Pensacola, FL
The Naval Air Station at Pensacola is an active and well
maintained historical site. It, therefore, isn't technically a "lost"
one that this web is all about but, for a student of WWII and the Korean war,
a trip 
to
this area wouldn't be complete without seeing it.
The "Cradle of Naval Aviation" sprawls over 5,800 acres along Pensacola Bay. Naval Air Station Pensacola offers visitors a unique opportunity to see the United States Navy - its past and present. From a Spanish fort built in 1797 to the home of the Blue Angels.
Construction of a Navy Yard on Pensacola Bay began in April 1826. The primary mission of the Yard was to suppress slave trade and piracy throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Some claim the first shots of the Civil War were fired here
in 1861. During the war the fortifications at Fort Pickens, across the bay,
were occupied by Union forces, while Fort Barrancas and Advanced Redoubt were
occupied by Confederates. When New Orleans was captured by Union forces in 1862,
Confederate troops, fearing attack from the West, retreated from the Navy Yard
and reduced most of the facilities to rubble.
After the Civil War, the base was rebuilt for use as a Navy Yard, and many of the current structures were constructed during this period. By October 1911, the Yard had fallen into disuse and was decommissioned. In the fall of 1913, the old Pensacola Navy Yard was selected as the location for the first Aeronautic Center. In April of the following year, an enthusiastic group of nine Navy officers and twenty-three enlisted men disembarked from USS MISSISSIPPI and USS ORION to set up a flying school at the derelict Yard on the edge of the bay.
Naval Air Station Pensacola was on the road to becoming
"The Cradle of Naval Aviation." Throughout the following years there
were many changes and advances in aircraft design
,
as well as the way in which they were operated. During World War l there was
a great increase in the number of men trained to be aviators at the base. World
War l also saw the Navy beginning to use not only seaplanes, but land based
aircraft as well.
The end of World War l brought the development of balloons,
blimps and dirigibles at Chevalier field. By the start of World War II the base
had truly become the hub of all naval air
r
training activities. During those dark days, the number of pilots trained by
NAS Pensacola reached an all-time high in 1944, when 12,010 men completed training
and flew a combined total of almost two million hours.
Today, Naval Air Station Pensacola is still the hub of naval
aviation. The initial training of all naval aviators begins here, whether at
Aviation Officer's Candidate School, or through aviation preflight indoctrination.
Many famous astronauts received their flight training here at NAS Pensacola.
For example, three naval pilots and one Marine were among the seven astronauts
selected for Project Mercury. They were Wally Schirra, Alan Sheperd, Scott Carpenter,
and John Glenn. Neil Armstrong, mission commander 
of
Apollo 11 and the first man to walk on the moon, also was a naval aviator. More
recently, naval aviators John Young and Robert Crippen were at the controls
of the space shuttle Columbia during its first flight on April 12, 1981. Naval
Air Station Pensacola continues the strong traditions begun in 1913, to train
the best aviators in the world.
National Museum of Naval Aviation
This is, in my opinion the best aviation museum in the world.
Beautifully restored planes are out there where you are encouraged to touch
and experience. There are no "Do not Touch" signs. All my favorite
WWII planes as well as those I flew in the Korean War era are there.
The National Museum of Naval Aviation collects, preserves and displays appropriate
memorabilia representing the development, growth, and historic heritage of naval
aviation. The story of naval aviation is presented in chronological order by
use of pictures, charts, diagrams, text, artifacts, models, and actual aircraft.
The museum is constantly expanding and adding new exhibits. There are now many
interesting exhibits outside the museum which complement the exhibits inside.
A library has also been added which contains an extensive collection of historical
naval aviation memorabilia. The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
seven days a week. Guided tours are available throughout the day. The museum
also has a wonderful gift shop. Admission is free.
Blimp hangars at NAS Pensacola |
 Click on the small image to get a larger view |
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| The lighter-than-air period at NAS Pensacola began June 15, 1915. It ran through 1921, During this time period two Large Blimp hangars were constructed at Pensacola. These first Blimps were filled with Hydrogen, manufactured on the base. During the lighter-than-air period, 63 Dirigible Pilots and 15 Balloon Pilots were qualified. World War I buildup led to a Dirigible School being formed with Goodyear in Akron, Ohio. The large hangars were used for other missions. During WWII, Blimps were used at Pensacola NAS for patrolling the Gulf. The hangars were finally razed in 1954, leaving no trace of the lighter-than air period. |
 Click on the small image to get a larger view |
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The photos were taken
in August,1918. The hangars were located South East of Chevalier Field.
If you look at the top left side of the lower picture, you have the
entrance to Bayou Grande, and the Tom Kercher, Florida |
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Visitors since
June 6, 2000 |
