mcas beaufort

Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, located in South Carolina, was originally commissioned in 1943 as Naval Air Station Beaufort during World War II, serving as a training base for naval aviators. After periods of closure and reactivation, it was transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps in 1956 and became an essential hub for Marine aviation operations on the East Coast. MCAS Beaufort is home to several F/A-18 Hornet squadrons of Marine Aircraft Group 31, supporting both training and deployment readiness. In recent years, the base has also become a center for the transition to the advanced F-35B Lightning II fighter, reinforcing its strategic importance to Marine Corps aviation.