Naval Air Station Hitchcock was a Naval Air Station built by the United States Navy during World War II to accommodate lighter-than-air aircraft, more commonly known as blimps. It was located in the small town of Hitchcock, Texas, about fifteen miles (24 km) northwest of Galveston. Construction began in 1942 and the base was commissioned on May 22, 1943. The most prominent feature of the base was the 1,000-foot (300 m) long, 200-foot (61 m) tall largely wooden blimp hangar. The blimp hangar, which held six aircraft was built at a cost of $10 million. The purpose of the base and its aircraft was to search for Axis power submarines in the Gulf of Mexico. Beside the hangar there were auxiliary buildings including barracks, warehouses, a mess hall, gymnasium, auditorium and an Olympic-size swimming pool which was used to teach swimming and water-rescue.
Concrete supports for the former blimp hangar
The base was sold as war surplus in 1949 for $143,777 to John W. Mecom Sr., who leased the building during the Korean War to remanufacture half-track vehicle and World War II tanks for use in the Korean War. Because of damage sustained from Hurricane Carla in 1961, the wooden parts of the hangar were demolished in 1962. The only parts of the hangar still standing are the four tall concrete corner supports and the concrete foundation.
Camp Wallace, a U.S. Army World War II training center for antiaircraft units, was located adjacent to the base.
Wiggins, Melanie (1995). Torpedoes In The Gulf: Galveston And The U-Boats, 1942-1943. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN0-89096-627-3.
External links
Henck, Harrold, Then and Now: NAS Hitchcock, Texas, Texas Flyer website
Images of Hitchcock Naval Air Station, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
naval, station, hitchcock, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, august, 2012, lea. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations August 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Coordinates 29 19 50 N 95 02 37 W 29 3306 N 95 0437 W 29 3306 95 0437 Naval Air Station Hitchcock was a Naval Air Station built by the United States Navy during World War II to accommodate lighter than air aircraft more commonly known as blimps It was located in the small town of Hitchcock Texas about fifteen miles 24 km northwest of Galveston Construction began in 1942 and the base was commissioned on May 22 1943 The most prominent feature of the base was the 1 000 foot 300 m long 200 foot 61 m tall largely wooden blimp hangar The blimp hangar which held six aircraft was built at a cost of 10 million The purpose of the base and its aircraft was to search for Axis power submarines in the Gulf of Mexico Beside the hangar there were auxiliary buildings including barracks warehouses a mess hall gymnasium auditorium and an Olympic size swimming pool which was used to teach swimming and water rescue Concrete supports for the former blimp hangar The base was sold as war surplus in 1949 for 143 777 to John W Mecom Sr who leased the building during the Korean War to remanufacture half track vehicle and World War II tanks for use in the Korean War Because of damage sustained from Hurricane Carla in 1961 the wooden parts of the hangar were demolished in 1962 The only parts of the hangar still standing are the four tall concrete corner supports and the concrete foundation Camp Wallace a U S Army World War II training center for antiaircraft units was located adjacent to the base See also EditTillamook Air Museum which has similar but more complete hangarReferences EditWiggins Melanie 1995 Torpedoes In The Gulf Galveston And The U Boats 1942 1943 College Station Texas Texas A amp M University Press ISBN 0 89096 627 3 External links EditHenck Harrold Then and Now NAS Hitchcock Texas Texas Flyer website Images of Hitchcock Naval Air Station hosted by the Portal to Texas History Hitchcock Naval Air Station from the Handbook of Texas Online Hitchcock Naval Air Station Abandoned amp Little Known Airfields website The Hitchcock Naval Air Station Camp Wallace Hitchcock Texas Texas Escapes website Burke Dana 2016 12 31 The World War II story behind two giant mysterious columns in Hitchcock Houston Chronicle The Bay Area Citizen This United States Navy article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This military aviation article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Naval Air Station Hitchcock amp oldid 1097159677, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
