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Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) (IATA: NKX, ICAO: KNKX, FAA LID: NKX), formerly Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Miramar and Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar, is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. It is located in Miramar, San Diego, California, about 14 miles (23 km) north of downtown San Diego.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

32°52′04″N 117°08′30″W / 32.86778°N 117.14167°W / 32.86778; -117.14167

Marine Corps Air Station

Department of Defense

US Marine Corps

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Operational

www.miramar.marines.mil

1917 (1917) (as Camp Kearny)

1917 – 1920
1929 – present

Colonel Thomas M. Bedell

IATA: NKX, ICAO: KNKX, FAA LID: NKX, WMO: 722930

145.3 metres (477 ft) AMSL

The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955, after Admiral M.A. Mitscher, who was the commander of Task Force 58 during World War II.[2] The air station is the former location of Pacific Fleet fighter and Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (F-4 Phantom II, F-14 Tomcat, E-2 Hawkeye) and is best known as the former location of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS), its TOPGUN training program and the movie of the same name. In 1996, NFWS was relocated to Naval Air Station Fallon in western Nevada, 60 miles east of Reno, and merged into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC). During the heyday of TOPGUN at NAS Miramar, the station was nicknamed "Fightertown USA".[3][4]

On 4 December 1959, an with Navy pilot ENS Albert Joe Hickman crashed into the adjoining community of Clairemont Mesa. The pilot stayed with the aircraft to avoid hitting a school. The city named an elementary school in Mira Mesa after him.[30]

F3H Demon

On 12 August 1968, a U.S. Navy (F-8C) fighter jet of VF-124 crashed while returning to (then) NAS Miramar, from nighttime Sidewinder missile training with three other F-8 Crusader fighters. The pilot, LT (JG) Roman S. Ohnemus, 25, did not eject, and died in the crash. The incident occurred in the dark, early morning hours in remote, brush-covered terrain off what is now Canyon Hills Park and Spitfire Way in Mira Mesa(somewhat level except for narrow valleys), north of (then) NAS Miramar, and Miramar Road, west of U.S. Highway 395 (now Interstate 15), and south of Black Mountain. A small brush fire was started by the crash. Live missiles presented a dangerous crash site to the first-arriving state forestry firefighters, who were woken by the crash. They were from the nearby fire station located at Carroll Canyon and then Highway 395 (between 1 and 2 miles) Miramar California Division of Forestry (now CalFire) fire station.[31]

Vought F-8 Crusader

On 22 December 1969, an F-8J Crusader of crashed into a hangar at NAS Miramar, after the pilot ejected. 14 died and 30 were injured.[32] Pilot Lt. C. M. Riddell ejected safely. Five other fighters, including two F-4 Phantoms, were damaged in the repair facility fire that ensued. Helicopters and military and civilian ambulances were used to transport the injured to Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego.[33][34]

VF-194

On 27 March 1978, an from VF-1 crashed into I-15[35] just short of the runway and was stopped on the northbound lanes by a concrete divider. One aviator in the Tomcat was killed.

F-14 Tomcat

On 7 November 1978, an used by the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, crashed and the pilot was killed.[36]

A-4 Skyhawk

On 11 March 1985, an F-8 Crusader crashed into a parking lot of a nearby industrial park. The pilot ejected safely.

[37]

On 3 December 1985, U.S. Navy Capt Henry M. Kleeman was killed when his F/A-18 Hornet skidded 5000 feet and flipped on a wet runway.

[38]

On 21 March 1987 an F-14 Tomcat crashed just south of Poway Road, into the canyons of what is now the Mercy Road area, approximately 4 miles from the base. Both crewmembers ejected safely.

On 26 June 1987, an from VQ-1 was practicing night Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) - The aircraft impacted the ground after turning downwind subsequent to take off. Three crewmembers were killed.[39]

A-3 Skywarrior

On 11 March 2004, a crashed on east Miramar at the approach end of the runway. Four Marines were killed.[40]

UC-35

In November 2006, an from VMFAT-101 crashed on the eastern perimeter of the base, with the pilot ejecting safely.[41]

F/A-18D Hornet

On 8 December 2008, four people were killed, two homes were destroyed and three homes were damaged when an crashed about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the base.[42] The plane was returning from training exercises with the USS Abraham Lincoln, which was off the coast of San Diego. The pilot was attempting to steer the aircraft to an unpopulated area when he lost all engine, electrical and hydraulic power. He ejected safely.[42]

F/A-18D Hornet

On 24 August 2023, an crashed east of the base close to the I-15. The sole pilot aboard died after ejecting from the aircraft.[43][44]

F/A-18 Hornet

There have been a number of aviation accidents:

MCAS Miramar was home to the , which closed in 2021.

Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum

The is a major airshow held at MCAS Miramar each October.

Miramar Airshow

where MCAS Miramar is located

Kearny Mesa

List of United States Marine Corps installations

List of airports in California

is an endangered plant found on the grounds of MCAS Miramar.

Pogogyne abramsii

United States Marine Corps Aviation

is another airport located in San Diego.

San Diego International Airport

Attribution[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

O'Hara, Thomas (2005). Images of America – Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Charleston, SC: Arcadia.  0-7385-3058-1.

ISBN

Sherrod, Robert (1952). . Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press.

History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II

Shettle, M. L. (2001). United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II. Bowersville, Georgia: Schaertel Publishing Company.  0-9643388-2-3.

ISBN

Stewart, Noah; Anteon Corporation (January 2004). (PDF) (Report). United States Marine Corps. MCAS Miramar Environmental Management.

Historic Overview

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

USMC Air Station Miramar Overview & PCS Information

Miramar Air Show

Flying Leathernecks Museum web site

 (PDF), effective June 13, 2024

FAA Airport Diagram

airport information for NKX

Miramar National Cemetery official website