Anyone remember El Toro? We had some good times there...1980-1983. Never could figure out why developers would want to build their starter-mansions right in the path of the flight line, and then complain about all the noise! And then there was the day a Hornet landed with a little unreleased ordinance...that was a bad day happening. Anyway, I've got fond memories of that little base...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SgtAllison,

Yes, I remember El Toro. The first time I was there was in 1947. Dad was a CWO and at that time was the Adjutant of MAG-33. I was enrolled at Tustin Union High School. Was back again, 1953 to 1957 as a Marine.

S/F
Tipath

Oh yes EL Toro by the sea I do remember it well I was there in 1985-1988. I met some great people while stationed there and spent plenty a good time out in town too. I am saddened that it was closed down.I did manage to go back once 2 years (1990) after I left the Corps and that was the last time I saw my old squadron and fellow mechs.

Yeah, I remember El Toro. Was there '77-'78 with VMFA-531. Great duty, great squadron. Sometimes I wish I'd finished my term there instead of K-Bay. Didn't care for the Santa Anas.

Went to my first NFL game at old Jack Murhpy Stadium. Colts-Chargers.

Great duty..... stationed there when there were really orange trees in Orange County.......

left El Toro to go to Chu Lai...and El Toro was the first place I stepped foot on upon return to CONUS.....

Great pictures! And I have to agree, it was a great place for a Marine to be stationed...the ocean was nearby. Back in the day, when barracks were strictly segregated by sex, we had divided squad bays and groups of WMs would hire a taxi to take them to a hotel down at Laguna Nigel and hang out on the beach for the weekend, or go in on a hotel room over on the strip outside Disneyland. My Marine husband and I had our first apartment right around the corner from Disneyland, on the corner of Euclid and Katella avenues. I too was sorry to hear El Toro was closing and we visited the area back in 2000 and it's all overgrown now.

Yes, our unit was one of the units that transfered from El Toro just before they closed it down. They moved all of us to MCAS Miramar in San Diego. I was apart of MWSS 373.

this is the current plan for El Toro...not sure of the current status or how far along it is...

In 71, VMFA-314(?) had just come back from Vietnam and only had ONE aircraft. It was parked on the line, right next to us (VMFA-323). Somebody (us) on a Friday night, got the idea to re-paint the port side of their aircraft, with our squadron modex, markings etc.,. Monday morning, 314 came in and found their aircraft was missing! A "station wide" search ensued, and it wasn't until way into the late California afternoon, that they discoverd the starboard side of that aircraft and solved the case of the missing F4. HA,HA,HA,HA!!!

quote:

Originally posted by TopBaxter:
In 71, VMFA-314(?) had just come back from Vietnam and only had ONE aircraft. It was parked on the line, right next to us (VMFA-323). Somebody (us) on a Friday night, got the idea to re-paint the port side of their aircraft, with our squadron modex, markings etc.,. Monday morning, 314 came in and found their aircraft was missing! A "station wide" search ensued, and it wasn't until way into the late California afternoon, that they discoverd the starboard side of that aircraft and solved the case of the missing F4. HA,HA,HA,HA!!!

that's just pure genius.

quote:

Originally posted by SgtAllison:
Anyone remember El Toro? We had some good times there...1980-1983. Never could figure out why developers would want to build their starter-mansions right in the path of the flight line, and then complain about all the noise! And then there was the day a Hornet landed with a little unreleased ordinance...that was a bad day happening. Anyway, I've got fond memories of that little base...

El Toro was a blast. Good times.

Anyone ever send a "boot " out to get SlipStream Oil?

quote:

Originally posted by BMGILLEY:

quote:

Originally posted by SgtAllison:
Anyone remember El Toro? We had some good times there...1980-1983. Never could figure out why developers would want to build their starter-mansions right in the path of the flight line, and then complain about all the noise! And then there was the day a Hornet landed with a little unreleased ordinance...that was a bad day happening. Anyway, I've got fond memories of that little base...

El Toro was a blast. Good times.

I can still smell the orange bloosums 38 years later!

dang all i smelled was the dang smog in 1985. we stayed in the barrecks beside the eclub at tustin, and i was there a week before i realized that the brown smudge off to the east was actually mtns! and that was only cus it was sunday and the smog was down. i guess my point of view was like that cus it wasn't my home duty station, i was det'ed out there to support a cax at yuma.
it was different that for sure, for us country boys from back east!

quote:

Originally posted by TopBaxter:
I can still smell the orange bloosums 38 years later!

For sure, Top...

Got married in Feb 65..bride and I set up house in Corona del Mar and for the next 11 months smelled the orange blossoms every day for the 15 mile drive into the base...

Returned for the first time in 2000 and drove down to the area... not an orange tree in sight... all townhouses, condos and concrete... most people probably have no idea why it was named Orange Country....

great duty...alot of outstanding memories...

S/F

Was stationed there 72-73,Col "King"
Knope was squadron CO. Loaded a bird up
with all his household goods when he was
transfered to HI.Hell of a good man and
officer.

I forgot. The north curve on Marine Way by the park, did the yellow speed limit sign say 16 mph? It used to make me laugh every time I went around that curve that they would be so exact on the speed.

Ah yes! El Toro was my first duty station. The best place to be stationed for a young marine. The beaches, the bars and the UCI girls.
I've been stopping by the front gate to take a peek for the past 5 years; whenever I was in town for business. It always choked me up to see my old stomping grounds closed down w/weeds growing up from the cracks in the street and the roofs peeling back from the sun. It was always a tight ship back in the day.
Lots of good friends made there!
More stories then I can type....

I was there,72 or 73, then President Nixon landed. An A-4 ( I think ) ended up crashing
by the front gate. Also, a maintenance
mechanic somehow managed to launch an
ejection seat while in the hanger. Quite
a mess! My MOS was Radio Operator/ Load
master, and I had the honor of flying
with Gunner Henry Wildfang. Is there anyone
out there that was stationed at El Toro
at this time? Happy New Year and Semper Fi!

Was stationed at El Toro 90-93 with Wing Air
Comabt Intelligence. I loved it there and so did my wife and kids. My daughter in law was
there during the Christmas holidays on busuness,
it is now the John Wayne Airport.


Semper Fi