Taps for El Toro

 

Helen Hannah, 91, former Marine Corporal, reminisces about her days when she was first stationed at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) back in 1944. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR She was one of the first women stationed at El Toro MCAS. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR Hannah returned to El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, as did 2,000 veterans to give final salute to the former Marine Corps Air Station.

Hundreds of Navy and Marine veterans returned to the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) today for a final salute before it is transformed into the Orange County Great Park. More than 750,000 veterans were stationed at El Toro MCAS since it was commissioned on March 17, 1943. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR Baseball legend and Marine fighter pilot Ted Williams flew out of El Toro during World War II, movie great Tyrone Power earned his wings at El Toro, and Lieutenant Colonel ?EUR??,,????'?????<

In early 1942, the Marines paid James Irvine $100,000 for 4,000 acres of bean fields to construct a wartime air station for the purpose of squadron formation and unit training prior to overseas combat. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR It was commissioned on March 17, 1943. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR In 1950, MCAS El Toro was selected as a permanent Master Jet Station and center of support for the operation and combat readiness of Fleet Marine Forces, Pacific. The first marine jet squadron to fly in combat in Korea departed from MCAS El Toro in November 1950. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR Throughout its history, MCAS El Toro has served the country as a training facility in peacetime and a staging area for support of overseas military missions in times of conflict. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR More than two million visitors attended the last air show in 1997. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR The base formally closed on July 2, 1999.