Back in the Military...Air & Space Museum

Chris and I felt very connected to our former military life in San Diego County.

From our Oceanside balcony, we watched a US Navy vessel on exercise with Viper and Venom helicopters and Ospreys from nearby Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton. Chris flew with their helicopter Squadron in Gulf War 2 and the base is one of the largest marine training camps in the US. Watch Netflix film 'Purple Heart' if you want to see more and Oceanside (love story between a Marine and a singer that Annie told us about).
Chris's company is staffed by former military personnel (from a 3-Star General downwards) and others still serve at nearby March Air Reserve Base. He is still surprised at being 'thanked for his service' over here, as in a 25-year career in the RAF, often on the front line, it didn't happen much! Veterans are revered here; even contemporary servicemen and women have their photos displayed in the park outside City Hall, Old Temecula. Veterans also have priority boarding on aircraft, so Chris may try out the concept on Easyjet!

The nearby Carlsbad Army and Navy Academy prepares young men from age 12 for a life in public service and has a distinguished military alumni. I was pleased to see a memorial to Vietnam veterans near the main entrance, as they were treated with hostility until around the time of the Gulf War and 9/11. There were no women Vets listed though, and I learned a lot about their (nurses) treatment from 'The Women' by Kristen Hannah.



Naval Base San Diego is home to the huge Pacific Fleet, and we saw many vessels in San Diego Bay. The USS Theodore Roosevelt (nearly 3,000 sailors on board) returned from 9 months at sea whilst we were there and it was a huge event. Before leaving California, we crossed the impressive Coronado Bay Bridge onto 'Nado' Island, which boasts amazing beaches, multi million-dollar houses and the iconic Victorian Hotel Del Coronado, you couldn't escape the Islanders' pride in being the home of the US Navy Seals.

Earlier we visited the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Chris loved the  helicopter and airplane exhibits and detailed replicas, notabily the RAF Spitfire/Hurricane display and their pride in the US Eagle Squadrons that flew with the RAF before America joined WW2; the Sopwith Camel that his Great Grandfather flew in the Royal Air Corps in WW1; Apollo 9 capsule and loads more.

We were very honoured to be taken by volunteer John to the basement where the replicas and exhibits are cared for and crafted using historic techniques and equipment; e.g. the Blackbird engine, Howard Hughes record breaking machine and the Wright Brothers's engine from when it all started. And, Chris was chuffed to land the Space Shuttle!




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