The US Marines, the land army of the United States Navy, was established on 10th November, 1775 and made permanent by Congress in 1798. They were sent on several foreign missions and served in China, Nicaragua, Haiti and Santo Domingo.

During the Second World War the marines were reorganized as the Marine Amphibious Corps (October 1942). Under the leadership of General Holland Smith, the Marine Corps employed a force of over 450,000 men and was primarily employed as the spearhead of the amphibious operation in the Pacific.

The Marine Corps had 10,412 pilots. Of the five marine air wings, four were combat groups while the 9th Wing remained in the United States as a training unit.