Marine Air Support Squadron 3

Marine Air Support Squadron 3 (MASS-3), is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit that provides the Direct Air Support Center (DASC) for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based out of the 32 Area on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Mission
Provide Direct Air Support Center (DASC) and DASC-Airborne capabilities for control and coordination of aircraft operating in direct support of Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Operations.”

Early years
Marine Tactical Air Control Group 2 was formed on August 3, 1950 as part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Later that month they were redesignated as Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 3 (MTACS-3) under Marine Air Control Group 2. On March 28, 1951 they moved under the control of Marine Air Control Group 3 (MACG-3).

The original Marine Air Support Squadron was composed of a Direct Air Support Center, and three Air Support Radar Teams (ASRTs). They 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 could operate in a modified KC-130 aircraft, as well as on the back of a 2.5 ST truck. Together, the Marine Air Support Squadron was capable of supporting the full range of MAGTFs, up to and including a MarineAmphibious Force (MAF).

They received their current designation of Marine Air Support Squadron 3 on February 15, 1954. In October 1962, MASS-3 deployed to the Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis but in December of that year were relocated to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.

Vietnam War

 * See "History" under Direct Air Support Center.

MASS-3 operated in Vietnam from November 1966 until June 1971. On January 16 and 17, 1968, Air Support Radar Team B (ASRT-B) from MASS-3 displaced from Chu Lai to Khe Sanh to handle ground controlled radar bombing missions. On January 20 the DASC was brought into Khe Sahn as well.

During their time in Vietnam, MASS-3 Air Support Radar Teams controlled more than 38,010 AN/TPQ-10 missions, directing more than 121000 ST of ordnance on 56,753 targets. They operated from Chu Lai and Da Nang during this time.

The 1980s and 1990s
In May 1980, MASS-3 again relocated, this time to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. In August 1990, the unit was deployed to Saudi Arabia and later participated in Operation Desert Storm returning home in March 1991.

Operation Iraqi Freedom
MASS 3 began sending units to Kuwait in October 2002 as part of the troop build-up for what would become Operation Iraqi Freedom. MASS-3 provided air support for the 1st Marine Division from the Kuwaiti border to Tikrit and had units remain in country until the division redeployed in October 2003. MASS-3 returned to Iraq in January 2004 and provided air support for the Division again until January 2004. They again deployed to Iraq in early 2006 for the third time. The unit deployed for another year long tour in Iraq beginning in early 2008.

Operation Enduring Freedom
In April 2010, MASS-3 deployed to Afghanistan for the first time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They supported combat operations in support of I MEF for a year while based at Camp Leatherneck.

Unit awards
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. MASS-3 has been presented with the following awards: