They didn't get rid of it, it was only moved. The Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) was a victim of Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) that closed and realigned many military installations nationwide. read more
They did not “get rid” of it. They moved it away from San Diego and into Fallon NV. The range up there has much of the telemetry needed, there is not much around it, the land is mostly Federal, and it is also close to Red Flag in Las Vegas NV. read more
In 1947, the Marines moved to MCAS El Toro in Orange County, California, and Miramar was redesignated as NAAS Miramar (Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar). It became NAS Miramar (Naval Air Station Miramar) on 1 March 1952. In 1954, the Navy offered NAS Miramar to San Diego for $1 and the city considered using the base to relocate its airport. read more