* In January 1968, the group consisted ol Headquarters and Headquar-ters Squadron (H&HS) 18, Marine AirSupport Squadron (MASS) 2, Marine Air Support Squadron (MASS) 3, Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 4 and the 1st and 2d LAAM Battalions. Until the activation of MACG-18 the previous September these units had belonged to MWHG-1. MASS-3 and the 2d LAAM Battalion were both located at the Chu Lai base.

** The VMCJ squadron flew photo reconnaissance missions in both North and South Vietnam and also electronic jamming missions to foil North Vietnamese radars and communications in support of both the Seventh Fleet and Air Force Rolling Thunder campaign in the north. In January 1968, the squadron had assigned to it 20 aircraft. These included eight Douglas EF-10B, a modified version of the Navy F3D Skynight. a two-engine jet night-tighter. The EF-10B, nicknamed "Willie the Whale," flew both electronic counter-measure (ECM) and electronic intelligence missions. In addition to the "Whales," the squadron inventory included tour EA-6A, the electronic countermeasures version of the Intruder, and eight RF-4B, the photo-reconnaissance version of the Phantom II. FMFPac. MarOpsV, Jan68, p. 58a. Colonel Eric B. Parker, who assumed command of the squadron in March, observed that the Marines were the "pioneers of stand-off electronic jamming. He remembered that his pilots "were proud of the effectiveness of our equipment and personnel . .. Our call sign was 'cottonpicker' and to identify vourselt as a 'cottonpicker' in an AF [Air Force] or Navy club where deep-strike pilots were, would almost always result in free drinks. We were appreciated." Col Eric B. Parker, Comments on draft, dtd 13Dec94 (Vietnam Comment File).

*** The two-man, twin-jet Intruders which could carry an 18,000 pound payload were equipped with a digital-integrated attack navigation system and an electronic-integrated display system which provided the pilot at night and in bad weather images of targets and geographical features on two viewing screens in the cockpit.

**** Attached to H&MS-11 was a three-plane detachment of TA-4Fs, two-seater trainer versions of the Douglas A-1 Skyhawk, used generally for forward air control missions. In Vietnam, both the Air Force and the Marine Corps employed forward air controllers (FAC) (airborne), who in a variety of aircraft like the TA-4F jets, UH-1E helicopters, and small light fixed-wing prop-driven aircraft controlled attack, fighter, and fighter/attack fixed-wing aircraft and armed helicopters in close air support missions. In addition, H&MS-11 owned one Douglas C-117D Skytrain fixed-wing transport (a military counterpart of the civilian DC-3) which the squadron employed for a multitude of purposes including night illumination. Three more of the relatively venerable transports belonged to MWSG-17 at Da Nang. All told, including the four C-117Ds, there were over 60 Marine fixed-wing aircraft based at Da Nang.