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Welcome Aboard!
This page IS NOT an official U.S.
Navy site. This page is maintained by volunteers and "Friends of
Naval Air Station - Richmond"
If you would like to visit the U.S. Navy OFFICIAL
page,click here.
Warning
 The Shore Patrol is authorized to ARREST and DETAIN
ALL PERSONNEL found malingering about this Station. Use of DEADLY
FORCE is authorized against "Hackers" and Viruses!
Naval Air Station, Richmond
In 1942, as World War II heated up
and the United States became move involved, the U.S. government
ordered a massive buildup in military facilities. One of these
facilities was Naval Air Station, Richmond. Located on about 2,500
acres of land (1,012 hectares) in the then near wilderness, 20 miles
(30.6 km) south of the city of Miami, Florida, the Navy started
construction of a major airship or "LTA" air station. Naval Air
Station, Richmond, takes its name from the "Richmond Lumber Company"
which had built a saw mill on the property around the turn of the
century, to harvest and process he large stands of "Dade county
pine", a type of pine tree noted for its high sap content which makes
it almost totally impervious to insect and termite infestation and is
so hard after drying and aging, that it is often worked with metal
working tools.
The base grew quickly, using native
timber and millions of board-feet of lumber shipped in from the
Pacific-Northwest. Three large
airship hangars and all of an active navy base's support
buildings and barracks were soon completed.
Amidst all of the pomp and ceremony
that accompanies almost all military events, the base was
commissioned on 15 September, 1942. (Your Webmaster does not
have all of the details of the base's opening ceremonies and crew
compliment at this time. As this information is forwarded to me, this
page will be updated and revised.
The three hangars, several blimps,
numerous other aircraft and many of the other structures were
destroyed during the huge hurricane that swept across the southern
tip of Florida, 14 and 15 September, 1945.
Read about the "Burning of NAS Richmond"
Read the story of the
ONLY U.S. Navy airship ever lost to enemy fire.
THE BATTLE OF THE BLIMP AND THE
SUB.
In late 1995, the decision was made
to create an exhibit detailing the history and important role the
base played during World War II. On 16 September, 1995, over 200
people assembled on the apron of what was Hangar 1, Naval Air
Station, Richmond, to honor and commemorate the 50th anniversary of
World War II. Colors were presented by Navy Sea Cadets. The
invocation was by Mr. Ken Fox, former machinist mate, who was
stationed at NAS Richmond. Ms. Maggi Cook read the Dade Heritage
Trust resolution of support. Ms. Connie Greer presented a plaque,
accepted for the veterans by LCDR. James Sinquefield (retired),
former WWII blimp pilot. A speech by NAS Curator YN1 Anthony Attwood,
USNR, was followed by a tour of the base by NAS Curators, Cesar
Becerra and Alan Crockwell.
The groundbreaking was at the NAS
boiler room. Handling the "Gold Shovel", were CDR Paul Reiman, USN,
Commanding Officer, Navy Recruiting District, Mrs. Robertson, wife of
W.W. II blimp skipper, Allan McElhiney, NAS Fort Lauderdale Curator,
and Cole Crockwell, son of Alan Crockwell and future Navy
Historian.
Also on hand were LCDR Tomas Zapata,
USCG, LCDR Paul Gilson, Navy League, MSCM Bob Browdy, USN (Retired),
LT Steve Lorcher, USN, Alex Durr, Association of Naval Aviation, and
a host of other good folks!
The Grand Opening of the
Naval Air Station, Richmond exhibit occurred 14 September, 1996. This
was an official "Miami Centennial '96" event.
If you would like to visit
another site with loads of information about
Blimps and Airships, click here!
Homepage of the Naval Airship Association.
Join the "Friends of Richmond
Naval Air Station"
Membership
Form
The NAS Richmond crew is: James
Sinquefield, LCDR, USN (retired), our "Pilot"; YN1 Anthony Attwood,
USNR, our "Navigator"; Cesar Becerra, our "Sparks"; Alan Crockwell,
our "Gunner"; and Gold Coast Museum Director, Connie Greer, our
"Ground Controller".
The Friends of NAS Richmond is an
informal, non-profit association of aviation buffs, veterans,
patriotic, community minded citizens, servicemen and women dedicated
to preserving for future generations, the rich military heritage of
historic South Florida.
AMAZON.COM is one of the largest
sources of books and CD's relating to airships, blimps and Naval
history on the net. Click on this link to search for your airship
research needs. A portion of the sale price of each item you purchase
through this link is donated to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum.
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