4 Vintage Aircraft Damaged at Food Fest

Visitors to the recent Taste of Orange County at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station caused damage to four vintage aircraft on display at the base museum, a base official said this week.

The event, which features food and wines from local establishments, was held at the base for the first time last weekend.

“Basically, there were drunks swinging on and destroying these vintage aircraft,” said Lorraine Dadamo, who volunteered at the museum throughout the event.

“There were gals in high heels dancing on the wings with drinks and cigarettes in their hands.”

Capt. Douglas Powell, however, said the damage was minimal and limited to the finishes on the aircraft. The incident occurred on June 21, and security was heightened the next two days. No further problems were reported, Powell said.

The aircraft involved were an H-19 helicopter, a TO-1 early training jet, a F9-F Panther used during the Korean War and a C-17 also known as R4-D airframe that was introduced during World War II and used until the Vietnam War, Powell said.

Tom O’Hara, curator of the Command Museum, declined to comment.