Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
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Groovy
N 48° 19.570 W 122° 40.166
10U E 524502 N 5352606
NAS Whidbey Island, Home of some of the Navy's EA-6B, A-6, and P-3 Orion aircraft.
Waymark Code: WM52E
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 12/18/2005
Views: 57
On Jan. 17, 1941, almost 11 months before the U.S. entered World War II, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations asked the Commandant of the 13th Naval District to find a location for the re-arming and refueling of Navy patrol planes operating in defense of Puget Sound, should such defense be necessary.
On Sept. 21, 1942, from the steps of Building 12, Commanding Officer Capt Cyril Thomas Simard read the orders and the watch was set. U.S. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was duly commissioned.
There were 212 people present for the ceremony.
A year later, on Sept. 25, 1943, the land plane field was named Ault Field, in memory of Cdr. William B. Ault, missing in action in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Following the recommendation of the Interdepartmental Air Traffic Control Board, an area 2 1/2 miles southeast of Coupeville was approved as an auxiliary field to serve NS Seattle. Survey work began in February 1943, and work started in March. Outlying Field Coupeville was in use by September.
This historic base has been the home of some of the U.S. Navy's most powerful and impressive aircraft.
Here is a list of just a few:
- The F6F Hellcat
- The P-2V Neptune Patrol Bomber of the 40's
- The A-3D Skywarrior (Heavy Attack tanker)
- The A-6 Intruder (All Weather Attack Work Horse!)
- The EA-6B Prowler (Electronic Countermeasures)
The P-3 and the EA-6B squadrons are still based out of NAS Whidbey.
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