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| Camp Lejeune Heliport | |
|---|---|
| Name | Camp Lejeune Heliport |
| Nearest town | Jacksonville, North Carolina |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Heliport |
| Owner | United States Department of the Navy |
| Operator | United States Marine Corps |
| Controlledby | Marine Corps Installations East |
| Used | 1941–present |
| Occupants | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing |
Camp Lejeune Heliport Camp Lejeune Heliport is a military aviation facility located within Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune near Jacksonville, North Carolina. The heliport supports rotary-wing operations for units of the United States Marine Corps, United States Navy aviation detachments, and occasional United States Coast Guard aircraft, providing tactical mobility for forces assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force and related commands. It interfaces with regional infrastructure including Wilmington International Airport, New Bern–Craven County Airport, and transportation nodes serving the North Carolina Highway 24 and Interstate 40 corridors.
The heliport functions as a tactical aviation node on Onslow County property within the footprint of Camp Lejeune. It supports mission sets tied to Expeditionary Warfare, amphibious assault training with nearby Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and interoperability exercises with United States Navy Fleet Forces Command and United States European Command units rotating through the area. The facility contributes to readiness for deployments to theaters associated with United States Central Command, United States Indo-Pacific Command, and operations coordinated with NATO partners such as Royal Marines and Canadian Forces.
Established as part of the expansion of Camp Lejeune in the early 1940s during the buildup for World War II, the heliport evolved from fixed-wing and lighter-than-air support sites used during Operation Torch and other Atlantic deployments. During the Korean War and Vietnam War eras, rotary-wing tactics matured, and the site was modernized in coordination with Naval Air Systems Command and Marine Corps Aviation. In the post–Cold War period, the heliport facilitated Operation Desert Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom support missions, and participated in multinational exercises such as Exercise Bright Star and Operation Bold Alligator.
The heliport includes multiple paved landing pads, taxi areas, and aviation fueling points compatible with JP-5 standards overseen by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command. Hangar space and maintenance areas support aircraft such as the Bell UH-1Y Venom, Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion, Bell AH-1Z Viper, and MV-22B Osprey detachments. Air traffic coordination integrates with the Federal Aviation Administration procedures for military operations and the Military Air Traffic Management System. Instrumentation and navigational aids include lighting and approach features coordinated with United States Coast Guard Sector North Carolina for off-base overwater operations.
Primary rotary-wing squadrons from 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and detachments from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (VMM-261) and HMLA-267 have staged from the heliport for deployments. Support comes from Combat Logistics Regiment 27 and 1st Marine Division elements when conducting combined arms training at ranges such as Range 22 and Camp Lejeune Range Complex. The facility is used for casualty evacuation drills in coordination with Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune and joint training with United States Army aviation units during Joint Task Force exercises.
Aviation safety at the heliport follows standards promulgated by Naval Aviation Safety Program and Marine Corps Safety Division. Incident responses have involved coordination with Onslow County Emergency Services and North Carolina Department of Transportation aviation sections. Historical events include non-fatal mishaps during intense training rotations and investigations conducted by Naval Safety Center and Aircraft Mishap Board processes; lessons learned have informed maintenance practices, crew resource management training with Naval Air Systems Command, and updates to local flight-following procedures.
The heliport's operations intersect with environmental stewardship responsibilities administered by United States Marine Corps Installations Command and Department of the Navy environmental branches. Assessments address noise abatement measures near Jacksonville, North Carolina residential areas, migratory bird hazard reduction coordinated with United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and fuel spill contingency planning with Environmental Protection Agency regional offices. The installation works with Onslow County Board of Commissioners and community groups to mitigate impacts, support economic activity tied to Camp Lejeune personnel, and coordinate with regional emergency planning committees that include Craven County and Pender County stakeholders.
Access to the heliport is controlled via Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune security procedures and synchronized with base gates connected to Onslow County Regional Airport roadways. Ground transportation links include proximity to North Carolina Highway 24, US Route 17, and Interstate 40 facilitating logistics and personnel movements to Wilmington, North Carolina, New Bern, North Carolina, and Marine Corps Air Station New River. Coordination with Federal Highway Administration routing for heavy equipment and convoys supports deployment readiness and community traffic management.
Category:United States Marine Corps airfields Category:Military installations in North Carolina