Marine Air Support Squadron 2 Marine Air Support Squadron 2 ( MASS - 2 ) , is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit that provides the Direct Air Support Center ( DASC ) for the III Marine Expeditionary Force . They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma , Okinawa , Japan . Mission . Provide Direct Air Support Center ( DASC ) capabilities for control and coordination of aircraft operating in direct support of Marine Air - Ground Task Force ( MAGTF ) Forces . History . World War II . Marine Air Support Squadron 2 was activated January 1 , 1943 , at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro , California , as Headquarters Squadron 43 , Services Group , Marine Wings Pacific . The unit functioned as the headquarters element of Marine Aircraft Base Defense Group 43 . In November 1944 , the Group was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 43 . While deployed to the territory of Hawaii in January 1945 , Headquarters Squadron 43 and Marine Aircraft Group 43 were reassigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing . Korean War . Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 2 participated in action during the Korean War at the Battle of Pusan Perimeter , Battle of Inchon , Battle of Chosin Reservoir , the East Central Front , and the Western Front . Upon arrival at Kobe , Japan on August 1 , 1950 the air support section of the squadron sailed for Pusan to control close air support missions for the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade . Three days later , on 4 August , the Air Support Section entered Korea , and assumed control of all close air support aircraft for the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade engaged on the Pusan perimeter . The air defense section remained in Japan ; it set up operations at Itami Air Force Base , Honshu , Japan to be co - located with VMF ( N ) - 513 . For the Inchon invasion , both sections of MTACS - 2 departed their respective locations and headed for the new front . On 17 September , the squadron disembarked at Inchon . The air support section aided the 1st Marine Division by enabling close air support throughout the battle . The air defense section provided air defense surveillance against possible enemy air intrusion . When the 1st Marine Division sailed for Wonsan , both the Air Support and defense sections of MTACS - 2 sailed with them . Upon arrival at Wonsan , the Air Support section debarked on October 26 , 1950 , establishing the TADC on Wonsan Airfield , The Air Defense section moved to nearby Hamhung and was joined by the TADC on 6 November 1950 . The Air Support section was with the 1st Marine Division from November 27 - December 10 , 1950 during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir . They controlled the flow of aircraft in support of the division and also manned a portion of the western perimeter at Hagaru - ri where the Division Headquarters was located . After the successful breakout of the Chosin Reservoir , the Air Support section was transported to Masan , on the southern coast of Korea . The Air Defense section remained aboard ship and sailed for Pusan , Korea and set up the TACC for operation at Pusan West AB ( K - 1 ) . In August 1951 , the Marine Air Support Radar Team 1 arrived from CONUS and was attached to MTACS - 2 . In March 1952 , the Air Support section moved with the 1st Marine Division to the western front near Panmunjum . The Air Defense section continued to operate the TACC of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from its location at K - 3 Airfield . The Squadron remained in Korea for the rest of the war until the Truce was signed in July 1953 . During the period July 1953 to July 1956 , Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 2 participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone . Approximately 6 months after the signing of the Korean armistice , on 15 February 1954 , Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 2 was re - designated as Marine Air Support Squadron 2 ( MASS - 2 ) . Vietnam War . MASS - 2 was relocated and operated in the Republic of Vietnam from 1965 to 1969 . Early in April 1965 the Squadron was alerted for deployment to Vietnam . While in Vietnam , MASS - 2 conducted operations at Da Nang , Chu Lai , Quang Ngai , Marble Mountain , Phu Bai , Dong Ha , Camp Carroll , and Signal Hill , as well as other locations . The squadron redeployed to Iwakuni , Japan , in 1969 and , in 1973 , became home - based at MCAS Futenma , Okinawa . MASS - 2 , operating as an agency of the Marine Air Command and Control System of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , supports the III Marine Expeditionary Force by providing DASC and ASRT combat support to all Marine Air - Ground Task Force s in the Western Pacific Global War on Terror . Personnel from MASS - 2 have augmented other units deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . They have also provided Marines for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit which has deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom .