nThe original acquisition took place in 1943 for the Oxnard Flight Strip and consisted of 303.35 acres, fee acquired from the County of Ventura and 99.71 acres acquired by Use Permit from the Federal Public Roads Administration (FPRA) . The property was conveyed back to the County and FPRA in 1948. Between 1951 and 1963 the following property was reacquired for the Oxnard Air Force Base: 303.35 acres leased from County in 1951 and acquired in fee in 1956; 100.16 acres acquired by Use Permit from FPRA in 1951 and transferred in fee in 1958; easements over 841.56 acres between 1953-1963; and 369.75 acres fee purchase and condemnation between 1952-1958.
The site was used for flight training, aircraft maintenance and troop housing from 1943 to 1947. From 1947 to 1951 the property was used jointly by the Army, California Air National Guard, Naval Air Missile Test Center, and various civilian aircraft. During this period the property was owned by Ventura County and was not under DoD control. From 1951 to late 1969 the site was used by the Aerospace Defense Command of the Air Force as a Military Flight Installation with all appropriate support facilities (the 460 Flight Interceptor Squadron and 414 Fighter Group).
The property was reported as excess to General Services Administration (GSA) on 20 April 1970. Between April 1970 and mid-1974, the site was inactive and was under the custody of GSA. By quitclaim deed dated 12 October 1976, 33.86 acres were conveyed to Pleasant Valley Parks and Recreation Department to be used and maintained for public park and recreation purposes. on 17 January 1977, 4.342 acres were transferred to the Navy. By quitclaim deed dated 20 June 1977, 615.67 acres fee and easements over 585.63 acres were conveyed to the County of Ventura, with use restricted to public airport purposes. The deed contained a recapture clause and required grantee to use and maintain the site and improvements for the use and benefit of the public as an airport. The deed stated that the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would determine the useful life of any structure, improvement or equipment that was to be maintained. The government was released from restoration liability on formerly leased portions of the site, but there was no restoration provisions applicable to the fee acreage addressed in this report. By quitclaim deed dated 30 June 1977, 43.27 acres were conveyed to the Ventura Community College District, with use restricted to educational purposes for 30 years. The deed required grantee to· file an annual report on the use and maintenance of the site and contained a recapture clause. By quitclaim deed dated 20 October 1977, 1. 01 acres were conveyed to the Greek Orthodox Community of Ventura County. There were no restrictions, recapture clause or restoration provision in the deed. By quitclaim deed dated 31 March 1978, 6.10 acres were conveyed to the Oxnard Union High School District, with use restricted to educational purposes for 30 years. The deed required grantee to file an annual report on the use an maintenance of the site. By quitclaim deed dated 16 June 1978, 16.00 acres were conveyed to the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools with use restricted to educational purposes for 30 years. The deed required the grantee to file an annual report on the use and maintenance of the site. Real Estate records do not account for approximately 53 acres fee and easements over 255 acres. Accurate surveys at time of disposal probably account for the fee discrepancy. The easements were either allowed to expire or remain in GSA' s inventory.
The property was disposed of in a number of quitclaim deeds and a memorandum of transfer to the Navy. Usage of this former Air Force site by its current owners includes: a county airport (Camarillo Airport); educational and recreational facilities; County Fire Department headquarters; County Sheriff's training facility; a U.S. Navy compound; and leased facilities to private businesses. Buildings on the site are in beneficial use by its current owners.
