Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum

Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum Dedicated to U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) aviation, with the largest and most complete collection of vintage aircraft flown by Marine pilots in the world.
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Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum is the only Museum in the world dedicated to United States Marine Corps (USMC) aviation, with the largest and most complete collection of vintage aircraft flown by Marine pilots in the world. The Museum tells the proud story of USMC Aviation and the part it has played in defending America. Free Admission. Great for Kids. USMC former pilots and crew tell stories about the aircraft they flew.

07/17/2020

Ok Maintainers,

Time to hear from you,
Please post the Unit, years and type of aircraft you worked on.

Post a picture of you with your bird!

SEMPER FI!

07/17/2020
| The Inside Loop Episode 2 Feat. Major General Bob Butcher

Welcome to Episode 2 of The Inside Loop Featuring Major General Bob Butcher, USMC (Ret.) Click the following link to read the details of General Butcher's 25+-Year-Old favor.
https://flyingleathernecks.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/History-of-FLAM-Article.pdf

Welcome to The Inside Loop Featuring Major General Bob Butcher, USMC (Ret.) Click the following link to read the details of General Butcher's 25+-Year-Old fa...

Ok folks, Show the world your favorite Marine Aviation picture.
07/12/2020

Ok folks,
Show the world your favorite Marine Aviation picture.

Amazing Change of Command video in these Covid times.
07/11/2020
VMFAT-101 Change of Command Video Message

Amazing Change of Command video in these Covid times.

A change of command video message for Marine Fighter Attack Training Sqaudron 101, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., July 7, 2020. The official change of command was conducted on July 10, 2020. (Video courtesy of Kara Acosta)

07/02/2020

Major General Bob Butcher on the TA-4J

07/02/2020

Major General Bob Butcher on the A-4M Skyhawk (the last Skyhawk)

07/02/2020

Major General Bob Butcher on the A-4F

07/02/2020

Major General Bob Butcher on the A-4C

07/01/2020

STANDBY.... tomorrow we will be posting a special edition of Major General Bob Butcher's presentation on the A-4 Skyhawk

OOH RAH!

06/29/2020
24 Year Marine Corp Veteran Reflects on His Career | The Inside Loop Episode 1 Feat. Major Ferguson

Support our latest educational initiative - The Inside Loop. Please help us out by clicking the "thumbs up" button on video segments and comments you like from our viewers. These educational segments are made possible through your generous contributions and donations. Please support the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum and the education of our most treasured resource, our young people and students. Donate now. https://flyingleathernecks.org/contribute/donate-now/

Welcome to the Inaugural Episode of a Brand New Series: The Inside Loop Featuring American Patriot Major Glenn Ferguson! This series focuses on sharing the s...

06/25/2020
06/19/2020
Huge THANKS to Sailors from 3rd MAW for coming out this morning and to help get the museum and the birds all cleaned up!...
06/13/2020

Huge THANKS to Sailors from 3rd MAW for coming out this morning and to help get the museum and the birds all cleaned up! Can’t wait for the day to welcome all of our guests back.

06/13/2020
Going live soon!!!
06/13/2020

Going live soon!!!

Sunset over these beautiful birds
06/03/2020

Sunset over these beautiful birds

05/28/2020
05/28/2020
05/27/2020
Making History: NASA and SpaceX Launch Astronauts to Space!

The first American to orbit the Earth was a Marine.
Today, the first civilian built crew launch vehicle will be commanded by a Marine.
Marines: On Air, Land, Sea, and Space!

(Thanks to Lt.Col Bob Hein, USMC (Ret.)

Congratulations to NASA and the entire Launch America team! The Flying Leathernecks salute you! #LaunchAmerica

https://youtu.be/Aymrnzianf0

Watch history unfold on Wednesday, May 27, as NASA and SpaceX launch astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station. This mi...

05/26/2020

A tour through the restoration hangar with our curator, Steve Smith.

05/26/2020

A tour through the restoration hangar with our curator, Steve Smith.

05/14/2020

If you have any questions about this segment, comment below and we will get those answered

05/12/2020

A-4 with General (retired) Butcher

Tuesday, May 12th at 10am, join us for a Facebook Live event as General (ret) Butcher, shares his experiences in the A-4
05/10/2020

Tuesday, May 12th at 10am, join us for a Facebook Live event as General (ret) Butcher, shares his experiences in the A-4

05/07/2020
05/07/2020
05/05/2020

All is f your questions answered!

So many questions from our last session! Steve “Smitty” Smith will be answering all your questions at 10:00am (pacific ...
05/04/2020

So many questions from our last session! Steve “Smitty” Smith will be answering all your questions at 10:00am (pacific time) on Tuesday, May 4th. Tune in and join us!!

04/21/2020

Curator, Steve “Smitty” Smith, speaking about the Lockheed TO-1/TV-1 Shooting Star. Visit the website at www.flyingleathernecks.org

Tuesday, April 21st at 10am pacific time, the museum will have a Live video feed from the Restoration Hangar. Curator, ...
04/20/2020

Tuesday, April 21st at 10am pacific time, the museum will have a Live video feed from the Restoration Hangar. Curator, Steve Smith, will be giving us the history of the Lockheed TO-1/TV-1 Shooting Star. This is a beautiful hand polished aircraft. Please join us tomorrow! Just go to our page and you should see the streaming video. Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

04/14/2020

Steve “Smitty” Smith, the curator, speaking on the SBD-1 Dauntless from the Restoration Hangar

Live Stream from Restoration Hangar, Tuesday April 14th at 10:00 am PST. Hope you can join us for a behinds the scenes ...
04/13/2020

Live Stream from Restoration Hangar, Tuesday April 14th at 10:00 am PST. Hope you can join us for a behinds the scenes look at the SBD-1 Dauntless currently being restored at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum’s Restoration Hangar. Our curator, Steve Smith, will be sharing the history of this rare aircraft.

Today we honor VMGR-352! Please share your stories and history!!
04/09/2020

Today we honor VMGR-352! Please share your stories and history!!

Address

4203 Anderson Avenue
San Diego, CA
92145

Opening Hours

Tuesday 09:00 - 15:30
Wednesday 09:00 - 15:30
Thursday 09:00 - 15:30
Friday 09:00 - 15:30
Saturday 09:00 - 15:30
Sunday 09:00 - 15:30

Telephone

(858) 693-1723

Website

Alerts

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Videos

Major General Bob Butcher on the TA-4J

Major General Bob Butcher on the A-4M Skyhawk (the last Skyhawk)

Major General Bob Butcher on the A-4F

Major General Bob Butcher on the A-4C

A tour through the restoration hangar with our curator, Steve Smith.

A tour through the restoration hangar with our curator, Steve Smith.

If you have any questions about this segment, comment below and we will get those answered

A-4 with General (retired) Butcher

All is f your questions answered!

Curator, Steve “Smitty” Smith, speaking about the Lockheed TO-1/TV-1 Shooting Star. Visit the website at www.flyingleathernecks.org

Steve “Smitty” Smith, the curator, speaking on the SBD-1 Dauntless from the Restoration Hangar

Marine Aviation never slows down 🇺🇸

Mike Wifler recording for CH-46 audio tour.

UH-1 Huey segment being recorded by Gen (ret) Aguilar

T-34 audio tour segment in process. Thanks Col. Doran!

A NEW audio tour coming to the museum soon!

Airplane parade! The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum moves aircraft in support of 2015 MCAS Miramar Air Show. You don't want to miss this year's show! It will be an impressive display of American and Marine Corps aviation.

Welcome to Flying Leatherneck Avaition Museum
Welcome to Flying Leatherneck Avaition Museum

Welcome to The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum from Major General Bob Butcher

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Comments

On July 30, 1970, a KC-130F Hercules (tail number 150685) from VMGR-352 was involved in a training incident at MCAS El Toro while performing an obstacle approach. The aircraft made a high rapid descent to runway 34L. It touched down hard, bounced and then dropped on the left wing and rolled over, skidding towards midfield. A fire immediately erupted. On the aircraft were the following crew members: Major Walter Zytkewicz, passed away on August 7, 1970 Captain Robert Walls (my cousin), passed away on August 8, 1970 1st Lieutenant Robert Mullins, passed away on July 30, 1970 Staff Sergeant Kenneth Davis, passed away on December 25, 2013 and was the only survivor of the incident Corporal Kenneth Metzdorf, passed away on August 5, 1970 Last year, I have started the process of finding the families of the other crew members on-board that flight. I have been able to connect with the families of the following crew members: • Maj Walter Zytkewicz • SSgt Kenneth Davis • Cpl Kenneth Metzdorf There was one other crew member on-board the flight that day and he was 1stLt Robert Mullins. Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate any of his family. All of the families were reunited at MCAS Miramar in San Diego this past December for the first time in almost 50 years.. Following are the two links to news articles on the crash and reunion.. https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/man-works-to-unite-families-of-marines-who-died-from-training-exercise-in-1970 https://www.10news.com/families-from-across-the-country-dedicate-plaque-to-marines-in-1970-training-crash?fbclid=IwAR3fIDqrA2tuf9NF-2IQX2kVpgTgUk2ElGnT9sJ1HxEwSUkk_GJHZopCeJk
I think I should send you some of my prints so you can hang in the museum!
**Help Support the Sailors' Snug Harbor Cemetery Mariners Memorial Campaign** @SSHMarinersGenealogy https://www.facebook.com/SSHMarinersGenealogy/ The Descendants of Sailors’ Snug Harbor Mariners have been reaching out to Historical and Genealogical Societies, Museums, Military Veterans Groups, and Concerned Citizens, to invite them to join a Letters of Support Campaign to support their efforts to gain access to the old Sailors’ Snug Harbor Cemetery on Staten Island, in New York City, to honor their Ancestors and all of the 6,500 Merchant and Naval Mariners interred there (1834-1976), by installing a Memorial Monument (Obelisk) and holding an annual Memorial Service. Some of the Mariners were famous Sea Captains and some sailed on famous Merchant, Coast Guard, and Naval ships dating back to the American Revolution. Many were just average seamen whom sailed and endured for many years on the sea under arduous conditions. The Mariners were from many areas of the United States, Canada, and other countries. Some Mariners sailed from California seaports. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2244490/sailors-snug-harbor-cemetery Sadly, the Sailors' Snug Harbor Cemetery is devoid of gravestones or markers, except for 15 remaining gravestones. The Cemetery is closed and not open to the public. The Board of Trustees of Sailors' Snug Harbor have rejected the Descendants' requests to access the SSH Cemetery to honor their Ancestors. https://nypost.com/2018/12/29/caretakers-shoot-down-plans-for-monument-for-fallen-sailors/ The Descendants are collecting Letters of Support to persuade the Trustees of Sailors’ Snug Harbor to change their decision. You can help support the Descendants by writing a Letter of Support using the Support Letter Writing Instructions at the following link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sZv5VFLNWw0HA-pW2i33RhbgVFQ6oExx Sailors’ Snug Harbor has a very interesting history. It was one of the first large scale retirement facilities in the United States and the first established for Merchant Mariners. It was founded by the Randall family whom were New York City Merchant Sea Captains and Privateers during the French Indian War and Patriots during the Revolutionary War. Alexander Hamilton was a friend of the Randall family and their Attorney. He helped draft the Robert Richard Randall Will in 1801 to create the SSH Trust which funded the SSH Retirement Home. During its 140+ years of operation (1833-1976) approximately 16,000 Mariners resided there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailors%27_Snug_Harbor
Great Docents and Volunteers!!
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