Naval Air Station Point Mugu
Encyclopedia
Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu or NBVC Point Mugu is a military airbase located in Point Mugu
, Ventura County
, California
, United States
. Due to realignment actions which occurred in 2000, the base is now part of Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), a consolidated organization that also includes Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme and San Nicholas Island
. The facility also shares runways with the California Air National Guard
's 146th Airlift Wing
at the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station
.
The facility adjacent to Point Mugu, California was developed in the late 1940s as the U.S. Navy's major missile development and test facility. This facility was the site where most of the Navy's missiles were developed and tested during the 1950/1960 era, including the AIM-7 Sparrow
family and the AIM-54 Phoenix
air-to-air
, Bullpup air-to-surface
, and Regulus surface-to-surface
missiles.
NBVC Pt. Mugu has dominated the area since the 1940s, and is one of the few places in the area that is not agricultural. The base has been home to many ordnance
testing programs, and the test range extends offshore to the Navy-owned San Nicolas Island
in the Channel Islands
.
In 1963 the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program
was established on a sand spit between Mugu Lagoon and the ocean. The facility was relocated in 1967 to Point Loma in San Diego, California
.
Point Mugu was the airfield used by former President Ronald Reagan
during his presidency on visits to his Santa Barbara ranch
. The airfield was also used during the state funeral
honoring him in 2004, as the place where the former President's body was flown to Washington, D.C.
to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. The body was flown back to Point Mugu aboard presidential aircraft SAM 28000
two days later. Until the late 1990s, the base hosted Antarctic Development Squadron SIX (VXE-6
), the squadron of LC-130s equipped to land on ice in Antarctica, to supply the science stations there. Now, the New York Air National Guard
's 109th Airlift Wing has assumed that responsibility.
Outside of the air station there is also Point Mugu State Park
, a popular site for viewing birds, marine mammals, and wildflowers and provides about 15,000 acres (61 km²) of protected land including beaches, riparian areas, and coastal hills and canyons. Between the park and the naval base, Mugu Lagoon provides one of the largest coastal wetlands in Southern California
that has not been largely developed.
Point Mugu, California
Point Mugu , California is an unincorporated area and geographical promontory on the Pacific coast in Ventura County, near the town of Port Hueneme and the city of Oxnard. The name is believed to be derived from the Chumash Indian term Muwu, meaning beach, which was first mentioned by Cabrillo in...
, Ventura County
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Due to realignment actions which occurred in 2000, the base is now part of Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), a consolidated organization that also includes Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme and San Nicholas Island
San Nicolas Island
San Nicolas Island is the most remote of California's Channel Islands. It is part of Ventura County. The 14,562 acre island is currently controlled by the United States Navy and is used as a weapons testing and training facility, served by Naval Outlying Field San Nicolas Island...
. The facility also shares runways with the California Air National Guard
California Air National Guard
The California Air National Guard is the air component of the California National Guard. The California Air National Guard is headquartered at Sacramento, California.One of the duties of the California Air National Guard is defense of the United States...
's 146th Airlift Wing
146th Airlift Wing
The United States Air Force's 146th Airlift Wing is a unit located at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California.-Mission:The 146th AW's primary mission is to provide global military airlift capability to a full spectrum of state and federal agencies...
at the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station
Channel Islands Air National Guard Station
Channel Islands Air National Guard Station is the home base of the California Air National Guard 146th Airlift Wing. It is also the headquarters of the California Air National Guard...
.
The facility adjacent to Point Mugu, California was developed in the late 1940s as the U.S. Navy's major missile development and test facility. This facility was the site where most of the Navy's missiles were developed and tested during the 1950/1960 era, including the AIM-7 Sparrow
AIM-7 Sparrow
The AIM-7 Sparrow is an American, medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, as well as various allied air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual...
family and the AIM-54 Phoenix
AIM-54 Phoenix
The AIM-54 Phoenix is a radar-guided, long-range air-to-air missile , carried in clusters of up to six missiles on F-14 Tomcats, its only launch platform. The Phoenix was the United States' only long-range air-to-air missile. The weapons system based on Phoenix was the world's first to allow...
air-to-air
Air-to-air missile
An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
, Bullpup air-to-surface
Air-to-surface missile
An air-to-surface missile is a missile designed to be launched from military aircraft and strike ground targets on land, at sea, or both...
, and Regulus surface-to-surface
Surface-to-surface missile
A surface-to-surface missile is a guided projectile launched from a hand-held, vehicle mounted, trailer mounted or fixed installation or from a ship. They are often powered by a rocket motor or sometimes fired by an explosive charge, since the launching platform is typically stationary or moving...
missiles.
NBVC Pt. Mugu has dominated the area since the 1940s, and is one of the few places in the area that is not agricultural. The base has been home to many ordnance
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
testing programs, and the test range extends offshore to the Navy-owned San Nicolas Island
San Nicolas Island
San Nicolas Island is the most remote of California's Channel Islands. It is part of Ventura County. The 14,562 acre island is currently controlled by the United States Navy and is used as a weapons testing and training facility, served by Naval Outlying Field San Nicolas Island...
in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands of California
The Channel Islands of California are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America...
.
In 1963 the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program
U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program
The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program is a program administered by the U.S. Navy which studies the military use of marine mammals—principally Bottlenose Dolphins and California Sea Lions—and trains animals to perform tasks such as ship and harbor protection, mine detection and clearance, and...
was established on a sand spit between Mugu Lagoon and the ocean. The facility was relocated in 1967 to Point Loma in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Point Mugu was the airfield used by former President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
during his presidency on visits to his Santa Barbara ranch
Rancho del Cielo
Rancho del Cielo, or "Sky's or Heaven's Ranch," is a ranch located on the top of the Santa Ynez Mountain range northwest of Santa Barbara, California...
. The airfield was also used during the state funeral
Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan
On June 5, 2004, Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, died after having suffered from Alzheimer's disease for nearly a decade. His seven-day state funeral followed, spanning June 5–11...
honoring him in 2004, as the place where the former President's body was flown to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. The body was flown back to Point Mugu aboard presidential aircraft SAM 28000
Boeing VC-25
The Boeing VC-25 is the designation of a United States Air Force passenger transportation aircraft, a military version of the Boeing 747 airliner. The A-model is the only variant of the VC-25....
two days later. Until the late 1990s, the base hosted Antarctic Development Squadron SIX (VXE-6
VXE-6
VXE-6, Antarctic Development Squadron 6 , commonly referred to by its nickname, The Puckered Penguins was a United States Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron based at McMurdo Station, Antarctica...
), the squadron of LC-130s equipped to land on ice in Antarctica, to supply the science stations there. Now, the New York Air National Guard
New York Air National Guard
The New York Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of New York. It is, along with the New York Army National Guard, an element of the New York National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission...
's 109th Airlift Wing has assumed that responsibility.
Outside of the air station there is also Point Mugu State Park
Point Mugu State Park
Point Mugu State Park is a state park located in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in Southern California. Part of the Western Santa Monica Mountains, the park is located at 9000 West Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California. There is a fee-based parking lot that is open from 8...
, a popular site for viewing birds, marine mammals, and wildflowers and provides about 15,000 acres (61 km²) of protected land including beaches, riparian areas, and coastal hills and canyons. Between the park and the naval base, Mugu Lagoon provides one of the largest coastal wetlands in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
that has not been largely developed.
Tenant Wings and Squadrons
- Commander, Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing
- Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112VAW-112Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One One Two is a United States Navy airborne early warning squadron. Nicknamed Golden Hawks, they fly the E-2 Hawkeye...
- Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 113VAW-113VAW-113, known as "The World Famous Black Eagles", was commissioned as a squadron on April 29, 1967. One week later, VAW-113 deployed to the Western Pacific flying the E-2 Hawkeye aboard USS Constellation . VAW-113 served in Vietnamese Operations every year from 1967 to 1975...
- Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 116VAW-116VAW-116 is a US Navy Command and Control Squadron that deploys aboard USS Abraham Lincoln as part of Carrier Air Wing Two. VAW-116 flies the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft. The VAW-116 Commanding Officer is Commander Mike S. Fitzpatrick. The "Sun Kings" of VAW-116 are stationed at Naval Base Ventura...
- Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117VAW-117Carrier Airborne Command and Control Squadron One One Seven is a United States Navy airborne early warning squadron. Nicknamed The Wallbangers , it flies the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye, the USN’s only carrier-based command and control platform...
- Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30VRC-30Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 , also known as the "Providers", is a United States Navy Fleet Logistics Support squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island consisting of 5 detachments.-History:...
Detachment
- Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112
- Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 55
- Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 9VX-9VX-9. Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine, is a United States Navy air test and evaluation squadron based at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California...
- Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 30
- 146th Airlift Wing146th Airlift WingThe United States Air Force's 146th Airlift Wing is a unit located at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California.-Mission:The 146th AW's primary mission is to provide global military airlift capability to a full spectrum of state and federal agencies...
, California Air National GuardCalifornia Air National GuardThe California Air National Guard is the air component of the California National Guard. The California Air National Guard is headquartered at Sacramento, California.One of the duties of the California Air National Guard is defense of the United States...
Accidents and incidents
- On 4 August 1972, Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
N31538 of Mercer Airlines suffered an in-flight engine fire shortly after take-off on a cargo flight to Hollywood-Burbank Airport. The aircraft departed the runway in the emergency landing and was destroyed by the subsequent fire. All three people on board survived.
- On 18 May 2011, a Boeing 707Boeing 707The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
belonging to Omega Aerial Refueling Services and chartered to the U.S. Navy skidded off the runway and burst into flames shortly after landing. A reported amount of approximately 150,000 pounds of jet fuel was onboard when the plane crashed. All three personnel aboard the aircraft survived with non life-threatening injuries.