Were any of the Channel Islands ever used for a Navy bombing range?
I thought I read somewhere that one of those islands was used for that purpose, maybe in the World War II era?
Then again, there’s the old saying, don’t believe everything you read!
As for the Pacific Missile Test Center, I attended MANY Blue Angel Air Shows at the Point Mugu Naval Air Station starting in 1979. They were really something to see back then! 100,000 - 200,000 people would show up, including me, and sometimes my father.
One year, Ernest Borgnine showed up in the helicopter from the “Airwolf” TV series. When the chopper landed, he got out and waved to the enthusiastic crowd.
Good times. Lots of interesting static aircraft on display, from World War II to the present.
An elderly Japanese man had a table selling his book, “Bye Bye Black Sheep.” Turns out he was the Japanese pilot who shot down Greg “Pappy” Boyington during World War II!
One year Randy “Duke” Cunningham was selling HIS book about his experiences becoming a Navy ace in the Vietnam War. (Before he was a congressman and before he went to prison).
It was my favorite air show.
San Clemente island way south would have been the likely place for a bombing range. Mostly deserted and still used for SEAL live fire training.
Flew out to San Nick a couple times for some drone testing. Flully instrumented island with radar and missile launch sites. The ocean airspace is highly controlled with narrow airliner passage zones.
Ended up working at Pt Mugu for a few years, though in the early 2000’s it was winding down from the old heyday you remember. At any of the airshows when they did missile and gun shoots? SR-71 flyby was one of my favorites.
San Clemente has a range. Used to hear them in my Del Mar youth.