Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 ( MALS - 31 ) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps . Known as the " Stingers " , they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 ( MAG - 31 ) and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 2nd MAW ) and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort . 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 . World War II . Headquarters Squadron 31 ( HQSQ - 31 ) was activated on 1 February 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , North Carolina , as an element of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing , Fleet Marine Force . Six month later , Headquarters Squadron 31 as part of MAG - 31 , was en route to Miramar , California , finally departing the United States from San Diego , California , embarked on board the USS " Nassau " and USAT " Puebla " . On 10 November 1944 , the 4th Marine Bases Defense Air Wing , was redesignated to the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing . On 11 March 1945 , MAG - 31 , became part of the 2nd MAW . Headquarters Squadron 31 and other MAG - 31 elements began moving from Roi - Namur Island , sailing for the most active front at that time - the Battle of Okinawa . Ground personnel of MAG - 31 went ashore on Okinawa on 3 April 1945 to prepare to support MAG - 31 , which landed from the USS Sitkoh Bay and began operations four days later . En route from the carrier to shore , two MAG - 31 pilots shot down a Japanese bomber making a suicide run on their CVE , and gave MAG - 31 the distinction of having the first land based aircraft to make a kill in the Okinawa campaign . 1950s . In the midst of the Korean War , MAG - 31 was reactivated on 17 March 1952 , with its subordinate elements , at Marine Corps Air Station , Cherry Point , NC , but its location was shortly changed when it moved to Marine Corps Air Station Miami , Florida . A major redesignation occurred on 15 February 1954 , as the squadron became Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 31 ( H & MS - 31 ) . Marine Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 31 was disbanded and its personnel transferred to Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 31 . Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 31 was redesignated on 22 August 1958 to become part of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing . The squadron along with the group was reduced to a paper organization as it moved to Cherry Point with a small complement of personnel . On 31 January 1959 , MAG - 31 and its squadron were deactivated at Cherry Point . 1960s – present . In October 1988 , Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 31 was redesignated Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 ( MALS - 31 ) and transferred its A - 4 Skyhawk aircraft to Davis Monthan Air Force Base , Arizona . MALS - 31 successfully completed the transformation of its aviation logistics support mission from F - 4 Phantom II s to the F / A - 18 Hornet in 1990 . Since then , Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 has participated in numerous unit deployments , carrier detachments , as well as : Operation Desert Storm , Operation Deny Flight , Operation Noble Anvil . MALS - 31 is currently in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom .