Naval Air Station South Weymouth , is a United States Navy airfield that operated from 1942 to 1997 in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. It was first established as a regular balloon base during World War II. During the postwar era, the base became part of the Air Force Training Command, which provided various Navy and Marine Corps fighter squadrons and other types of reserve units. Environmental pollution from waste stored in 3 final disposal sites was detected in 1986, and since 1993 the site has been included in the National Priority List of Superfund. Many long-term drug and groundwater monitoring are available. Since 2005, more than 600 hectares have been moved to the affected cities for reuse, and in 2011 the Navy signed a $ 25 million contract to transfer the remaining land.
Video Naval Air Station South Weymouth
World War II
In 1938, the site was surveyed as a possible location for the city airport, which was never built. The construction work at the base began in September 1941 and the base was assigned as the United States Navy Air Station, South Weymouth on March 1, 1942. During World War II, the base's primary mission was to provide support for submarine anti-submarine operations. In the original as-built format, South Weymouth's main facility consists of two giant hangars, the previous one (LTA Hangar One or "The Big Hangar") steel construction and the second (LTA Hangar Dua) ​​â € <â € < II The more common design of construction is almost any wood used to conserve metal rations. The base also has a 64 square meter (610 m) foam landing strip, six mooring circles, and sloping platforms with 4,400 feet (1,400 m) ramps.
During the war with Germany, NAS South Weymouth serves as the main base of the ZP-11 plane patrol squadron, which operates up to twelve K-class air balloons used on ASW patrols and convoy escort missions in and around Massachusetts Bay and the Gulf of Maine. Several historians and former Navy personnel alleged that the ZP-11, K-14 air balloon, which crashed due to loss of life off the coast of Bar Harbor, Maine on July 2, 1944 was actually shot down by a German submarine.
In addition to ZP-11, NAS South Weymouth also hosted a ZP-12 air force squadron squadron detonator based in NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey and ZJ-1 aircraft utility squadron based at Meacham Field in Key West, Florida. ZJ-1 is unique, being the only aircraft utility squadron in the Navy. South Weymouth Detachment ZJ-1 (Detachment 1) flies K and G-class airships to support an electronic research project undertaken by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, undertakes aerial photography missions, and helps restore test torpedoes for Navy torpedo stations in Newport, Rhode Island. A sub-detachment is operated from Elizabeth Field at Fisher's Island, New York.
In 1944, NAS South Weymouth was the starting point for the first transatlantic crossing of non-rigid aircraft. United States Navy K-boats (hot-air balloon) K-123 and K-130 from Blimp Squadron 14 (also known as ZP-14, Blimpron 14, or "The African Squadron") left Weymouth South on May 28, 1944 and landed in Argentia, Newfoundland about 16 hours later. Both K-boats then fly about 22 hours to Lagens Field on Terceira Island in the Azores. The final leg of the flight is a 20-hour flight to their destination with Fleet Air Wing (FAW) 15 in Port Lyautey, Morocco France (now Kenitra, Morocco). Blimps K-123 & amp; K-130 followed by K-109 & amp; K-134 and K-112 & amp; The K-101 left South Weymouth on June 11 and 27, respectively, in 1944. These six air balloons initially performed an anti-submarine warfare operation to complete the daytime missions flown by FAW-15 aircraft (PBY and B-24) used magnetic detection anomalies to find U-boats in relatively shallow waters around the Strait of Gibraltar. Later, the ZP-14 K-boats conducted minespotting and mine operations at the major Mediterranean ports and various escort missions including from convoys carrying Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill to the Yalta Conference in early 1945.
Maps Naval Air Station South Weymouth
post-war demobilization and use of the Cold War
South Weymouth was relegated from a naval air station to a naval air facility on August 9, 1945 after Germany surrendered, ending the U-Boat threat to the east coast, and then used to keep the excess of naval planes waiting for final release. Many of these aircraft, notably the East/Grumman TBM/TBF Avengers, were subjected to intricate coke and conservation methods in two large hangar hangers. During the Southern Weymouth history period this base is known as a naval or "NAPS" aircraft parking station. The South Weymouth Naval Air facility was placed in nanny status on June 30, 1949 and relegated to an additional landing field or "ALF".
In 1950 the Navy decided to close the Squantum Naval Air Station, traditionally focusing on Navy and Marine Corps flight training in New England, and moving the reserve program to ALF South Weymouth. The decision to close the Squantum NAS resulted from the increasing incidence of airspace conflicts with Boston's commercial airport (the modern Logan International Airport) near East Boston and due to the fact that the runway is relatively short and waterlocked Squantum is unable to support high-performance jet aircraft.
Between 1952 and 1953 NAAF Southern Weymouth was rebuilt to make it more suitable to support conventional aircraft operations. In its original World War II format, the base was not really meant for regular use by aircraft heavier than air. The seaweed-coated foundation is only for temporary planes, Beech GB Traveler stations, and other light utility aircraft. During the reconstruction effort of 1952-1953, the LTA Hangar Two (wooden balloon hangar) was destroyed, three new paving runways (7,000 feet (2,100 m), 17/35, 2,000 ft (610 m) east-west runway 08/26 , and a 5,000-foot (1,500 m) diagonal runway 02/20) was built, and the controlled controlled CPN-4 controlled facilities and modern control towers (wartime base control towers above LTA Hangar One) were established. South Weymouth was reactivated as reserve training base and naval air station entirely on December 4, 1953.
Although officially a reserve base, NAS South Weymouth hosted an unusual regular navy unit between 1953 and 1961. This is a secret research and development of clothing called the Naval Air Development Unit, known as "NCEU" in the short term. NADU, derived by means of the Special Project Unit (SPU) CAST based at Squantum Air Force Air Force during World War II, was assigned to provide flight testing support for research projects associated with MIT Lincoln Laboratories and other defense contractors. In particular, these research projects involve experimental electronic equipment such as radar associated with air defense and anti-submarine warfare systems. NADU operates a diverse fleet of aircraft covering (among others) Lockheed WV-2 Warning Stars, Douglas F4D Skyrays, Douglas F3D Skyknights, Lockheed P2V Neptunes, and ZPG-2W, which is the largest air balloon in the world.
In December 1956 a new hangar, Hangar no. 2, completed adjacent to the 17/35 grounding to support the fixed wing ASW and attack squadron. The runway 08/26 was extended to 6,000 feet during 1959. The required construction work at the eastern end of the runway was permanently cut off Union Street, which had served as the main road connecting the towns of Rockland and Weymouth. The air balloon operation was suspended at NAS South Weymouth in July 1961 before the demolition of the Navy's Development Unit on 1 October.
In March 1957, ZPG-2, Snow Bird, driven by Commander Jack Hunt, USN, took off from South Weymouth, and landed 10½ days later at Naval Air Station Key West, after two crossing. from the Atlantic Ocean. Aircraft with crew 13 set a "record distance of 9,740 miles, and a non-refueling endurance record. All told, Snow Bird spent more than eleven days in a distance of 9,448 miles without refueling. on flight, aircraft commander, CDR Jack R. Hunt, USN, received the Harmon International Trophy (eg, Harmon Trophy) for Aeronautics.
Two anti-submarine squadrons are activated at NAS South Weymouth during the Berlin Crisis. The VS-915, based in NAS South Weymouth, was activated on October 1, 1961. It merged with VS-733 which was transferred from NAS Grosse Ile, MI on 1 November. Both squadrons flew ASW patrols from NAS South Weymouth and detachment sites such as Key West and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for nearly a year.
During the 1960s the station hosted a unique pair of Anti-Submarine Warfare Operational Flight Operators. It consists of two aircraft retired aircraft, Grumman S-2A Tracker (crash accident) and Lockheed SP-2E Neptune (flame damaged), which is placed on a flat roof called "leaning to" on the south side of the LTA Hangar One. The radar scope and other ASW sensors are positioned at the tactical crew position in both plane planes connected to the signal generating device located in the ASW Training Department room in the hangar, enabling them to serve as a tactical training simulator for the crew of the backup aircraft.
Hangar One Hangar One hangar hangar, a local landmark, was destroyed in 1966 and replaced with a much smaller hangar of concrete arches (Hangar # 1). The new Hangar was not completed until November 1970, largely due to a disaster on August 18, 1967 when several concrete arches collapsed, killing two civilian crane operators. The base has a target range on nearby Tanah Nomans Island and the Liberty SS James Longstreet . The base hosted the Weymouth Aero Club Navy from 1961 until the closure of the club in 1984.
Base Realignment and Closure Commissions
BRAC 1991
The 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided to close the base in its recommendations. It was decided against because of community objections.
BRAC 1993
The Commission for Re-Arrangement and Closing Basis in 1993 decided to close its base on its recommendations. The public is of the opinion that it is important and ranked higher than any other base scheduled for reordering. This argument is recognized as well as the fact that the commission does not include demographics in its decision. The base remains open for a while.
BRAC 1995
The Base Realignment and Closure Commission of 1995 recommended that South Weymouth be closed in 1997 and its last remaining squadron reconciled. The VP-92, which flew P-3 Orion and VR-62, which flew the C-130 Hercules transport, went to Brunswick NAS before the base was officially disabled and closed on the orders of BRAC 1995. In 1996, he was awarded the Meritorious Navy Prize for the years 1993-1995.
Environmental contamination
Environmental contamination was first detected in 1986 with PCBs from leaking transformers and jet fuel spills at the base. A field investigation in 1991 by the Navy found soil contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals from waste stored in three landfills. Soil water samples are contaminated especially with heavy metals. Since 1993 the station has been included in the National Priorities List of Superfund sites.
Eighteen city water wells within four miles of the station provide drinking water for about 74,000 people and 85 private drinking water wells within four miles of the same aquifer. Major wetlands occur throughout the surrounding towns, including Weymouth Great Pond which is the city's water source.
In January 1997, the first phase of the Remedial Investigation of the entire site was completed. At the West Gate Disposal Site the landfill was built as a drug and completed in September 2011. The second landfill, Disposal Place was excavated with off-site disposal of PCB-affected soils from wetland areas, topped by ground cover, characterized by institutional control and long-term monitoring long for 30 years since 2007, although methane gas concentrations from sites are still awaiting corrective action. Small TPA where thallium and zinc present in a groundwater monitoring well does not require corrective action in 2002. The Wastewater Treatment Plant contains organochlorine pesticides, including dieldrin and 4,4'-DDT. A Record of Decision was signed in April 2008 and most of the contaminated soil has been excavated, land contaminated with petroleum still exists and construction is still ongoing. Building 81 caused VOC migration to nearby groundwater, and in situ chemical oxidation treatment began in September 2000, but failed. After the investigation of the repair is completed in October 2011 and the final Feasibility Study issued April 2013, selection of improvements is planned for the summer of 2013. In Building 82 in situ treatment of shallow and deep ground water for chlorinated solvents, land use control, and long-term monitoring was approved in September 2012. In the Solvent Release Area, a declining well was found high levels of tetrachloroethene and seven monitoring wells were installed in 2004. The Proposed Plan was issued in February 2013, and a decision is expected in the summer of 2013.
To date, the Navy has spent approximately $ 66 million on on-site investigation and cleaning activities.
Redevelopment
In March 1998, the initial reuse plan was approved by a three-city ballot for office/retail use, senior housing, golf course and soccer field. In 1998, the Massachusetts Legislature established the South Shore Tri-Town Development Corporation, which represents Abington, Rockland and Weymouth, three cities that are part of the station; in 2002, Tri-Town selected the site's main developer, who in 2013 sold its interest to Starwood Land Venture developer, Starwood Capital Group affiliate. In 2005, a revised reuse plan incorporating many of the EPA's Smart Growth concepts has been approved by three affected cities.
In December 2008, an agreement was reached to build a movie studio complex on the site. The $ 100 million complex, called SouthField Studios, is planned to include 11 sound stages, production offices, and other office space. Construction will begin in August 2009, but stalled due to financing difficulties.
A community development condominium called "SouthField" was planned, construction work began in December 2010 and the first houses were sold and occupied by the summer of 2011. More than 600 acres have been transferred to local reusable authorities, the US Coast Guard and Federal Administration Flights. In November 2011, the Navy and the City of Tri signed a purchase and sale agreement for the remaining 834 hectares of the base; about 708 hectares of the 834 acres available for transfer and 126 hectares will be leased until the property has been cleared or closed and is deemed suitable for transfers by the EPA.
In June 2014, the main developer "Starwood wants state lawmakers to agree to a law that will rewrite project supervision at the end of the official legislative session on July 31", and that "[...] can walk away from the project if it does happens. "Starwood wants to be responsible for providing public services and collecting property taxes to move from Tri-Town to three cities. Tri-Town asks the Navy to intervene, which has declined. In August, the state Senate enacted the proposed Starwood Land Ventures law and thereby reduced the role of Tri-Town.
Tri-Town was rebuilt as the Southfield Redevelopment Authority that month. In 2018, the development is known as the Union Point, planned as a smart city with self-driving cars from Optimus Ride, about 4,000 homes, 10 million square feet of commercial space, green roofs, ponds and open spaces including hiking and biking trails. Plans include markets in former hooks, arches, campuses, cinemas, hotels, and sports complexes. This development is adjacent to South Weymouth station on the Old Colony Line from MBTA Commuter Relails. This development presents an offer for the determination of the Amazon HQ2 footprint, but does not make the finalist round 20.
Military and museum activities
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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