Mira Mesa Living

By: Steve Nicoles

Miramar Road has two major distinctions: a litany of furniture businesses on the north side of the street and MCAS Miramar on the south. Part of the base is the Flying Leatherneck Marine Corps Aviation Museum (T-4203 Anderson Ave. www.flyingleathernecks.org), the only Marine aviation museum in the world. Many of the museum’s planes are visible to drivers as they fly down the street. A couple dozen planes and helicopters sit on the opposite side of a barbed-wire fence. Harder to see from the street is the Northrup F-5E Tiger II, first flown in 1972. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dick Miller, who also serves as the head of the museum, has his personal favorite. He loves the R4-Q2, the plane he personally flew more than half a century ago.

While anyone can see the planes from their cars, many people have not taken the time to learn about what is within the museum’s walls. For example, the museum has a large exhibit on women in the military. Museum-goers will see uniforms throughout the years and learn interesting facts, like women have served in the U.S. military longer than they have had the right to vote.

Col. (Ret.) Eleanor Wilson spent more than a year putting together a complete WWI female uniform. It is one of three full uniforms for women included in the exhibit. Miller said, “We are reputed to be the best woman marine memorabilia in the Marine Corps.”

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday 9am – 3:30pm and is free to the public.