| Marine Air Support Squadron 3 | |
|---|---|
 MASS-3 insignia | |
| Active | 3 August 1950–present |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Aviation command and control |
| Role | Provide theDASC |
| Part of | Marine Air Control Group 38 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton |
| Nicknames | "Blacklist" "Landshark" (Vietnam) |
| Mottos | Ulla Tempore, Ullo Situ "Any time, Any place" |
| Engagements | Vietnam War *Battle of Khe Sahn Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom *2003 invasion of Iraq Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | LtCol Tyrone Anub |
Marine Air Support Squadron 3 (MASS-3), is aUnited States Marine Corps aviationcommand and control unit that provides theDirect Air Support Center (DASC) for the1st Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based out of the 32 Area onMarine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and fall under the command ofMarine Air Control Group 38 and the3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
ProvideDirect Air Support Center (DASC) and DASC-Airborne capabilities for control and coordination of aircraft operating in direct support ofMarine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Operations."
Role of DASC: Process immediate air support requests, integrate aircraft with supporting arms, manage terminal control assets and procedurally control aircraft.
Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 3 (MTACS-3) was commissioned on 3 August 1950 underMarine Air Control Group 2 and the1st Marine Aircraft Wing. On 28 March 1951 the squadron moved under the command ofMarine Air Control Group 3 (MACG-3). From 22-24 May 1951, communications Marines from MTACS-3 assisted in the search for a missingOrange County girl.[1] The squadron coordinated with Marine helicopter squadrons that were also participating in the search. In 1952 the squadron took part in SATEX, AMLEX-1, AIRLEX-1, PHIBEX-1 and Div FEX 1.
The original Marine Air Support Squadron was composed of a Direct Air Support Center, and two Air Support Radar Teams (ASRTs).[2] A third Air Support Radar Team was added in 1961. The squadron utilized the AN/TSQ-122 Direct Air Support Central. The AN/TSQ-122 was a large control system housed in a rigid fiberglass modular structure. To provide an echelon capability, the MASS squadron also operated and maintained the AN/UYQ-3 air/mobile DASC. The AN/UYQ-3 operated in a modified KC-130 aircraft, as well as on the back of a 2.5 short tons (2.3 t) truck. Together, the Marine Air Support Squadron was capable of supporting the full range of MAGTFs, up to and including a Marine Amphibious Force (MAF).
They received their current designation of Marine Air Support Squadron 3 on 15 February 1954. In October 1962, MASS-3 deployed to theCaribbean during theCuban Missile Crisis but in December of that year were relocated toMarine Corps Air Station El Toro.
MASS-3 entered Vietnam on 10 November 1966 when they disembarked from theUSS Jennings County (LST-846) at Chu Lai. They remained in country until June 1971. On 16 and 17 January 1968, Air Support Radar Team B (ASRT-B) from MASS-3 displaced fromChu Lai toKhe Sanh to handle ground controlled radar bombing missions. On 20 January the DASC was brought into Khe Sahn as well.[3]
During their time in Vietnam, MASS-3 Air Support Radar Teams controlled more than 38,010AN/TPQ-10 missions, directing more than 121,000 short tons (110,000 t) of ordnance on 56,753 targets. They operated fromChu Lai andDa Nang during this time.
In May 1980, MASS-3 again relocated, this time toMarine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. During this time the squadron undertook an extensive schedule of joint service and multi-national exercises in addition to the regular complement of Marine Corps exercises. Some of these exercises includedBright Star (Egypt),Freedom Banner (South Korea),Blue Flag (Nevada), Display Determination (Turkey) and Gallant Eagle (California). During this time MASS-3 also acquired new equipment and refined employment techniques. In December 1984, MASS-3 took delivery of the AN/TPB-1D, an upgraded radar guidance system used to direct close air support aircraft to deliver ordnance both day and night in all-weather conditions. In April 1988, the squadron received the AN/TSQ-155 Improved DASC and its associated radio van, the OE-334.
Iraq's August 1990invasion of Kuwait set off hostilities throughout Southwest Asia. Because of this on 21 August 1990 the first elements of MASS-3 began arriving intoSaudi Arabia. The squadron commenced operations coordinating joint and coalition air support on 28 August at theJubail Naval Airfield. MASS-3 provided a Corps-level DASC co-located with theI Marine Expeditionary Force and two Air Support Elements (ASE) to support the1st and2nd Marine Divisions. During the course ofOperations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, MASS-3's DASC and ASE were operational for 4450 hours controlling 7359 fixed wing and 3065 rotary wing missions. They also processed 995 tactical air requests, 141 assault support requests and 180MEDEVACs. The squadron's participation in combat operations culminated on 7 March 1991 when the DASC and ASEs safely returned to Jubail Naval Airfield. The squadron returned to MCB Camp Pendleton on 17 March 1991 and immediately commenced its normally training schedule.
MASS 3 began sending units toKuwait in October 2002 as part of the troop build-up for what would becomeOperation Iraqi Freedom. MASS-3 provided air support for the1st Marine Division from the Kuwaiti border toTikrit and had units remain in country until the division redeployed in October 2003.
MASS-3 returned toIraq in January 2004 again providing air support for the 1st Marine Division during operations throughoutAl Anbar Province. The squadron's initial lay down had the main DASC established atCamp Blue Diamond inRamadi and an Air Support Element tasked to support3rd Battalion, 7th Marines in the vicinity ofAl-Qa'im. Air Support Liaison Teams were also attached toRegimental Combat Teams 1 and7. Later in 2004 the squadron sent a detachment of Marines to serve as liaisons onboard theE-8 Joint STARS flying in support of I MEF operations. In November 2004, the squadron formed an additional Air Support Liaison Team to co-locate with the 1st Marine Division atCamp Fallujah in order to provide additional support for theSecond Battle of Fallujah. During the battle the squadron coordinated 875CASEVACSs, 491MEDEVACS, 1856joint tactical air requests. The squadron was replaced byMarine Air Support Squadron 1 returning to MCB Camp Pendleton in February 2005.[4]
In April 2010, MASS-3 deployed to Afghanistan for the first time in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom. They supported combat operations in support of I MEF for a year while based atCamp Leatherneck. Subordinate elements included an Air Support Element (ASE) atCamp Dwyer and an Air Support Liaison Team (ASLT) atMain Operating Base Lashkar Gah.
Since the beginning of World War II, the United States military has honored various units for extraordinary heroism or outstanding non-combat service. This information is compiled by theUnited States Marine Corps History Division and is certified by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
| Streamer | Award | Year(s) | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Presidential Unit Citation Streamer with one Bronze Star | 1965–1967, 2003 | Vietnam, Iraq |
 | Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with one Silver Star and two Bronze Stars | 1967-1968, 1990–1991, 2004–2005, 2010-2011 | Vietnam, Southwest Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan |
 | Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with four Bronze Stars | 1968–1971,[5] 1971, 1985–87, 1988–1989, 1998–1999 | Vietnam, Vietnam, |
 | National Defense Service Streamer with three Bronze Stars | 1951–1954, 1961–1974, 1990–1995, 2001–present | Korean War,Vietnam War,Gulf War,war on terrorism |
 | Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer | ||
 | Vietnam Service Streamer with two Silver Stars and one bronze star | ||
 | Southwest Asia Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars | ||
 | Afghanistan Campaign Streamer with three bronze stars | 2010, 2011–2012 | Consolidation III, Transition I |
 | Iraq Campaign Streamer with three bronze stars | ||
 | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Streamer | 2001–present | |
| Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer | 2001–present | |
 | Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer | 1965–1971 | |
 | Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Actions Streamer | 1965–1971 |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.| Leadership |
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