On October 28th, the new Marine Corps Aviation Gallery, the “Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum,” held a groundbreaking ceremony in the Great Park in Irvine. The museum is expected to open in 2027. The land was once a Marine Corps aviation station, and hundreds of people, including aviation museum and city officials, retired military personnel, and residents, attended the ceremony.
The term “Leatherneck” was the Marine Corps’ standard attire used to protect the neck or keep the head high, hence becoming a nickname for the United States Marine Corps. Michael Aguilar, the newly appointed President and CEO of the museum, who is a retired Marine Corps Brigadier General, mentioned that the Great Park used to be part of an Irvine ranch, cultivating lima beans and oranges, once the world’s largest lima bean-producing area. After the 1941 Pearl Harbor incident, it became the Marine Corps’ aviation base named MCAS El Toro, serving as a primary airfield for overseas deployments.
In July 1999, the aviation station was closed and returned to the local community. In 2001, Orange County voters approved Proposal W, authorizing its use for multi-purpose development projects such as parks and nature reserves, with the aviation museum being one of them. Aguilar mentioned that the Marine Corps Aviation Museum Foundation was established in 1989 and, under the leadership of retired Marine Corps Majors Generals Bob Butcher and Frank Lang, transferred the collected aircraft and artifacts to the MCAS Miramar in Southern California.
In 2020, the Miramar aviation station was forced to close the museum due to financial difficulties. “But we will not give up, because Marines never give up,” he said, emphasizing that the history, courage, and innovative spirit of Marine Corps aviators and pilots should not be forgotten. Over the next 16-18 months, the Aviation Museum Foundation, the city of Irvine, and the Marine Corps Base signed a memorandum of understanding, allowing the foundation to take over the museum, with a requirement to raise $5 million within a year.
Aguilar recalled that Frederick Smith, the founder of FedEx, generously donated, leading the fundraising efforts. Smith, who passed away in June of this year, served for three years in South Vietnam as a Marine and was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Heart Medals. As the fundraising deadline approached, retired Colonel Charlie CQ offered to donate, with his brother Patrick stepping in to provide the remaining $3 million. “This once again reminds me of the true meaning of commitment, family, and the Marine Corps spirit.”
In May 2022, an agreement was signed to relocate the museum from the Miramar aviation station to the Great Park. With over 40 service aircraft, Aguilar mentioned the challenge of transporting them from Miramar along the highway to the Great Park, some requiring disassembly, transport, and reassembly.
Mike Carroll, Chairman of the Great Park Board and City Council member, wishing a happy 250th anniversary to the United States Marine Corps, received a warm round of applause. He expressed, “This is our commitment to dedicate the museum to all service members and future generations inheriting this legacy.”
“For decades, this was the core of MCAS El Toro, where thousands of men and women in uniform served bravely to defend our nation, many sacrificing their lives, their deeds etched into this land. Welcome home,” Carroll stated, mentioning the City Council’s ongoing implementation of a $1.2 billion plan, with the museum as the focal point of the Cultural Platform District. The city government recently acquired the El Toro control tower one mile away from the federal agency and plans to renovate it, making the museum a stunning and shining example, adding historic significance to the Great Park.
The ground has been leveled, and construction is imminent. A retired Marine who once served at the base enthusiastically participated in the ceremony, noting, “I can hardly recognize that this was once an aviation base.”
Retired Major General Terry Robling, President of the Aviation Museum Foundation, stated, “We must remember the sacrifices of our predecessors and teach our children to be proud of this country and why it is such a great nation.” Serving in the Marine Corps for 38 years, including as a fighter pilot and as the commanding officer of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing, resident in Japan, and the Pacific Marine Forces, he emphasized the foundation’s educational programs focusing on patriotism as well as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“As a witness to all of this, I represent the 14,000 Marines, male and female officers and sailors of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing,” said Major General James Wellons, the Commanding Officer of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing. Since 1989, the Aviation Museum Foundation has played a crucial role in bringing people together to celebrate and explore the illustrious aviation history of the Marine Corps.
In 1919, the first Marine Corps aviator, Alfred Cunningham, testified before Congress that the only reason Marine Corps aviators exist is to support ground forces. Wellons stated that to this day, this remains the core mission of aviation and the distinguishing factor from other branches of the military.
“In today’s environment, more challenging than any time since the Cold War, but we are constantly progressing, changing our tactics, training methods, and mindset to ensure readiness and lethality on any battlefield,” Wellons said. The Marine Corps, Third Marine Aircraft Wing, and the entire Marine Corps are equipped with fifth-generation F-35 fighters, MV-22 “Ospreys” tiltrotor aircraft, and CH-53 “Super Stallion” heavy transport helicopters deployed globally.
Every aviator, crew member, and maintainer has a warrior’s heart, dedicated and unwavering. Wellons mentioned how helicopter pilot Major Tyler Burconi, who sacrificed his life in a training accident, embodies this fighting spirit, hailing from San Clemente in Orange County.
“The museum is an eternal tribute to the courage, skills, and sacrifices demonstrated by Marine Corps aviators in the air, not only to preserve the past but to envision the future,” Aguilar noted, stating that the museum is still fundraising to continue aircraft restoration, design exhibit displays, and complete the planning. ◇