At a Feb. 10 event inside a historic hanger at the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, now the Great Park in Irvine, CSUF and the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum celebrated the university's donation of a copy of its El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Oral History Project to the museum.
Over 500 Cal State Fullerton oral histories documenting aviators, veterans and civilians from World War II through the Vietnam War will soon be available at the future Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum when it opens by early 2027 at the Great Park in Irvine.
CSUF’s Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History donated a copy of its El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Oral History Project to the museum to share El Toro’s legacy. Visitors will learn from the personal stories of military pilots, enlisted Marines and others whose lives revolved around the El Toro base from World War II through the 1970s.
Natalie Fousekis, director of the Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History and professor of history, said the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Oral History Project is different from other military collections because it focuses on the human element. The oral histories include interviews with the first Marine Corps female general and African American general, Fousekis said.
“We focused on the person’s whole life, so you get a feel for the stories of the men and women who worked at the El Toro base,” Fousekis said.
Alumnus and retired Marine Col. Patrick “Paddy” Gough, vice chair of the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation, said Cal State Fullerton and the museum’s partnership will preserve the legacy and heritage of Marine Corps history.
“It’s undeniable that Marine Corps Air Station El Toro is part of the history of Orange County and the region,” said Gough ’80 (B.A. history).
The museum will be housed in a new 131,000-square-foot building that will showcase over 40 military airplanes and helicopters, artifacts and exhibits.
About Cal State Fullerton: The largest university in the CSU and the only campus in Orange County, Cal State Fullerton offers more than 100 degree programs and Division I athletics. Recognized as a national model for supporting student success, CSUF excels with innovative, high-impact educational practices, including faculty-student collaborative research, study abroad and competitive internships. CSUF is a top public university known for its success in supporting first-generation and underrepresented students, and preparing all students to become leaders in the global marketplace. Our vibrant and diverse campus is a primary driver of workforce and economic development in the region. Visit fullerton.edu.
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