Construction of the 8,000 acre Marine Corps airfield at Cherry Point began in the late summer of 1941. The land had been purchased for about $15 per acre.
The December attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese lent urgency to the completion of the complex, located in Craven County between New Bern and Morehead City.
On May 20, 1942, the facility was commissioned Cunningham Field, named in honor of the Marine Corps' first aviator, LtCol Alfred A. Cunningham. The completed facility was later renamed Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, after a local post office situated among cherry trees.
Cherry Point's primary World War II mission was to train units and individual Marines for service to the Pacific theater. The air station also served as a base for anti-submarine operations, with an Army Air Corps and Navy unit each being responsible for the sinking of a German U-boat just off the North Carolina coast during 1943.
Cherry Point's contribution to the Korean War effort was to provide a steady stream of trained aviators and air crewmen as well as maintenance and support personnel as replacements to forward deployed aviation units.
During the Vietnam War, Cherry Point deployed three A-6 Intruder squadrons to the Far East and again provided a constant source of replacements for aircrews and enlisted aviation personnel.
In Operation Desert Storm, Cherry Point was a major contributor to the victory in Southwest Asia by supporting the deployment of three AV-8B Harrier squadrons, two A-6E Intruder squadrons, one KC-130 Hercules squadron, one EA-6B Prowler squadron, and headquarters detachments from Marine Air Group 14, Marine Air Group 32, and the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing.
In response to the September 11th terrorist attacks on Washington D.C. and New York City, Operation Enduring Freedom was initiated on October 7, 2001. In keeping with the current administration's policy to take the fight to all terrorists and to those that harbor terrorist activity, Cherry Point Marines and Sailors have and are currently participating in strike missions and follow-on operations in Afghanistan and its surrounding region. Harrier, Prowler and KC-130 squadrons continue to answer the call for air support in the war-fighting effort. Marine Wing Service Support and Marine Air Control Group personnel have also deployed to the region with our East Coast Marine Expeditionary Units.
Main
phone numbers: Commercial (252)466-2811 or
DSN 582-1110
Mailing
address: PSC Box 8003, Cherry Point, NC
28533-0003
Population:
8,069 active duty; 27,132 family members; 6,040
civilians
Housing: 326
officer family units; 2,438 enlisted family units; 15
unaccompanied enlisted spaces; typical wait of two months;
76-space mobile home park (252)466-4702/2139
Temporary
lodging: 258 visitor units; guest house;
campground (252)466-0000/3620
Community
Services Center: (252)466-4401
Schools: None
on base.
Child
Care: Center for 224, up to six-month
wait; home care for 162 (252)466-3782
Health
care: 23-bed hospital. Appointments and
Tricare (800)931-9501; benefits (252)466-0124
Cherry Point MCAS - North Carolina has a
large size commissary - (252)466-0800,
a large exchange, a mall, and two shoppettes
(252)466-0673. Recreation at Cherry Point MCAS - North Carolina
includes arts and crafts, bowling, library, auto hobby,
recreation center, theater, golf, gym, tennis, swimming,
outdoor activities, camping, fishing, and stables.
