2ND MARINE SQUADRON BOUND FOR BASE; MORE EL TORO PERSONNEL TRANSFERRING TO EDWARDS.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

Edwards Air Force Base will gain a second Marine Corps helicopter unit as the result of the impending closure of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, bringing a total of about 360 Marines to the Antelope Valley.

Marine and Air Force officials said Monday that Edwards will be the new home for Heavy Helicopter Squadron 769 and Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 once environmental impact documents are completed and approved.

``Their target date is 15 April,'' Marine spokeswoman Major Paula Buckley said. ``There are still some environmental wickets to go through.''

Marine officials had announced last month that the heavy helicopter squadron was coming to Edwards because of the July 1, 1999 closure of El Toro, and that a second squadron might be transferred as well. Officials confirmed Monday the transfer of the second squadron.

El Toro was targeted in the last round of closures that started in 1988 - actions that California officials say have cost the state 186,000 jobs. State and local officials believe another closure round will start soon now that the 1998 congressional elections are over.

The Marines' arrival will assist Edwards supporters in their efforts to keep personnel and jobs at the base - and to attract new ones - officials said.

Operating nine CH-53 helicopters, the heavy-lift squadron's mission is to transport heavy equipment, weapons and supplies during ship to shore movements and land operations.

The medium-lift squadron's mission is to transport combat troops. The squadron operates 12 CH-46 helicopters.

Combined, 220 Marines from both units will be at Edwards on a day-to-day basis, Buckley said. Another 140 Marine reservists will be there on weekends and for their annual two-week training sessions.

Both squadrons will be housed in Hangar 1210, near the Test Pilot School quarters and the base operations building used for maintenance work on heavy aircraft like C-17, C-141 and C-130 cargo planes. The maintenance work will be transferred to the neighboring transient aircraft hangar.

Modular buildings will be installed west of the Test Pilot School to house administrative offices.

The helicopter units will be the first full-time Marine Corps presence in Kern County since the service operated an air base at what is now the Mojave Airport from 1942 to 1959.

Edwards previously hosted an Army helicopter test unit from 1961 to 1996. That unit relocated to Alabama, taking 78 military and civilian positions with it.