Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

The MCAS Yuma is located 2 miles (3 km) from the city of Yuma, Arizona. It occupies approximately 3,000 acres (12 km²), most of which is flat desert wilderness.

Related Topics:
Mile - Yuma, Arizona - Acre - Desert

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In 1928, the federal government purchased 640 acres (2.6 km²) near Yuma at the recommendation of Colonel Benjamin F. Fly. Temporary dirt runways were installed for usage by military and civilian planes. It was called Fly Field.

Related Topics:
1928 - Dirt

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The outbreak of World War II transformed the air field into the Yuma Army Air Base. It was primarily a training facility for pilots.

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After the war, the base was downgraded to inactivity and claimed as a headquarters for the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Reclamation.

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In the early 1950s the base was re-activated by the United States Air Force and once again became a training facility.

Related Topics:
1950s - United States Air Force

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In 1959, control of the base was passed over to the United States Navy and then, nine days later, to the United States Marine Corps. The base was retitled the Marine Corps Air Station on July 20, 1962.

Related Topics:
1959 - United States Navy - United States Marine Corps - July 20 - 1962

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Use of the base continues up to the present day. It is the busiest air station in the Marine Corps. The site offers excellent year-round flying conditions and thousand of acres of open terrain.

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