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History of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station
(Information from the Global Security web site and "The Defender's History, A historical account of Naval Air Station South Weymouth, Mass".)
 Naval Air Station South Weymouth was established through the efforts of Captain Charles E. Rosendahl, Chief of the Navy's Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) Program. Rosendahl was looking for an LTA base from which to conduct submarine surveillance operations over the North Atlantic. Public Act No. 635 of the 76th Congress, passed in June of 1940 and referred to as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "10,000 Plane Program," was the initial act that led to the construction of Naval Air Station South Weymouth.
The Navy's LTA expansion program was divided into two increments. The first consisted of 27 airships and coastal bases at three locations: the Boston area, the Norfolk area, and somewhere near San Francisco. The second was to consist of 21 additional airships with three additional air stations: the Pacific Northwest., Southern California, and one in Florida from which to patrol the Gulf of Mexico.
After a review of several potential sites, a large tract of land in South Weymouth was selected as the most desirable location to construct a new LTA base. Construction began at South Weymouth during September of 1941. The South Weymouth site, an area of 1267 acres within the communities of Weymouth, Abington, Rockland and Hingham, was almost completely undeveloped when the Navy acquired the property. At a cost of $6 million, NAS South Weymouth was the largest wartime construction project on Massachusetts's south shore. The base was established on March 1, 1942.
 The land surrounding the site is suburban, with a mixture of residential, industrial, and commercial uses. After acquiring the site in 1941, the U.S. Navy used it as a Lighter than Air facility for dirigible aircraft used to patrol the North Atlantic during World War II. The Air Station has the distinction of being the first airship base proposed in the original 1940 war plan, this base featured both a timber, and a standard steel hangar. A runway replaced the wood hangar in the 1950s. The facility was closed at the end of the war, then reopened in 1953 as a Naval Air Station for aviation training. SOWEY NAS has been in use continuously until September 30, 1997.
 The mission of SOWEY NAS was to train all assigned units for their mobilization assignment; to provide administrative coordination and logistic support to the Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment South Weymouth and to perform such other functions as directed by the Chief of Naval Operations and to administer the Naval Reserve Program as directed by the Chief of Naval Reserve. Activities performed at the site included aircraft maintenance, refueling, personnel training and housing, and administrative support services. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard operates a buoy maintenance depot on the property through an agreement with the Navy.
| Naval Air Station South Weymouth - Time Line. |
| 1940 |
CAPT 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 on March 1, 1942. |
| 1944 |
In the Summer of 1944, six blimps flew out of South Weymouth and completed the first crossing of the Atlantic by non-rigid ships. These airships became the first "Blimp Barrier" in the Mediterranean, flying anti-submarine patrols around the Straits of Gibraltar. |
| 1953 |
NAS South Weymouth reopened with over $5 million in new construction, completed on December 1953. CAPT Harry Sartoris becomes the new Commanding Officer at South Weymouth. |
| 1954 |
NAS South Weymouth host its first air show, featuring the Blue Angels, on May 15, 1954, to a crowd of over 100,000 spectators. |
| 1961 |
The Navy celebrates 50 years of Naval Aviation. In the autumn of 1961, 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 under the NARTD. |
| 1972 |
NAS South Weymouth celebrates its 30th anniversary, in conjunction with the Town of Weymouth's 350th anniversary.
NAS Quonset Point is closed, bringing HS-74 onboard NAS South Weymouth in July |
| 1977 |
NAS South Weymouth changes its logo from the familiar shield with cod "7Z" to the Minuteman with the motto "Defender of Freedom." |
| 1979 |
Construction begins on the new Enlisted Quarters, the new Navy Exchange/Retail Store. On February 18, 1979, fire sweeps through the Navy Exchange/Special Services building. |
| 1980 |
Construction on more new facilities is completed, including the new Bowling Alley/Snack Bar, the new fitness center, the new gate guard shack, and the new 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. NAS South Weymouth survives the cut. |
| 1987 |
The new main gate at Route 18, Main Street, opened on July 18, 1987, after the tragic death of a 12-year-old boy outside the White Street gate in 1982. After six years of legislation, voting and $1.4 million dollars, the new gate is opened. |
| 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.
On August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces invade the tiny nation of 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 on June 27, 1992, 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. Through community efforts, the air station survives another round. |
| 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 |
Captain Robert A Duetsch assumes command of NAS South Weymouth on February 11, 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, enacting into law the closure of the air station. |
| 1996 |
NAS South Weymouth hosts its "Blue Farewell to Boston" Air Show '96. 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 |
Construction begins of the Medal of Honor Memorial. 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." |
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Featured History Links:
Weymouth Historical Society
Weymouth Historical Commission |
