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Naval Air Station Whiting Field

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Naval Air Station Whiting Field
Santa Rosa County near Milton, Florida
NAS Whiting Field Logo
Base Headquarters aboard NAS Whiting Field
Logo of NAS Whiting Field
Coordinates30°42′45″N 87°01′06″W / 30.71250°N 87.01833°W / 30.71250; -87.01833
TypeNaval Air Station
Site information
Owner United States Navy
Controlled by Navy Region Southeast
ConditionActive
Site history
Built1943
In use1943–present
Garrison information
Current
commander		CAPT Paul Bowdich, USN
Garrison Training Air Wing FIVE
Occupants Training Squadron 2

Training Squadron 3
Training Squadron 6
Helicopter Training Squadron 8
Helicopter Training Squadron 18

Helicopter Training Squadron 28

Naval Air Station Whiting Field is a United States Navy base located near Milton, Florida, in central Santa Rosa County, and is one of the Navy's two primary pilot training bases (the other being NAS Corpus Christi, Texas). NAS Whiting Field provides training for U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force student pilots, as well as those of several allied nations. NAS Whiting Field is home to Training Air Wing Five (TRAWING 5).

NAS Whiting Field is actually two airfields sharing a common support base. Primary Flight Training student aviators fly the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II from North Whiting Field (KNSE) while Advanced Helicopter Training takes place utilizing the TH-57 Sea Ranger at South Whiting Field (KNDZ).

Namesake

Whiting Field is named for Kenneth Whiting, who was commissioned from the United States Naval Academy on 25 February 1908. Whiting qualified in submarines, commanding USS Porpoise (SS-7), USS Shark (SS-8), USS Tarpon (SS-175), and USS Seal (SS-183). In 1914 he learned to fly under Orville Wright and was designated Naval Aviator number 16. He assumed command of the 1st Naval Air Unit in France following America's entry into World War I and was subsequently assigned to command Naval Air Stations 14 and 15 at RNAS Killingholme, England. He was awarded the Navy Cross "for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility." After the war he was partially responsible for the conversion of collier Jupiter into the Navy's first aircraft carrier USS Langley (CV-1). He subsequently commanded Langley and USS Saratoga (CV-3), and various air squadrons prior to his retirement as Captain in June 1940.

Operations

North Field is used solely for T-6 Texan II fixed-wing, primary flight training operations. Students from the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force (as well as exchange students from various allied nations) go through the T-6B Joint Primary Aircraft Training System syllabus.

South Field is utilized for United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard students in the Advanced Helicopter pipeline, flying the TH-57 Sea Ranger. Upon completion of this syllabus students will become designated Naval Aviators and assigned to their respective Fleet Replacement Squadron.

Squadrons

T-28s from VT-2 at Whiting field in 1967.
T-28B from Whiting Field in 1967
T-6B Texan II TH-57 Sea Ranger

Outlying Fields

  • OLF Barin (Primary Student Solo Field: Area 1)
  • OLF Brewton (Secondary Student Solo Field: Area 2)
  • OLF Choctaw
  • OLF Evergreen (Primary Student Solo Field: Area 2)
  • OLF Harold
  • NOLF Holley
  • OLF Pace (Helicopter Field)
  • OLF Santa Rosa (Helicopter Field)
  • OLF Saufley Field
  • OLF Silverhill (Area 1)
  • NOLF Spencer Field (Helicopter Field)
  • OLF Summerdale (Area 1)

History

Female mechanics working on a Texan trainer, c. 1943

Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Whiting Field was commissioned on July 16, 1943 by Rear Admiral George D. Murray, Commandant of the Naval Air Training Center, and the widow of Naval hero, Captain Kenneth Whiting, after whom the station was named. During construction, a prisoner of war camp was located at the station, providing additional labor.[1]

Jet trainers first arrived at Whiting Field in early August 1949 when eight TO-1 Shooting Stars transferred from NAS Corpus Christi, Texas as part of a new transitional jet training squadron to commence operations in September 1949, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. V. P. O'Neil, USN.[2] The Blue Angels demonstration team moved its headquarters to Whiting Field from NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1955.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "NAS Whiting Field". www.militarybases.us. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  2. ^ Fort Walton, Florida, "Jets Arrive At Whiting", Playground News, Thursday 4 August 1949, Volume 4, Number 27, page 7.
  3. ^ Murphy, Leo, Commander, USN, Retired, "History of Naval Aviation in Pensacola", Part 9, Meyers, Paul, producer, Cox Communications, Florida/Georgia.
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