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Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

January 01, 1970

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) (IATA: NKX, ICAO: KNKX, FAA LID: NKX), formerly Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Miramar and Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar, is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. It is located in Miramar, San Diego, California, about 14 miles (23 km) north of Downtown San Diego.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Mitscher Field
San Diego, California in the United States
An aerial view of MCAS Miramar during 2008
MCAS Miramar
Location in the United States
Coordinates32°52′04″N 117°08′30″W / 32.86778°N 117.14167°W / 32.86778; -117.14167
TypeMarine Corps Air Station
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defense
OperatorUS Marine Corps
Controlled by3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
ConditionOperational
Websitewww.miramar.marines.mil
Site history
Built1917 (1917) (as Camp Kearny)
In use1917 – 1920
1929 – present
Garrison information
Current
commander		Colonel Thomas M. Bedell
Garrison
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: NKX, ICAO: KNKX, FAA LID: NKX, WMO: 722930
Elevation145.3 metres (477 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
6L/24R 3,657.6 metres (12,000 ft) concrete
6R/24L 2,438.7 metres (8,001 ft) porous European mix
Helicopter strip (LHD) 304.8 metres (1,000 ft) 
Helipads
Number Length and surface
1 30 metres (98 ft) 
2 30 metres (98 ft) 
3 30 metres (98 ft) 
4 38 metres (125 ft) 
5 38 metres (125 ft) 
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955, after Admiral M.A. Mitscher, who was the commander of Task Force 58 during World War II.[2] The air station is the former location of Pacific Fleet fighter and Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (F-4 Phantom II, F-14 Tomcat, E-2 Hawkeye) and is best known as the former location of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS), its TOPGUN training program and the movie of the same name. In 1996, NFWS was relocated to Naval Air Station Fallon in western Nevada, 60 miles east of Reno, and merged into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC). During the heyday of TOPGUN at NAS Miramar, the station was nicknamed "Fightertown USA".[3][4]

Geography edit

 
Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar

The base contains 23,116 acres (93.55 km2). It is bisected by Kearny Villa Road and Interstate 15. The area east of Kearny Villa Road, called "East Miramar", is undeveloped and is used for military training. [citation needed] Miramar is recognized as the world's largest Master Jet Air Station.

History edit

Kumeyaay Native Americans were the first inhabitants in the vicinity of the base. Spain claimed the San Diego area in 1542 and colonized it beginning in 1769. In 1846, the crown issued a land grant that included the area of the current base to Don Santiago Argüello. After the American Civil War, the land was divided and sold to people such as Edward Scripps, a newspaper publisher from the eastern United States, who developed a ranch on the site. It was Scripps who named the area Miramar, meaning "view of the sea".[5] The land was predominantly used for grazing and farming into the early 20th century.

1918–1941 edit

During World War I, the U.S. Army acquired 12,721 acres (5,148 ha) of land in the Miramar Ranch area, on a mesa north of San Diego.[6] Camp Kearny was opened on 18 January 1917 and was named after Stephen W. Kearny, who was commander of the Army of the West during the Mexican–American War. The base was primarily used to train infantrymen on their way to the battlefields of Europe. During World War I, an airstrip was never built on the property, although Army and U.S. Navy aircraft from Naval Air Station North Island did land on the parade deck. Following the Armistice, the base was used to demobilize servicemen and was closed on 20 October 1920.[7] More than 1,200 buildings were demolished when the camp closed.

Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis airplane was built in nearby San Diego. Lindbergh used the abandoned Camp Kearny parade field to practice landings and take-offs before making his historic solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

During the 1930s, the Navy briefly used the air base for helium dirigibles. In 1932, a mooring mast and hangar were built at the camp for the dirigibles, but when the program was abandoned, the base was quiet again.

World War II edit

By the time World War II began, Miramar was already undergoing a "precautionary" renovation. Camp Holcomb (later renamed Camp Elliott) was built on part of old Camp Kearny, to be used for U.S Marine Corps artillery and machine gun training. Camp Elliott became home to Fleet Marine Force Training Center, West Coast, and the 2nd Marine Division, charged with defending the California coast. Runways were constructed in 1940, and the 1st Marine Air Wing arrived on 21 December of that year. The Navy commissioned Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Camp Kearny in February 1943, specifically to train crews for the Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer,[8] which was built less than 10 miles (16 km) away in San Diego. A month later, the Marines established Marine Corps Air Depot Camp Kearny, later renamed Marine Corps Air Depot Miramar, to avoid confusion with the Navy facility.

The big Privateers proved too heavy for the asphalt concrete runway the Army had installed in 1936 and the longer runways built in 1940, so the Navy added two concrete runways in 1943.

During the 1940s, both the Navy and the Marine Corps occupied Miramar. East Miramar (Camp Elliott) was used to train Marine artillery and armored personnel, while Navy and Marine Corps pilots trained on the western side. The bases were combined and designated Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in 1946.[9][10]

Naval Air Station edit

 
NAS Miramar in 1954

In 1947, the Marines moved to MCAS El Toro in Orange County, California, and Miramar was redesignated as NAAS Miramar (Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar). It became NAS Miramar (Naval Air Station Miramar) on 1 March 1952. In 1954, the Navy offered NAS Miramar to San Diego for $1 and the city considered using the base to relocate its airport.[11] But it was deemed at the time to be too far away from most residents and the offer was declined.

Only the western half of Miramar's facilities were put to use; the old east station began to deteriorate, with many buildings sold as scrap. Miramar found new life as a Navy Master Jet Station in the 1950s. The eastern half, former Camp Elliot, was used by the United States Air Force for Project Orion[12] (having been transferred temporarily),[13] and later by NASA;[14] it was the site of several launches.[15] The base really came into its own during the Vietnam War. The Navy needed a school to train pilots in dog-fighting and in fleet air defense. In 1969, the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School was established organizationally as part of VF-121, which was then the F-4 Phantom Fleet Replacement Aviation Maintenance Personnel (FRAMP), which trained the maintainers who joined the fleet as qualified "Phantom Phixeres".

In October 1972, Miramar welcomed the F-14 Tomcat and fighter squadron VF-124, a former Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) tasked with the mission to train new Tomcat crews. Formerly, VF-124 had been training pilots in the F-8 Crusader. That task was handed over to Light Photographic Squadron 63 (VFP-63) that then became "Crusader College" The first two operational Tomcat squadrons, VF-1 known as the "Wolfpack" and VF-2 known as the "Bounty Hunters," trained here before deploying aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in 1974.

NAS Miramar was also the west coast E-2 squadrons home. VAW-110 the west coast fleet replacement squadron and fleet squadrons VAW-112, VAW-113, VAW-114 (disestablished 1995), VAW-116 and VAW-117. With the change to MCAS Miramar, the training squadron was disestablished and moved to NAS Norfolk, Virginia. The fleet squadrons were moved to NAS Point Mugu, California.

1990s–Present: Marine Corps Air Station edit

 
F/A-18 Hornet on the flight line at MCAS Miramar

In 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission recommended that MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin be closed down and that NAS Miramar be transferred to the Marine Corps. BRAC also recommended that all Navy Pacific Fleet F-14 aircraft and squadrons (with the exception of those assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5 in Japan) and Pacific Fleet F-14 training be consolidated with the Atlantic Fleet and be relocated to NAS Oceana, Virginia. BRAC recommended that Pacific Fleet E-2C training be consolidated with Atlantic Fleet E-2C training at NAS Norfolk, that all Pacific Fleet E-2C aircraft and squadrons (with the exception of those assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5 in Japan) be relocated to NAS Point Mugu, and that the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and Navy Reserve adversary squadron VFC-13 be relocated to NAS Fallon, Nevada.

In 1999, MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin were closed and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing returned to Miramar when it officially became Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.[16] On 1 October 1997, Colonel Thomas A. Caughlan became the first Marine commanding officer of MCAS Miramar since World War II. Caughlan was also the last commanding officer of MCAS Tustin.[17]

In 2005, the BRAC Commission directed instructor pilots and support personnel from Miramar to Eglin AFB in Florida, sufficient to stand up the Marine Corps' portion of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program (JSF) Training Site.[18] This will lead to an eventual phasing out of fighter pilot training at Miramar by 2015 as the F/A-18 Hornets are retired.

In 2006, the San Diego County Proposition A proposed obtaining 3000 acres (12 km2) at MCAS Miramar to develop a commercial airport.[19] The proposition was defeated 62 percent opposed to 38 percent in favor.[20]

Noise edit

Numerous noise complaints have been lodged against MCAS Miramar (and its predecessor, NAS Miramar) going back for decades funded partly by real estate developers[21] (Pardee Construction Co). MCAS Miramar is located near the center of the City of San Diego. It is surrounded on three sides by residential areas including Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, University City, Clairemont, and Tierrasanta. MCAS Miramar has a web site and phone number that people can call to register complaints about noise. To lessen the noise impact to the community, MCAS Miramar has made adjustments to their operations over the years, including the use of hush-houses, limitations on engine run-ups, and modification to flight plans. In spite of efforts, noise complaints remain an issue in 2019.[22][23][24][25][26]

Based units edit

Flying and notable non-flying units based at MCAS Miramar:[27][28]

Crashes edit

There have been a number of aviation accidents:

  • On 4 December 1959, an F3H Demon with Navy pilot ENS Albert Joe Hickman crashed into the adjoining community of Clairemont Mesa. The pilot stayed with the aircraft to avoid hitting a school. The city named an elementary school in Mira Mesa after him.[30]
  • On 12 August 1968, a U.S. Navy Vought F-8 Crusader (F-8C) fighter jet of VF-124 crashed while returning to (then) NAS Miramar, from nighttime Sidewinder missile training with three other F-8 Crusader fighters. The pilot, LT (JG) Roman S. Ohnemus, 25, did not eject, and died in the crash. The incident occurred in the dark, early morning hours in remote, brush-covered terrain (somewhat level except for narrow valleys), north of (then) NAS Miramar, and Miramar Road, west of U.S. Highway 395 (now Interstate 15), and south of Black Mountain. A small brush fire was started by the crash. Live missiles presented a dangerous crash site to the first-arriving state forestry firefighters, who were woken by the crash. They were from the nearby (between 1 and 2 miles) Miramar California Division of Forestry (now CalFire) fire station.[31][citation needed]
  • On 22 December 1969, an F-8J Crusader of VF-194 crashed into a hangar at NAS Miramar, after the pilot ejected. 14 died and 30 were injured.[32] Pilot Lt. C. M. Riddell ejected safely. Five other fighters, including two F-4 Phantoms, were damaged in the repair facility fire that ensued. Helicopters and military and civilian ambulances were used to transport the injured to Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego.[33][34]
  • On 27 March 1978, an F-14 Tomcat from VF-1 crashed into I-15[35] just short of the runway and was stopped on the northbound lanes by a concrete divider. One aviator in the Tomcat was killed.
  • On 7 November 1978, an A-4 Skyhawk used by the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, crashed and the pilot was killed.[36]
  • On 11 March 1985, an F-8 Crusader crashed into a parking lot of a nearby industrial park. The pilot ejected safely.[37]
  • On 3 December 1985, U.S. Navy Capt Henry M. Kleeman was killed when his F/A-18 Hornet skidded 5000 feet and flipped on a wet runway.[38]
  • On 21 March 1987 an F-14 Tomcat crashed just south of Poway Road, into the canyons of what is now the Mercy Road area, approximately 4 miles from the base. Both crewmembers ejected safely.
  • On 26 June 1987, an A-3 Skywarrior from VQ-1 was practicing night Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) - The aircraft impacted the ground after turning downwind subsequent to take off. Three crewmembers were killed.[39]
  • On 11 March 2004, a UC-35 crashed on east Miramar at the approach end of the runway. Four Marines were killed.[40]
  • In November 2006, an F/A-18D Hornet from VMFAT-101 crashed on the eastern perimeter of the base, with the pilot ejecting safely.[41]
  • On 8 December 2008, four people were killed, two homes were destroyed and three homes were damaged when an F/A-18D Hornet crashed about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the base.[42] The plane was returning from training exercises with the USS Abraham Lincoln, which was off the coast of San Diego. The pilot was attempting to steer the aircraft to an unpopulated area when he lost all engine, electrical and hydraulic power. He ejected safely.[42]
  • On 24 August 2023, an F/A-18 Hornet crashed east of the base close to the I-15. The sole pilot aboard died after ejecting from the aircraft.[43][44]

Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar edit

Main article: Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar

Miramar National Cemetery edit

Main article: Miramar National Cemetery

On 30 January 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated a new National Cemetery at the northwest corner of MCAS Miramar.[45] The cemetery is an extension of Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and when complete will accommodate approximately 235,000 deceased veterans and spouses.[46]

Attractions edit

 
The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps at MCAS Miramar in 2014

See also edit

Attribution edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

References edit

  1. ^ "Airport Diagram – Miramar MCAS (Joe Foss Field) (KNKX)" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  2. ^ Lance Cpl. O'Quin, Christopher (16 October 2008). "Famed Navy Admiral's legacy lives on flight line". 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  3. ^ Perry, Tony (1 June 1996). "San Diego bids farewell to Top Guns". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. (Los Angeles Times). p. 3A.
  4. ^ Fordahl, Matthew (28 May 1996). "'Top Gun' flight school is leaving San Diego". Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Associated Press. p. C7.
  5. ^ Fetzer, Leland, San Diego County Place Names A to Z, page 93, Sunbelt Publications, Inc, 2005, ISBN 978-0-932653-73-4
  6. ^ "Historic California Posts: Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar". www.militarymuseum.org.
  7. ^ Shettle, M L Jr. (2001). United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II. Bowersville, Georgia: Schaertel Publishing Company. p. 103. ISBN 0-9643388-2-3.
  8. ^ (PDF). Naval Historical Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  9. ^ La Tourette, Robert, LT USN (June 1968). "The San Diego Naval Complex". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Linder, Bruce (2001). San Diego's Navy. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 126. ISBN 1-55750-531-4.
  11. ^ Shettle, M L Jr. (2001). United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II. Bowersville, Georgia: Schaertel Publishing Company. p. 105. ISBN 0-9643388-2-3.
  12. ^ "Camp Elliot". Camp La Jolla Military Park. University of California, San Diego. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  13. ^ "Overview of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar". MilitaryHOMEFRONT. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  14. ^ (PDF). MCAS Miramar, California. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  15. ^ "Atlas ICBM Missile". amp La Jolla Military Park. University of California, San Diego. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  16. ^ Shettle, M L Jr. (2001). United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II. Bowersville, Georgia: Schaertel Publishing Company. ISBN 0-9643388-2-3.
  17. ^ "Miramar's first Marine commander since WWII retires". Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps.
  18. ^ "May 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Report" (PDF). DefenseLink.mil.
  19. ^ Proposition A: Commercial airport at MCAS Miramar – San Diego County, CA SmartVoter.org
  20. ^ Ristine, Jeff (11 December 2006). . San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007.
  21. ^ Perry, Tony (8 September 1996). "Helo…goodbye". www.latimes.com.
  22. ^ "MCAS Miramar Today: Community Relations". No on Prop A. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  23. ^ . MCAS Miramar. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  24. ^ "Marines reprimand two fighter pilots for flight mistakes, amid Miramar neighbor noise complaints" https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/sd-me-miramar-complaints-20180127-story.html
  25. ^ "Neighbors concerned with F-35 coming to MCAS Miramar https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/neighbors-concerned-with-f-35-coming-to-mcas-miramar"
  26. ^ "Jet noise disturbs some Carmel Valley residents" https://www.delmartimes.net/sd-cm-nc-jetnoise-20180911-story.html
  27. ^ Kaminski, Tom (2019). "Aircraft of the US Marine Corps". US Navy & Marine Corps Air Power Yearbook 2019. Key Publishing. pp. 88–99.
  28. ^ "About MCAS Miramar". Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. US Marine Corps. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  29. ^ "Air Force Security Forces Center". Air Force Installation & Mission Support Center. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Hickman the Hero". Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  31. ^ This information is from a firefighter on the crash scene, Greg Bishop, and the pilot of one of the other aircraft on this training mission[original research?]
  32. ^ Miramar Naval Air Station, CA Jet Fighter Crashes Into Hangar, Dec 1969 | GenDisasters ... Genealogy in Tragedy, Disasters, Fires, Floods. .gendisasters.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-24.
  33. ^ Redlands, California: Redlands Daily Facts, Thursday, 22 December 1969, page one.
  34. ^ This Is A Work In Progress And I 2012-10-02 at the Wayback Machine. Ejection-history.org.uk. Retrieved on 2014-05-24.
  35. ^ In 1982, I-15 was relocated eastward, and the road where the crash occurred became an extension of Kearny Villa Road. See Cooper, Casey (1 February 2008). "Unmarked Freeways: Kearny Villa Road". Historical Highways of Central and Southern California.
  36. ^ . Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  37. ^ This Is A Work In Progress And I 2012-10-11 at the Wayback Machine. Ejection-history.org.uk. Retrieved on 2014-05-24.
  38. ^ Reza, H.G. (4 December 1985). "Navy Pilot Dies After Jet Flips at Miramar". www.latimes.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  39. ^ [1] 2016-01-31 at the Wayback Machine. http://www.a3skywarrior.com/personnel/memorials/a-3-accidents-by-buno.html . Retrieved on 2015-11-26.
  40. ^ Walker, Mark (30 October 2009). "MILITARY: Other recent crashes involving local military aircraft". North County Times. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  41. ^ Times, North County (30 November 2006). . San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  42. ^ a b "Records sought on jet type involved in crash". NBC News. Associated Press. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  43. ^ "Pilot killed after F-18 military jet crashes north of San Diego". NBC News. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  44. ^ "Pilot aboard F-18 military jet that crashed near San Diego has died: Official". ABC News. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  45. ^ 32°52′21″N 117°11′04″W / 32.87250°N 117.18444°W / 32.87250; -117.18444; U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Miramar National Cemetery
  46. ^ Moss, Andrea (30 January 2010). . San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2015.

Bibliography edit

  • O'Hara, Thomas (2005). Images of America – Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Charleston, SC: Arcadia. ISBN 0-7385-3058-1.
  • Sherrod, Robert (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press.
  • Shettle, M. L. (2001). United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II. Bowersville, Georgia: Schaertel Publishing Company. ISBN 0-9643388-2-3.

Further reading edit

  • Stewart, Noah; Anteon Corporation (January 2004). Historic Overview (PDF) (Report). United States Marine Corps. MCAS Miramar Environmental Management.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
  • Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
  • USMC Air Station Miramar Overview & PCS Information
  • Miramar Air Show
  • Flying Leathernecks Museum web site
  • FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective April 18, 2024
  • Resources for this U.S. military airport:
    • FAA airport information for NKX
    • AirNav airport information for KNKX
    • ASN accident history for NKX
    • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
    • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KNKX
  • Miramar National Cemetery official website

January 01, 1970
marine, corps, station, miramar, mcas, miramar, iata, icao, knkx, formerly, naval, auxiliary, station, naas, miramar, naval, station, miramar, united, states, marine, corps, installation, that, home, marine, aircraft, wing, which, aviation, element, marine, ex. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar MCAS Miramar IATA NKX ICAO KNKX FAA LID NKX formerly Naval Auxiliary Air Station NAAS Miramar and Naval Air Station NAS Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force It is located in Miramar San Diego California about 14 miles 23 km north of Downtown San Diego Marine Corps Air Station MiramarMitscher FieldSan Diego California in the United StatesAn aerial view of MCAS Miramar during 2008MCAS MiramarLocation in the United StatesCoordinates32 52 04 N 117 08 30 W 32 86778 N 117 14167 W 32 86778 117 14167TypeMarine Corps Air StationSite informationOwnerDepartment of DefenseOperatorUS Marine CorpsControlled by3rd Marine Aircraft WingConditionOperationalWebsitewww wbr miramar wbr marines wbr milSite historyBuilt1917 1917 as Camp Kearny In use1917 19201929 presentGarrison informationCurrentcommanderColonel Thomas M BedellGarrisonMarine Aircraft Group 11 Marine Aircraft Group 16 Marine Air Control Group 38Airfield informationIdentifiersIATA NKX ICAO KNKX FAA LID NKX WMO 722930Elevation145 3 metres 477 ft AMSLRunwaysDirection Length and surface6L 24R 3 657 6 metres 12 000 ft concrete6R 24L 2 438 7 metres 8 001 ft porous European mixHelicopter strip LHD 304 8 metres 1 000 ft HelipadsNumber Length and surface1 30 metres 98 ft 2 30 metres 98 ft 3 30 metres 98 ft 4 38 metres 125 ft 5 38 metres 125 ft Source Federal Aviation Administration 1 The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955 after Admiral M A Mitscher who was the commander of Task Force 58 during World War II 2 The air station is the former location of Pacific Fleet fighter and Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft F 4 Phantom II F 14 Tomcat E 2 Hawkeye and is best known as the former location of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School NFWS its TOPGUN training program and the movie of the same name In 1996 NFWS was relocated to Naval Air Station Fallon in western Nevada 60 miles east of Reno and merged into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center NSAWC During the heyday of TOPGUN at NAS Miramar the station was nicknamed Fightertown USA 3 4 Contents 1 Geography 2 History 2 1 1918 1941 2 2 World War II 2 3 Naval Air Station 2 4 1990s Present Marine Corps Air Station 2 5 Noise 3 Based units 3 1 United States Marine Corps 3 2 United States Navy 3 3 United States Air Force 4 Crashes 5 Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar 6 Miramar National Cemetery 7 Attractions 8 See also 9 Attribution 10 References 11 Bibliography 12 Further reading 13 External linksGeography edit nbsp Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar The base contains 23 116 acres 93 55 km2 It is bisected by Kearny Villa Road and Interstate 15 The area east of Kearny Villa Road called East Miramar is undeveloped and is used for military training citation needed Miramar is recognized as the world s largest Master Jet Air Station History editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Marine Corps Air Station Miramar news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message Kumeyaay Native Americans were the first inhabitants in the vicinity of the base Spain claimed the San Diego area in 1542 and colonized it beginning in 1769 In 1846 the crown issued a land grant that included the area of the current base to Don Santiago Arguello After the American Civil War the land was divided and sold to people such as Edward Scripps a newspaper publisher from the eastern United States who developed a ranch on the site It was Scripps who named the area Miramar meaning view of the sea 5 The land was predominantly used for grazing and farming into the early 20th century 1918 1941 edit During World War I the U S Army acquired 12 721 acres 5 148 ha of land in the Miramar Ranch area on a mesa north of San Diego 6 Camp Kearny was opened on 18 January 1917 and was named after Stephen W Kearny who was commander of the Army of the West during the Mexican American War The base was primarily used to train infantrymen on their way to the battlefields of Europe During World War I an airstrip was never built on the property although Army and U S Navy aircraft from Naval Air Station North Island did land on the parade deck Following the Armistice the base was used to demobilize servicemen and was closed on 20 October 1920 7 More than 1 200 buildings were demolished when the camp closed Charles Lindbergh s Spirit of St Louis airplane was built in nearby San Diego Lindbergh used the abandoned Camp Kearny parade field to practice landings and take offs before making his historic solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean During the 1930s the Navy briefly used the air base for helium dirigibles In 1932 a mooring mast and hangar were built at the camp for the dirigibles but when the program was abandoned the base was quiet again World War II edit By the time World War II began Miramar was already undergoing a precautionary renovation Camp Holcomb later renamed Camp Elliott was built on part of old Camp Kearny to be used for U S Marine Corps artillery and machine gun training Camp Elliott became home to Fleet Marine Force Training Center West Coast and the 2nd Marine Division charged with defending the California coast Runways were constructed in 1940 and the 1st Marine Air Wing arrived on 21 December of that year The Navy commissioned Naval Auxiliary Air Station NAAS Camp Kearny in February 1943 specifically to train crews for the Consolidated PB4Y 2 Privateer 8 which was built less than 10 miles 16 km away in San Diego A month later the Marines established Marine Corps Air Depot Camp Kearny later renamed Marine Corps Air Depot Miramar to avoid confusion with the Navy facility The big Privateers proved too heavy for the asphalt concrete runway the Army had installed in 1936 and the longer runways built in 1940 so the Navy added two concrete runways in 1943 During the 1940s both the Navy and the Marine Corps occupied Miramar East Miramar Camp Elliott was used to train Marine artillery and armored personnel while Navy and Marine Corps pilots trained on the western side The bases were combined and designated Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in 1946 9 10 Naval Air Station edit nbsp NAS Miramar in 1954 In 1947 the Marines moved to MCAS El Toro in Orange County California and Miramar was redesignated as NAAS Miramar Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar It became NAS Miramar Naval Air Station Miramar on 1 March 1952 In 1954 the Navy offered NAS Miramar to San Diego for 1 and the city considered using the base to relocate its airport 11 But it was deemed at the time to be too far away from most residents and the offer was declined Only the western half of Miramar s facilities were put to use the old east station began to deteriorate with many buildings sold as scrap Miramar found new life as a Navy Master Jet Station in the 1950s The eastern half former Camp Elliot was used by the United States Air Force for Project Orion 12 having been transferred temporarily 13 and later by NASA 14 it was the site of several launches 15 The base really came into its own during the Vietnam War The Navy needed a school to train pilots in dog fighting and in fleet air defense In 1969 the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School was established organizationally as part of VF 121 which was then the F 4 Phantom Fleet Replacement Aviation Maintenance Personnel FRAMP which trained the maintainers who joined the fleet as qualified Phantom Phixeres In October 1972 Miramar welcomed the F 14 Tomcat and fighter squadron VF 124 a former Fleet Replacement Squadron FRS tasked with the mission to train new Tomcat crews Formerly VF 124 had been training pilots in the F 8 Crusader That task was handed over to Light Photographic Squadron 63 VFP 63 that then became Crusader College The first two operational Tomcat squadrons VF 1 known as the Wolfpack and VF 2 known as the Bounty Hunters trained here before deploying aboard USS Enterprise CVN 65 in 1974 NAS Miramar was also the west coast E 2 squadrons home VAW 110 the west coast fleet replacement squadron and fleet squadrons VAW 112 VAW 113 VAW 114 disestablished 1995 VAW 116 and VAW 117 With the change to MCAS Miramar the training squadron was disestablished and moved to NAS Norfolk Virginia The fleet squadrons were moved to NAS Point Mugu California 1990s Present Marine Corps Air Station edit nbsp F A 18 Hornet on the flight line at MCAS Miramar In 1993 the Base Realignment and Closure BRAC commission recommended that MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin be closed down and that NAS Miramar be transferred to the Marine Corps BRAC also recommended that all Navy Pacific Fleet F 14 aircraft and squadrons with the exception of those assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5 in Japan and Pacific Fleet F 14 training be consolidated with the Atlantic Fleet and be relocated to NAS Oceana Virginia BRAC recommended that Pacific Fleet E 2C training be consolidated with Atlantic Fleet E 2C training at NAS Norfolk that all Pacific Fleet E 2C aircraft and squadrons with the exception of those assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5 in Japan be relocated to NAS Point Mugu and that the Naval Fighter Weapons School TOPGUN and Navy Reserve adversary squadron VFC 13 be relocated to NAS Fallon Nevada In 1999 MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin were closed and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing returned to Miramar when it officially became Marine Corps Air Station Miramar 16 On 1 October 1997 Colonel Thomas A Caughlan became the first Marine commanding officer of MCAS Miramar since World War II Caughlan was also the last commanding officer of MCAS Tustin 17 In 2005 the BRAC Commission directed instructor pilots and support personnel from Miramar to Eglin AFB in Florida sufficient to stand up the Marine Corps portion of the F 35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program JSF Training Site 18 This will lead to an eventual phasing out of fighter pilot training at Miramar by 2015 as the F A 18 Hornets are retired In 2006 the San Diego County Proposition A proposed obtaining 3000 acres 12 km2 at MCAS Miramar to develop a commercial airport 19 The proposition was defeated 62 percent opposed to 38 percent in favor 20 Noise edit Numerous noise complaints have been lodged against MCAS Miramar and its predecessor NAS Miramar going back for decades funded partly by real estate developers 21 Pardee Construction Co MCAS Miramar is located near the center of the City of San Diego It is surrounded on three sides by residential areas including Mira Mesa Scripps Ranch University City Clairemont and Tierrasanta MCAS Miramar has a web site and phone number that people can call to register complaints about noise To lessen the noise impact to the community MCAS Miramar has made adjustments to their operations over the years including the use of hush houses limitations on engine run ups and modification to flight plans In spite of efforts noise complaints remain an issue in 2019 22 23 24 25 26 Based units editFlying and notable non flying units based at MCAS Miramar 27 28 United States Marine Corps edit Marine Corps Installations West Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron UC 12W Huron and UC 35D Citation 1st Marine Logistics Group Combat Logistics Regiment 15 CLR 15 Combat Logistics Company 11 CLC 11 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 Marine Air Control Group 38 Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38 Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 Marine Aircraft Group 11 Marine Aerial Refueller Squadron 352 VMGR 352 KC 130J Hercules Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 MALS 11 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 VMFA 232 F A 18C D Hornet Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 VMFA 311 F 35C Lightning II Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 VMFA 314 F 35C Lightning II Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 VMFA 323 F A 18C Hornet Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502 VMFAT 502 F 35B Lightning II Marine Aircraft Group 16 Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 MALS 16 Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 HMH 361 CH 53E Super Stallion Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 HMH 462 CH 53E Super Stallion Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 HMH 465 CH 53E Super Stallion Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 HMH 466 CH 53E Super Stallion Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 161 VMM 161 MV 22B Osprey Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 163 VMM 163 MV 22B Osprey Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 165 VMM 165 MV 22B Osprey Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 166 VMM 166 MV 22B Osprey Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 362 VMM 362 MV 22B Osprey Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 764 VMM 764 MV 22B Osprey Marine Wing Support Group 37 Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 MWSS 373 United States Navy edit Navy Personnel Command Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar United States Air Force edit Air Force Materiel Command AFMC Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Air Force Security Forces Center Detachment 2 GSU 29 Crashes editThere have been a number of aviation accidents On 4 December 1959 an F3H Demon with Navy pilot ENS Albert Joe Hickman crashed into the adjoining community of Clairemont Mesa The pilot stayed with the aircraft to avoid hitting a school The city named an elementary school in Mira Mesa after him 30 On 12 August 1968 a U S Navy Vought F 8 Crusader F 8C fighter jet of VF 124 crashed while returning to then NAS Miramar from nighttime Sidewinder missile training with three other F 8 Crusader fighters The pilot LT JG Roman S Ohnemus 25 did not eject and died in the crash The incident occurred in the dark early morning hours in remote brush covered terrain somewhat level except for narrow valleys north of then NAS Miramar and Miramar Road west of U S Highway 395 now Interstate 15 and south of Black Mountain A small brush fire was started by the crash Live missiles presented a dangerous crash site to the first arriving state forestry firefighters who were woken by the crash They were from the nearby between 1 and 2 miles Miramar California Division of Forestry now CalFire fire station 31 citation needed On 22 December 1969 an F 8J Crusader of VF 194 crashed into a hangar at NAS Miramar after the pilot ejected 14 died and 30 were injured 32 Pilot Lt C M Riddell ejected safely Five other fighters including two F 4 Phantoms were damaged in the repair facility fire that ensued Helicopters and military and civilian ambulances were used to transport the injured to Balboa Naval Hospital San Diego 33 34 On 27 March 1978 an F 14 Tomcat from VF 1 crashed into I 15 35 just short of the runway and was stopped on the northbound lanes by a concrete divider One aviator in the Tomcat was killed On 7 November 1978 an A 4 Skyhawk used by the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron the Blue Angels crashed and the pilot was killed 36 On 11 March 1985 an F 8 Crusader crashed into a parking lot of a nearby industrial park The pilot ejected safely 37 On 3 December 1985 U S Navy Capt Henry M Kleeman was killed when his F A 18 Hornet skidded 5000 feet and flipped on a wet runway 38 On 21 March 1987 an F 14 Tomcat crashed just south of Poway Road into the canyons of what is now the Mercy Road area approximately 4 miles from the base Both crewmembers ejected safely On 26 June 1987 an A 3 Skywarrior from VQ 1 was practicing night Field Carrier Landing Practice FCLP The aircraft impacted the ground after turning downwind subsequent to take off Three crewmembers were killed 39 On 11 March 2004 a UC 35 crashed on east Miramar at the approach end of the runway Four Marines were killed 40 In November 2006 an F A 18D Hornet from VMFAT 101 crashed on the eastern perimeter of the base with the pilot ejecting safely 41 On 8 December 2008 four people were killed two homes were destroyed and three homes were damaged when an F A 18D Hornet crashed about 2 miles 3 2 km from the base 42 The plane was returning from training exercises with the USS Abraham Lincoln which was off the coast of San Diego The pilot was attempting to steer the aircraft to an unpopulated area when he lost all engine electrical and hydraulic power He ejected safely 42 On 24 August 2023 an F A 18 Hornet crashed east of the base close to the I 15 The sole pilot aboard died after ejecting from the aircraft 43 44 Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar editMain article Naval Consolidated Brig MiramarMiramar National Cemetery editMain article Miramar National Cemetery On 30 January 2010 the Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated a new National Cemetery at the northwest corner of MCAS Miramar 45 The cemetery is an extension of Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and when complete will accommodate approximately 235 000 deceased veterans and spouses 46 Attractions edit nbsp The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps at MCAS Miramar in 2014 MCAS Miramar was home to the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum which closed in 2021 The Miramar Airshow is a major airshow held at MCAS Miramar each October See also edit nbsp California portal nbsp Aviation portal Kearny Mesa where MCAS Miramar is located List of United States Marine Corps installations List of airports in California Pogogyne abramsii is an endangered plant found on the grounds of MCAS Miramar United States Marine Corps Aviation San Diego International Airport is another airport located in San Diego Attribution edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps References edit Airport Diagram Miramar MCAS Joe Foss Field KNKX PDF Federal Aviation Administration 18 June 2020 Retrieved 21 June 2020 Lance Cpl O Quin Christopher 16 October 2008 Famed Navy Admiral s legacy lives on flight line 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing United States Marine Corps Retrieved 2 October 2021 Perry Tony 1 June 1996 San Diego bids farewell to Top Guns Eugene Register Guard Oregon Los Angeles Times p 3A Fordahl Matthew 28 May 1996 Top Gun flight school is leaving San Diego Free Lance Star Fredericksburg Virginia Associated Press p C7 Fetzer Leland San Diego County Place Names A to Z page 93 Sunbelt Publications Inc 2005 ISBN 978 0 932653 73 4 Historic California Posts Marine Corps Air Station Miramar www militarymuseum org Shettle M L Jr 2001 United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II Bowersville Georgia Schaertel Publishing Company p 103 ISBN 0 9643388 2 3 United States Naval Aviation 1910 1995 PDF Naval Historical Center Archived from the original PDF on 10 April 2010 Retrieved 10 September 2009 La Tourette Robert LT USN June 1968 The San Diego Naval Complex United States Naval Institute Proceedings a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Linder Bruce 2001 San Diego s Navy Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press p 126 ISBN 1 55750 531 4 Shettle M L Jr 2001 United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II Bowersville Georgia Schaertel Publishing Company p 105 ISBN 0 9643388 2 3 Camp Elliot Camp La Jolla Military Park University of California San Diego Retrieved 13 January 2011 Overview of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar MilitaryHOMEFRONT Archived from the original on 7 July 2012 Retrieved 13 January 2011 2 0 MCAS MIRAMAR LAND USE PDF MCAS Miramar California United States Marine Corps Archived from the original PDF on 22 July 2011 Retrieved 13 January 2011 Atlas ICBM Missile amp La Jolla Military Park University of California San Diego Retrieved 13 January 2011 Shettle M L Jr 2001 United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II Bowersville Georgia Schaertel Publishing Company ISBN 0 9643388 2 3 Miramar s first Marine commander since WWII retires Marine Corps News United States Marine Corps May 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Report PDF DefenseLink mil Proposition A Commercial airport at MCAS Miramar San Diego County CA SmartVoter org Ristine Jeff 11 December 2006 Vigorous no for Miramar airport Every city in county rejected proposition San Diego Union Tribune Archived from the original on 1 July 2007 Perry Tony 8 September 1996 Helo goodbye www latimes com MCAS Miramar Today Community Relations No on Prop A Retrieved 20 August 2008 MCAS Miramar Noise Complaint hotline MCAS Miramar Archived from the original on 13 March 2008 Retrieved 18 August 2008 Marines reprimand two fighter pilots for flight mistakes amid Miramar neighbor noise complaints https www sandiegouniontribune com military sd me miramar complaints 20180127 story html Neighbors concerned with F 35 coming to MCAS Miramar https www 10news com news local news neighbors concerned with f 35 coming to mcas miramar Jet noise disturbs some Carmel Valley residents https www delmartimes net sd cm nc jetnoise 20180911 story html Kaminski Tom 2019 Aircraft of the US Marine Corps US Navy amp Marine Corps Air Power Yearbook 2019 Key Publishing pp 88 99 About MCAS Miramar Marine Corps Air Station Miramar US Marine Corps Retrieved 21 June 2020 Air Force Security Forces Center Air Force Installation amp Mission Support Center Retrieved 12 August 2023 Hickman the Hero Retrieved 20 June 2016 This information is from a firefighter on the crash scene Greg Bishop and the pilot of one of the other aircraft on this training mission original research Miramar Naval Air Station CA Jet Fighter Crashes Into Hangar Dec 1969 GenDisasters Genealogy in Tragedy Disasters Fires Floods gendisasters com Retrieved on 2014 05 24 Redlands California Redlands Daily Facts Thursday 22 December 1969 page one This Is A Work In Progress And I Archived 2012 10 02 at the Wayback Machine Ejection history org uk Retrieved on 2014 05 24 In 1982 I 15 was relocated eastward and the road where the crash occurred became an extension of Kearny Villa Road See Cooper Casey 1 February 2008 Unmarked Freeways Kearny Villa Road Historical Highways of Central and Southern California Welcome blueangels usn org Hostmonster com Archived from the original on 14 June 2016 Retrieved 20 June 2016 This Is A Work In Progress And I Archived 2012 10 11 at the Wayback Machine Ejection history org uk Retrieved on 2014 05 24 Reza H G 4 December 1985 Navy Pilot Dies After Jet Flips at Miramar www latimes com Retrieved 27 May 2020 1 Archived 2016 01 31 at the Wayback Machine http www a3skywarrior com personnel memorials a 3 accidents by buno html Retrieved on 2015 11 26 Walker Mark 30 October 2009 MILITARY Other recent crashes involving local military aircraft North County Times Retrieved 3 September 2023 Times North County 30 November 2006 F 18 crashes today east of Miramar San Diego Union Tribune Archived from the original on 8 February 2024 Retrieved 8 February 2024 a b Records sought on jet type involved in crash NBC News Associated Press 9 December 2008 Retrieved 9 December 2008 Pilot killed after F 18 military jet crashes north of San Diego NBC News 26 August 2023 Retrieved 26 August 2023 Pilot aboard F 18 military jet that crashed near San Diego has died Official ABC News Retrieved 26 August 2023 32 52 21 N 117 11 04 W 32 87250 N 117 18444 W 32 87250 117 18444 U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Miramar National Cemetery Moss Andrea 30 January 2010 MIRAMAR Veterans officials dedicate new national cemetery at Marine Corps air base San Diego Union Tribune Archived from the original on 6 September 2011 Retrieved 13 May 2015 Bibliography editO Hara Thomas 2005 Images of America Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Charleston SC Arcadia ISBN 0 7385 3058 1 Sherrod Robert 1952 History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II Washington D C Combat Forces Press Shettle M L 2001 United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II Bowersville Georgia Schaertel Publishing Company ISBN 0 9643388 2 3 Further reading editStewart Noah Anteon Corporation January 2004 Historic Overview PDF Report United States Marine Corps MCAS Miramar Environmental Management External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Marine Corps Air Station Miramar USMC Air Station Miramar Overview amp PCS Information Miramar Air Show Flying Leathernecks Museum web site FAA Airport Diagram PDF effective April 18 2024 Resources for this U S military airport FAA airport information for NKX AirNav airport information for KNKX ASN accident history for NKX NOAA NWS latest weather observations SkyVector aeronautical chart for KNKX Miramar National Cemetery official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marine Corps Air Station Miramar amp oldid 1219862763, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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