Within the US military, the USAF and US Navy tend to be associated with the operation of high performance fighter and attack aircraft, and the US Army with vast numbers of helicopters. Along with these services, the US Marine Corps operates a significant and specialised aerial component in its own right, albeit one that tends to get overlooked slightly in the public eye when compared with the other services.
Both the USAF and US Navy have large, internationally renowned museum collections at Wright Patterson AFB and NAS Pensacola respectively, but until recently there was not a museum dedicated to Marine Corps aviation. The opening of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum at MCAS Miramar has gone some way to filling this gap.
Miramar has been home to the USMC since 1997, up until which time it had been a famous US Naval Air Station. In fact, as the home to the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun), NAS Miramar was perhaps one of the most famous airfields in the world.
In 1993 the Base Realignment and Closure Committee (BRAC) recommended that the Marine Corps Air Stations at El Toro and Tustin close and their units relocate to Miramar, which would in turn transfer ownership from the US Navy to the US Marine Corps. The Navy F-14 Tomcat squadrons departed to NAS Oceana and the Fighter Weapons School transferred to NAS Fallon.
Nowadays MCAS Miramar is the headquarters of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3 MAW), and home to the Marine Aircraft Groups 11, 16 and 38, operating a variety of different aircraft in several roles. Main fixed wing type is the F-18 Hornet, along with large numbers of CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Stallion helicopters and a squadron of KC-130 Hercules tankers.
Up until the closure of MCAS El Toro, the base was home to a collection of preserved aircraft which were representative of types operated by the USMC, mainly in the post-WWII era. When El Toro closed and its squadrons relocated to Miramar, this collection of aircraft was also relocated and became the basis for the Flying Leartherneck Aviation Museum. Since 2006, direct access to the museum has been possible for the public.
Although Marine Corps aviation can trace its origins back as early as 1912, few artefacts remain from this era. The oldest aircraft types currently on display at the Flying Leatherneck Museum date from what was perhaps the finest hour of USMC aviation, the battle against Japanese forces in WWII. The museum holds several types from that period, however most are currently away undergoing restoration, or in safe indoor storage. Currently representing that era is a Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber, along with a Harvard trainer.
Another type closely associated with the USMC during WWII is the Chance-Vought F4U Corsair, and an example is on display at the museum. Unusually though, this aircraft is of the later F4U-5N variant which served as a night fighter in the Korean War. The museum’s example is appropriately painted in the colours of the famous VMF(N)-513 Flying Nightmares.
Several early jets which served during the Korean War are also displayed, including a Douglas F3D-2 Skyknight, another night fighter which carries the markings of VMA(N)-513. This bulky fighter was not a huge success in its intended role, but later served with distinction in the electronic warfare role. Other early jets from the Korean War era include Grumman F9F-2 Panther and a McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee, both early examples of jets operated by both the US Navy and USMC. The Panther was the first jet to be used in close support of troops on the ground, a role pioneered by VMA-311.
From the period after the Korean War come several other jet fighters, including a North American FJ-3 Fury and a rare Douglas F4D-1 Skyray, both of which served from carriers alongside the US Navy. The Skyray has recently gone on display following a restoration and looks immaculate.
In 1956 the USMC received the first examples of a type which would still be in service with the Corps nearly 40 years later. The A-4 Skyhawk was operated in large numbers by the Marine Corps light attack squadrons, with the last aircraft being delivered in 1979. That final aircraft was an A-4M and it is on display at the museum alongside a further three Skyhawks, illustrating the development of the type. Of particular interest is the TA-4J on display - although designated a trainer, this aircraft actually served as a Forward Air Control (FAC) aircraft during the Vietnam War, and is another recent addition to the display.
The Vietnam War shaped current US Marine Corps Aviation, and arguable the most important aircraft operated by the Corps in that conflict was the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Two example are displayed, an RF-4B reconnaissance variant and an F-4S, the ultimate Marine Corps version which served until 1992. Another type operated during the Vietnam War was the Vought F-8 Crusader. Although designed as a pure fighter, the aircraft later saw action as a tactical aircraft and also in the fast reconnaissance role. Again, two aircraft are displayed, an F-8E and an RF-8G.
The aircraft which replaced the F-4, A-6 and other types in the USMC remains the most important fast jet aircraft in the Corps today - the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The museum has two examples, one of which is appropriately displayed in the colours of VMA-314 Black Knights, one of the Hornet units based at MCAS Miramar. The museum also has an AV-8A Harrier, however this is currently not on display.
No history of USMC Aviation would be complete without a collection of helicopters, which have traditionally supplied Marines with mobility. The earliest helicopter on display is a Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever which entered USMC service in 1949 as a utility transport and featured a twin rotor design later used in the CH-46 Sea Knight, which remains in service with the Marines to this day.
The Marines operated a series of famous helicopters including Sikorsky H-19 Chicksaw and UH-34D Sea Horse, with the current heavy lift squadrons being equipped with the mighty CH-53 Sea Stallion. Another type which remains in front line service is the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter - the museum displays an AH-1J Sea Cobra.
GAR wants to interact with its readers so if you have a question for the author or a comment to make on this feature, please click on the button below. The best comments will appear right here on GAR.2010-01-29 - mike kopack
I had the opportunity to visit the Flying Leatherneck Museum two weeks ago and I can say that I fully agree with your comments. It was a great article.
All the best,
Mike Kopack
If you would like to discuss using any of our imagery or feature content please contact us.