Direct Air Support Center

During amphibious or expeditionary operations, the DASC is normally the first Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) agency ashore and is usually categorized (i.e. scheduled or on call wave) as the Ground Combat Element's (GCE's) senior Fire Support Coordination Center (FSCC).

The MASS possesses numerous high-powered communications assets that cover the entire spectrum of single channel radio frequencies.

Amongst command and control agencies, the DASC is notable for its high degree of mobility and ability to keep pace with supported ground units.

In the most austere scenarios, the basic functions of coordinating and controlling aircraft and processing requests for air support can be accomplished by foot mobile Marines with man-portable radios.

As World War II progressed, the Marine Corps gained hard fought experience in the application of close air support during amphibious landings.

This lack of foresight led to Marine pilots not being able to fly from escort carriers which were providing the close air support during later amphibious landings.

This would return to haunt the Marine Corps during the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign in which it was generally felt that close air support provided by pilots from the United States Navy left much to be desired.

[1] The lack of adequate air support was coupled with the feeling amongst other senior Marine aviators such as Roy Geiger and then Commandant Alexander Vandegrift that Marine aviation was not paying attention to its primary purpose of providing close air support and was too concerned with shooting down enemy aircraft.

This new unit was tasked with allowing the landing force commander to exercise full control of supporting aircraft during amphibious operations.

[5] By the end of November 1944 the personnel and equipment for LFASCU-1 were appropriately formed and they commenced training in air support problems at MCAS Ewa.

LFASCU #1 departed Hawaii on 1 February 1945 whilst LFASCUs 2-4 remained in the vicinity of MCAS Ewa training for future operations.

This marked the first time that the United States Navy had officially delegated this authority ashore during an amphibious operation.

[11] After the successful breakout of the Chosin Reservoir, the Air Support section was transported to Masan, on the southern coast of Korea.

The Air Defense section continued to operate the TACC of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from its location at K-3 Airfield.

(a 10:1 ratio) The ASRTs utilized the AN/TPQ-10 with great success, especially during the Battle of Khe Sanh, where poor weather made conventional close air support methods unreliable.

Lastly, Air Support Liaison Teams (ASLTs) were provided to all of the regiments within the 1st Marine Division to affect coordination with the DASC.