Today in history: First day at Top Gun

The first Top Gun class convened on March 3, 1969 at the Miramar Naval Air Station, now the Marine Corps base.

Why it matters: The U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, known as Top Gun, was created to train fighter pilots that improved their success in combat during the Vietnam War.

• It's the basis for the hit movie franchise that was filmed at Miramar and around San Diego and was used to boost military recruitment as part of a nearly century-long relationship between the Department of Defense and the entertainment industry.