In 1940, well over 1,000 acres of land within the towns of South Weymouth,
Rockland and Abington were acquired by the U.S. Navy to build an airbase
for dirigibles (blimps) used to patrol the North Atlantic Ocean during
World War II. Sixty-eight years later, the former South Weymouth Naval
Air Station has a new name and a new purpose. Christened SouthField, the
new community was named to honor the site's historic past as an important
airfield and to celebrate its bright future in the South Shore.
Time
Line on the South Weymouth Naval Air Station |
| 1940 |
Captain
Charles Rosendahl, chief of the Navy's lighter-than-air (LTA)
program, selects South Weymouth as the location for a blimp base
to patrol the sea-lanes to Boston Harbor. The Navy purchased
335 acres for $25,000 and construction began at the cost of $6
million. |
|
| 1942 |
NAS
South Weymouth established. |
|
| 1944 |
Six
blimps fly out of South Weymouth and complete the first crossing
of the Atlantic by non-rigid ships. These airships become the
first "Blimp Barrier" in the Mediterranean, flying
anti-submarine patrols around the Straits of Gibraltar. |
|
| 1953 |
NAS
South Weymouth reopens with over $5 million in new construction. |
|
| 1954 |
NAS
South Weymouth hosts its first air show, featuring the Blue Angels,
to a crowd of over 100,000 spectators. |
|
| 1961 |
The
Navy celebrates 50 years of naval aviation. The last operating
blimp squadron is disestablished. Navy blimps over New England
become a thing of the past. |
|
| 1966 |
Attack
Squadrons 911 and 912, flying the A-4 Skyhawk, are assigned to
South Weymouth to train naval pilots and its crews for combat
missions. Naval Reserve celebrates its 50th Anniversary. |
|
| 1970 |
Naval
Air Reserve Training Command transitions to the "Reserve
Force Concept." Two VS and two VA squadrons are disestablished
and reorganized as HS-74. |
|
| 1972 |
NAS
South Weymouth celebrates its 30th anniversary, in conjunction
with the Town of Weymouth's 350th anniversary. NAS Quonset Point
closes, bringing HS-74 onboard NAS South Weymouth. |
|
| 1979 |
Construction
begins on the new Enlisted Quarters and Navy Exchange/Retail
Store. On February 18, 1979, fire sweeps through the building. |
|
| 1980 |
Construction
on more new facilities is completed, including the Bowling Alley/Snack
Bar, fitness center, gate guard shack, and AIMD building. |
|
| 1985 |
HS-74
is redesignated as HSL-74 to operate its new helicopter, the
SH-2F "Seasprite" and its new mission aboard Naval
Reserve Frigates. Base closure looms over NAS South Weymouth
as the Senate Armed Services Committee places the air station
on its closure list. |
|
| 1990 |
The
first round of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC)
includes NAS South Weymouth on its list as a potential candidate
for base closure. Iraqi forces invade Kuwait, prompting the largest
mobilization of the U.S. military in 40 years. Over 400 Sailors
and Marines deploy from NAS South Weymouth. |
|
| 1991 |
NAS
South Weymouth is removed from consideration for possible closure
in round one of the BRAC process. |
|
| 1992 |
VMA-322 "Fighting
Gamecocks" are deactivated, starting the end of 49 years
of Marine Reserve Aviation. This also brings the jet age at NAS
South Weymouth to a close, as the last A-4M Skyhawk flies off
the air station. |
|
| 1993 |
Round
two of BRAC once again places NAS South Weymouth on the closure
list but survives. |
|
| 1994 |
The "Demon-Elves" of
HSL-74 are disestablished in March 1994. In April 1994, VR-62
transferred from NAF Detroit to NAS South Weymouth and are renamed
the Nor'Easters." |
|
| 1995 |
NAS
South Weymouth appears on the third and final BRAC base closure
list. After various visits by BRAC officials, NAS South Weymouth
is voted to remain on the closure list by a vote of 8 — 0.
The President and Congress approve the list. |
|
| 1996 |
NAS
South Weymouth hosts its "Blue Farewell to Boston" Air
Show. The last air show at the air station draws over 100,000
visitors. The airfield officially closes on September 30, 1996,
as the last C130T Hercules and P-3C Orion fly off in a final
tribute to the air station. |
|
| 1997 |
On September
30 1997, NAS South Weymouth officially closes, ending over 55
years of service to the Navy and New England as the "Home
of New England's Naval Air Reserve." |
|
