4th Marine Aircraft Wing The 4th Marine Aircraft Wing is the reserve airwing of the United States Marine Corps . It is headquartered in New Orleans , Louisiana but its subordinate units are scattered throughout the United States . Mission . Conduct air operations in support of the Fleet Marine Forces to include anti - air warfare , offensive air support , assault support , electronic warfare , aerial reconnaissance , control of aircraft and missiles , and as a collateral function , to participate as an integral component of Naval Aviation in the execution of such other Navy functions as directed . Subordinate units . 4th MAW consists of seven subordinate groups and a headquarters squadron : History . Prior to World War II , Marine Reserve aviation consisted of a few personnel operating obsolete aircraft under severe budgetary limitations . With the threat of war in Europe , a few reservists were activated , and by October 1940 , many had been called to active duty . This handful of dedicated men helped build the Marine aviation force which cleared the skies and supported ground operations during World War II . World War II . The 4th Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing was commissioned August 22 , 1942 , at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa ( MCAS Ewa ) , Hawaii . The Wing ' s three squadrons were located at Midway , Ewa and Samoa with the headquarters at MCAS Ewa . In the fall of 1944 , the 4th Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing became the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing ( 4th MAW ) . As the war progressed across the Pacific , 4th MAW pilots refined fighter bombing and low - altitude flying techniques that helped pave the way for today ' s MAGTF concept . Post - WW II and Korea . 4th MAW was deactivated shortly after the war . On February 25 , 1946 , the Marine Air Reserve Training Command ( MARTC ) was established to preserve the skill of those Marines returning to civilian life . Headquarters for MARTC was located at Naval Air Station Glenview , Illinois . Post World War II foresight paid off in 1950 when the Korean War broke out . Having grown to a force of 6 , 035 men who trained at 25 Marine Air Detachments from coast to coast , the Marine Air Reserve was prepared for mobilization . Less than two weeks after mobilization day , July 23 , 1950 , three reserve fighter squadrons were on duty in Korea . Within the first seven weeks , the Marine Air Reserve furnished enough men to increase Marine fighter squadron strength in the Far East from two to six squadrons . Seven months later , more than 50 percent of the officers and 36 percent of the enlisted Marines in the 1st MAW were Reservists . The lessons and experiences of Korea helped expand and improve the entire reserve aviation program . In September 1953 , Marine Air Detachments were redesignated as Marine Air Reserve Training Detachments ( MARTDS ) . Most MARTDS were located aboard Naval Air Stations across the nation . 1960s - 1980s . The MARTC was reorganized in 1962 to include a Marine Aircraft Wing . This reorganization coincided with similar moves in the ground reserve , resulting in the division - wing concept for the entire Marine Corps reserve Program . The 4th MAW was brought back into being and the MARTC - 4th MAW became a dual command . As turmoil developed in the Dominican Republic and U . S . involvement in Southeast Asia increased during the mid - 1960s , the necessity of having a ready force in reserve became more apparent . Emphasis was shifted to the 4th MAW and in July 1966 , a reorganization was undertaken to ensure that all units were prepared to execute the same missions and tasks as assigned in the regular Fleet Marine Force . In June 1974 , 4th MAW / MARTC headquarters relocated to New Orleans . In October 1979 , the MARTC was disbanded to organize the 4th MAW along the same lines as its active duty counterparts . The Gulf War & the 1990s . During Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm , numerous units were mobilized and deployed to the Gulf Region . These units provided air support which contributed to the victory of allied forces .