The Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico is located within Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia and was built in 1919. The squadron HMX-1 currently flies the President of the United States under the orders of the current commander William C. Pacatte. The air facility’s nickname is Turner field, named after Colonel Thomas C. Turner, a veteran Marine Aviator and the second director of the Marine Corps Aviation who passes in 1931. Their mission is to operate and maintain facilities while providing services and material in support of their tenant, HMX-1, and other aircrafts.
History
A flying field was placed for the squadron returning from WWI in 1919 which was first named Brown Field. Due to Walter V. Brown’s death on the same flying field, the location needed attention of its hazards when larger and faster planes recognized the dangerous hills, swamps, crosswind runway, and more of the air field. After construction, the facility was renamed Turner Field, and then renamed Marine Corps Air Station Quantico in 1941 and placed under operational control of Commanding General, Marine Barracks. During WWII, MCAS Quantico was mainly used as a training and staging base for the aircrew. After WWII, the base continued as a training base but also took responsibly as a overhaul and repair facility. MCAS Quantico was redesignated as Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico in 1976. Today, MCAF Quantico tries to complete a “no fail” mission for the HMX-1 and the Presidential lift mission.
