Happy Anniversary...cause for applause

Thousands of people joined MCAS Cherry Point as they celebrated the 100^th Anniversary of Marine Corps Aviation and 70^th Anniversary of the Cherry Point Air Station with an outstanding air show attracting approximately 150,000 people to the three day celebration.

It was the best of the best…a grand event featuring many flight demonstrations including the Blue Angel’s, military equipment and lots more….all outstanding examples of what our Special Forces do every day to protect our nation.  

A bit of history and good fortune for our country and Eastern North Carolina…On July 9, 1941, Congress voted to authorize construction of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Actual clearing of an eight thousand acre tract of swamp, farms and timberland began on August 6 with extensive drainage and malaria control work. Construction began in November just 17 days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The initial appropriation was $14,900,000.

The official birthday of naval aviation is May 8, 1911 when the Navy purchased its first aircraft, the A-1 Triad from Glenn Curtiss.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director