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]

Fire at El Toro Base (Part 2)

15 November 2007: It has been little over a month since the Santiago Canyon Wildfires torched the northern property of the former MCAS El Toro and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) return back to the base--no need to afraid--this time the fire was planned by firefighter officials. The ATM annex building of the Marine Exchange was the location of a controlled fire and a mock rescue operation. Just outside the building, you can notice another rescue operation of a simulated car crash. The rubble of the Base Commissary can be seen in the far left background and the Marine Exchange is located off to the right.

El Toro Base Commissary: Checkin' Out (Part 3)

25 Sept. 2007: Demolition continues at the former El Toro Base Commissary. I've included zoomed in photographs to get a glimpse of the building's interior and a short video clip of the area.

El Toro Base Commissary: Checkin' Out (Part 2)

24 Sept. 2007: I couldn't fathom the sight of the Commissary with a gaping hole. Deep down inside of me I still like to imagine that the Commissary & Marine Exchange will never go away.

El Toro Base Commissary: Checkin' Out (Part 1)

30 Aug. 2007: Construction crews have been preparing the demolition of the base commissary and exchange in the past months. First the weed and overgrown shrubbery in the surrounding parking lot were mowed. Next, the main entrance of the commissary was knocked open and large appliances were taken out. Although the commissary is being razed as I type this, I thought I'd share the last photographs taken of the building when it was standing.

The base commissary and the exchange were the first sights of MCAS El Toro that greeted incoming Marines, their families, and visitors approaching the El Toro main gate. After the base closed in 1999, there was a brief initiative by local veterans to re-open the commissary to help provide discounted goods and services to nearby veterans. The plan failed to gain support from county and state politicians and now the commissary makes its last stand before succumbing to its inevitable fate.