A Marine Corps air show that draws crowds of 750,000 every year has been cancelled the day before it was scheduled to begin. Officials with Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., announced Thursday morning that the Miramar Air Show, set to start Friday, could not be held during the federal government shutdown, according to regulation. “Guidance from the Deputy Secretary of Defense mandates that non-excepted activities, including outreach events, are not authorized under the current shutdown guidelines,” air station officials said in a statement. “We want to thank everyone involved in the air show for their hard work, dedication and…
Browsing: Miramar
Tuesday marked the first anniversary of the National Day of Honor, which the president proclaimed in 2012 to mark the anniversary of the Iraq invasion and, particularly, the 4,500 troops killed in action. Among the events being held nationwide this week to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the start of the war was a visit to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego, Calif., by hip-hop rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Combs, who counts among his business ventures a partnership with Ciroc Vodka, appeared at Miramar in the event co-sponsored by Maxim magazine. “I have always been in…
The Vietnam-era CH-53D heavy lift helicopter made its final mission on Thursday with one last flight over Helmand province. Marines from Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar conducted the final flight. The squadron, known as the “Ugly Angels,” has used the D model since 1969. The E model, a faster and more powerful make, first entered service in the 1980’s and will replace the Vietnam-era aircraft. Lt. Col. Christopher Oliver, commanding officer of HMH-362 described the D model as “awesome” and said the final mission was bittersweet. “It was about as happy of a flight as…
Crank up “Ride of the Valkyries.” Nearly two dozen Marine helicopters – including new four-bladed UH-1Y “Yankee” Hueys and AH-1Z “Zulu” helicopters – took to the air over north San Diego County on May 4, flying in a chevron formation above Interstate 5 as they flew between Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Miramar Marine Corps Base in San Diego. Check out a video and report by the local CBS affiliate here. It was a sight that, in the pre-9/11 world, would have drawn numerous complaints of vibrating walls and interrupted conversations from residents in the hilly communities along the freeway. Still,…