Marine air facility being renamed
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
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Marine Corps Air Facility Kane'ohe will get a new name and some new aircraft in a reflection of its growing use.
The commandant of the Marine Corps has approved a request to redesignate the facility as Marine Corps Air Station Kane'ohe Bay and to name the airfield in honor of deceased Marine Maj. Gen. Marion E. Carl.
A renaming ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. today in Hangar 105.
The change comes as the air base is expected to expand to accommodate additional squadrons as the Marine Corps increases its aviation assets, officials said.
Among those changes are plans for:
The switch to Poseidon surveillance aircraft will result in fewer airplanes and personnel at the Marine Corps base, slightly more noise, and an investment of $147.5 million for infrastructure upgrades.
The Navy said it wants to begin replacing the Orions in its fleet no later than 2012 and have the process completed by 2019.
Marine Corps Air Facility Kane'ohe Bay has conducted more than 70,000 flights hours annually since 1999 — a use comparable to air stations elsewhere, officials said.
The new "Air Station" title is meant to denote greater activity than "Air Facility."
Between 2007 and 2008, the airfield transported roughly 6 million pounds of cargo, transported 9,000 passengers and provided services for 1,075 transient aircraft, the Corps said. About 4,000 Marines and sailors work at the airfield.
"The redesignation of our Marine Corps Air Facility as a Marine Corps Air Station is a well-deserved and overdue change that accurately reflects the significant amount of operations and air traffic the airfield supports on a daily basis," said Lt. Col. Glen Butler, deputy commander, Marine Corps Base Hawai'i.
The facility will become the ninth air station in the Marine Corps.
The renaming also will include the addition of Marine Maj. Gen. Marion E. Carl's name. Carl, the first "ace" to down 10 enemy aircraft during the battle for Guadalcanal in 1942, was twice awarded the Navy Cross, according to the Corps.
