Naval Air Station South Weymouth

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South Weymouth Naval Air Station
IATA: NZY – ICAO: KNZY – FAA: NZY
Summary
Airport type Military: Naval Air Station
Operator United States Navy
Location Weymouth, Rockland, and Abington, Massachusetts
Built 1941-1942
In use (NAF)1942-1949, (NAAF) 1949-1953, (NAS) 1953-1997
Occupants Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard
Elevation AMSL 148 ft / m
Coordinates 42°08′55″N 070°56′23″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 the 1942 to 1997. It was first established as a blimp base during WWII and eventually hosted a number of observation squadrons throughout the years. It is located in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, United States of America.

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] Post War Demobilization and Cold War Use

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 of 1953 because Squantum Naval Air Station didn't have the length of runway or the blimp matts that South Weymouth had. In addition to this, 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 60's, 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 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.

[edit] Base Realignment and Closure Commission

[edit] BRAC 1991

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

[edit] BRAC 1993

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided to close the base in its recomendations. 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 didn't include demographics in it's decision. The base remained open for the time being.[1]

[edit] 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 1005 BRAC..[2]

[edit] Redevelopment

There are now plans to put shops, housing, a wildlife park, and a golf course at the site of the former air station. The 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 in 10 years.

In addition to the 'South Field'[1] condominium development on the base, there are talks to build a $200 million movie production complex on the site. The plan is also expected to include a hotel and other development.[3]

[edit] Unit's Hosted

  • Airship Airborne Early Warning Squadron 1
  • AS-911
  • AS-912
  • HML-771 Hummers (1958-1994)
  • HSL-74 Demon-Elves (1972-1994)
  • VMA-217 (1953-1964)
  • VMA-322 Fighting Gamecocks (1954-1992)
  • VP-69
  • VP-911
  • VP-912
  • VP-913
  • VP-914
  • VP-915
  • VP-916
  • VP-917
  • VP-919
  • VP-92- 1970-1996
  • VP-ML-69
  • VR-62 (1994-1996)
  • VP-64 Condors
  • VR-911
  • VS-914
  • ZW-1

[edit] References

  1. ^ 1993 BRAC Commission Report to the President
  2. ^ 1995 BRAC Commission Report 7-1-95
  3. ^ Voorhis, Scott Van. "Moguls hot for studio site", Boston Herald, Herald Media Inc., 2008-02-24. Retrieved on 2008-02-25. 

[edit] External Links