| MCAS El Toro Historical Foundation |
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Reviews / Comments by our visitors
| Jeff Grimm Louisville, Kentucky |  I was at MCAS El Toro from Jan. of 1985 until Jan 1988. I was attached to VMA (AW)-121 during the USS Ranger deployments (Plane Captain) and was also part of H&MS-13 (GSE mechanic) What a great duty station! I have fond memories of my time in SOCAL. My 1st wife is from Huntington Beach. 04/20/2008 @ 17:53 [ref: 7390] |
| Anthony M Ybarra Houston, Texas |  Sandy (Arrowsmith)Blackmun Spring Valley, California Please contact me @ the above email address. I was the Military Police Officer in front of the Base Chapel when the crash happened. I remember it like it was yesterday. 04/19/2008 @ 20:17 [ref: 7388] |
| JJ , Nebraska | I was a Marine Brat stationed at MCAS El Toro from '83 to '91. Many of my fondest memories as an impressionable young child was skateboarding all over the base similar to Sean Astin in the TV Disney movie, "BRAT Patrol." I often returned to El Toro from '94 to '97 when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton to visit with fellow Marines or simply drive by my old house inside the main gate. Today, I still refer to El Toro as home even though my house on "E" street no longer stands or the cement taxi runway next to the museum where I would watch planes take off for endless hours. Anytime I hear the song by Madonna, "This Use To Be My Playground," I often find myself thinking back to those years when life as a child was awesome. My next door neighbors (fixed and rotor wing pilots) were my idols, my summers were spent at the O-pool, and the PX was my stomping ground. An earlier post mentioned a plane that crashed in '85. I remember the crash like it was yesterday, and I'm sorry for your loss. I was an active member at the base chapel and remember visiting the church after the crash happened in an attempt to salvage what we could. To all the Marines and their families who served and Lived at El Toro, Semper Fi! 04/09/2008 @ 23:13 [ref: 7291] |
| Ron Cramer Sevierville, Tennessee | I was stationed at El Toro from March '79 to July '83. Assigned to VMA(AW)121 Green Knights, A-6E's at that time, hydraulics shop. Couldn't beat the place. 12 miles from Laguna Beach. Loved working night crew. Work all night, sleep all day at the beach. Great time and place for a young man. Lots of good friends, too. SEMPER FI Ron Cramer GySgt USMC(Ret) '78-'99 03/28/2008 @ 09:21 [ref: 7257] |
| GySgt A. Whitney Yuma, Arizona | I was stationed at El Toro in 1974 and then again in 1977-78. I had a blast and had some good friends. I was there during the height of the disco craze. What a good time we had in Anaheim. Sunshine Meat and Liquor is one place that I can remember. Semper Fi. 03/27/2008 @ 19:09 [ref: 7251] |
| dan groover , Florida | i was at el toro from 1977-1981 what a great duty station, what great memories...... 02/25/2008 @ 19:57 [ref: 6847] |
| Sandy (Arrowsmith)Blackmun Spring Valley, California | To correct any fuzzy memories. I am the widow of the sailor that was killed in the crash at the MCAS El Toro airshow April 27,1985. He was a Hospital Corpsman attached to the 3rd MAW. I was not present at the show that day (I had tickets for the following day), nor did I go into shock or labor. My daughter was born 10 days later at the Naval Hospital in Long Beach. I was active duty myself at the time, stationed at the branch clinic. El Toro was my favorite duty station, I was there from 1984-87. After I re-enlisted I transferred to northern CA. My sister still lives in Orange County and I go past the area where the base was several times/yr. It still brings back good memories. I would like to get more info on the plane involved in the 1985 crash. I have pictures taken from my husband's camera before they took off,and somewhere there is a home video of the crash which I saw 22yrs ago. If anyone knows of it's existence I'd like a copy. 02/06/2008 @ 12:21 [ref: 6742] |
| David A Lee Anchorage, Alaska | I was stationed at El Toro from 1957 to 1959 and served as an electronic technician in an attack squadron. One of our pilots had a power failure and couldn't stop upon landing, ran off the runway across the desert, thru the fence ran up on the rail road track and was bumped by the on coming train. About a year ago I met a pilot who was there at the time and remembers the incident. Any one else? 01/21/2008 @ 22:12 [ref: 6691] |
| Mike Grand Rapids, Michigan | This is for the first commenter, Duane McCartney: You served with my dad in VMA 223. He told us he was a radar technician (don't know if that was the actual job title). Sure would like to get in touch with you He loved his time at El Toro and fondly remembers seeing movies on the base before they were released in theaters. 01/17/2008 @ 05:23 [ref: 6682] |
| Randall Blakemore Tishomingo, Oklahoma | I am a service officer for a local AMVETS Chapter. I am trying to help an older veteran with benefits. We are looking for any information on a crash that occured on base at El Toro, CA in late 1954 or early 1955. Veteran is having difficult time remembering but knows it was a single pilot possibly trainer aircraft. Any information would be helpful. 12/18/2007 @ 20:07 [ref: 6594] |
Last updated: 02/14/00.
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