Marine Air Support Squadron 3 (MASS-3), is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit that provides the Direct Air Support Center (DASC) for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based out of the 32 Area on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Provide Direct Air Support Center (DASC) and DASC-Airborne capabilities for control and coordination of aircraft operating in direct support of Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Operations.â€
Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 3 (MTACS-3) was formed on 3 August 1950 under Marine Air Control Group 2 and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. On March 28, 1951 they moved under the control of Marine Air Control Group 3 (MACG-3). From 22 -24 May 1951, communications Marines from MTACS-3 assisted in the search for a missing Orange County girl. They coordinated with Marine helicopter squadrons that were also participating in the search. In 1952 the squadron took part in SATEX, AMLEX-1, AIRLEX-1, PHIBEX-1 and Div FEX 1.