Broken Arrow!
MARINES - YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED TO SAVE THE FLYING LEATHERNECK AVIATION MUSEUM!
On April 1, 2021, the United States Marine Corps intends to permanently close the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum. It is the Marine Corps’ plan to break up the aircraft collection and give it away, sell it or destroy it. There is no current plan to dispose of the artifacts.
April 1st is a firm date, there's not much time remaining to accomplish this mission.
Time left:
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
Copy the letter below and paste it into an email to Gen. David H. Berger, Commandant, USMC and Mr. Robert Hogue, CMC Lead Counsel and Col Charles Dockery Miramar C.O., using the following email addresses:
david.berger@usmc.mil
robert.d.hogue@usmc.mil
charles.dockery@usmc.mil
Seventy Six years ago to the day, Marines were sweeping across the Island of Iwo Jima, having landed two weeks earlier. It would be nearly another month before the island was secure. It was the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history with nearly 7,000 Marines being killed and another 20,000 wounded before the fighting was over.
They were supported by their own USMC close air support every inch of the way. The Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, stated that the flag raising on Mount Suribachi meant a Marine Corps for the next 500 years.
Tradition in the Corps is paramount. And Marine Air is an integral part of this tradition. The closing of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum is completely unnecessary. It is an insult to all who have served, especially those who never returned home.
The Facts…
Among the many proposals to the Marine Corps to keep the museum operating was the following:
The museum would privatize, no longer requiring the Corps' financial support. There are enough funds on hand within the museum's Foundation to continue operations for up to three years.
Additionally, the museum would begin to charge admission to the public, for the first time, to fund operating costs. Annual attendance at the museum is approximately 35,000. It is a favorite destination of visitors to San Diego.
All that has been asked of the Marine Corps was that the land the museum sits on (of little use to MCAS Miramar, sitting at the edge of the base, abutting civilian property and with its own entrance) be leased to it at fair market value. This was rejected out of hand. No reasonable explanation given. Why is this being allowed to happen?
This one of a kind museum is a large part of Marine Corps history and it is being thrown away like yesterday's garbage. Most of the aircraft face an uncertain future and will probably be scrapped. One of the aircraft on site is “Lady Ace 09," the CH-46 that flew for 18 hours straight, taking the ambassador out of Saigon when it fell on April 29th and into the early morning hours of the 30th in 1975.
This makes no sense. So, once again we ask why? It's not about the funding from the Corps and it's not about the need for the land.
So, what is the real reason???
As Marines, we implore you to rescind this decision to permanently close the museum. Time is of the essence. The loss of this treasure and its irreplaceable aircraft is only three weeks away. Please do not allow this to happen. It cannot be undone.
What do we tell our fallen comrades at night when we think of them and their sacrifices for Corps and country?
Semper Fi
[Name, Rank, Tour, information here]
Video showing the aircraft on display at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum