Show PEACETIME MISSION weekend fliers are main cog in marine corps air reserve features weekend week end lend fliers generally dubbed but these leatherneck volunteers play an a integral role in the marine corps aviation reserve program the marine air reserve rese r ve again a an I 1 is ready to resume its peacetime mission corps officials L emphasize ampha ize in reporting on its first year of activities which ends on july 1 As the initial in claunc launching ing the organized reserve pro gram 12 months ago 20 leatherneck fighting squadrons composed of weekend week end fliers were activated since then a total of 24 fighting squadrons have been formed motivated by the principle that the reserve Is the force needed in an emergency no effort Is spared to make the reserve a combat ready unit according to brig gen C F commander of the marine air reserve training command every flight has been conducted to further the pilots military proficiency general insists training for enlisted men commence commenced i with the first drill period and has been organized on every level of skill from basic training to aircraft engineering he adds for their annual summer maneuvers the marine weekend week end fliers will congregate at cherry point N C and el toro calif from august 14 through august 29 the 12 I 1 RESERVE FLIERS ready for combat east coast squadrons will assemble at cherry point while the 12 west coast air reserve units will participate in tile the el toro maneuvers the maneuvers are designed to ordinate coordinate co all individual and squadron training with problems of close air support of marine ground units while close air support wui will be the primary function air defense will play an important secondary part although the fighting squadrons were activated first two other phases of the marine corps postwar program also have been emphasized they are for formation matlon of the marine ground control intercept squadrons and training of the volunteer reserve the ground control intercept squadrons successors to the air warning squadrons of world war II 11 are equipped with radar and communications gear with the mission of detecting enemy aircraft and controlling friendly aircraft to intercept enemy planes training of members of the volunteer reserve has been conducted on marlin marine 0 air stations at both el toro and cherry point coln t reserve units are receiving training as funds and facilities permit |