El Toro by Air

05 May 2008: Today we thought we'd try something new and take some aerial pictures of the El Toro Marine Base. We recently took a short flight overhead the base and got to see a whole different perspective of El Toro. Our Marine fighter pilots must have had a similar view while flying overhead.




Above you can see a majestic view of MCAS El Toro nestled beneath the Santa Ana Mountains in the foreground, with the snow-capped Angeles Mountains seen in the background. This photograph is looking to the northwest, showing the mainside El Toro area below.




Here is the same picture above, but with a close-up on the base. You can see the Main Gate to the left and Trabuco Rd. coming across the picture through the Base HQ in the below-center. The barracks, PX, and other service buildings are shown in the upper part of the picture.




You may have forgotten which building is which, well don't worry, we've taken the liberty to identify some of the buildings in the picture. As you can see from these photographs, El Toro has changed quite a bit; however many of the base's important and historic landmarks are still present.
[Note: Make sure to click on the pictures if you would like to see them in a larger size]

The Grass is Greener

2 January 2008: It's a brand new year and the landscape is beginning to look very alive. For most of 2007, MCAS El Toro was surrounded by yellowish-brown grass, shrubs, weeds, and dirt, due in part to the Southern California drought. Since the Marines turned off the sprinklers in 1999, the grounds on the base have been badly neglected. However today for the first time in a long time, the ground wasn't such an eye sore as vivid green grass peppered the area. Winter rainstorms over the Holidays brought the area much needed water in what was one of the worst droughts in recent time.




These pictures of the base attest to the recent wet weather. You can see a nice view of the brick 1950's-era barracks, and just behind it, the new and modern looking "Castle" barracks. In the other picture, you can see a view of E Street with the base chapel in the background, and in the right side of foreground, two columns from the base gas station stand alone.