Marine Air, West Coast

Marine Air, West Coast
Active	January 22, 1943 – October 1, 1947
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Role	Training and Administration
Part of	Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
Garrison/HQ	Naval Air Station San Diego
Engagements	World War II

Marine Air, West Coast (MarAirWest) was a United States Marine Corps aviation training and administrative command established on 22 January 1943, which was responsible for the administration, training and equipment of the Marine Aviation Units on the West Coast during World War II.

History

Marine Air, West Coast was activated on January 22, 1943 as Marine Fleet Air, West Coast (MarFAirWest) at Naval Air Station San Diego, California under the command of Brigadier General Lewie G. Merritt. Its main purpose was administrating, training and equipping Marine Aviation Units on the West Coast of the United States. The first units of MarFAirWest were assigned in April 1943, when all aviation units from Fleet Marine Force, San Diego Area were reassigned. MarFAirWest was also responsible for providing personnel, equipment and other aviation material to the Aircraft Command, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

It was re-designated Marine Air, West Coast in January 1946 and authority for the new designation also consolidated the command with that of the Deputy Commander, Naval Air Bases (Marine Corps Activities), 11th Naval District, formerly situated at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Santa Ana, California. Its purpose remained the same - still responsible for supporting Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. The unit was deactivated on October 1, 1947 when the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing returned from overseas duty in China and assumed the commands roles and responsibilities.

Commanding Generals

#	Photo	Name	Rank	Start of tenure	End of tenure	Retired rank	Notes	References
1		Lewie G. Merritt	Brigadier General	January 22, 1943	September 30, 1943	Major general	Later commanded the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
2		William J. Wallace	Brigadier General	September 30, 1943	May 14, 1944	Lieutenant General	Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, later served as Director of Marine Corps Aviation.
3		Francis P. Mulcahy	Major General	May 14, 1944	September 12, 1944	Lieutenant General	Veteran of Guadalcanal and Okinawa Campaigns, previously commanded 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
4		Lawson H. M. Sanderson	Brigadier General	September 12, 1944	March 20, 1945	Major General	Aviation Pioneer, veteran Guadalcanal Campaign, as Commanding officer of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Sanderson accepted the Japanese surrender of Wake Island in 1945.
5		Claude A. Larkin	Major General	March 20, 1945	July 24, 1945	Lieutenant General	MAG-21 Commanding Officer at Ewa Field during Pearl Harbor attack.
6		Ivan W. Miller	Brigadier General	July 24, 1945	August 15, 1945	Brigadier General	Veteran of Banana Wars and Pacific War.
7		William J. Wallace	Major General	August 15, 1945	August, 1946	Lieutenant General	Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, later served as Director of Marine Corps Aviation.
8		Louis E. Woods	Major General	August, 1946	October 1, 1947	Lieutenant General	Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, later served as Director of Marine Corps Aviation between October 15, 1943 - July 17, 1944.

Subordinate units

• Marine Aircraft Group 15
• Marine Aircraft Group 23
• Marine Aircraft Group 31
• Marine Aircraft Group 33
• Marine Aircraft Group 35
• Marine Aircraft Group 41
• Marine Aircraft Group 42
• Marine Aircraft Group 43
• Marine Aircraft Group 44
• Marine Aircraft Group 45
• Marine Aircraft Group 46
• Marine Aircraft Group 48
• Marine Aircraft Group 51
• Marine Aircraft Group 94

See also

• United States Marine Corps Aviation

Citations

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

References

Bibliography

• Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle – Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313319065.