation unit that is based in [[Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point]] and was deployed to [[Afghanistan]] in 2009. They served as the [[aviation combat element]] for [[2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade]] which was supporting [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] from spring 2009 through 4 April 2010 when they were relieved by the [[3rd Marine Aircraft Wing|3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.havenews.com/news/cherry_5409___article.html/marines_point.html |title=Cherry Point Marines set to deploy |date=3 April 2009 |work=Havelock News |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405170619/http://www.havenews.com/news/cherry_5409___article.html/marines_point.html |archivedate=5 April 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|accessdate= |url=http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=47671 |title=3rd MAW (Fwd.) Assumes Responsibilities From MAG-40|date=4 April 2010 |work=DVIDS}}</ref> The group is currently composed of two [[CH-53 Super Stallion|CH-53]] squadrons, one light attack helicopter squadron, one [[AV-8B Harrier II]] squadron, one [[MV-22 Osprey]] squadron, one [[KC-130]] tactical aerial refueling squadron, one unmanned aerial vehicle squadron and an aviation logistics squadron.
==Mission== Provide air support to [[Marine Air Ground Task Force]] commanders.
==Subordinate units==
[[Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 40|MALS-40]] Smoking Aces (Bastion Bastards)
[[HMLA-169]] Vipers
HMH-772 Hustler
==History==
===Gulf War===
{{command structure |name= '''MAG-40 (Gulf War)''' |date= |parent= |subordinate='''Headquarters & Headquarters and Services Squadron 28(-)'''<br/>[[VMA-331]]<br/>[[HMM-263]]<br/>[[HMM-365]]<br/>[[HMH-461]]<br/>[[HMLA-269|HMLA-269(-)]]<br/>[[MALS-13]].<ref>[http://www.popasmoke.com/desert-storm/elements.html DESERT STORM - Marine Air Combat Elements] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205144653/http://www.popasmoke.com/desert-storm/elements.html |date=2010-02-05 }}</ref> }}
MAG-40 was originally stood up to support Exercise Teamwork and Exercise Bold Guard in [[Norway]] and [[West Germany]] in September/October 1990. When [[Iraq]] invaded [[Kuwait]] in August 1990 the MAG was designated as the aviation combat element of the [[4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade]]. They began immediately deploying to the [[Persian Gulf]]. The group remained in the Persian Gulf as part of the Amphibious Task Force. During this time the group aviation assets included 20 AV-8Bs, 24 CH-46s, 14 CH-53s, 6 UH-1Ns, and 15 AH-1s.<ref name=AirCampaign>{{cite book |accessdate= |url=http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/cpgw6/cpgw_ch6_plan.htm |title=Conduct of the Persian Gulf War Final Report to Congress |date=April 1992 |chapter=Chapter Six - The Air Campaign |author=Principal Deputy Under Secretary (Strategy and Resources) |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense }} Posted in digital format by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Available in scanned version from [http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/persian_gulf/ The Department of Defense Reading Room] and as pdf from [http://www.ndu.edu/library/epubs/cpgw.pdf NDU.edu] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060502031202/http://www.ndu.edu/library/epubs/cpgw.pdf |date=2006-05-02 }}. Find the author at [http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA249390 DTIC] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717145048/http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord |date=2011-07-17 }}.</ref>
===Afghanistan===
MAG-40 was reactivated as a composite aircraft group which serves as the headquarters for all Marine aviation units in Afghanistan beginning in the spring/summer of 2009. The group was located at an airfield in southern Afghanistan and is made up of 50 to 100 aircraft.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lejeune brigade prepares for Afghanistan |first= Trista |last=Talton |work=Marine Corps Times |date=23 March 2009}}</ref> During their time in Afghanistan, aircraft from the group flew just under 38,000 flight hours and moved over 141,000 passengers. They were relieved on 4 April 2010 by the [[3rd Marine Aircraft Wing|3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)]] and will return to MCAS Cherry Point.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
==See also==
* [[United States Marine Corps Aviation]] * [[List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups]] * [[List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons]] {{clear}}
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
==References== :{{Marine Corps}}
;Bibliography {{Refbegin}} *{{cite book |ref=Brown | last =Brown| first =Ronald J. | title =With Marine Forces Afloat in Desert Shield and Desert Storm (U.S. Marines in the Persian Gulf, 1990-1991) | publisher =Diane Publishing | year =1998 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=9B0BcHnHHvcC | doi = | isbn = 0-16-049765-5 }} {{Refend}}
;Web {{Refbegin}} * [https://www.marines.mil/unit/2ndMAW/mag40 MAG-40's official website]{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{Refend}}
{{US Marine Corps navbox}} {{2ndMAW}}
[[Category:United States Marine Corps aircraft groups]] [[Category:United States Marine Corps in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]