Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Field - Charlestown, RI - Non-Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

In Charlestown, within Ninigret Park, which was formerly a U.S. Naval training field, there is a memorial field for pilots who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The monument is located along the main road within the park. From U.S. Route 1, travel to the intersection with Route 1A, then travel along 1A for a short distance to a sign for Ninigret Park on the right. Turn right and travel on the access road, following it left toward the Frosty Drew Observatory. The memorial will be on your left, well before the observatory.

The memorial is a light granite stone wall surrounded by bushes, and with a flagpole in back of it. It stands about five feet tall and is about 10 ft long and several inches thick. It has the following text engraved in the front facing the road:

Top:
"Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Field
-1943- "Charlietown" -1973-
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in the recent wars of the United States"

[logo]

Middle:
[Years and Names]

Bottom:
"Thru these portals pass the hottest pilots in the world"

Rather than wars, the names are grouped by years. The years are as follows: 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1965.

The airfield was used through at least two wars: World War I and Korean War. Of many pilots who went through here, future President George Herbert Walker Bush is perhaps the most well known. The Ninigret Park Final Master Plan mentions that the memorial is now placed near one of the plane accidents that this memorial honors.

More info:

Wikipedia (Naval Auxiliary Air Station Charlestown):
(visit link)

Charlestown, RI (Ninigret Park Final Master Plan):
(visit link)

Type of Memorial: Non-Specific Memorial In Honor Of: In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in the recent wars of the United States Marker Text: Top: "Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Field -1943- "Charlietown" -1973- In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in the recent wars of the United States" [logo] Middle: [Years and Names] Bottom: "Thru these portals pass the hottest pilots in the world" Who Put it Here?: Not sure. Description of Memorial: The memorial is on the north side of the main road through Ninigret Park, which used to be the Charlestown Auxiliary Landing Field for the U.S. Navy. The field operated from 1943 through 1973. Wars mentioned (Multi-war only): Not listed Date of dedication: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Visited Logs must contain, at least, a picture of the monument and your GPSr. Preferably YOU at the monument with your GPSr, but we understand that some people are camera-shy.
It is suggested you please include something about your visit here, as well.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   10/14/2016 wildernessmama visited it