Camp Garcia Vieques

MCAS Vieques Airport was a Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) at MCB Camp Garcia on the island-municipality of Vieques in Puerto Rico. It was built in 1960 by USMC engineers and consisted of a single 5,000 ft east–west runway. It was used to fly in troops, equipment and supplies to support amphibious landing training missions.

Camp Garcia Vieques Airport
Summary
LocationVieques, Puerto Rico
Coordinates18°06′57″N 065°25′22″W
Map
Camp Garcia
Location in Puerto Rico
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
10/28 3,500 1,067 Paved

MCB Camp Garcia was a U.S. Marine Corps base. Camp Garcia Gate

The base was used for amphibious landing training purposes. Camp Garcia hosted the Atlantic Fleet's Composite Training Unit Exercises and served as the premiere training area for the Atlantic Fleet for more than 60 years.

It also housed a MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio System) radio relay station. See: Military Auxiliary Radio System

Camp Garcia was named after Marine Corps Private 1st Class Fernando Garcia, a Medal of Honor recipient during the Korean War and a native of Puerto Rico. It was located on the island of Vieques (part of the Puerto Rico Commonwealth). The base closed in 2003.

References

MCAS Vieques history - http://www.airfields-freeman.com/PR/Airfields_PR_E.htm#campgarcia MCB Camp Garcia/MARS (Personal observations of Corporal G. D. Yaros, USMC (1972) Naming/Closure - http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?112372-Camp-Garcia Host to Atlantic Fleet Composite Training Unit - https://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=PublicUnitProfile&type=Unit&ID=17032


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