Training and Wartime Preparation at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base
By Melissa LaScaleia In the early days before the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was officially built, the United States Army Air Corps was collaborating in partnership with the local…
The Reactivation of the 354th Fighter Day Wing
Check out this article about the 354th Fighter Day Wing.
James Howell Howard, a WWII Media Sensation and Author
by Melissa LaScaleia Howard Avenue in The Market Common is named after a notable member of the United States Air Force. Born to American parents in Canton, China on April…
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, “The Warthog”
The A-10 Thunderbolt II was developed in the 1960s for the United States Air Force by the OEM team from Fairchild Republic Company. The military commissioned a new close-air support aircraft that would be an…
Major General Paul T. Johnson, Retired Iraq War Pilot and Hero
Paul T. Johnson of the United States Air Force was a pilot who served in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Northern Watch & Operation Enduring Freedom. He did a job that not many people could handle; for that, we are all thankful.
Pilot Robert G. Emmens and the Eponymous Emmens Preserve
Robert Emmens (front row, right), with the other crew members of plane #8 from the Doolittle Raid, on deck of the U.S.S. Hornet, April 18, 1942. Emmens Preserve in the…
The Advent of Industry, The Designation of a Name: Myrtle Beach in the Early Years
The 114 acres of land located within the city limits of Myrtle Beach, today known as the Market Common, has a long and interesting history. Most people who have taken…
An Historical Timeline: The MBAF Base’s Pivotal Role in the 20th Century
Market Common is filled with history and at the Insider we always like to learn more and more about our community, so read with us all about the heroes of this area!
Hoyt LeGrand Hendrick, Recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star
by Melissa LaScaleia Hoyt LeGrand Hendrick was born in Conway, South Carolina on January 24, 1924 to parents Robert O’Neil and Minnie Cannon Hendrick. Growing up during the roaring 20s,…
William Glover Farrow, WWII War Hero and Prisoner of War
by Melissa LaScaleia William Glover Farrow was born on September 24, 1918 in Darlington, South Carolina. He attended St. John’s High School and graduated with honors in May 1935. In…
Highlights From The MBAF
by Melissa LaScaleia This month, to honor our country on Independence Day and celebrate the values of freedom our country has always stood for, our history section highlights some snapshots…
Major General Charles Baldwin Rated Air Force Pilot and Chief of Chaplains
by Melissa LaScaleia Charles C. Baldwin was born on April 7, 1947, and is a native of New Haven, Connecticut. He attended the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs,…
Lieutenant General John Rosa, Recipient of SC’s Highest Civilian Honor, the Order of the Palmetto
by Melissa LaScaleia John William Rosa Jr. was born in Springfield, Illinois on September 28, 1951. He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and earned a football scholarship to attend The…
The MBAF Base Throughout the 20th Century: Part 8
by Melissa LaScaleia By the early 90s, the topic of closing the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base again resurfaced. It had been proposed in the past, ever since the end…
The MBAF Base Throughout the 20th Century: Part 7
by Melissa LaScaleia By 1980, when President Jimmy Carter was in office, the 354th at Myrtle Beach became part of the president’s Rapid Deployment Force, also called the Rapid Deployment…
Commemorating The Life of Colonel Nevers
by Melissa LaScaleia This month’s history section commemorates the valor of Colonel Joseph R. Nevers, for whom Nevers Street in the Market Common is named. Colonel Nevers, passed away several…
The MBAF Base Throughout the 20th Century: Part 6
by Melissa LaScaleia As we continue our exploration of the history of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base throughout the 20th century, as well as the squadrons that were stationed…
The MBAF Base Throughout the 20th Century: Part 5
by Melissa LaScaleia During the Vietnam War years, needs abroad for fighter units left the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base without any squadrons. Air guardsmen were dispersed throughout parts of…
The MBAF Base Throughout the 20th Century: Part 4
by Melissa LaScaleia During the 1950s and beyond, the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base saw considerable action in Eastern countries and other parts of the world, including Europe, Korea, Japan,…
The MBAF Base Throughout the 20th Century: Part 3
by Melissa LaScaleia Continued from last month… In 1956, officers and military personnel began the work of compiling a fighter wing on the premises of the newly reconstructed Myrtle Beach…
The MBAF Base Throughout The 20th Century: Part 2
by Melissa LaScaleia Last month’s history column highlighted the role that the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base played throughout part of the 20th century. This month, we’ll explore its role…
The MBAF Base Throughout the 20th Century: Part 1
by Melissa LaScaleia In 1939, the Myrtle Beach Town Council voted that the City of Myrtle Beach needed a local airport, and subsequently purchased 135 acres of property to create…
Larry Bragg, a Georgia Native, and Financial Whiz for the Air Force
by Melissa LaScaleia Larry Bragg was born in Savannah, Georgia and attended college at Armstrong University, in Georgia. After college, he joined the U.S. Airforce and completed basic training at…
William H. Rutherford, Serving Four Tours at MBAF Base, Two Tours in Vietnam
by Melissa LaScaleia William H. Rutherford was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and joined the United States Air Force where he was a Command fighter pilot for more than thirty years. …
“Gabby” Gabreski, Designated an Ace Pilot in Two Wars
Lieutenant Colonel “Gabby” Gabreski was 1 of 7 pilots to become an ace in two wars. A WWII and Korean War veteran, he was also commander of the Myrtle Beach…
Captain Johnson and the Prestigious Air Force Cross
Captain Johnson and Air Force Cross December 2018 by Melissa LaScaleia The Air Force Cross is a military honor given to a member of the United States Air Force. It…
The Shaping Of Our Coastal Area: The Creation of Kings Highway
by Melissa LaScaleia This month’s history takes us back to the roots of Myrtle Beach history, and the people and situations that shaped our coastal area. Before the American Revolution,…
Jack Walker, Urban Planner and Instrumental Force in Shaping the Market Common
by Melissa LaScaleia Jack Walker was the oldest of six children, and grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. As a boy, he had a paper route that took him through…