Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

MCAS Beaufort Merritt Field
MCAS Beaufort insignia
IATA: N/A ICAO: KNBC FAA LID: NBC
Summary
Airport type	Military
Operator	United States Marine Corps
Location	Beaufort, South Carolina
Built	June 15, 1943
In use	1943–present
Commander	Colonel Peter D Buck
Occupants	Marine Aircraft Group 31
Elevation AMSL	37 ft / 11 m
Coordinates	32°28′38″N 080°43′23″W / 32.47722°N 80.72306°W / 32.47722; -80.72306Coordinates: 32°28′38″N 080°43′23″W / 32.47722°N 80.72306°W / 32.47722; -80.72306
Website	http://www.beaufort.marines.mil
Map
KNBC Location of airbase in South Carolina
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 5/23 12,202 3,719 PEM 14/32 7,999 2,438 PEM 18/36 3,941 1,201 (not in use) Asphalt
Sources: Official website and FAA

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort or MCAS Beaufort (ICAO: KNBC, FAA LID: NBC) is a United States Marine Corps air base located three miles 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) northwest of the central business district of Beaufort, a city in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. About 4,700 personnel serve at the station, and it is home to six Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet fighter-attack squadrons.

Beaufort is served by the Beaufort County Airport (IATA: BFT, ICAO: KARW, FAA LID: ARW), located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southeast of MCAS Beaufort.

Naval Air Station Beaufort was commissioned on June 15, 1943, for advanced training operations of anti-submarine patrols during World War II. It was then deactivated in 1946 and reactivated in 1956. On March 1, 1960, it was re-designated Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. On September 19, 1975, the airfield was named Merritt Field in honor of Major General Lewie G. Merritt, USMC, a 1917 graduate of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. He was from Ridge Spring, South Carolina.