If you can see this text here you should update to a newer web browser

Normal | Highlight & Comment Highlighted Text will be in Yellow.
Note that this document's format has been changed slightly; the original was double-spaced and there is no easy way to do this in HTML. I single-spaced the document and put twice as many paragraphs on each page to make up for it.

U. S. NAVAL AUXILIARY AIR STATION Arlington, Washington HISTORY OF THE STATION Period to 1 December 1945 (Prepared for the Commandant, 13ND, in accordance with COM 13 ltr. EN3-12 (79) Ser 154118 of 4 Sept 1945)      U. S. Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Arlington, Washington began in 1940, when the Navy leased the airstrip of the town of Arlington to supplement training facilities at Seattle. However, no important construction took place until 1942. In that year the Navy permitted the Army to develope the field as a strategic base for medium bombers to counteract the Japanese invasion of the Aleutians. The Army purchased additional land, and the Osberg Construction Company, under Army contract, constructed two 5000 by 150-foot, asphalt-surfaced runways with connecting taxiways and hardstandings for dispersal of planes, a control tower, a well, and living and messing facilities for 50 officers and men in theatre-of-operations buildinbs, completing the work about March 1943.      Early in 1943 the Japanese threat in the Aleutians diminished and at the same time the Naval carrier program required additional training fields within reach of gunnery ranges in the Puget Sound area. Accordingly the Naval Air Center, Seattle, resumed control of the field, arranged for purchase by the Navy of Army facilities, and contracted with the Austin Co. to build eight enlisted barracks, two BOQ's, a Dispensary, a Theater-Recreation building, Ship's Service, Mess Hall, central heating plant, Supply Warehouse, and Hangar, at a cost of $917,000. The Army retained only the right to joint use of these facilities if again required as a strategic base. This continuing possibility of strategic use is reflected in the location of the barracks nearly a mile from the hangar and in the retention of trees and underbrush as natural camouflage.      On 26 June 1943 the station was commissioned under authority of General Order 181. Captain C. A. F. Sprague, then Commandant, of the Naval Air Center, addressed several hundred contractors' employees and visitors from Arlington and Seattle. Lieutenant Leland L. Wilder, A-V(N), USNR, took command with Lieutenant Elmous M. Mead, A-V(S), USNR, as executive officer. Both were to serve through the duration of the war.      At this time construction under the original contract was about 50% complete. Limited berthing and messing aocomodations were available, and on 2 July VB-139 reported aboard for operational training. Between then and the cessation of hostilities twelve composite squadrons and six light air groups followed one another to Arlington. Their personnel included 732 officers and 2,229 enlisted men,      Operating experience soon showed need for several major improvements to the station. First and most important, the persistent northwesterly wind, blowing across both the north-south and northeast-southwest runways, presented a hazard to the operation of F4F-type planes because of their narrow-gauge landing gear. A request for a third runway was initiated in the fall of 1943, but authorization to build was not received until early 1945. The Northwest Construction Company obtained the contract for construction of this

runway and connecting taxiways and for elirnination of ditches parallel to existing runways which had proved unnecessary for drainage and hazardous to planes. At the sane time flush 1ighting was installed along a11 three runways and the principal taxiways. Work was completed 21 August 1945.      A second defect in the station as initially laid out was the waterbound macadam roads. These created a serious dust problem in summer, and in winter their surface softened under the rains, and deep "pot holes" developed, causing much damage to vehicles. Arrangements were made for penetrating oil treatment by an Army contractor in 1943 and by F. Birch and Sons Company under Navy contract in 1944. On both occasions work began late in the fall and was prematurely halted by the winter rains. Finally in September 1945 the Birch Company completed road-mix asphalt surfacing of all principal roads and parking areas.      The original plan of the station did not include either magazines or a fire house, It was soon apparent that existing Army buildings were unsuitable in construction and location for these purposes. In the spring of 1944 the Atherton Construction Company was awarded a contract to erect five magazines in the unused area south of the runways. The following fall Vickers Construction Company constructed a new firehouse adjacent to the north-south runway. The choice of this location, close to the flying field and equi-distant from hangar and barracks area, has proved wise, since it permits combined action by crash and fire crews in either type of emergency with a consequent reduction in the strength of both.      In addition to such improvements as these, three important construction projects were undertaken to accomodate new functions of the activity. First was the expansion of facilities for servicing aircraft. Originally this function was performed by the Fifth Service Division of Headquarters Squadron Six at Naval Air Station, Whidbey island (One officer and 75-100 men) and by enlisted personnel of the carrier squadrons. The only work spaces available were small shops in the hangar and a row of moveable sheds south of the hangar. Operations were limited to routine engine checks and minor repairs. In the fall of 1944 as part of a general expansion of station functions the Gassland Construction Company was awarded a contract to erect south of the hangar Class "C" Overhaul buildings, consisting of an Overhaul Building, an Armory, a Radio and Radar Building, and two portable paint shops. A detaohnent of Carrier Aircraft Servioe Unit 7 took over the operation of these shops, which were equipped to service engines, airframes, propellors, instruments, and electronic equipment. The strength of this detachment varied, but at its peak included about 12 officers and 500 enlisted men.      Coincident with the developement of these overhaul facilities was the institution of a ground training program for pilots and aircrewmen. In the fall of 1944 a temporary layout of turrets and special devices was set up in an unused Army building, and a temporary shotgun range was put into operation. Meanwhile the Gaasland Company began work on a standard fifty-man Ground Training building for instruction in free and fixed Gunnery, link trainers, communication, navigation, and recognition. As part of the same program

Gaasland built a Boresighting range for test-firing fixed guns in planes, shot-gun ranges for trapshooting and for high-tower, modified and regulation skeet, and an airplane sighting range, where gunners estimate range on actual planes in flight. A new station department consisting of 5 officers and 26 men manned these facilities and supplemented them with a pistol range and a malfunction range where gunners could test-fire guns which they had inspected and assembled.      The third major addition to station facilities was the maintenance shops and garage, The original complement of the station included a number of artificer ratings, and it was contemplated that these plus a small civilian crew would perform the functions of the Public Works and Transportation Departments. However the task of maintaining over 100 vehicles and the numerous structures of the station proved to require an increasing number of civilian specialists, who needed space, tools, and equipment to do the job. The Gaasland contract therefore included a new garage, a public works building (housing the joiner and plumbing shops), a paint shop, and a lumber storage building. Increasing emphasis on replacement of Naval personnel by civilians led eventually to the employment of 67 civilians in the Public Works Department and 30 in Transportation.      On 14 August 1945 Arlington was a well-balanced station equipped to support two light carrier Air groups for either day or night operations. No major projects were pending at that time, and it was felt that none remained to be undertaken unless a significant addition were made to the functions of the station.      The future of the station remained obscure for some time after the cessation of hostilities. Meanwhile, on 13 September Lieutenant Commander Wilder was detached for release to inactive duty. Lieutenant Mead continued as acting commanding officer until 8 October, when Commander Reinhart E. Vogt, (A-3) USNR assumed command. On 10 October notification was received from the Chief of Naval Operations that Arlington would be reduced to a caretaker status on 1 December 1945.

Photographs and maps - Click to Enlarge -

Photograph above (This is the caption on the rear of the photograph) shows condition of field and building area at U.S. Naval Auxiliary Airstation, Arlington, Wn., as of 19 Oct. 1943, approximately three months after comissioning date. Note hardstandings designed for dispersal of planes when the field was to be an operating base for the U.S. Army Air Forces.   Extensive improvements to both the field and building area at U.S. Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Arlington, Wn., are visible in the photographe above, dated 25 Depte. 1945. Contrasting with photograph of 19 Oct. 1943, note completion of third runway at right and development of Ground Training and CLass "C" overhaul facilities behind hangar, center right. New fire house is discernible at center right, and extensive new Public Works facilities in main station area, upper left.   Map of Naval Auxiliary Air Station Arlington, Wash. Showing conditions on June 30, 1943.   Map of Naval Auxiliary Air Station Arlington, Wash. Showing conditions on June 30, 1945.

Transcribed by RESEARCHER @ LARGE. Formatting & Comments Copyright R@L.

NAAS Arlington Home | Pacific Home | Researcher@Large Home