Marine Corps Air Station El ToroIn 1943, the finishing touches on El Toro's construction turned a bean field into one of the country's finest military air stations. Located in a quiet valley at the base of the Saddleback Mountains and only a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, Marine Corps Air Station El Toro stood proud and tall on behalf of the U.S. military for 57 years and four wars. In this publication dedicated to the history of the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro, with a sub-section covering MCAS Tustin, Thomas O'Hara presents a detailed account of the installation's achievements and activities during the entire period of its service to the U.S. military. Over 200 images--from photos of the first Woman Reserve Officers in 1943 to documentation of the annual airshow--illustrate the base's history from its role in World War II through Desert Storm. |
Contents
Introduction | 7 |
Early El Toro through World War II | 9 |
Air FMFPac 1st MAW | 23 |
A New Age in Aviation and Korea | 49 |
3d MAW Arrives at El Toro | 59 |
A Few Famous Marines | 67 |
The Sixties and Seventies | 73 |
Base Renewal | 83 |
1990s Desert Storm BRAC | 97 |
MCAS Tustin LTA | 109 |
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Common terms and phrases
1ST MAW 3d MAW A4 SKYHAWKS AERIAL REFUELING Air FMFPac airshow Aviation Museum base closure bean field blimps bombing BRAC CH-53E Super Stallion Colonel combat duty combat missions COMMAND MUSEUM Corps Air Facility Corps Air Station Cougar Courtesy of Sikorsky deployed Desert Storm F4 PHANTOM F4U Corsair famous fighter flew Flying Bull GRUMMAN Guadalcanal HANGAR HEADQUARTERS BUILDING helicopter squadron HORNET Irvine Ranch James Irvine Japanese jet aircraft John Glenn KC-130 HERCULES Korea Korean War landing last commanding officer LOGO Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Carrier Groups Marine Corps Air MCAS El Toro MCAS Miramar MCAS Tustin military MWSS Navy OFFICERS CLUB Orange County Panther PAPPY BOYINGTON personnel relocated runways Saddleback Mountains Santa Ana served significant transition Sikorsky Aircraft Skyraider southern California STATION EL TORO tactical takeoff Ted Williams Toro and Tustin TORO'S FLIGHT LINE tower transport TYRONE POWER Wildcats Woman Reserve WW II