Description
USMC MCAS Miramar Patch — USMC Embroidered Patch
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar — Home of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is one of the most iconic military air installations in the United States, located approximately 14 miles north of downtown San Diego, California. Home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing—the aviation element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force—MCAS Miramar is the Corps’ largest aircraft wing operating base on the West Coast, averaging up to 200,000 flight operations per year with approximately 250 aircraft aboard on any given day.
Miramar’s military history stretches back to World War I, when the land first served as Camp Kearny for Army infantry training. During World War II, both the Navy and Marine Corps used the installation for advanced pilot training before it was designated MCAS Miramar in 1946. After the Marines moved to MCAS El Toro in 1947, Miramar became a Naval Air Station and rose to legendary status as “Fightertown USA”—home to F-14 Tomcat squadrons and the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as TOPGUN. The base became the backdrop for the iconic 1986 film of the same name.
In 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission directed the closure of MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin, recommending the transfer of NAS Miramar back to the Marine Corps. On 1 October 1997, Miramar officially became a Marine Corps Air Station once again. Today, MCAS Miramar hosts F/A-18 Hornets, F-35 Lightning IIs, MV-22 Ospreys, CH-53E Super Stallions, and KC-130 Hercules aircraft, supporting more than 12,000 Marines, Sailors, and civilians.
Perfect For: Marines and veterans who served at MCAS Miramar or NAS Miramar, 3rd MAW personnel, TOPGUN alumni, San Diego-area military families, and aviation history enthusiasts.
This patch honors the storied legacy of MCAS Miramar—from Fightertown USA to the heart of Marine Corps West Coast aviation power.
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