The 56year history of the alameda naval air station from 1940 to 1997 was a major military presence in the san francisco bay area. What was once a thriving, bustling base is now almost like a frozen piece of history. Eventually the base was closed in 1997 due to budgetary. Genealogy trails history group camp barrett source.
Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Navy began building the 1,734acre base on alameda island in the late 1930s, and for more than fifty years it was a repair and maintenance facility for navy aircraft, including carrierbased planes and helicopters. Va304 is a squadron of reserve carrier air wing thirty cvwr30, also headquartered at nas alameda. You would be purchasing an exact copy of the naval air station alameda memory book during world war ii. See more ideas about alameda california, cargo transport and western coast. A history of the long beach naval shipyard, roosevelt base. Back to domestic index go to forgien index section constructed by sgt. I hope to finish this someday, but times is a passing. But if you want to learn about the base, the history of nas alameda, the units that served there, their mission. A history of the long beach naval complex on terminal island, california. The naval air station holds a lot of meaning to me. Alameda naval air station local and regional history books.
This is a list of ships built in alameda, california, commercial and military vessels built in the shipyards of alameda, an historically important island naval base in the. Records of naval districts and shore establishments. Industrial uses before and during the operation of the naval air station left toxics in the area. Remains of naval air station alameda in alameda, ca. The former naval air station nas alameda is located in the city of alameda, california and is now commonly referred to as alameda point. Oakland naval supply center, administration offices, oakland, alameda county, ca contributor names historic american buildings survey, creator created published documentation compiled after 1933. After a navy inspector general investigation failed to substantiate the claims of former firefighters, they requested assistance from the office of special counsel, an. With no need seen in washington for a jet base in the area, the new project was shelved. California military history downey, camp, alameda county, ca returns from u. As one of the largest and most important naval air stations in the united states, with a population of 45,000, it occupied 300 buildings to service squadrons and carrier air groups.
This is a great book on the background and history of naval air station, alameda. The alameda naval air station was created just in time for world war ii. The squadron consists of twelve lingtemcovought a7b corsair iis. The base covered onethird of the island of alameda. The navy studied the site, accepted alamedas offer, and in 1938 began building. Vintage military matchbook us naval air station alameda california ca chief petty. The former naval air station alameda nas is the geographic center of the san francisco bay area and occupies the western onethird of the island of alameda. About the alameda naval air museum alameda naval air museum.
Former naval air station alameda base realignment and. Alameda regains control of former navy base, plans redevelopmentthe city of alameda has regained control of 1,380 acres of land on alameda point that formerly was used for the alameda naval air. The alameda naval air station, located in alameda, ca, acts as a center of military command for u. This marked the beginning of alameda as a navy town, with the official opening of alameda naval air station on november 1, 1940 where the airfield. It covers mostly the shipyard and its special equipment, special projects and most of all the special people who made it the only naval shipyard in history to receive the meritorious unit citation. Naval air station alameda alameda, california atlas.
Alameda naval air station site, california show on map the u. History of alameda naval air station alameda naval air museum. The military base houses personnel, conducts training operations for active duty and reservist forces, stores equipment, and supports military operations. Alameda naval air station images of america series by. From august through december 1944, us president richard nixon was assigned to fleet air wing 8 at naval air station alameda, california. Cultural resources services for former alameda naval air station, alameda.
Alameda nas on april 25, ending 56 years of naval aviation history to the roar. Two helicopter pads and a control tower were also part of the facilities. Naval air station alameda california during world war ii. Us environmental protection agency, california dept. We are continully working to preserve the history of nas alameda and her. The museum volunteers host many visits of school children and other local and national groups so they can learn about naval aviation history and the valuable contributions made by the many generations of workers during the last half of the 20th century. Former naval air station alameda united states navy. Naval air station alameda nas alameda was a united states navy naval air station in alameda, california, on san francisco bay nas alameda had two runways.
Within the stations four square miles are a major airfield, deepwater port, aircraft and ship maintenance facilities, 1,5 units of family housing and barrackstype housing. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. Aug 26, 2016 explore gemgabbs board naval air station alameda ca on. Sep 23, 2018 explore waynelmance12s board alameda naval base, followed by. Navy says alameda development site safe, but others worry. War department, established by act of august 7, 1789 1 stat. A base reuse advisory group, consisting of bay area officials and residents, put together a community base reuse plan, which established a framework for future development with the primary focus on replacing the 16,000 lost jobs. Alameda point is bordered on the north by the oakland inner harbor or estuary, on the west and south by san francisco bay and the. The naval air station nas alameda, now commonly referred to as alameda point, is a site consisting of 2,807 acres of land including submerged acreage situated immediately southwest of the central business district of oakland and located in the city of alameda.
Nevertheless, by the summer of 1957 the chief of naval air reserve training told the chief of naval operations that he saw no need for the construction of a proposed naval air station for the akroncleveland area as a replacement for nas akron. By 1936, however, the city of alameda ceded the airdrome site to the u. Overview the naval air station nas was identified for closure in 1992, and officially listed in 1993. Suncal companies was selected as the master developer for the project, which is set within a redevelopment zone administered by the alameda reuse and redevelopment authority arra. Full text of a brief history of the marine corps base and the marine corps development and education command quantico. Attack squadron va303 was established at naval air station alameda on 1 july. It was one of the largest, most complete naval air stations in the world. It was commissioned on november 1, 1940 and commanded by captain frank mccrary.
Life size changing exhibits show map rooms, hospital rooms, photos of of the panama clipper ships, uniform displays. The site of star harbor is one of the most historically significant industrial areas in the bay area. Base visit book navy broadway complex san diego ca. Naval air station alameda alameda, california atlas obscura.
Situated immediately southwest of the central business district of oakland, alameda point is bordered on the north by the oakland inner harbor, on the west and south by the san francisco bay, and on the east by the city of alameda. A decommissioned naval base now rents itself out for people who want to blow stuff up. The alameda naval air station has a remarkable history. The navy identified toxic sites and began cleanup efforts that are overseen by three regulatory agencies. Base visit book naval medical center, san diego and naval air depot, north island, coronado, ca part 2 page. The venerable facilities were turned over to the alameda reuse and redevelopment authority for various commercial programs.
Base visit book naval medical center, san diego and. Foursquare uses cookies to provide you with an optimal experience, to personalize ads that you may see, and to help advertisers measure the results of their ad campaigns. Discover naval air station alameda in alameda, california. Development plan for warehouse 48, created in collaboration with multiple community groups, is approved by the alameda city council. California military history coast guard island source. The creation of the naval air station in 1938 and world war ii made alameda a. Naval air station alameda nas alameda was a united states navy naval air station in alameda, california, on san francisco bay. Naval air station alameda neptune beach alameda works shipyard. Oakland naval supply center, administration offices. The former alameda naval air station is located in alameda, california, along the san francisco bay. In 1996, the base realignment and closure commission closed alameda nas on april 25, ending 56 years of naval aviation history to the roar of a 21gun salute. Full text of a brief history of the marine corps base and. Alameda point is a major mixeduse project based on redevelopment of the alameda naval air station.
Base visit book navy broadway complex san diego ca august 5, 2005 one of 12,749 books in the series. Register of historic places nrhp andor the california register of historical. The city of alameda saw the possibility for a naval base on the west end of the island of alameda. The fantastic photographs and explanations of these photographs are worth. Navy chief, creative director, art director, graphic artist, designer, illustrator, brand guru and founder, original artist and former owner of jeffs creative history spans over three decades with an eclectic toolbox of experience including logos, advertising, illustrations, technical drawings, web design, branding, page layout, and. I really like this place, it reminds me of the air force bases i grew up. October 2014 october 2014, history, historia, history books. In 1927, an airport site dubbed airdrome and used by pan american world airways was built on alamedas west end.
Alameda naval air station development finally set to take. With speeches and ceremonial shovels, construction began wednesday at the site of a closed naval air station on what will be alamedas first. See more ideas about history, alameda california and best places to live. Just to mention first, if you are only into looking at planes, then pensacola would be a far better visit. Excellent history of the nas alameda base and mission.
History of alameda naval air station alameda naval air. Retired alameda marine barracks section opened on 82299 not affiliated with the marine corps, navy or any other us government agency. Attack squadron va304 was established at naval air station alameda on 1 july 1970. On november 1, 1940, nas alameda opened and naval operations began. Government, and construction for a naval air station quickly followed. Bring the memory book to life with this multimedia presentation.