Marine Aircraft Group 42 Marine Aircraft Group 42 was a United States Marine Corps reserve aviation unit based at Naval Air Station Atlanta , Georgia . Due to a re - organization within Marine aviation , MAG - 42 was deactivated in 2008 . History . Marine Aircraft Group 42 ( MAG - 42 ) was initially activated on January 1 , 1943 , in San Diego , California , as " Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 42 ' , 4th Marine Aircraft Wing . The unit mission was to provide air defense support for west coast Naval and Marine Corps installations and to conduct airborne search and patrol , transportation , air - sea rescue , and shipping escort operations along the Pacific Coast . By 1944 , the unit expanded from a small complement of Marines and two T - 6 aircraft to 272 officers , 2 , 135 enlisted , and 102 T - 6 aircraft . During 1943 , the Group became responsible for training Marine aviators for World War II combat operations in the Pacific Theater and relocated to Goleta , California in January and then to Santa Barbara , California in March . In November 1944 , the unit was re - designated Marine Aircraft Group 42 . Following the war , MAG - 42 was re - designated Marine Aircraft Support Group 42 and then deactivated on October 31 , 1945 . MAG - 42 was reactivated on February 1 , 1965 , during the Vietnam War . The Air Group consisted of Marine Attack Squadron 133 flying the A4 Skyhawk and Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 769 flying the H - 34 helicopter . In 1971 , Marine Helicopter Squadron 769 was redesignated to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 769 and transitioned to the CH - 53 Sea Stallion helicopter . Following the collapse of the USSR , the stunning military success in the Persian Gulf War , and subsequent draw down of U . S . Department of Defense forces , the Department of the Navy developed a " Total Force " concept redefining the role of the Reserve Component to meet national emerging global security requirements . MAG - 42 was reorganized and relocated to Marietta , Georgia on June 10 , 1992 , in support of the Marine Corps Total Force Concept , " the integration of active and reserve components into the Total Force , a cohesive team shaped for joint operations to meet national needs and global challenges . " The reorganization resulted in a mirror image of Reserve and Active Marine Ground Task Force units and attachment of Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 flying the AH - 1J Cobra , Marine Observation Squadron 4 flying the OV - 10D aircraft , Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 767 flying the UH - 1N helicopter , Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774 flying the CH - 46 helicopter , and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142 ( VMFA - 142 ) flying the F / A - 18A Hornet . On October 1 , 1994 , the Marine Light Attack and Marine Attack Squadrons was re - designated Marine Light Attack Squadron 773 ( HMLA - 773 ) at Atlanta and HMLA - 773 Detachment A at New Orleans , LA . These combat tested units now reflect their counterparts in the Fleet Marine Force and combine the capabilities of the AH - 1W Super Cobra Attack helicopter and the UH - 1N Utility helicopter . This combat proven organization is now resident in the Reserve Force and underpins the Total Force Concept . In addition , VMFA - 142 integrated the Department of the Navy TACAIR concept which integrates USMC and USN tactical jets into the Carrier Air Wing Group . The total force - in - readiness mission is conducted by MAG - 42 as a result of extensive training in many varied locations throughout the nation as well as deployments throughout the world . MAG - 42 has participated in counter drug operations in several Eastern Caribbean countries in 1995 and 1996 . Both marijuana eradication and drug - transit interdiction have accounted for more than $ 20 billion worth of illegal substances eradicated in these operations .