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MCAS Miramar – A Changing History by Tim Lachenmaier
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar’s history has opened another chapter, following the departure of longtime residents VMFA(AW)-242, the “Bats.” As a result of the Marine Corps’ reorganization, the Bats will be permanently deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. They are relieving VMFA-212 “Lancers,” who have held ground at Iwakuni and throughout the Western Pacific since August 1996. The Lancers returned to Miramar for their decommissioning shortly after the Bats’ arrival in Japan. The Bats’ entire squadron of twelve F/A-18D Hornets departed Miramar on the morning of March 6, 2008 for the long trip to Iwakuni, beginning what will be a long stay.
Miramar Then…
Miramar’s history can be traced back to 1846, during the Mexican-American war, when the United States obtained California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. A rancher, Don Arguello sold a section of land north of San Diego to newspaper editor Edward Scripps. Scripps named the land “Miramar,” which effectively means “a view of the sea.”
It was not until 1917 that Miramar’s military history began, when the Army occupied the area for five years. As World War Two neared, Miramar underwent a renovation. In 1940, runway construction was underway and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing was in place later that year. During this decade, both the Navy and Marines occupied Miramar – Navy and Marine pilots trained on the western side while Marine artillery and personnel used the east. Come 1945, the bases were merged to form Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
In 1947, the Marines moved up the coast to El Toro in Orange County, and naturally, Miramar was re-designated as a Naval Auxiliary Air Station. Miramar became a Navy’s Master Jet Base for the Pacific Fleet in 1952. In addition to basing most the Pacific Fleet’s fighter squadrons at Miramar, in 1969 the Navy stood up the now-famous Topgun school to train elite fighter pilots from the Navy and Marine Corps.
1993 brought a recommendation from the Base Realignment and Closure Committee (BRAC) to close MCAS El Toro and Tustin (home to Marine Corps helicopters on the Pacific Coast) and relocate their aircraft to Miramar. Additionally, the Navy’s F-14 squadrons and Topgun would be relocated. The Marines began to arrive in mid-1994, and three years later MCAS Miramar was fully operational.
… And Now
Today, Miramar is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, comprised of Marine Aircraft Group 11 with the F/A-18 and KC-130J and Marine Aircraft Group 16 with the CH-46 and CH-53E. The makeup of the two Groups is as follows:
MAG 11:
VMFAT-101 Sharpshooters F/A-18A/B/C/D (Fleet replacement squadron)
VMFA(AW)-121 Green Knights F/A-18D
VMFA(AW)-225 Vikings F/A-18D
VMFA-232 Red Devils F/A-18A+
VMFA(AW)-242 Bats F/A-18D (Now with MAG-12 at MCAS Iwakuni)
VMFA-314 Black Knights F/A-18C
VMFA-323 Death Rattlers F/A-18C
VMGR-352 Raiders KC-130J
MAG 16:
HMM-161 Greyhawks CH-46
HMM-163 Ridge Riders CH-46
HMM-165 White Knights CH-46
HMM-166 Sea Elk CH-46
HMH-361 Flying Tigers CH-53
HMH-462 Heavy Haulers CH-53
HMH-465 Warhorse CH-53
HMH-466 Wolfpack CH-53
Of MAG-11’s seven Fighter/Attack squadrons, three are designated All-Weather (AW), or night attack and operate the two-seat F/A-18D. With a Weapons and Sensors Officer (WSO) in the second cockpit, the F/A-18D Hornet performs the valuable night attack and Forward Air Controller (Airborne) roles for the Marine Corps. In the FAC(A) mission, the WSO acts as a forward air controller to direct aircraft operating in the close air support role. The All-Weather squadrons can also conduct the same missions as single-seat F/A-18 units.
The Bats
VMFA(AW)-242 is beginning its tenure at Iwakuni as no stranger to lengthy deployments. The Bats have spent half of the last five years, if not more, on deployment, including a 13-month run at Iwakuni which began in September 2002. More recent deployments took the Bats repeatedly to Iraq, where the All-Weather squadrons are a very valuable asset. In 2005, and not for the first time, the Bats received the Robert M. Hanson “Marine Fighter Squadron of the Year” award.
For now, the Bats will maintain their presence in the Western Pacific, should any threat arise. They will continue to operate throughout the Pacific and participate in exercises and train in locations such as Guam, Okinawa, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Acknowledgements
I must thank the Miramar Public Affairs for their courtesy and flexibility – Lt Leyden, Lt Wolf, Cpl Easter and Cpl Scarbourough. Additionally, I would like to thank Capt Groefsema and Capt Swenningsen from VMFA(AW)-242 for their help, and give special thanks to Capt Corkill.
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