Marine Aircraft Group 16 Marine Aircraft Group 16 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar that is currently composed of five V - 22 Osprey squadrons , four CH - 53 Super Stallion squadrons , one Personnel Support Detachment and a maintenance and logistics squadron . The group falls under the command of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the I Marine Expeditionary Force . Mission . Provide air support to Marine Air - Ground Task Force commanders . Subordinate units . CH - 53E Super Stallion Squadrons V - 22 Osprey Squadrons Support Squadron History . Marine Helicopter Transport Group 16 ( MAG ( HR ) - 16 ) was formed 1 March 1952 at Marine Corps Air Facility ( MCAF ) Santa Ana , California and was the first helicopter group established in the Marine Corps . Prior to its activation helicopter squadrons were considered special units and reported directly to the Air Wing commanding general with no intermediate command . Colonel Harold J . Mitchener was MAG - 16 ' s first commanding officer . Seven units made up the newly formed MAG : Headquarters Squadron ( HQSQ ) 16 , Marine Airbase Squadron ( MABS ) 16 , Marine Aircraft Maintenance Squadron ( MAMS ) 16 , Marine Helicopter Transport Squadrons ( HMR ) 162 , 163 , 362 , and 363 . Vietnam War . On the evening of 12 – 13 August helicopters from MAG - 16 participated in the first night helicopter assault of the Vietnam War . They debarked 245 Marines and returned to Da Nang without incident . 1980s & 1990s . Through the years , many other helicopter squadrons have made MAG - 16 their home . Units of MAG - 16 have participated in Operation Desert Punch , Operation Seahorse Wind , Operations Desert Shield / Desert Storm and many other missions , including Operation Iraqi Freedom . MAG - 16 has provided support in Somalia to include rescue operations in many other locations . MAG - 16 deploys its units aboard the fleet of the United States Navy to maintain a high state of awareness overseas and abroad . MAG - 16 and its units have provided aircraft support and transportation for visiting U . S . dignitaries and celebrities from the President of the United States , Secretary of Defense , Secretary of the Navy , Commandant of the Marine Corps and movie legend Audrey Hepburn . MAG - 16 also provides aircraft and personnel for the MCAS Miramar Air Show . Global War on Terror . From 11 September 2001 through to the present , elements of MAG - 16 have actively participated in the Global War on Terror , beginning with HMM - 163 ( REIN ) ' s role in establish FOB Rhino in Afghanistan as part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit , which consisted of a core CH - 46E HMM squadron , a CH - 53E detachment from HMH - 465 , both part of MAG - 16 , as well as HMLA and VMA detachments . All flying squadrons of MAG - 16 have participated in the GWOT in Iraq , Afghanistan , and other locations , but were almost always under the command of other headquarters elements . MAG - 16 ' s headquarters element was specifically deployed in support of the GWOT from January 2008 through January 2009 , where they provided the primary command of Marine aviation support in Iraq ’ s Al Anbar Province . By the end of this deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom the MAG had achieved a milestone 80 , 000 flight hours in support of Multi - National Forces West and adjacent commands . Expeditionary transformation . MAG - 16 continues to reshape its identity for the current expeditionary environment of the Marine Corps . The CH - 46E Sea Knight is currently being replaced with the MV - 22B Osprey to augment its heavy lift assault support assets . The MV - 22B adds a long - range capability to the MAGTF that will extend its reach well beyond current assault support assets . MAG - 16 will continue to refine its identity to " respond to today ' s crisis with today ' s force . . . today . " Notable members . Raymond M . Clausen , Jr . - Medal of Honor recipient < br > Eugene R . Brady - MAG - 16 commander , Navy Cross recipient < br > Kenneth L . Reusser - Former MAG - 16 commander and highly decorated three - war Marine Corps aviator , double Navy Cross and double Distinguished Flying Cross recipient .