Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 ( MALS - 39 ) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps . Known as the " Hellhounds " , they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 ( MAG - 39 ) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 3rd MAW ) and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton , California . . Mission . Provide aviation logistics support , guidance , planning and direction to Marine Aircraft Group squadrons on behalf of the commanding officer , as well as logistics support for Navy funded equipment in the supporting Marine Wing Support Squadron ( MWSS ) , Marine Air Control Group ( MACG ) , and Marine Aircraft Wing / Mobile Calibration Complex ( MAW / MCC ) . History . Vietnam War . Provisional Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 39 was activated on 16 April 1968 at Marine Quang Tri Airfield , Republic of Vietnam . Assigned to Provisional Marine Aircraft Group 39 ( MAG - 39 ) of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , the squadron ' s mission was to provide logistical support for the tactical squadrons and tactical elements located at Quang Tri , Dong Ha , And Khe Sanh . Provisional Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 39 was deactivated on 25 October 1969 . 1980s and 1990s . Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 39 was reactivated at Camp Pendleton , California on 1 September 1978 to provide support for the UH1 " Huey " , AH1 " Cobra " , and OV - 10 " Bronco " . The squadron was redesignated on 1 October 1988 as Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 ( MALS - 39 ) . This changed placed aviation logistics support function firmly under the cognizance of one commanding officer to more efficiently and effectively serve the requirements of supported flying squadrons and Marine Air - ground Task Forces . MALS - 39 provides all the aviation supply and intermediated level of aircraft maintenance , avionics , and ordnance support for nine flying squadrons . Additionally , whenever the flying squadrons deploy , whether in the United States or overseas , MALS - 39 augments these squadrons with its Marines to ensure optimum aviation logistics support in every clime and place . During the last ten years , Marines from MALS - 39 have seen action throughout the world . Elements of the squadron participated in Operation Desert Storm and in the liberation of Kuwait . Magicians also participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somolia Africa . War on Terror . On January 2003 , the squadron deployed as a command in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom ( OIF ) both aboard the SS Curtiss ( T - AVB - 4 ) aviation logistics support ship , and ashore at Ali Al Salem Air Base , Kuwait and at various Forward Operating Bases throughout Iraq . In February 2004 , Magicians deployed as logistician augments to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 , and as force protection augments to 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion again in support of OIF . MALS - 39 Marines continually deploy to the Western Pacific supporting unit deployments to Okinawa , Japan and Marine Expeditionary Unit s afloat . Awards . A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited . Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation . MALS - 39 has been presented with the following awards : The squadron has also been recognized for its logistics accomplishments , winning the 1998 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award ( Medium Category ) and the 2003 Marine Corps Aviation Association Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron of the Year Award .