As history books document the first flights at Kitty Hawk, N.C., by two brothers from Ohio, the Marine Corps honors 1st Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham, as the father of Marine Corps aviation. Cunningham’s first flight occurred on May 22, 1912, and since then countless combat flights have taken place enabling an advance in mission accomplishment. In the 1940s, four Marine aircraft wings were established to support the Corps’ aviation operations.

The 95-year-old history is preserved in a small building aboard the air station, surrounded by aircraft. The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated primarily to Marine Corps aviation, was first established at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Calif., in 1989.

A stock of more than 40 vintage aircraft, including participants in World War II, the Cuban Missile Crisis and Operation Desert Storm, help tell the story the aviation history.
The museum became a certified Marine Corps museum in 1993.

After 10 years of operation in El Toro, the museum relocated in 1999 with the establishment of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., at the former site of Naval Air Station Miramar. The grand opening of the museum took place May 22, 2000, exactly 88 years after Cunningham’s initial flight.

“The museum presents a history of Marine Corps aviation — officer and enlisted, pilot and maintainer,” said retired Maj. Gen. Bob Butcher, the chairman of the board of directors of the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation, and a former Marine pilot who attended the Top Gun school previously located at Miramar.

During its first year of operation here, access to the museum could only be obtained through the air station; tours were given to 5,200 visitors. When direct access from Miramar Road became feasible, the number of visitors increased to approximately 30,000 annually.

Nowadays, upon arrival to the museum, volunteers give visitors a self-guided handout to conduct a tour. In addition to the outside display of helicopters, jets and propelled planes, the museum has several one-of-a-kind exhibits of material of Marine Corps memorabilia inside.

Among the exhibits are historical uniforms and a unique display dedicated to women Marines.

The museum offers open-cockpit days, allowing children and visitors to have a hands-on experience with the planes twice a month during the summer. The museums curators find, restore and maintain all exhibit items — including the aircraft.

“So far, we have restored nine airplanes since the grand opening here,” said retired Col. Tom O’Hara, a curator aboard the air station. As admission to the museum is free, all funding comes from donations and profits made from the gift shop. Currently, more than 50 volunteers work to educate visitors on the history the museum encompasses.

“What’s on display here does a good job of showing the history all aspects of Marine aviation through the years,” said Susan Hathaway, a volunteer at the museum. The museum is also the permanent home to all the aviation awards presented to squadrons throughout the Marine Corps. [ANN Salutes Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Aranda, MCAS Miramar]

FMI: www.usmc.mil