|
Help
Preserve American history.
Once destroyed, it's lost forever! |
|
Save The Control Tower - Home of our Vietnam Era Veterans
.
| |
 |
|
|
In 2013 we asked the Mayor of Tustin, John Nielsen, The Tustin Area Historical Society and The American Legion Post 227 to help host a tour of the South Hangar. Its purpose was to give people a chance to see inside the hangar but also to open it up for people who served there as military and support workers. As it turned out, it became more of a reunion than a tour. In some cases for older workers in the 1940's and 50's it was a farewell to past old friends. We even had one of the last living World War II blimp pilots there!
It was then we realized the need to save both hangers and not just the North Hangar that was being planned by the Navy. So after the tour we launched SaveTheHangars.com to help get the message out. The Navy still owned both hangars and they were working with the City of Tustin and the County of Orange to help transfer the ownership of the hangars.
So from 2013 to 2023 we waited for the time we could work together with the City in their efforts. Now, unfortunatly with a fire destroying the North Hangar, there is only one hangar left, the South Hangar, where we had our event. Therefore, in the future we will launch a website called SaveTheHangar.com and eventually if saved it will be called TustinHangar.com
We are currently (September 2024) in the process of establishing Tustin Military History as a non-profit company which will be fiscally sponsord by Tustin Community Foundation. Moving forward, our first mission is to Save the Control Tower located next to the site of the burned down North Hangar, as a museum; and next, a plan for the North Hangar site as a gateway area; and lastly and hopefully preserve the South Hangar. We will continue working with the City of Tustin, the U.S.Navy, the American Legion, the Tustin Area Historical Society and all who feel the way we do. Always remember...Once Destroyed It Is Gone Forever.
Our three-pronged mission:
1. Save the The Control Tower and establish it as a museum dedicated to the men and women who served at the station and those who worked there. Website would be ControlTowerMuseum.com
2. Look for ways to keep the columns on both sides of the North Hanger as an entryway welcoming vistors to an area hosting events. Example: A connecting arch with the U.S. Navy insigina on one side and the U.S Marine Corps on the other side and across the middle large letters saying "FREEDOM'S PORTAL." Website would be FreedomsPortal.com
3. Look for
ways to save the South Hangar. Website would be TustinHangar.com
Pete Beatty, President
TustinMilitaryHistory.com
714 504-4088 or email |
ControlTowerMuseum.com
The Control Tower was built in 1964
Control Towers generally fall into three general operational areas: local control or air control, ground control, and flight data/clearance delivery. Other categories, such as landing area control or ground movement planner, may exist at extremely busy heliports, while each tower may have unique helaport-specific procedures such as multiple teams of controllers (crews) at major or
complex heliports with multiple helipads.
Location Named: Marine Corps Air Facility Santa Ana 1951 / Marine Corps Air Station Tustin 1979 /
|
For information on how to help. Pete Beatty 714-504-4088 e-mail
Save the Hangar & Save the Control Tower Exploratory Group
Tustin, California
Committee:
Pete Beatty - Founder: Save The Hanagers & Save the Control Tower / U.S. Army Veteran / Vietnam era
Brian Delahaut - Co-Founder: Save The Hanagers founder & Save the Control Tower / Retired Marine Corps Colonel
Richard Nelson - Tustin Area Historical Society, 2024 President
Gretchen Whisler - Tustin Area Historical Society - Past President
Advisors:
Steve Giddings - Post Commander / Tustin American Legion Post 227 / U.S. Army Veteran
Guy Ball - Local Historian and Author
Rudy Swigart - Retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant
Former Marine Corps JAG officer (to be named)
Non profit Support:
Tustin Area Historical Society (primary)
Tustin American Legion Post 227
TAMWYC
Add your group here!
Local Businesses Support:
Cox's Market Plaza
BLUE BUOY Family Swim School    
your company here! |
|
The MCAS Control Tower. |
The church is gone! |
|
|
One of the goals of the Exploratory Committee is to save and preserve the MCAS Control Tower as a multi-use bulding (for a museum, local meetings, student tours etc.). |
|
The church was torn down and the wood carted away.
During the Vietnam War, many Marines were married there only to have services there later on, remberering them after they were killed in Action |
Timeline
October 1, 1942: Naval Air Station (NAS) Santa Ana commissioned
1949: Naval Air Station (NAS) Santa Ana decommissioned
1949-1951: Used as a civilian airfield, blimp storage, and air museum
May 1, 1951: Re-commissioned as Marine Corps Air Facility (MCAF) Santa Ana
September 1, 1969: Renamed Marine Corps Air Station (Helicopter) (MCAS(H)), Santa Ana
April 3, 1975: Hangars entered into the National Register as a historic district
April 23, 1976: Base annexed by City of Tustin
June 1, 1978: Renamed Marine Corps Air Station (Helicopter) (MCAS(H)), Tustin
1991: MCAS Tustin recommended for closure by Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC)
July 3, 1999: Closed in accordance with Base Realignment and Closure Act
OUR HISTORY: Honoring a Military Legacy |
|
Preserve, Protect and Educate
|
|
Overseas military operations - Website - About |
US States and Territories. - Website - About |
1926 – 1942 Website - About |
World War II - 1941–1947- Website - About |
Founded 18 Sept 1947 Website - About |
|
 Orange County Veteran Resources |
|
LTA (Lighter Than Air) About |
Marine Corps Air Station Tustin (H) About |
World War II (SAAAB) - 1942–1946 About |
|
Tustin American Legino Post 227 |
Tustin American Legino Post 227 History |
LTA (Lighter Than Air) About |
Marine Corps Air Station Tustin (H) |
Helicopter Air and Ground Control |
North Hangar - Welcoming Portal |
(South Hangar) |
Tustin Preservation Goals: 1st, 2nd and 3rd steps
Name change with city approval
For information on how to help. California HQ: Pete Beatty 714-504-4088 e-mail - e-mai |
|
Honoring
our Fallen and Celebrated Heroes |
|
Please Help Us Remember The 28 Tustin Heroes Who Never Came Home
|
SaveTheControlTower.com
Preserve, Protect and Educate
California HQ: 714 504-4088 - email - email |
|
Top
|
Video Links of fire
