Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, Miramar Marine Air Base April 20, 2013

As it is today. Plans are to build a new one.

In front of the Museum, the A-4 flightline.

A-4M Skyhawk was the last of the
model and was built specifically for
 for the US Marines initially in 1979.

A-4F painted in the colors
 of VMA-134

A-4C painted in the colors
of VMA-223

TA-4J Advanced 2-seater trainer
initially flown in 1969

On the Midway Museum, they only
had the end of a tail hook.

I wanted you to see how long they
are and where it fits on
the airplanes.

FJ-3 Fury, initially as a straight-wing subsonic jet fighter,
was the first jet engine powered military aircraft built by
 North American Aviation in 1946. By 1953 they developed a
more advanced version FJ-3 with larger engine and swept-wing.
In 1956 it was the first fighter to land aboard the USS Forrestal.

Inside the museum were many photographs and exhibits. These few caught my eye.

First woman enlisted in
Marine Corps reserves 1918
First woman Marine selected
for Naval Aviation 1993
First woman Marine and 2nd
woman in history to wear
3 stars in 1996

Female uniforms. The green dress
is made of the same material that
Girl Scout uniforms were in the 1960s.

Honoring father and daughter
Colonel Floyd H. Waldrop.

Colonel Marianne S. Waldrop

The Sanduson Trophy Marine
Attack Squadron of the year.

Honor to BGen JW Hubbard

Just happened to
see the black sheep
in the corner. 

Love the Marine Wings in the
stained glass window. And the
Aviation ties in the gift shop.

In the backyard is a large canopy over one of the many aircraft. My curiosity was high to see what plane received this honor.

And the winner is:
Grumman TBM-3E Avenger

Torpedo bomber of WWII first saw
combat in 1942 in the Battle of Midway.
With the 1st powered turret installed on
a carrier-based aircraft, it was nicknamed
the "Turkey". 

I didn't make a note on what
this airplane is or it's history.

Honor to those who
didn't make it home.

Chance Vought F4U-5N Corsair,
first introduced in 1942, it was not carrier stable,
so the Marine VMF-124 received them on Guadalcanal
and entered combat with only 29 flight hours per pilot.
It was made famous for the Black Sheep Squadron and
further famous on a television series of the same name.