MCAS Tustin — USMC Embroidered Patch Home of the Blimp Hangars MCAS Tustin — where World War II blimp hangars became the backdrop for five decades of Marine helicopter operations. From blimps patrolling for enemy submarines to CH-53s thundering out of the world's largest wooden structures, Tustin was one of the most iconic air stations in Marine Corps history. This patch keeps that legacy alive. Marine Corps Air Station Tustin was established in 1942 as Naval Air Station Santa Ana, a lighter-than-air base built to house blimps patrolling the California coast for enemy submarines. Its two massive wooden hangars — 17 stories high, over 1,000 feet long, and among the largest freestanding wooden structures ever built — became National Historic Landmarks. In 1951, the facility became the country's first military airfield dedicated solely to helicopter operations. By the 1990s, MCAS Tustin was the hub of West Coast Marine helicopter aviation, housing over 100 helicopters and supporting 5,000 military and civilian personnel before its closure in 1999. Perfect For: MCAS Tustin veterans, West Coast Marine helicopter pilots, Orange County military community, aviation history enthusiasts, and closed base heritage collectors. Tustin — Where Blimps Became Helicopters.
