The Flying Leatherneck Museum was

established in 1989 on MCAS El Toro in Orange

County, CA.

Base Realignment closed MCAS El Toro in 1999. A group of retired Marines from San Diego, led by Major Generals Bob Butcher and Frank Lang, spearheaded the move of the aircraft and artifacts to MCAS Miramar to open and house the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum.

In March of 2021 it was announced that MCAS

Miramar would no longer host the museum on its grounds.

Supporters and community in earnest begin "Save our Museum" Campaign.

​The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, a critically important icon of American heritage, has been given a temporary reprieve from permanent closure to give its foundation time to raise funds necessary to relocate the collection and operate the museum.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the Flying Leatherneck

Aviation Museum at Great Park in the City of Irvine has been signed by City of Irvine, USMC and Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation/Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum.

With this legal hurdle cleared, focus is now on raising the funds required to move the collection, prepare the site and exhibits and staff the museum.

Packing of non-aircraft artifacts and equipment.

Site preparation begins.

Aircraft disassembly begins.

Electrical, water, and sewer installation begins.

Transportation of aircraft, artifacts, and machinery begins

Restoration and maintenance of the collection.

City of Irvine delivers certified pad.

Construction of interior and exterior building and exhibits.

Museum Opening