Marine Aircraft Group 42 Det C was officially re-designated to Marine Aircraft Group 49 Detachment C on 20 June 2008. Marine Aircraft Group 42 in Atlanta, GA was officially decommissioned on 30 Sept 2008 as part of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing's realignment of its force structure. MAG 49 Det C originated in 1946 at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport under the name of Marine Air Detachment (MAD). Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel L. McCulley, MAD activity supported Marine Fighter Squadron 143.
MAD was redesignated as Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment (MARTD) in September 1953. In November 1957, MARTD relocated from New Orleans Lakefront Airport to its present location at Alvin Callendar Field, NAS New Orleans. MARTD was awarded the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing (4th MAW) Commanding General's Proficiency Award in 1969, 1971, 1974, and was runner up in 1973.
MARTD, New Orleans was redesignated as Marine Aircraft Group 46, Detachment B (MAG-46 Det B) in October 1979. MAG-46 Det B was awarded the 4th MAW, Commanding General's Proficiency Award in 1989. MAG-46 Det B provided detachment support for HML-767 from 1 January to 14 May 1991 while the sqadron was deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. MAG-46 Det B was redesignated as Marine Aircraft Group 42 Detachment C (MAG-42 Det C) on June 1992.
MAG-49 Det C actively supports the following Marine Corps and Navy Commands:
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Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 Det A
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Fleet Readiness Center, Mid-Atlantic
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Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, Military Police Det
MAG-49 Det C has been actively involved in the Global War on Terrorism from January 2003 to present date. In January 2003, 4th MAW MP Det activated, split, and deployed to Kuwait for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and to Djibouti for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Additionally, MALS-42 Det C activated and deployed to Camp Pendleton, CA in support of units deployed to OIF. During October 2003, HMLA-773 Det A(-) activated in support of OEF and deployed to Afghanistan on three separate occasions during its two year activation through October 2005.
In September of 2005, following Hurricane Katrina's 29 August devastation of New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, MAG-42 Det C, with helicopters from HMLA-773 Det A, along with HMLA-773 from Atlanta, comprised part of the Aviation Combat Element for Special MAGTF Katrina as part of the overall Joint Task Force Katrina. During this time, they participated in rescue and relief efforts in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Throughout 2006 the unit supported multiple training events througout the region. The MP Det conducted its annual training in Pheodosia, Ukraine in support of Operation Sea Breeze. In September of 2007 HMLA 773 Det A deployed to Al Asad, Iraq for a seven month deploymentof OIF. MAG-49 Det C and its component Detachments continue to train to ensure they are ready to meet future commitments in the Global War on Terrorism.