U.S Naval Air Station, Grosse Ile, MI
Posted by: WrightStuff
N 42° 06.465 W 083° 09.838
17T E 321083 N 4664005
The now decommisioned U.S Naval Air Station located in Grosse Ile, MI
Waymark Code: WMXR8
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 11/05/2006
Views: 112
Opened in 1929, the U.S. Naval Air Station was in operation on Grosse Ile for forty years. During World War II, the naval base developed into an important center for military flight training. The base was expanded considerably to accommodate large numbers of American and British fliers who trained on the island. Former President George H. W. Bush was stationed at the base for training during 1945 for about two months.
During the height of the Cold War, in 1954, the U.S. Army installed a Ajax-Nike missile base at the airfield which was functional until it was decommissioned in 1963. The Navy closed the base during 1969 and it was deeded in 1971 by the federal government to the township government for civilian use as a municipal airport.