Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
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| Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort | |
|---|---|
| Beaufort, South Carolina | |
 MCAS Beaufort Insignia |
|
| Type | Air Station |
| Built | June 15, 1943 |
| In use | June 15, 1943 - present |
| Controlled by | USMC |
| Garrison | Marine Aircraft Group 31 |
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is a United States Marine Corps air base near Beaufort, South Carolina, at . Its ICAO airport code is KNBC. About 4200 personnel serve at the station and it is home to seven F/A-18 Hornet squadrons including one Navy squadron.
Contents |
[edit] Resident units
- Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron
- Marine Aircraft Group 31
- VFA-86
- Marine Wing Support Squadron 273
- Marine Control Squadron 2 Detachment "A"
- Marine Logistics Company 23 (Formerly CSSD-23).
[edit] History
Naval Air Station Beaufort was commissioned on June 15, 1943 for advanced training operations of anti-submarine partols during World War II. It was then deactivated in 1946 and reactivated in 1956. On March 1, 1960, it was re-designated Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. On September 19, 1975, the airfield was named Merritt Field in honor of Major General Lewie G. Merritt, USMCR of Ridge Spring, South Carolina.
The air station encompasses 6,900 acres (28 km²). It is also associated with a large air-to-air combat area off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia as well as a 5,200 acre (21 km²) air-to-ground combat and bombing range in McIntosh County, Georgia. Also attached to the base is the housing complex of Laurel Bay, just 3 miles (5 km) from the station, that provides family housing for area servicepeople.
As is the case with many air bases, MCAS Beaufort hosts a bi-annual air show open to the public.
MCAS-Beaufort's nickname is "Fightertown East"; MCAS Miramar is the more commonly known "Fightertown", also called "Fightertown USA".
