Naval Air Station DeLand

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Naval Air Station DeLand
Summary
Airport typeMilitary: Naval Air Station
Operator United States Navy
Location DeLand, Florida
Built1942
In use1942–1946
Occupants United States Navy
Elevation  AMSL 70 ft / 21 m
Coordinates 29°03′59″N81°17′02″W / 29.06639°N 81.28389°W / 29.06639; -81.28389
Map
USA Florida location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
Naval Air Station DeLand

Naval Air Station DeLand was a United States Naval Air Station located in DeLand, Florida from 1942 to 1946. [1] After the war, the airfield and associated infrastructure was redeveloped into DeLand Municipal Airport.

Contents

History

The City of DeLand began developing a civilian airport in the 1920s, with the first asphalt runway laid around 1936.

In 1942, the City of DeLand donated the airport facility to the United States Navy and it was renamed Naval Air Station DeLand on 17 November. [2] The airfield officially opened after several months of additional land acquisition and extensive military building construction. Captain Tom Turner, the air station's first commanding officer, officiated. A Navy band had not yet been formed for the air station, so the DeLand High School band played for the opening of the base. Following still more extensive military construction, NAS DeLand's primary focus became advanced training for Navy flight crews in land-based Lockheed PBO-1 Hudson, Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer patrol bombers, as well as carrier-based Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers.

The first aircraft to arrive at NAS DeLand were the Hudsons, [3] which had been transferred from Patrol Squadron 82 (VP-82) at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. In addition to Quonset Point, VP-82 had previously employed these aircraft in training operations at NAS Norfolk, Virginia and detachment operations at Naval Air Station Argentia, Newfoundland and NAS Trinidad, British West Indies. This included the sinking by VP-82 of the German submarine U-656, the first U-boat sinking attributed to U.S. forces in World War II. [3] These aircraft subsequently served as the training nucleus for PV-1 Ventura operational training units at both NAS DeLand and nearby Naval Air Station Sanford until greater numbers of newer PV-1s became available. PB4Y-2 Privateer training operations followed in 1943, with the first examples reaching operational Fleet squadrons in 1944 [4]

Between PBO-1, PV-1 and PB4Y-2 training operations, several of the U.S. Navy's former and present day maritime patrol and reconnaissance (VP) squadrons operating the Lockheed P-3 Orion and Boeing P-8 Poseidon trace their squadron lineage to being established at NAS DeLand with these earlier aircraft during World War II. [5]

When the SBD Dauntless dive bombers began to arrive, along with pilots and crew members, Ventura training was scaled back.

Samuel Hynes, who in later life was a professor at Yale University, the author of numerous books, and a participant in documentary films made by Ken Burns, was a Marine pilot in World War II. He recounts learning to fly Dauntless dive bombers at DeLand:

The planes on the flight line were old; they had come from fleet duty . . . Like the planes, our instructors were combat veterans . . . who had been to the Pacific theater, had seen the islands, and Japanese planes in the air, had dropped real bombs on real enemy targets, and had been shot at . . . [they showed us how] to dive an airplane straight toward the earth, and to drop a bomb while diving. This is the most unnatural action possible in a plane, a kind of defiance of all life-preserving instincts . . .

In Florida in 1944 one dive-bomber pilot died every day . . .

[Off duty, when visiting Daytona Beach, there] seemed to be no laws that governed the behavior of Marine pilots . . . the police might scold, but they never arrested us. [6]

In 1944, training operations in the Grumman F6F Hellcat carrier-based fighter also commenced at NAS DeLand, as well as an Advanced Carrier Navigation school for replacement pilots. [7]

Because support functions often exceeded the capability of the air station's uniformed officers, sailors and Marines, many of DeLand's citizens were also employed at the base in administrative and support roles and were paid wages that were a significant improvement over those the community had seen during the recently concluded Great Depression. [8]

Military Training and Exercises

A Grumman F-14 Tomcat on a platform with the Chief Master at Arms house in the background. The house is now the location of the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum. Chief MAA House in Deland2.jpg
A Grumman F-14 Tomcat on a platform with the Chief Master at Arms house in the background. The house is now the location of the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum.

Nine Mile Point on Lake George was also under NAS DeLand's control and was used as a practice bombing site with a Navy Consolidated PBY Catalina seaplane stationed nearby in the event of an aircraft mishap on the lake. The Lake George site is still used today as part of the Navy's Pinecastle Electronic Warfare and Bombing Range [9] complex in the Ocala National Forest that is managed by NAS Jacksonville. [2] NAS DeLand also maintained a duty watch of two sailors to patrol Lake Woodruff in the event of any nearby naval aircraft mishaps.

NAS DeLand also had responsibility for Navy Outlying Field New Smyrna Beach and bombing targets near Paisley, Hawkinsville, the Indian River Lagoon, and east of Lake Dias near DeLeon Springs. These facilities were also used by aircraft based at Naval Air Station Daytona Beach and NAS Sanford.

The airfield at New Smyrna Beach refueled and rearmed aircraft practicing landings at Outlying Field Spruce Creek and conducting target practice over the Atlantic Ocean. These aircraft occasionally carried 500 pound bombs when they were over the ocean in the event any German U-boats were spotted.

Decommissioning

Following the end of World War II, the base closed as an active naval installation on 15 March 1946. Its control tower also closed and ownership of the air station returned to the City of DeLand as an uncontrolled civilian airport. [8] After the city resumed control of the field, it became DeLand Municipal Airport, a role it continues to this day.

Stetson University College of Law

From 1946 to 1953, the base was also home to Stetson University College of Law. [10] The law school was relocated to Gulfport (St. Petersburg), Florida, in 1954. [11]

DeLand Naval Air Station Museum

Another view of the F-14 with the museum in the background Chief MAA House in Deland3.jpg
Another view of the F-14 with the museum in the background

Located in the historic Chief Master at Arms House in DeLand, Florida, the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum was dedicated in 1995 and focuses on the history of Naval Air Station DeLand, U.S. Naval Aviation, and United States Navy history. [12] Exhibits include an F-14B Tomcat on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum, [13] [14] PTF-3 (a former USN Nasty class torpedo boat undergoing restoration), [15] a Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber (undergoing restoration), a Korean War era H-13 Sioux MASH helicopter, a 1954 U.S. Army M38A1 jeep, military artifacts, vintage photographs, and other memorabilia. [16]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-24</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-22 (1943–1994)</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VPB-105</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-21 (1943–1969)</span> Military unit

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VP-62 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established Fleet Air Photographic Squadron, Atlantic Fleet (FltAirPhotoRonLant), on 3 May 1942, redesignated Fleet Air Photographic Squadron 2 (FAPS-2) on 11 October 1942, redesignated Photographic Squadron 2 (VD-2) on 1 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Squadron (Photographic) 2 (VPP-2) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 62 (VP-62) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 30 January 1950. It was the third squadron to be designated VP-62, the first VP-62 was disestablished on 1 July 1943 and the second VP-62 was redesignated VPB-62 on 1 October 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-106</span> Military unit

VP-106 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 106 (VB-106) on 1 June 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 106 (VPB-106) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 106 (VP-106) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 5 October 1946.

VP-123 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 140 (VB-140) on 21 April 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 140 (VPB-140) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 123 (VPB-123) on 20 November 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 123 (VP-123) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 1 October 1946.

VPB-121 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 19 (VP-19) on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 43 (VP-43) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 81 (VP-81) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 121 (VPB-121) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 1 June 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VPB-125</span> Military unit

VPB-125 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 20 (VP-20) on 1 September 1938, redesignated Patrol Squadron 44 (VP-44) on 1 July 1940, redesignated Patrol Squadron 61 (VP-61) on 6 January 1941, redesignated Patrol Squadron 82 (VP-82) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Bombing Squadron 125 (VB-125) on 1 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 125 (VPB-125) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 8 June 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-HL-3</span> Military unit

VP-HL-3 was a Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 138 (VB-138) on 15 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 138 (VPB-138) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 124 (VPB-124) on 15 December 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 124 (VP-124) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 3 (VP-HL-3) on 15 November 1946 and disestablished on 22 May 1947.

VP-HL-5 was a Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 143 (VB-143) on 15 June 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 143 (VPB-143) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 143 (VP-143) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 5 (VP-HL-5) on 15 November 1946 and disestablished on 27 May 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-62 (1970–present)</span> Military unit

Patrol Squadron 62 (VP-62) is a combat aviation squadron of the Naval Air Force Reserve. Since 31 July 2015, the squadron has been assigned administratively to Commander, Maritime Support Wing at Naval Air Station North Island, California, an Echelon IV organization under the Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. However, for operational tasking, the squadron reports to Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing ELEVEN at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.

References

  1. ↑ "Home". delandnavalairstation.org.
  2. 1 2 "Florida in WWII – Historic Sites and Resources". Flheritage.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2005. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  3. 1 2 "Lockheed PBO Hudson, Lockheed R4O Super Electra, by Jack McKillop".
  4. ↑ "Warbird Alley: Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer".
  5. ↑ "VPNAVY – VP-ML-1 History Summary Page – VP Patrol Squadron". vpnavy.com.
  6. ↑ Hynes, Samuel (1988). Flights of Passage. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, pp.92-95.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. 1 2 "West Volusia Historical Society". Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
  9. ↑ "Pine Castle Bombing Range".
  10. ↑ Swygert and Vause, Florida's First Law School: A History of Stetson University College of Law, p. 203
  11. ↑ Swygert and Vause, p. 241
  12. ↑ Bruce, Billy (27 August 1995). "Navan Air Station lives on as museum". The Orlando Sentinel – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Ma, Ken (30 May 2005). "DeLand museum to get F-14 fighter jet". The Orlando Sentinel – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Hager-Van Dyke, Charlene (11 November 2005). "Soaring down memory lane". The Orlando Sentinel . Photo by Barbara V. Perez – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "History of the U.S. Navy NASTY Class Patrol Torpedo Fast". PTF 3 Restoration Project. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  16. ↑ Luebbers, Ted (21 November 2019). "The DeLand Naval Air Station Museum". Hangar Flying. Experimental Aircraft Association.

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