Jump to content

Naval Air Station South Weymouth: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 60: Line 60:
The base also features a planned condominium development called 'South Field'[http://www.southfield.com/].
The base also features a planned condominium development called 'South Field'[http://www.southfield.com/].


==Unit's Hosted==
==Units Hosted==
;United States Marine Corps
;United States Marine Corps
*[[HML-771]] - ''Hummers'' (1958-1994)
*[[HML-771]] - ''Hummers'' (1958-1994)

Revision as of 05:01, 21 December 2008

South Weymouth Naval Air Station
Summary
Airport typeMilitary: Naval Air Station
OperatorUnited States Navy
LocationWeymouth, Rockland, and Abington, Massachusetts
Built1941-1942
In use(NAF)1942-1949, (NAAF) 1949-1953, (NAS) 1953-1997
OccupantsNavy, Marines, and Coast Guard
Elevation AMSL148 ft / 45 m
Coordinates42°08′55″N 070°56′23″W / 42.14861°N 70.93972°W / 42.14861; -70.93972
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
17/35 7,000 2,129 Asphalt/Concrete
8/26 6,000 1,829 Asphalt/Concrete
9/27 5,000 1,520 Asphalt/Concrete
Closed To All Aviation Traffic

South Weymouth Naval Air Station, or SOWEY as it is sometimes known, was an operational United States Navy airfield from 1942 to 1997. It was first established as a blimp base during World War II and eventually hosted a number of observation squadrons throughout the years. It is located in South Weymouth, Abington, and Rockland Massachusetts, United States of America.

World War II

In 1938, the site was surveyed as the possible site for a municipal airport. It was then used by the navy in 1942 and was known as South Weymouth NAS. It was one of the Navy's ASW blimp bases and it consisted of two giant wooden blimp hangars. One of the hangars was the second largest in the world at that time, measuring 956 feet across. It had a 2,000 foot diameter blimp pad, six mooring circles, and a 4,500 foot long grass runway. It was the host of twelve blimps.

Post War Demobilization and Cold War Use

An A-4M of VMA-322 on the tarmac in 1988.

The base was used to store amphibious aircraft following the war and it was also placed on caretaker status in 1945. It was reactivated in November 1953 because Squantum Naval Air Station did not have the length of runway or the blimp matts that South Weymouth had. Additionally, the National Air Defense unit that was stationed at the former Squantum Naval Air Station consisted of Lockheed WV-2 Warning Stars & ZPG-2W, the world's largest blimps. South Weymouth was also host to a CPN-4 GCA radar unit building. The runways were expanded in 1959 and Hangar #2 was removed to support another runway because of the increased number of fixed-wing ASW & attack squadrons. A third runway was also constructed during this time period. During the early 1960s, blimp operations were discontinued. The station also hosted the Anti-Submarine Warfare Operational Flight Trainers, which consisted as two planes that were otherwise inoperable. The final blimp hangar was torn down in 1966, replaced with a concrete arch hangar. The base had target ranges at the nearby Nomans Land Island and the Liberty Ship SS James Longstreet. The base hosted the Navy Weymouth Aero Club from around 1977 until the club's closure in 1984.

Base Realignment and Closure Commission

BRAC 1991

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided to close the base in its recommendations. It was decided against because of the community's objections.

BRAC 1993

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided to close the base in its recommendations. The community argued that it was important and was ranked higher than other bases scheuduled to realignment. This argument was acknowledged as well as the fact that the commission did not include demographics in its decision. The base remained open for the time being.[1]

BRAC 1995

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission of 1993 recommended that South Weymouth close in 1997 and its squadrons be realigned. VP-92, a squadron of P-3 Orion's, went to Brunswick NAS, before the base and the squadrons were deactivated and closed by order of the 1995 BRAC.[2]

Redevelopment

There are currently plans to put movie studios, shops, housing, a wildlife park, and a golf course at the site of the former air station. The U.S. Coast Guard also maintains a buoy maintenance facility near the old railroad spur to the station. A lone statue of a A-4 Skyhawk will probably be all that remains of the former air base in 10 years.

In December 2008, a deal was reached[3] to build a movie studio complex on the site. The $100 million complex, to be called 'SouthField Studios', is planned to include 11 sound stages, production offices and other office space. Construction is set to begin in August 2009.

Another movie studio complex, Plymouth Rock Studios[1], is planned for construction in nearby Plymouth.

The base also features a planned condominium development called 'South Field'[2].

Units Hosted

United States Marine Corps
United States Navy

References

  1. ^ 1993 BRAC Commission Report to the President
  2. ^ 1995 BRAC Commission Report 7-1-95
  3. ^ Encarnacao, Jack (2008-12-20). "Group signs pact for first commercial project at Weymouth air base movie studio". Patriot Leger. GateHouse Media Inc. Retrieved 2008-12-20. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Yearbook, Navy Wings Over Boston, subtitle, The History of Naval Air Stations Squantum and South Weymouth, 1986, Publisher Captain R. A. Perrault, Editor JO2 H. C. Kenyon

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Naval_Air_Station_South_Weymouth&oldid=259292430"