ABANDONED | The Remains of El Toro MCAS: Then & Now (4K)

[@UrbanSharkProductions]

Semper Fi

[@themetalmaiden7462]

I was stationed at El Toro from '84-'87. I started in VMA-211 (A-4M's), then moved to H&MS-13 OMD (OA-4M's), then finished my tour in VMA-214 (A-4M's). El Toro was one of the best duty stations for a young Marine. I had some great times there, sad to see it go away. I was in 2 different units in the large hangars that are still standing in your video. VMA-211 was in the hangar next to VMGR-352 Raiders (C-130's), and VMA-214 was directly across from VMA-211 in the hangar next to MAG-46. Back then MAG-46 had F-4N Phantoms. The E-Club at El Toro was awesome too. One of the best E-Clubs I've ever been to.

[@strategicprepper2648]

I have to say, this was like watching a friend die. I spent many years there and left in 95. Lots of good memories. That base was a key part of my early adulthood.

[@gmoney9068]

That was my first duty station after graduating Boot Camp. I got to MCAS El Toro in July 1982 and shipped to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan in January 1983.

[@Davi3038849844]

Why waa closed?

[@stanshearer7343]

I was there in the 70s and 80s. I was with H&MS-13 IMA working on the A-6 boxes. Great times. Heartbreak Ridge had some scenes at El Toro. Those C-130 tails sticking out of the hanger were from VMGR-352. I stood guard in that hanger! The remake of Invaders From Mars with Karen Black had some scenes shot in the MALS-11 area. I know because i was in the movie. Man, this takes me back. It also makes me sad what has become of the base.

[@cyatic]

I was there from 93-95. If you go to the old MALS-11 Powerplants building, in one of the offices there are two murals I painted in mint condition. It was years ago that I went there. The museum people drove us to the building. Opened the door and there they were! He said they were going to try to salvage those two walls and get them to the musuem. Don't if they ever did, but it was very nice to have seen them again. My wife and kids were with me so it was extra special.

[@KIMMYSSONG]

A place in time I dearly miss. I spent many hours on the tarmac. Blessings, Kimmy

[@bruh23556]

i just went there a few weeks ago. saw the flights sim and the abandoned airplane in one of the buildings. Seems like a very cool place

[@maxzzyzxx]

FOD walks

[@robertbenson3437]

My first duty station in 1964. there till 1965, late, then on to MCLB Barstow and then on to Nam

[@TJ-USMC]

"Excellent Video !!!"

[@karenbeck8684]

I started work in the civil service at this base in 1980. I worked as a Maintenance Work Inspector over many Service Contacts. Landscape Maintenance (improved and i Un-improved grounds), Tree trimming, Painting, Trash (dumpsters), etc😅. The job prompted me to go all over the base. I transferred to another base in 1989. Yearly Air Shows, President Reagan coming to visit the western White House, the filming of a Highway to Heaven Episode. I had to be available to prepare areas (contract wise) for many situations.

[@dianag6343]

My husband was stationed here 1991-1993, we lived in the housing just outside of the back gate. I had no idea it closed down!

[@raymondyee2008]

Where’s the spot remembering CPT. Hiller from “Independence Day”?

[@kensmith2839]

Semper Fi, NZJ, Feb 73 to late June 76. 6712, tower controller.

[@jerrysullivan8424]

I was stationed there from 1977,78.

[@PatrickMcDade-p3m]

Me too. That was my 2nd tour. MWSG-37 WES -37.

[@kendallevans4079]

This video gives The Irvine Company goose bumps. In their dreams, that should all be non-stop pink stucco and chicken wire million dollar condos and apartments. They are working on it, acre by acre. First was to convince the voters to vote down the airport and vote for a "Great Park". Now, it's easy to just "rezone" every couple of years and hand over another few hundred acres for another "Village of Irvine". Complete boondoggle!

[@UrbanSharkProductions]

Totally agree, the past should be honored and some of the structures, hangers or the control tower should be preserved. They just don't appreciate the history...

[@PatrickMcDade-p3m]

Best duty station in the Wing. Pumped billions of dollars into the Irvine community. And this is what Irvine did to her. A damn sin. Semper Fi

[@asianburritoo]

I’m pretty sure most of the runways are now torn up

[@UrbanSharkProductions]

They are all gone, at this point. A new water park took the place of the last remaining section, as seen at the start of this video.