City honors Air National Guard for years of service

The 222nd Combat Communications Squadron of the California Air National Guard and the last remaining military presence from the historic Santa Ana Army Air Base said its goodbyes to the city of Costa Mesa during a closing ceremony Sunday attended by past and present personnel, their families and city officials.

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor and Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen made appearances at the ceremony.

Nguyen presented a plaque to the unit for protecting the country.

Many of the unit’s full-time staff will make the move with the 222nd to Beale Air Force Base.

The squadron began in the 1950s as the 222d Radio Relay Detachment attached to the 148th Squadron, Compton Air National Guard Station. The the base moved to Costa Mesa in 1964.

— Kelly Strodl