List of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Commanders

1st Marine Aircraft Wing Logo

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Activated in 1941, the wing has seen heavy combat operations during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Commanding Generals

# Picture Name Rank Start End Notes Notability Ref
1 Louis E. Woods Lieutenant Colonel July 7, 1941 August 20, 1941 Veteran Guadalcanal Campaign, veteran Okinawa Campaign, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; Commanding General, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing [1][2]
2 Roy S. Geiger Colonel August 20, 1941 April 21, 1943 Navy Cross Medal; Commanding General Fleet Marine Force, Pacific [1][3]
3 Ralph J. Mitchell Major General April 21, 1943 February 1, 1944 Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals; Director of Marine Corps Aviation 1939-1943; Distinguished Flying Cross from Nicaraguan Campaign. [1]
4 James T. Moore Major General February 1, 1944 June 15, 1944 [1]
5 Ralph J. Mitchell Major General June 15, 1944 June 5, 1945 Second time held command Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals; Director of Marine Corps Aviation 1939-1943; Distinguished Flying Cross from Nicaraguan Campaign. [1]
6 James T. Moore Major General June 5, 1945 June 6, 1945 Acting Commander [1]
7 Harold C. Major Colonel June 6, 1944 June 11, 1944 Acting Commander [1]
8 Lewie G. Merritt Brigadier General June 11, 1945 August 11, 1945 World War I veteran; Director, South Carolina Legislative Council; Citadel alumni; Merritt Field as MCAS Beaufort is named after him [1][4][5]
9 Claude A. Larkin Major General August 11, 1945 October 31, 1945 Lieutenant General; MAG-21 Commanding Officer at Ewa Field during Pearl Harbor attack [1][2][6][7]
10 Louis E. Woods Major General October 31, 1945 July 1946 Veteran Guadalcanal Campaign, veteran Okinawa Campaign, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; Commanding General, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing [2][8]
11 Lawson H. M. Sanderson Brigadier General July 1946 September 1947 Aviation Pioneer, veteran Guadalcanal Campaign, as Commanding officer of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Sanderson accepted the Japanese surrender of Wake Island in 1945.
12 Louis E. Woods Major General September 1947 July 1949 Veteran Guadalcanal Campaign, veteran Okinawa Campaign, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; Commanding General, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing [2][8]
13 Field Harris Major General July 1949 July 27, 1951 Graduate U.S. Naval Academy; Lieutenant General; Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals
14 Christian F. Schilt Major General July 27, 1951 April 12, 1952 Medal of Honor; General; Veteran World War I, United States occupation of Haiti, United States occupation of Nicaragua, and World War II [9][10]
15 Clayton C. Jerome Major General April 12, 1952 January 9, 1953 Lieutenant General; Commanding General, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing [11][12]
16 Vernon E. Megee Major General January 9, 1953 December 1953 Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Veteran World War II and Korean War; Commanding General Fleet Marine Force Pacific; Air Force Distinguished Service Medal [13]
17 Verne J. McCaul Major General March 1954 August 1954 Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Veteran World War II and Korean War; [14]
18 Arthur F. Binney Major General January 1957 December 1957 Veteran World War II and Korean War; Commanding General 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing; Graduate U.S. Naval Academy in 1928; [15]
19 Charles H. Hayes Brigadier General December 1957 April 1959 Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Veteran World War II and Korean War; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; Graduate U.S. Naval Academy in 1930; [15]
20 Carson A. Roberts Major General April 1959 December 1, 1959 Veteran World War II and Korean War; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; Distinguished Flying Cross; Lieutenant General [16]
21 Richard C. Mangrum Major General December 1, 1959 April 1960 Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Veteran World War II and Korean War; Navy Cross; Commanding General 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing [17]
22 Avery R. Kier Brigadier General April 1960 June 1961 Veteran World War II and Korean War; Navy Cross; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing [15]
23 John P. Condon Major General June 1961 August 1962 Veteran World War II and Korean War; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; Graduate U.S. Naval Academy in 1934; [18]
24 Frederick E. Leek Brigadier General June 1962 February 1963 Commanding General, 1st Marine Division June–July 1961; Assistance Division Commander, 1st Marine Division 1961-1962 [19]
25 George S. Bowman Major General February 1, 1963 1964 [15]
26 Paul J. Fontana Major General 1964 May 24, 1965 Flying ace with 5 aerial victories; Navy Cross; Distinguished Flying Cross [20][21]
27 Keith B. McCutcheon Brigadier General May 24, 1965 May 16, 1966 General; Distinguished Flying Cross; Army Silver Star Medal; Commanding Officer Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1); Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force; McCutcheon Field at MCAS New River, North Carolina is named in his honor. [22][23]
28 Louis Robertshaw Major General May 16, 1966 June 1967 Graduate U.S. Naval Academy; Captain of the 1935 Naval Academy football team; Inspector General of the Marine Corps [24]
29 Norman J. Anderson Major General June 1967 June 21, 1968 Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross with three gold stars; Air Medal with two silver stars; Graduate UCLA [25]
30 Charles J. Quilter Major General June 21, 1968 July 7, 1969 [26]
31 William G. Thrash Major General July 7, 1969 July 2, 1970 Veteran World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War; Prisoner of War from May 1952 to September 1953; Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold star; Distinguished Flying Cross [27]
32 Alan J. Armstrong Major General July 2, 1970 April 1971 Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross with gold star [28]
33 Robert G. Owens, Jr. Major General April 1971 August 1, 1972 Flying ace with 7 victories; Navy Cross; Distinguished Flying Cross w/ 4 gold stars; Commanding General, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing [29]
34 Frank C. Lang Major General April 1973 May 1974 Veteran World War II; Korean War, and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and 2 gold stars; Distinguished Flying Cross with 7 stars [30]
35 Victor A. Armstrong Major General May 1974 January 1975 Lieutenant General; Veteran World War II; Korean War, and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and 2 gold stars; Distinguished Flying Cross with gold star [31]
36 William J. White Brigadier General January 6, 1976 February 23, 1976 Acting Commander Veteran Korean War, and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V"; Distinguished Flying Cross [32]
37 Noah C. New Major General 1976 February 10, 1978 Veteran Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V"; Distinguished Flying Cross [33]
38 John K. Davis Major General February 15, 1978 June 1979 General; Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing [34]
39 William R. Maloney Major General June 1979 June 2, 1980 Lieutenant General; Silver Star; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; Commanding General 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing [35]
40 William H. Fitch Major General June 2, 1980 June 2, 1982 Lieutenant General; Silver Star Medal [36]
41 Joseph J. Went Major General June 2, 1982 May 6, 1983 Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; General; Veteran Vietnam War [37]
42 Frank E. Petersen Jr. Major General May 6, 1983 1985 Lieutenant General; Distinguished Flying Cross; Gray Eagle Award; Man of the Year, NAACP, 1979. [38]
43 Charles H. Pitman Major General June 12, 1985 September 9, 1987 Lieutenant General; Silver Star Medal [39]
44 Ross S. Plasterer Major General September 9, 1987 September 1989 Veteran Vietnam War; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross [40]
45 Duane A. Wills Brigadier General September 9, 1989 August 1990 Lieutenant General; Veteran Vietnam War; Distinguished Flying Cross; lettered in football at UCLA; [41]
46 Norman E. Ehlert Major General August 6, 1990 January 1991 Lieutenant General; Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force; Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross [42]
47 Arthur C. Blades Brigadier General July 1991 June 1992 Silver Star; Distinguished Flying Cross [43][44]
48 William A. Forney Brigadier General June 1992 June 24, 1994 Veteran Vietnam War; Legion of Merit [45][46]
49 George M. Karamarkovich Brigadier General June 24, 1994 May 1996 Veteran Vietnam War; Defense Superior Service Medal [47]
50 Bruce B. Knutson, Jr. Major General May 1996 April 1998 Lieutenant General [48]
51 Joseph T. Anderson Major General April 1998 2000 Veteran Vietnam War; Graduate U.S. Naval Academy; Deputy Director, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum [49][50]
52 James E. Cartwright Major General 2000 August 5, 2002 General; Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Commander, U.S. Strategic Command [51]
53 John F. Goodman Major General August 5, 2002 June 3, 2004 Lieutenant General; Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Soldiers Medal; Veteran Vietnam War; Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific; Director, Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance; former NFL quarterback [52]
54 Duane D. Thiessen Major General June 3, 2004 June 10, 2005 [53]
55 George J. Trautman, III Major General June 10, 2005 June 8, 2007 [54]
56 Robert E. Schmidle, Jr. Brigadier General June 8, 2007 July 28, 2008 [55]
57 Raymond C. Fox Brigadier General July 28, 2008 June 28, 2010 [56]
58 William D. Beydler Brigadier General June 28, 2010 June 22, 2012 [57]
59 Christopher S. Owens Brigadier General June 22, 2012 July 9, 2013 [58]
60 Steven R. Rudder Brigadier General July 9, 2013 July 30, 2015 [59]
61 Russell A. Sanborn Brigadier General July 30, 2015 Incumbent [60]

See also

References

Inline citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rottman, Gordon L. (2001). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945. New York: Greenwood Press. p. 608. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "A Chronology of the United States Marine Corps" (PDF). History and Museums Division, HQ USMC. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  3. "General Geiger". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  4. "General Merritt Article" (PDF). Citadel San Antonio. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  5. "MCAS Beaufort". Beaufort Online. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  6. Robert J. Cressman and J. Michael Wenger. "Infamous Day: Marines at Pearl Harbor". NPS.gov. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  7. USMC History Division. "General Larkin". USMC. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  8. 1 2 USMC History Division. "General Woods". USMC. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  9. "General Schilt". Marine Corps Legacy Museum. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  10. "Christian Franklin Schilt". Arlington National Cemeter. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  11. Rottman, Gordon L. Korean War Order of Battle. Google Books. ISBN 978-0-275-97835-8. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  12. "Lieutenant General Clayton C. Jerome". U.S. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  13. "General Vernon E. Megee". Marine Corps Legacy Museum. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  14. "General Verne J. McCaul". Marine Corps University. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "US Marine Corps Biographical Dictionary". Franklin Watts. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  16. "General Roberts". Arlington National Cemeter. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  17. "Richard C. Mangrum". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  18. "Oral History Finding Aids". Defense Acquisition History Project. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  19. "U.S. Marine Corps Biographical Dictionary". Franklin Watts, Inc. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  20. "Paul John Fontana". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  21. "Vietnam Tet Offensive". Angelfire. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  22. "Paul John Fontana". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  23. "Chronology of Significant Events in 1966". 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines.com. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  24. "Former Inspector Generals of the Marine Corps". U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  25. "General Anderson". USMC Official website. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  26. "Fixed Wing Air Operation, 1970-1971". OSU.edu. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  27. "General Thrash". U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  28. "General Armstrong". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  29. "General Owens". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  30. "Major General Victor A. Armstrong". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  31. "Lieutenant General William J. White". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  32. "Major General Frank C. Lang". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  33. "General New". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  34. "General John K. Davis - Retired". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  35. "Lieutenant General William R. Maloney - Retired". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  36. "General Fitch". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  37. "General Joseph J. Went". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  38. Petersen, Frank E. (1998). Into the Tiger's Jaw: America's First Black Marine Aviator. University of Michigan: Presidio. p. 608. ISBN 0-89141-675-7.
  39. "General Pitman". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  40. "General Plasterer". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  41. "Lieutenant General Duane A. Wills". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  42. "Norman E. Ehlert". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  43. "General/Flag Officer Worldwide Roster" (PDF). Department of Defense. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  44. "Lieutenant General Arthur C. Blades". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  45. "Brigadier General William A. Forney". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  46. "General/Flag Officer Worldwide Roster" (PDF). Department of Defense. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  47. "Major General George M. Karamarkovich". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  48. "General Knutson". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  49. "Major General Anderson". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  50. "Major General Joseph T. Anderson". Careers in Aviation.org. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  51. "General Cartwright". DefenseLink Biography. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  52. "Lieutenant General John F. Goodman". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  53. "Major General Thiessen". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  54. "Lieutenant General Trautman". USMC Official Site. Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  55. "Major General Robert E. Schmidle, Jr.". USMC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  56. "General Fox". 1st MAW Official Website. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  57. "1st MAW CG prepares to depart island". MCIPAC Official Website. 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  58. "1st MAW hails new CG". MCIPAC Official Website. 2012-06-29. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  59. "Rudder takes command of 1st MAW". MCIPAC Official Website. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  60. "Sanborn takes charge as 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general". 1st MAW Official Website. 2015-08-02. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
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