In 1991 after Operation Desert Storm this helicopter was found in pristine condition, amongst destroyed aircraft and burnt out buildings, at Kuwait international airport. It was shipped back to the 3rd MAW at MCAS El Toro and is now part of the super Flying Leathernecks museum at Miramar.

This F9F was delivered to the US Navy during October 1950 and assigned to VF-721 aboard USS Boxer where it then saw action in the skies over Korea. It then served with VF-821, VF-51 and various training units before retirement in 1956 with 1,575 hours. Now on display at the Flying Leathernecks Museum in the colours of a VF-311 aircraft flown by Capt. W.A. Bloomer, who years later would become instrumental in helping to establish the museum.

This Avenger was TOC by the USN during June 45 but too late to see combat in the Pacific. Instead it spent its service life in various training units before being retired in 1962. It then served as a fire bomber until 1988 before being acquired by the Marine Corps museum. It is now on display at the Flying Leathernecks museum in the colours of VMTB-132 aboard USS Cape Gloucester in the East China Sea during July 1945. The side-on shot is all wing so I chose this angle for more detail.

This Skyknight is on display at the super Flying Leathernecks Museum and is one of 35 F-10B aircraft converted into the electronic warfare version.

This Corsair was delivered to the US Navy during November 1948 and served until 1953. It is on display at the Flying Leathernecks Museum in a black scheme with red markings worn by VMF(N)-513, a Korean War night fighter squadron in 1952.

This reconn F-4 is on display at the Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum in the Markings of VMFP-3 based at El Toro.

This Texan was built as an AT-6D around 1942 and TOC with the USAAF as 42-86503 but then transferred to the US Navy. It was acquired by the Flying Leathernecks museum where it is now on display in this VMT-2 scheme.

This T-34 is on display at the Flying Leathernecks Museum in Quantico markings.

This Vietnam veteran is now on display in the colours of VMFA-134 at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum.

This Wildcat is on display at the Flying Leathernecks museum at MCAS Miramar, although it is actually on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola. It is painted to represent Wildcat 'Black 53' flown by Joe Foss at Guadalcanal, who ended WWII as the Marine Corps second highest ranking ace with 26 victories.

This Chickasaw was TOC in March 1953 and served at various Naval Stations in California and in Japan before being retired to MASDC during Nov. 1966 and subsequent SOC in Feb 1967. It is now on display at the super Flying Leathernecks museum at Miramar.

This 1965 Block 26 Phantom served at MCAS Iwakuni and transferred to VMFP-3 there in Japan in 1975. In 1977 the unit moved to MCAS El Toro, CA, the attractive green/gold fin being added to 153107 later. To storage at AMARC 1989 and still extant

The F-8J was a re-manufactured variant of the F-8E to F-8H standard, incorporating the boundary layer control system amongst other improvements. Late in her career with VFP-63, this example was retired to MASDC a couple of years later. Cockpit label reads "Cdr Taco Bell". The Crusader was not an easy aircraft to fly with a high attrition rate compared with contemporaries, but had some extraordinary qualities; it is said that several pilots successfully took off with the wings folded - presumably accidentally!

Serving RVAW-110 at this time and later to VAW-115; entered AMARC 12.85 and current there till 2008

Just about a year old at the time of the shot, this Tomcat served initially with VF-2 as shown here and later VF-191 and VF-124. Retired in 1992 and now resides at the Yanks Air Museum at Chino in poor condition, coded NJ-437

On show by VS-38, this was one of 119 Vikings later upgraded to S-3B with advanced systems; later in her grey days was 'NJ/736' of VS-41. Struck off Charge 2004