Marine Aviation Training Support Group 53

Marine Aviation Training Support Group 53 (MATSG-53) is a United States Marine Corps aviation training group located at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. The group was originally established on April 1, 1943 as Marine Aircraft Group 53, the first Marine night-fighter group.

Mission
Furnish highly qualified Fleet Replacement EA-6B Prowler personnel to the Fleet Marine Force and also provide the Commandant of the Marine Corps administrative and logistical support for assigned Marine Corps Personnel and to perform other tasks directed by the Commandant.

History
Marine Night Fighting Group 53 (MAG(N)-53) was formed on April 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. It was the first night fighter group in the Marine Corps and was responsible for the training of all VFM(N) squadrons. They trained in Vero Beach, Florida in the spring and summer of 1944 and in November of that year they moved to Marine Corps Air Station Eagle Mountain Lake, Texas. They were redesignated Marine Night Fighter Group 53 (MNFG 53) in April 1945. The group remained in Texas until the end of the war. During the course of the war the group trained 8 night fighting squadrons and sent seven of them into combat.

They moved back to MCAS Cherry Point in February 1946 and changed their name again, this time to Marine Aircraft Group 53 (MAG-53) in November of that year. The group was deactivated in May 1947.

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