A very sad day indeed. These hangars are the largest free standing wooden structures in the world. There were two, now only one remains. I was stationed there until it closed in the late 90’s. Closed down El Toro too.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/...story/3262460/?amp=1

Tony.

Very sad, just like the wooden hangar fire that burned near Elizabeth City, NC. I was only 10 when it happened but you could see the smoke for miles....

https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-...p950804/08040464.htm

Historical info & photos of Tustin:

http://www.airfields-freeman.c...angeCo_SE.htm#tustin

El Toro:

http://www.airfields-freeman.c...angeCo_SE.htm#eltoro

Tony, that's a marvelous documentary you posted. Building those things in nine months; using an obsolete design to "save time"; having to make adaptations due to the higher water table than on the East Coast--all really fascinating.

Was the one destroyed in the fire the ONLY remaining one, or is there still one left?

Speaking of El Toro: as you know, the Flying Leathernecks Museum that was kicked off Miramar MCAS is being moved to El Toro. That museum was such an easy place to see on Miramar Road, it's very sad it had to leave. But the Leathernecks group did get donations to pay for the setup of the new museum, and I look forward to seeing all those old planes and helicopters again at El Toro.

My own limited knowledge of blimp hangars comes from having passed by Hangar One at Moffett Field many times. Interestingly it has "orange peel" doors rather than the hanging sliding doors at Tustin. Per Wikipedia, Google is leasing it at a cost of $1.16 billion over 60 years.

I've driven past those thousands of times and they are impressive.


The one that is burning is the one that's in the greatest state of disrepair. The Navy owns both but the City of Tustin is contractually bound to maintain them, which creates an odd relationship.

It's more than $1M a year apiece to maintain them and that doesn't include any plans on what to do with them. The Navy won't give them to Tustin but they did the actual land they sit on, included the entire USMCAS Tustin.

The remaining one is used for movies and commercials, and marathons, 10 and 5k races are run through it. If you've never been inside of one it's kind of mind blowing to see it. 17 stories high, 1k feet long and a football field in width.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
Tony, that's a marvelous documentary you posted. Building those things in nine months; using an obsolete design to "save time"; having to make adaptations due to the higher water table than on the East Coast--all really fascinating.

Was the one destroyed in the fire the ONLY remaining one, or is there still one left?

Speaking of El Toro: as you know, the Flying Leathernecks Museum that was kicked off Miramar MCAS is being moved to El Toro. That museum was such an easy place to see on Miramar Road, it's very sad it had to leave. But the Leathernecks group did get donations to pay for the setup of the new museum, and I look forward to seeing all those old planes and helicopters again at El Toro.

My own limited knowledge of blimp hangars comes from having passed by Hangar One at Moffett Field many times. Interestingly it has "orange peel" doors rather than the hanging sliding doors at Tustin. Per Wikipedia, Google is leasing it at a cost of $1.16 billion over 60 years.

The better is still standing and is in no danger of catching on fire. The one that's burning has been in a sad state of disrepair for a long time.

Yes, one still remains. The one burning is the one I climbed to the top of in 1994 in the middle of the night with some fellow marines (alcohol was involved). we climbed on top of the rotating spotlight and rode it like a bull.

With the hangar doors opened, the marine layer would roll in through the hangar doors and it would be foggy inside.

I never grew tired of looking up when inside them.

Tony.

My wife and I are sitting here stunned. In August 1971 my first squadron after completing "A" school was HMM-161 which was in Hangar 1 (the one that burned down). When I returned from Vietnam in June 1973 I was assigned to HMM-163 in Hangar 2. Those buildings were impressive and as has been mentioned would have their own weather system inside if the doors were left open. I got to MCAS(H) Tustin as a LCPL and left as a Gunnery Sergeant. A lot of memories from that base and those hangars.

Such a shame. Living in OC since 1970, Ive seen that base go from active to deserted to now mostly redeveloped.

My brother’s BIL was stationed there and flew helicopters. He also trained for the mission to rescue the captured Americans from the Iranian Embassy in the 80’s, though he played a very small role in the event.

Until I retired in 2018, I drove past that base 5 days a week for 12 years as my office was 3 blocks away from this base. I often thought about the history and recalled seeing helicopters being flown into and out of those blimp hangers. I just drove past this burned structure the other day.

That particular hanger was in disrepair, but a couple years down the road, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn a developer had a hand in this. That land is priceless.

Really sad to see! It is surely to leave a big hole in the skyline it had filled for all these years.

I was at a W.T.I. deployment to MCAS Yuma back in ‘84 or ‘85, and on a very rare and coveted day off, I took a joy ride on a CH-46 to MCAS El Toro and LTA Tustin. We were supposed to return that evening, but it went down at LTA. While there, I got to check out the HUGE hangers.

I got a ride to El Toro where some fellow Marines allowed me to bunk in their barracks for the night. I got a ride back to LTA next morning where I got back on the newly repaired bird back to Yuma. My unit wasn’t happy with my absence, but I didn’t get in trouble. I got pictures of the dinosaurs on I-10, Riverside Raceway, along with the hangers - all from the ‘46. Another bit of here nor there, I was later stationed at El Toro. While there my buddy and I, who were road bikers, used to ride to LTA and back. Again, that hanger will be missed!

When I was a kid my dad took me inside when they still had blimps moored in them. I hadn't thought about that in a long time.

benny6, were you in MALS-16? The reason I'm asking is my #2 son was in that squadron during the same time period.

quote:

Originally posted by radinski:
benny6, were you in MALS-16? The reason I'm asking is my #2 son was in that squadron during the same time period.

I was in HMH-466 which was part of MAG-16. MALS-16 was our supply chain (MALS = Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron) and was also part of MAG-16.

Tony.

Very sad indeed, I was stationed there 82-86 with HMH-462. A truly incredible structure.

Do any of you stationed at Tustin remember Col. Noel Keller?

He was a pilot who flew medivac and combat in Vietnam. Later transferred back to Tustin where he was the commanding officer HMT 302 and HMM 161 squadrons. He was also an EO and served as an S-4. He believe his last service in Tustin, before transferring to El Toro, was being in charge of base logistics.

He flew and instructed in fighters for awhile but loved helicopters.

When I was little we drove by there many times. There was a rifle range and a drag strip we went to in the 50s and maybe into 60s. Later we shot at Santiago Range near Irvine park. All gone now

I thought those were torn down like 20 years ago

Toxic Smoke Forces Closure Of OC Schools

District officials closed public schools in Tustin Thursday in response to concerns about air quality.

Miranda Ceja, Patch Staff
Verified Patch Staff Badge
Posted Thu, Nov 9, 2023 at 10:42 am PT

TUSTIN, CA — District officials closed public schools in Tustin Thursday in response to concerns about air quality just after a fire destroyed a massive World War II-era hangar at the nearby former military base.

Health and fire officials are encouraging residents in the area to limit exposure to smoke, ash and dirt from the fire after lab testing showed the presences of asbestos, the South Coast Air Quality Management District reported.

“South Coast AQMD also collected air samples near the hangar and in nearby communities which are being analyzed in our laboratory for gaseous air toxics, such as benzene. In addition, mobile monitoring was conducted for metals such as lead and arsenic,” South Coast AQMD officials said in a press release Wednesday night. “Results of these measurements will be available in the next 24 hours...”

Complete article:

https://patch.com/california/o...s-closure-oc-schools

While stationed at El Toro, I lived in base housing on Tustin. Saw those hangars every day, sad that such a historical building has been lost.