Ghosts of MCAS El Toro

[@George-ph2fy]

Sad Video... brought back many memories. I served at VMFA-323, 74-76 and headquarters squadron search and rescue, Visiting aircraft line 77-79. I served with many great Marines. there will always be a special place in my heart for them and this great base.

[@JoeCrew-yv2kk]

As a VMCJ-3 pilot from early 1970 to end of 1971 this is an awesome video of Phantom Squadron Row of the era.

[@jasonpayne1240]

I grew up in Irvine near Culver Drive and I-5. MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin inspired me to serve and made me an avgeek to this day. I will never forget the air shows, the awe inspiring sight of all the aircraft and how weird it is that both bases are closed now. I never knew of the 1965 KC 135 crash in Loma Ridge until recently. It brought tears to my eyes thinking about having spent my childhood seeing that hill every day and never knowing what happened there...then growing up to become an Airman and making my own deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq...those Marines and Airmen were on their way to Vietnam and never made it. They died heroes. 🇺🇸 #airforcevet #avgeek #freedomisnotfree

[@jamesjones9753]

I was stationed at El Toro 1956 for two years. 1956-58 Semper Fi

[@BeechHouse]

MCAS El Toro, '82 - '88. H&HMS-11, Shop 62F, Inertial Nav shop for VMFP-3 and several F/A-18 squadrons as they were being rolled out to the Marine Corps. So sad to see now. El Toro was indeed a vibrant community.

[@joesalinaz275]

Awesome video! Although I served in the Army, I grew up down the road from El Toro and have very fond memories of this great base. What is just as interesting as the video, are all the comments posted by all the Marines that once called El Toro their home. Each and every one of you Marines served at El Toro with great pride. It's sad that it was closed down! El Toro MCAS might be gone, but it is most definitely not and will never be forgotten!

[@philiplee8330]

I was with VMFA-314 93 to 97, ultimately becoming part of the squadron move to Miramar. When I first checked into the squadron in Dec 93, they just came back from USS Lincoln. Rumors were ripe that El Toro will close, but at the time everyone thought no way. So much memories of the base. Sad to see this is not just a shell of what the base used to be. I was hoping the Veterans cemetery will be at the grounds somewhere, but of course the greedy Irvine developers dragged things along for 20+ years to erase any remnance of ever having a base there.

[@geo525252]

I was stationed there 1973-74. Great duty station back then

[@abbeyjane1306]

Semper Fi

[@berniepohl1577]

George K I was stationed at MCAS h Santa Ana 1974 through 77

[@tlgtlg3803]

I WAS STATIONED AT ELTORO MCAS 73-74, MASS lll-, marine air support squadron, AS A REDEYE MISSLE OPERATOR/GUNNER, "HOLLY WOOD MARINES"-THEY CALLED US, CIVILIAN CHOW HALL'S , MODERN NEW PRIVATE LIVING QUARTERS , no squadbays, hair 3inches on top, inch on sides, HAD A BLAST! " HOLLYWOOD NITES"! GOOD TIMES,,! SHOULD OF RE-UPPED & STAYED IN LONGER!

[@jerrysullivan8424]

@@berniepohl1577 I served there 1977, 78.

[@berniepohl1577]

@@jerrysullivan8424 I was a field radio operator but they didn't need any at the time show my secondary MOS 2542 I was in the com Center we delivered messages to all the units.

[@kvkmuzic7092]

VMFP-3, 1986-1988, Elec. shop. Sad. It was absolutely a life changing experience working here. Thanks for sharing Marinef4s.

[@steve19745]

KVK Muzic we all had some really good times here! Ive been out 25 years now and its sad to see it like this

[@charlesestrada5947]

H&MS-11, VMFP-3, Flight Equipment, Semper Fi.

[@USMCAllTheWay]

I was with MAG 11 H&MS 11 GSE, 1985-87. Was Fap to P-3 for 6 months in Iwakuni. El Toro was a great base! Semper Fi and thx for serving..

[@mikes7446]

As a Kid going to the Air shows, I’d always going around getting autographs of Marines lol I don’t know I just thought it would be cool to get them on my Blue Angel or Thunderbird cards.

[@stevenmendez2500]

I was a plane captain from 1972-1975. Good memories USS Forrestal

[@Warner532]

I was also a brownshirt with VMFA 531 on the USS Forrestal Med cruise and remember you well Steven. Lived in Tustin outside of El Toro my last year or so in the USMC with my wife before we headed back to Milwaukee.Still play some guitar.

[@greggrolfe1103]

Thank you for posting. I was stationed here from 85-91. VMFA-531 and VMFA-323.

[@desertrat8322]

awesome video !!!! I was there 1982 - 84 , MWSG-37/WTS 37

[@robb2056]

WOW, the memories come flooding back. Thank you for sharing... 89-93 Military Police...

[@jamesdyer9030]

I was there 10/62 thru 10/64 with VMFA 513 Metal Shop. What memories - Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Hollywood & Vine, Grauman's Chinese Theater, etc., etc, etc. Hate that it was closed.

[@abbeyjane1306]

The local communities complained about the jet noise in 1973. When I got there in Feb 73 Irvine did not exist. Neither did the towns to the south. Encroachment caused the closing.

[@callaghanbrakepads6823]

MWCS-38 95-97 barracks 666. Loudest room there. You know Ybarra!

[@nopenope1194]

Sad to see it like this...my dad was a Marine and this was the base i saw all my first airshows at.

[@watchthe1369]

There is just a chunk of runway on the sw corner left now, It looks like the scrapers have eliminated the hill that SSGT Streff caught his 50 in a 25 ticket on. Skateboarding.... That place has memories that are being obliterated. Total change in all the streets and they would rather name a "Great Park" than something that would have some history attached.

[@davidlopez2354]

It sucks that they closed it , no more airshows. Now we have to go all the way to Mira mar in San Diego.

[@abbeyjane1306]

The base closed due to encroachment. In 1973 Irvine population was 7,000. Today it is 266,600. The towns to the south barely existed but are huge today. They kept closing in and in toward the Base calling in noise complaint after noise complaint. The jets had nowhere to operate.

[@tommccormick9290]

I was part of mag 11 group supply in 1975,76.

[@berniepohl1577]

I was part of mag 16 MCAS h Santa Ana in Communications 75 through 77

[@flyworldwide8961]

Very sad to see this place go, VMFA-134 "SMOKE!" 88-90. Great times at Laguna Beach.

[@abbeyjane1306]

Takes me back... I was an air controller at NZJ tower Feb 73 to June 76. Semper Fi KD

[@mre4875]

USMC 81-85: 6017: 3rd MAW, MAG-11, VMFA-314 First Marine Corps squadron to receive the F/A-18.

[@williamboardman9476]

Amazed the paint locker is still out front at ghost VMFP-3....got lots of paint kits stacked from that box. STILL do not know where the base POOL was...looking for base located MOPARS from 79-83.

[@gruffmusic]

Was there with VMA (AW)-121 85-88.

[@tlgtlg3803]

ARE YOU VIEWING THIS,? JOHN MAYES, MIKE MOCCO, WHISPERING WILSON, BRUCE SCHILLING, ALLEN DERBYSHIRE, THOMAS JAKEMAN, VAUGHN SAEY, & MANY OTHERS, WE ALL SERVED IN REDEYE PLATOON TOGETHER 1973-1974 (APPROX.) (Shoot me a reply, you'll find out who I am.)

[@tlgtlg3803]

PS. MASS II I ELTORO!!

[@meatwheel1937]

Crash Crew 80-83