Marine Aircraft Group 31

  February 1943 to May 1947

  United States of America

TYPE: US Navy unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: MCAS Cherry Point, NC (1943), Samoa (1943-1945), Okinawa, Japan (1945), Yokosuka, Japan (1945-1946), MCAS Miramar, CA (1946-1947)

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: MAG-31 (when reactivated March 1952)

MAG-31 was commissioned at MCAS Cherry Point, NC on 1 February 1943 as part of the second Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW-2). In September 1943 it left the USA for Samoa, with its squadrons stationed at numerous Samoan bases. During much of 1944, the squadron flew neutralization missions against Japanese garrisons that had been by-passed in the Marshall Islands such as Rabaul.

During the Battle of Okinawa, MAG-31 came ashore on 7 April 1945 and began operating from Yontan Airfield. The Group immediately put 80 of its 109 aircraft into the fight and flew combat air patrols to aid in the fight against kamikaze attacks that were devastating the American fleet. It also provided close air support for the Marines and soldiers on the ground. The Group stayed at Yontan until 1 July 1945 when it moved to Chimu further north on the island, where they stayed until the end of the war. During its time on Okinawa, MAG-31 also operated over Kyushu, the Chinese coast, the East China Sea area and many places between Formosa and Kyushu.

On 12 October 1945, MAG-31 departed Okinawa for Yokosuka, Japan, becoming the first Marine land-based group to operate from the Japanese homeland. The MAG was transferred from MAW-2 to MAW-4 on 12 February 1946, and then to the Fleet Marine Force Pacific on 13 March 1946.

The group returned to the USA on 5 July 1946 as a night fighter group, stationed at MCAS Miramar, CA until it was decommissioned on 31 May 1947.

October 1945* to February 1946*

• Curtiss R5C-1 Commando: 39570