Official MWSS-472 Dragons Expeditionary Airfields Patch — Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 Dragons Expeditionary Airfields Embroidered Patch
MWSS-472 Dragons — the Reserve expeditionary airfield Marines who build runways from nothing, ensuring Marine aviation can operate from anywhere.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 (MWSS-472), the "Dragons," is a USMC Reserve wing support squadron that provides expeditionary airfield services including airfield construction and maintenance, aviation ground support, crash/fire/rescue, and base defense for Marine aviation units operating from forward and austere locations.
MWSS-472's primary mission is building and operating expeditionary airfields — the temporary or semi-permanent airfields that Marine aviation needs when operating in areas without established air infrastructure. The Dragons' engineers lay AM-2 matting for runways and taxiways, establish expeditionary arresting gear, set up tactical bulk fuel systems, and create the entire aviation support infrastructure from scratch. This capability is essential for Marine Corps expeditionary operations, where the ability to generate airpower from bare ground can be decisive.
The squadron's motto, "Gettin' Paid to Slay Tail," reflects the aggressive can-do attitude of the wing support community. As a Reserve unit, MWSS-472's citizen-Marines bring valuable civilian construction and engineering expertise to their military mission.
Perfect For: MWSS-472 Dragons members and veterans, Marine wing support community, expeditionary airfield engineers, Reserve aviation support Marines, and Marine aviation support patch collectors.
MWSS-472 Dragons — building runways from scratch — the Dragons create the airfields that Marine aviation needs.
