The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) was commissioned on July 19, 1941 at Naval Air Station, San Diego, CA. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Wing had squadrons based at San Diego, Hawaii, Wake Island, and on the aircraft carriers Lexington and Saratoga. Throughout the war, the 2nd MAW participated in many of the major engagements in the Pacific Theater including Midway, Guadalcanal, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Okinawa. Since April of 1946, the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing has been located at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Since 1941, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band has supported the Wing by performing at well over 50,000 events including both military and civilian ceremonies, formal concerts, community celebrations, parades, festivals, and public relations tours. The band received Certificates of Commendation from the Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1973 and 1985. Additionally, the band received Meritorious Unit Citations in 1972 and 1984 for excellence in the performance of duty.
Consisting of 51 Marine Musicians, the 2nd MAW Band is a highly trained and versatile musical organization. The band is capable of performing in a multitude of settings, ranging from its primary mission is as a ceremonial unit, to other ensembles such as the Concert Band, Jazz Band or Big Band, Show Band, Jazz Combo, Brass Quintet, Woodwind Quintet, and Woodwind Duo.
Traveling extensively throughout the eastern United States, the band entertains millions of people in over 200 performances annually. Past highlights include appearances at the Cotton Bowl, the Kentucky Derby, the Indy 500, Miss America Pageant Parade, numerous Mardi Gras Parades, and the International Marine Tattoo in Rochester, NY. Annual events include the Memorial Day Parade in Dearborn, MI and formal concerts in Bridgeport, CT at the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, and our 4th of July concert in New Bern, NC. The band has also appeared internationally in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Caribbean, Germany, Denmark, Scotland, England, Iceland, France and Haiti. On one of these tours, the band had the distinct honor of performing for the Queen of Denmark and Prince Edward of Great Britain.
Since November 10th, 1775, when the newly formed Continental Marines marched to fifes and drums, music has been an integral part of the United States Marine Corps. Today, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band continues to carry on the proud tradition of excellence in military music that has become the hallmark of the Marine music program.