MAGnificent Miramar

A flightline tour of MCAS Miramar

Airbase Article by Jeremy Gould on June 11 2013

 

 

Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, just north of San Diego, CA is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW).  During early April 2013, I was fortunate to be granted a tour of the flightline which enabled me to capture images of the currently based squadrons.

I was met promptly by my escort at the decal and pass office at the main gate and during the short journey to the flightline, I clarified what could and couldn't be photographed. The rules were straightforward; no shooting into hangars and no close-ups of open avionics bays. During the tour, my vantage point remained between the hangars and the flightline itself which meant that for much of the time I was shooting into the sun (an experience that many photographers at Miramar would have experienced no doubt).

Fixed and rotary wing squadrons from the 3rd MAW based at Miramar are part of Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) and Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16). Aircraft from all squadrons were present during my visit including a couple of T-34C Turbo Mentors  from VMFAT-101 and a base UC-35D Citation Encore.  Also present were a couple of F/A-18D Hornets from VMFA(AW)-533 “Hawks” and an F/A-18C Hornet from VMFA-122 "Werewolves" based at MCAS Beaufort, SC.

Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11)

Fixed wing squadrons at Miramar are part of MAG-11 and consist of the following:

  • VMFA(AW)-225 "Vikings" flying the F/A-18D Hornet (tailcode CE) in the all weather fighter attack role.
  • VMFA-232 "Red Devils" flying the F/A-18C Hornet (tailcode WT) in the fighter attack role.
  • VMFA-314 "Black Knights" flying the F/A-18A++ Hornet (tailcode VW) in the fighter attack role.
  • VMFA-323 "Death Rattlers" flying the F/A-18C Hornet (tailcode NH) in the fighter attack role.
  • VMFAT-101 "Sharpshooters" flying the F/A-18A+/A++/C/D Hornet (tailcode SH) in the fighter attack training role.
  • VMGR-352 "Raiders" flying the KC-130J Hercules (tailcode QB) in the aerial refuelling and transport role. 

VMFA-323 is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) and were soon to fly-out to the USS Nimitz with the rest of the air wing for a sustainment training exercise (SUSTEX) prior to a deployment to the Western Pacific.

Click on images below to see larger images

Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16)

Rotary wing squadrons at Miramar are part of MAG-16 and consist of the following:

  • VMM-161 "Greyhawks" flying the MV-22B Osprey (tailcode YR) in the medium lift transport role.

  • VMM-163 "Ridge Runners" flying the MV-22B Osprey (tailcode YP) in the medium lift transport role.

  • VMM-165 "White Knights" flying the MV-22B Osprey (tailcode YW) in the medium lift transport role.

  • VMM-166 "Sea Elk" flying the MV-22B Osprey and CH-53E Super Stallion (tailcode YX) in the medium lift transport role.

  • HMH-361 "Flying Tigers" flying the CH-53E Super Stallion (tailcode YN) in the heavy lift transport role.

  • VMM-363 "Lucky Red Lions" flying the MV-22B Osprey (tailcode YZ) in the medium lift transport role.

  • HMH-462 "Heavy Haulers" flying the CH-53E Super Stallion (tailcode YF) in the heavy lift transport role.

  • HMH-465 "Warhorse" flying the CH-53E Super Stallion (tailcode YJ) in the heavy lift transport role.

  • HMH-466 "Wolfpack" flying the CH-53E Super Stallion (tailcode YK) in the heavy lift transport role.

Click on images below to see larger images

Equipment Used

Nikon D7000 with Nikkor AF-S 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR.
Nikon D90 with Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR.

Acknowledgements

A big thank you to Cpl Ryan Carpenter, 1st Lt Chad Hill, 1st Lt Tyler Balzer at the Public Affairs Office for making this article possible.

Jeremy Gould

      

Photos and text © by Jeremy Gould