Exploring 10 Abandoned Military Bases of CALIFORNIA
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- čas přidán 9. 06. 2024
- Today we will be exploring all abandoned California military forts, bases and airfields.
Are you fascinated by the forgotten stories of ghost towns and abandoned villages? Join us as we explore the eerie remains of once thriving communities and uncover their rich history. From deserted streets to crumbling architecture, these abandoned places hold so much mystery and intrigue. Don't miss out on this journey through time, hit that subscribe button now!
00:00 Intro
00:19 Castle Air Force Base, Merced County
01:37 Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda
03:13 Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo
04:34 Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo
06:06 Presidio of San Francisco
07:42 Hamilton Air Force Base, Novato
09:26 Moffet Field, Mountain View
11:02 McClellan Air Force Base, North Highlands
12:19 Fort Ord, Monterey Bay Coast
14:15 Naval Training Center, San Diego
Abandoned military base in California, USA
#GhostTowns #AbandonedVillages #ExploringTheForgotten #History #Mystery #america #abandoned #militarybase
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Holy crap i really feel old i was still in the service when all these were still in operation
My father worked at Norton AFB in San Bernardino for more than forty years. He loved the work and took our family “TDY” to four different bases across the country. This all happened during the sixties and we saw President Kennedy visiting a base in Spokane, Washington. Good times…
I was station at Norton AFB for 8 years from 1980 to 1988. And then went PCS to McClellan AFB. Sadly both are now closed. Both bases were great to be station at.
I've worked there since 2014, now the San Bernardino International Airport. In that time I've seen it grow from an empty airport with a failed terminal, so a relatively busy commercial airport with passenger and cargo service. When my company showed up, we were the biggest thing there. Not the case anymore.
I loved Norton AFB😭
I was stationed at Mather AFB in the 80s. It was also closed about the same time the others were.
I was stationed at George AFB in the mid 1980’s. 563rd tac fighter squadron, armament systems specialist. Miss those days. Victorville has turned into a cesspool.
I entered the Air Force in 84 and was stationed at Travis AFB which was between SF and Sacramento. I can say I have been all these bases except for George and Hamilton as I made it a point the visit as many military sites as possible. The Hamilton base was open as open cilivian property that had a sign on Hwy 101 that caught my attention. As a young airman, I used to frequent the Presidio to surf at Fort Point which is just under the Golden Gate Bridge. I remember the BRAC closing so many of these bases. The last base I spent an hour to fix a broke C-5 was at Moffett field where I was amazed on the immense size of the airship hangers. So many memories of these unique cold war bases
Thank you for watching the video and for your comment! Have a great day!
I was at Travis in 1984 as well. Sent there after the closure of McClellan in Sacramento.
During my 2 years, nine months and 6 hours in the U. S. Army, I spent time at Fort Ord, Fort Irwin, Oakland Army Base, Alameda Naval Station; plus Vietnam and Ft. Huachuca, AZ. Now, nearly all of the buildings I occupied are gone. Thank you for the memories.
Thank you for your comment! Have a great day!
Yep, I went to basic training at Fort Ord too. And hit a few of your other Posts too.
@@ghosttownchronicles I thought you said this was abandoned basis none of these bases are abandoned
My uncle works for Castle Air Force Base and I live not too far away from it. He served in Desert Storm and has a bunch of buddies who run the place, I highly recommend any aviation geeks to go visit the place. They just got a few newer fighter jets like a retired Blue Angel, and they're working on getting a Nighthawk set up for display.
I've lived and worked at fort Ord, and I loved that most of the roads past the developed portion of the base had almost no traffic, where I could ride my bicycle without fear of being hit by cars, and it was a peaceful place
You are right about that. A huge beautiful open space back there. In the early nineties I used to sneak in and train my Brittany on the quail coveys.
My late Uncle Fred served at Fort Ord during WW2. I had a pen pal who's husband served at Fort Ord in the 1980's.
I've been to most of those bases back in the late 70s and early 80s. It still seems strange that they all gone now. But it's good to see that those locations are still being put to good use and that their past is remembered.
Took basic training at Fort Ord in 1964, My father retired from the air force at McCleallan AFB and today I go to the VA Clinic there. Was at Alemeda NAS once, while on a national guard Huey for a refeulling stop.
Hamilton Field. My dad was a pow at the end of ww2 and his hometown was Mill Valley California. When he returned home the Army Air Corps stationed him at Hamilton for about a year. I joined the US Army in 1978 and was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco.
Was at Fort Ord when the post closed and 7th ID's colors were cased in AUG 1993. Now it's the California State University, Monterey Bay.
It’s so sad to abandon such places…
NTCSD - Naval Training Center San Diego was My training center when I Enlisted in 84...
I can Still see in the first images my barracks, Admin, 'The Grinder', Pass-N-Review area across the bridge, as well as the Large Chow Hall!!
Getting Ready to celebrate All my Vets onboard USS IOWA BB-61!!
OS1
84 - 05
my dad was in alameda for a bit before it was closed. He was a UDT navy seal at that time he was seabes
I worked with those Guys on the Docks Weld shop at Treasure Island 1976..UDT SEAL Team 1
You were definitely with my father then! I appreciate your service!@@weldrider1
I was stationed at McClellan in the early 70's assigned to the 552 AEW&C Wing when I returned from the East China Sea. I took altitude chamber training at Castle, a noisy place due to it being a SAC base with the constant landing and taking off of B-52 aircraft. We at times had to land at San Diego Naval Station when aircraft problems prevented us from returning to home base, we weren't allowed to park on the ramp because the Connies leaked oil like all radial engine aircraft do when shut down.
Some others closed bases in Cali include Treasure Island, Hunters Point, Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, Long Beach Naval Hospital, Long Beach Naval Base, Norton and March AFB's, Sacramento Army Depot. I believe AF Reserve still operate one of the two
@jguerr562. March AFB was Changed to March ARB; it has Mainly Air Reserve Squadrons one of which is an Air Refueling Squadron which Operates KC-135 Refueling Air Tankers.
There is a PX, a Commissary, some left over Barracks.
Also here there’s a Veterans Village of Three New Apartment Buildings with more Planned. 🫡😎
My father served at the Presidio in World War II and I took Infantry AIT at Fort Ord in late 1969 and early 1970. It is sad to see the condition of many of these bases today.
Liberty Station is interesting. I did the install on the Vons there. There is still asbestos and lead paint everywhere. It's all encapsulated. No way to get it all out unless you demolish the whole complex. The repurpose was cool because they kept the original look of the buildings. Crazy when you do 10 and still doesn't cover all the bases we've closed out here.
I have friend who lived in one of the old officers houses over in Alameda. It was fairly soon after the closure and he, his wife, and kids were one of the first families to move in. At that time, I’d guess only 15 to 20%, at most, of the buildings were occupied. It was a nice respite from life in SF, but the quiet had a super eerie feeling to it. Having been in the navy, going there always had a weird feeling of familiarity mixed with that weird feeling you got when you were a kid and found yourself at your school at night. Familiar, but off in a way you couldn’t quite put your finger on
Ha Ha...The CPO Club at the edge of the Base at a 90 deg turn (With an Outside Street entrance) had a 7 or 8ft wall around the courtyard....right in the corner in plane sight was a Huge Pot Plant/tree growing taller than the wall...LOLOL..My guess is Nobody knew what it was back in 1975. (Nor did i..a buddy pointed it out to me as we passed by)
I like your channel is the best in the world 🌎🌎
Thank you so much! Have a great day!
Grab a beer and take a drink every time he says "However" or "Crucial"
Fort Ord was still in use in the early 2000s it was built as an urban Training Center for the California National Guard several federal agencies and the Special Forces community.
Gonna need Alameda NAS & Mare Island again, MARK MY WORDS!!! Probably a few others also. IN THE not so DISTANT FUTURE!!!
I think you are correct, I just hope they will be manned by Americans and not foreigners.
Visited nine out of ten of the bases you mentioned. Brings back memories of my younger days!
Yo! I was onboard USS Hancock CVA-19 in Alameda, Treasure Island, then USS Pyro AE-24 in Concord/Mare Island, Then USS Cleveland LPD-7 in Long Beach/Terminal Island..1974-1977 ...Something about "memories"
Thank you for this educational video. As a former airwing Marine I spent many years at the Marine air station (H) in Tustin Ca. Now also closed. I spent 2 years at Marine Corp Air Station El Toro. I spent 2 years at Naval Air Station Alameda as an A - 4 Plane Captain. Again Thank you for letting me remember some of the places of my past.
Thank you for your comment!
Have a great day
I was stationed at MCAS El Toro twice. in 81 I was with MWCS-38 and in 84-85 with MABS-13. I remember the A4's and A6's and F4's. F18's came out while I was there before going to 29 Palms.
So every place you were stationed is now closed?
Yes they are@@kendallevans4079
@@TexanUSMC8089 I did some work at The El Torro base in the Early 2000`s ...I was a sub-contractor with Quinn Caterpillar upgrading Emergency backup Generator systems...Something was going on there at the time...but i can`t remember what it was...LOLOL
As someone born and raised in the Bay Area, you did an excellent job of the myriad closed bases we have. *(Special consideration for Mare Island as I lived in Vallejo on and off for 30yrs, visited the BX/PX with my grandma all the time, and have watched it change so much!)
P.S. You failed to mention the movie productions done on the island such as 'The Sphere,' 13 Reasons Why, and Bumblebee to name a few lol😊
One of the people who served at Mare Island in the 1950s was a young sailor named Bill France, Jr, who after joined his father Bill in establishing NASCAR into the stock car racing juggernaut it is today.
My grandfather was stationed in fort ord he retired when it closed. I was born a year before it closed
I attended my advanced school at Naval Training Center San Diego back in 1992. I had pretty good time there. Would hop on the trolley downtown and go to Tijuana every weekend.
At 1:12 I saw an outdoor warplanes assembly collection. At the bottom right hand corner of the screen looks to be a British Avro delta-wing strategic bomber. Is this accurate? Did the former Castle AFB have an outdoor warplane museum?
Castle Air Museum is definitely worth a visit. It has several aircraft on display in the outdoor areas.
You missed a few other bases that have been closed.
MCAS EL TORO
MCAS TUSTIN
USAF NORTON
USAF MARCH FIELD
NB POINT MOLATE
NAS LOS ALAMITOS
NWS LONG BEACH
NS LONG BEACH
I spent a lot of Army Reserve time at Los Al. Did not know it was closed....
El toro was a killer base i severed there in 70 the water was poisoned now we die
I have been to Norton AFB before before it closed. I been to March as well, but I believe it is not fully closed being a " Air Reserve base. I spent some time at March fixing some aircraft there in 2004. Is Miramar closed?
March has a nice little museum well wort a visit. Miramar is still open but now MCAS Miramar. All Navy ops relocated (FWS now at Fallon, etc)
Vacated is not the same as abandoned. But thanks for the informative video. Hamilton AFB was not part of the base realignment and closure act.
Your right.
Great stuff.
Thanks!
Makes me sad to see Ft. Ord in such a horrific state of dystopia/falling apart.. In the early 80s, I attended the then 6th Army Area U.S. Army Forces Command Small Arms Championships, at Ft. Ord. I fired a lot of national match ammo with the M14NM on Beach Range 8 there. Thanks for including NTC San Diego also. I attended Boot Camp, BE&E school, and an A school there June of 69 to March of 70.. Visited it in 07 and 09 while attending Navy Related reunions. Nice to see it well perserved in one form or another.
A large amount of Fort Ord is now Cal State University Monterey Bay (by the parade ground) and down by beach a lot of commercial and residential. It is actually quite nice.
Naval Training Center San Diego was where I went to boot camp in 1975! From there on to Mayport Naval Station in Florida and my ship, the USS Grand Canyon AR28. Thanks for the memories!
Thanks Clinton
I served at NTC/RTC San Diego in the summer of 1989. Company 218.
Stationed at Fort Ord twice, been to Presidio San Francisco Lettermen Hospital to visit someone in my unit that became seriously ill. Also Oakland Military base, Travis Air Force, McClellan Air Force Base, Mather Air Force Base and Presidio Monterey. Went to the field at Fort Hunter-Leggett and Camp Roberts.
I had a summer internship at Mare Island the summer of 1979 and had a chance to see the USS Nautilus while it was in for decommissioning.
My grandfather went through Naval Training Center San Diego, he enlisted in the Navy in 1938, and was stationed in San Diego when Pearl Harbor was bombed he said the rumors flew fast that day and the days following
There were a couple that I was looking for that didn't make the cut. I was stationed at Mather AFB in 1976 - 77. It was my first base. I stayed in 26 years and would have loved to see it. Norton AFB was missed too.
Thank you for your comment! I will make sure to include them in the second part
I took my basic training and AIT at Fort Ord in 1969 I was with A4/1 for Basic and A 2/4 for 36K training
Lived in Northern California for latter childhood and adult years. What is sad is the opportunity missed to repurpose most of these facilities. McClellan AFB closure was a huge hit for employment in the Sacramento area. Companies were knocking looking for a facility like McClellan, Boeing, Evergreen and on and on. Two more in the Sacramento area, Mather AFB and the Sacramento Army Depot.
I was station at McClellan AFB for 6 years from 1988 to 1994. Use to go TDY to Mather AFB to work on telephone cables. I had a lot of fun there. A lot of great fishing out there too.
I was stationed at Mather AFB in the very early 1970’s, during Vietnam. Was hoping they would show it. Have also been to all but one of the bases shown. Sad to see the disrepair on many of them.
Visited the sites of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard and Naval Station in Spring 2023. The entire area has become a container / rail yard. The only recognizable area was the Navy Mole which still has the Navy fuel pier and a Military Sealift Command pier
PS - Many trees were transplanted from the base to the ballpark area of the mole end to create a park. Sort of sad looking.
I was in the Long Beach Naval hospital for a little while in 1984. Marines liked being on Navy Bases. LOL
@@TexanUSMC8089 Renamed the ...Betty Ford Clinic
I was stationed at Ft Ord from 84-90.
Hard work, great assignment. ❤
You left out the most important role Alameda played between closure and redevelopment: it was the setting for many episodes of _Mythbusters._
I lived at Hamilton AFB as a kid in the early 60's.
I went back to see it in the late 80's.
California took a big hit during the BRAC process. In my opinion it was partly because of the higher costs of California bases and partly because so many politicians in California were pretty "anti military". I chuckle when politicians complain about military wasteful spending (and they're right) yet in years past they lobbied HARD to get bases in their state. Scenic Glasgow MT had a SAC base there for just a few years and then it shut down.
Now I wonder if the ocean levels rise, even a little, will the huge bases in San Diego and Norfolk have to be moved? Crazy old world.
I was stationed at Moffett Field when it closed. Someone told me that the airfield is unique in that it's the only bay area runway that's build on bedrock instead of landfill. Not sure if that's really true, but it seemed a shame to shut the base down. I think NASA Ames is the landlord now.
California had a Republican governor and large GOP congressional delegation during those years. The BRAC was super charged by Dick Cheney but had nothing to do with sticking it to "anti-military" politicians. After all, California still has a massive military presence and no shortage of facilities to this day. It's just that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the state had way too many expensive facilities to maintain versus the what the Pentagon needed. So this had everything to do with downsizing the Cold War era force and consolidating bases, not political payback.
Highly recommend checking out George Air Force Base in Victorville, CA. Endless history of it being deemed a superfund site and was declared one of the most contaminated bases in the country after decades of government coverups, families losing up to 7 children as a result to the living conditions, etc. Today, the entire neighborhood is abandoned, filled with old barracks, apartments, and an on-base hospital that is haunted beyond any investigations I've ever conducted. Several visits, items repeatedly being thrown at us on camera, escalating with every visit. I'm still sifting through footage as part of a documentary for a separate travel channel.
Some of the bases shown hear me and my brothers were either station there or sent there on TDY. Two of my brothers are former Marines, One brother in the Army and my self retried Air Force. Damn good video, Thanks. 👍🪖
Thank you for your comment! Have a great day!
You seem to have forgotten eltoro airbase in Irvine and I might ad isn’t interesting that most of the base closures were really just land grabs for cities counties and developers
Caught the air show at MCAS El Toro in 1987! Blue Angels and Marine Corps integrated combat display. Really cool, also great place to purchase discount sports tickets at MWR for Lakers, Angels, etc. Also, MCAS Tustin like sister base in Moffett had dirigible hangars not too far from Disneyland!
Need to add to the list: Sierra Army Depot, Herlong. Must be pretty recent: online it looks alive, but I drove out there last Fall, and it's sad to see the baseball field, etc. all weeded up, and nobody around.
You forgot about Mather AFB, Rancho Cordova, California.
Geez!. Almost lists my Navy duty stations RTC San Diego, Treasure island(4 times), Long beach Shipyard (2 times), Mare Island, North Island
I used to shop at Moffett , Got a flight into Alameda one Xmas leave
Me Too 1974 - 1977...and a couple more..💪
Worked and lived in the presidio in san Francisco from 1977-1994 then got job with the u.s park service in presidio 1994-1017, boot camp san Diego 1973
I attended 1st grade at the base elementary school on Castle AFB in the early 70s while my father was stationed at the base. I was stationed at CSTSC at Mare Island in the late 80s when I was in the US Navy.
My grandfather helped build the brig at NTC San Diego back in the day, and I underwent Recruit Training there in '76 followed by B double E school (Basic Electricity and Electronics) in '78. 'Twas a sad day when she was decomm'd.
Homelessness could be answered...IF
What about Camp Callan at Torey Pines. My granddfather was a base Commander there during WW2.
I remember flying into George AFB with my unit 1/67th Armored Battalion, 2nd AD from Ft Hood and then onto Ft Irwin for maneuvers with the 82nd Airborne in 1977.
Your missing Mather AFB in Rancho Cordova, CA
Thank you for your comment!
I will make the second part of this video to mention all the missing bases
Alameda was also where the Doolittle Raiders landed prior to being embarked on HORNET for the raid on Tokyo in April 1942, our first response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and our first victory of any sort in the war...
Now they have Ghost Bases to
match their Ghost Cities.
When the Presidio was closed the Letterman Army Hospital was also shut down. Real sad that asset was closed
I don't know if this has been posted yet, but you forgot El Toro and Tustin Marine Corps Air Bases in Southern Ca. I went to many Air Shows at El Toro. I know they were closed in the 90's during the BRAC stuff.
Hey! Thank you for your comment! Those bases are mentioned in the second part of the video, it came out 2 days ago, make sure to check it out!
I was stationed at or visited nearly all of those bases when they were operational
Growing up in Victorville ca, George AFB was a big part of my childhood my dad was Ret. Army (Maj.) my brother joined the Air force and where did they send him right back to George AFB. I laughed
Since the Navy base in San Diego closed, I've been waiting to see how long MCRD San Diego will survive. It's right next to the San Diego airport. They'll probably move it to Camp Pendleton or 29 Palms someday.
The Marines are completely oppressed to closing MCRD San Diego. They argue that while the Navy and Air Force have consolidated their training facilities. They both were able to consolidate to locations that aren't at a high risk for extreme weather with the exception of the navy's training facilities in Pensacola. Parris Island is a risk of hurricanes and if MCRD San Diego was closed 1 hurricane could take out the USMC's basic training capabilities. The Marines have argued that it could take months of major hurricane to rebuild parris island to the point that it could be used for a basic training but even then the amount of recruits being trained would be limited significantly. It would take years to recover to full capability. The Marines have also argued that expanding camp Pendleton or 29 plams would be extremely expensive. With Pendleton you have to deal with the fact that the land around Pendleton is getting more and more expensive and with 29 palms the land might be cheap but building in the desert is expensive and so is maintaining services most importantly water. The Marines have also pointed out that MCRD San Diego has a historic parade Deck that is a memorial to Marines that fought in WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq.
Yo! I did the same upgrade work (ref: El Torro) Station in Oceanside.(Quinn Co. had Contracts with PACBELL/AT&T) and Huge Complex at Trade St. Miramar..and Coronado Island, San Deigo...As EX Navy and working thru Welding/Engineering and Construction Co.` I had Base Security Clearances from Vandenberg down to Chula Vista..Pretty cool huh...Bitchen even..🤣💪
I went through US Navy boot camp in NTC San Diego 1973..
Right behind you...went to Boot in Great Lakes, 1974👍
Alameda was also where they filmed Matrix Reloaded where they built their own freeway
My dad was station in fort Ord
Lots of people went through basic there. My dad included. Nice Cal State University Monterey Bay campus there now so put to good use.
Yea,Congress loves to close US bases but we have 800 bases overseas that many need to be closed.
We don't really have 800 "bases" overseas. A lot of those so-called "bases" might only have a handful of people assigned to it.
Castle AFB was the only SAC base with a moat around it, part of the irrigation network of the San Joaquin Valley.
Little known fact. The bathroom scene with Tom Cruise and Kelly Mcguillis was filmed at ntc San Diego. I went boot there in 1994 comp 178.
Wow, that is awesome! Thank you for your comment!
One of the first pictures of a two storie building is not at Castle it is down the road the Company was called J F Pritchard then B A C Baltimore air cooling the made cooling towers my father worked there for 30 years
What about Naval Weapons Station, Concord and Naval Station Treasure Island? I think they closed too?
Any info on El Toro MCAS
I enjoyed and was stationed at several of these bases in the seventies and eighties. Why not mention Mather AFB? It was larger than Mclellan?
2 more for your list..MCAS El Toro and Marine helicopter base LTA in Tustin
Took my basic training at Fort Ord, 1970.
I lived on 399 bolling dr Novato CA 9494i. 1986 spent 12 yrs there was one of the last family's to live there
There was also mcas tustin my dad served there for twenty years up until closure in 96 or 97 don't remember exactly
The Basic Realignment and Closure Process held within it a two pronged effort. California at the time was considered a military and military economic powerhouse. In responce, base closures were to preferentially close California bases and if possible "all" California military sites. Further, no military procurement contracts were to be issued to companies within Calfornia. Any contractor wishing new military contracts must relocate facilities outside of California. One might note an added provision, that whenever possible, the attached golf courses of a military base would be retained as military property.
Defence of California is now mostly a reduced Coast Guard and National Guard effort and military armor, ships, aircraft, electronics, and ordinance are no longer produced in California.
Most, if not all of the USAF bases that were closed in CA under BRAC were probably long overdue to be phased out, and the Bay Area really didn't want all those Navy installations around (politically). I find it interesting that the BRAC closures coincided with the political shift in CA from purple to solid blue.
@@dukeford The two bridges in San Francisco were a problem for Navy Carriers..even the ones built during WWII (dismantling, removing towers and antennas, taking on ballast and sharp listing turns to clear/pass under them)
What happened to El Toro and LTA MCAS?
I was stationed at McClellan AFB years ago, and I'm familiar with most of the installations on this list, as well as others (like Mather AFB) that weren't included. It's a shame to see all these once-thriving facilities vacated, but that was probably inevitable. The USAF is half the size it was when I was in, and they have about half the number of aircraft. Who needs all those bases?
I like the history of the bases, but their many bases like these across the U.S. not just west coast.
10 bases here in this part,10 more in the 2nd part,...looks like California took the biggest "hit" in the restructuring of Military base needs. when dad was stationed in Alameda, my older brother and I use to go fishing off of the condemned piers that ran along the bay...even had a MP drive us out there one morning as he saw where had all of our fishing gear with us....scolded us for going out there and ended with "good luck"...
California had and still has the most military bases, based off that I can see why they got the biggest hit
You missed Fort McArthur in San Pedro and Norton AFB in San Bernardino.
I believe El Toro closed as well.
CSUMB sits on old Fort Ord land now
You missed Norton AFB in San Bernardino.
very informational video. But there is a big difference between Abandoned and Redevelop
Whoops..... You forgot Mather AFB near Sacramento. California. The Capital Air Show every year is put on here. FedEX and UPS hubs, Army reserve had/still operates here. And The Coast Guard operates out of what was at McCllelan AFB near Sacramento.
MCAS El Toro was one I went to see the Blue Angles fly. It was a huge base.
Nice place for the homeless to live it can be there own town
The music doesn't make sense. Its not eerie, its a good historical video.
You missed MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin.
These were many other California base closures besides those on this list...