Marine Wing Support Squadron 473

Marine Wing Support Squadron 473
MWSS-473's insignia
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Aviation ground support squadron
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 41 4th Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Nickname(s)	The Cowgill Squadron
Motto	Support From the Ground
Engagements	Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol Vincent C Dawson

Marine Wing Support Squadron 473 (MWSS-473) is a reserve aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California with Detachment A at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California and Detachment B at Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas. The squadron is part of Marine Aircraft Group 41 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.

Mission

Provide all essential Aviation Ground Support requirements to a designated fixed-wing and rotor-wing components of an Aviation Combat Element (ACE) and all supporting or attached elements of the Marine Air Control Group .

History

MWSS-473 completed an eight month deployment in Afghanistan in 2004–2005. The unit was composed of selected personnel from all three detachments that make up the squadron. During their deployment unit they fueled and loaded helicopters at various bases on the eastern end of Afghanistan. The unit also participated in humanitarian aide missions around Afghanistan. Notably, the squadrons fuel section was in charge of securing, filtering, and refueling helicopters and vehicles, heavy equipment was tasked with loading helicopters with ammunition and supplies. The unit experienced various rocket and mortar fire and did not sustain any casualties during the deployment.

The squadron was re-activated in May 2007 and spent June at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona and the rest of the summer at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California completing pre-deployment training.

They deployed in September 2007 to Al Asad Airbase in the western Iraq. They sent detachemnts at Al Qa'im, Rawah and Mudyasis. They returned in April 2008 after a seven month deployment.

See also

• United States Marine Corps Aviation
• Organization of the United States Marine Corps
• List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

Bibliography

Web

• official website