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Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove

January 24, 2023

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove or NASJRB Willow Grove (IATA: NXX, ICAO: KNXX, FAA LID: NXX) was a Naval Air Station owned by the U.S. Navy and located in Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States[2] four miles (6 km) northwest of the central business district of Willow Grove,[1] which is north of Philadelphia. The installation was transferred to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and the name changed to the Horsham Air Guard Station after the U.S. Navy departed in 2011.

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove
Horsham Township, Pennsylvania in the United States
A US Navy Grumman C-1A Trader taxiing at NAS Willow Grove in 1987
Willow Grove
Location in the United States
Coordinates40°11′59″N 75°08′54″W / 40.1998°N 75.1482°W / 40.1998; -75.1482Coordinates: 40°11′59″N 75°08′54″W / 40.1998°N 75.1482°W / 40.1998; -75.1482
TypeJoint base
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defense
OperatorUS Navy
ConditionClosed
Website
Site history
Built1928 (1928)
Built byUS Navy
In use1928–2011 (2011)
FateRealigned to the US Air Force as Horsham Air Guard Station
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: NXX, ICAO: KNXX, FAA LID: NXX, WMO: 724086
Elevation109 metres (358 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
15/33 2,439 metres (8,002 ft) Porous European Mix
Source: FAA[1]

History

Flight activity began in 1926 when Harold Frederick Pitcairn constructed a hangar and a grass airstrip in Horsham, Pennsylvania. The airfield was named after the nearest town Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. At the time, Horsham was a rural township with little significance. From 1926 to 1942 Pitcairn used the airfield for design, construction and testing of a number of aircraft, including the Mailwing which was used by the United States Postal Service.[3]

After the start of World War II, the United States purchased the property, under threat of eminent domain and launched a classified anti-submarine warfare program at the base. Following WWII and into the Cold War, it became an operational and training base for aviation activities of the Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces such as United States Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, United States Army Reserve and Pennsylvania National Guard. As part of its joint recruitment efforts, the base was an annual host to one of the largest air shows on the East Coast until 2006.

Units

Horsham Air Guard Station was home to the following:

The base was home to the following military aviation units:

  • U.S. Army Reserve Units - A/4/158th Aviation Regiment flying UH-1H (GhostRiders), A & HHC/2/228th Avn flying UH-1H, OH-58, & C-12R (Winged Warriors).
  • Marine Aircraft Group 49 headquarters and HMH-772 of the Marine Air Reserve's 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, the latter operating the CH-53E Super Stallion. Both MAG-49 and HMH-772 relocated to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in 2011. Also Reserve Marine Attack Squadron VMA-131 flying McDonnell Douglas A4 aircraft from 1972 until their deactivation in 1998. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMA-131
  • Patrol Squadrons 64 (VP-64) and 66 (VP-66) of the United States Naval Reserve operating the P-3 Orion. VP-64 was later re-designated Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 64 (VR-64) and traded in its P-3 Orions for the C-130T Hercules
  • Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 11 (VQ-11 "Bandits", established at Willow Grove, moved to NAS Brunswick, Maine in the middle of 1997 were establishment ceremony was held at). VQ-11 "Bandits" was formed from VP-66 Liberty Bell's Detachment.66 (called VQ-66 "Bandits") which received the Lockheed EP-3J Electronic Orion aircraft (BuNo 152745 & BuNo 152719) from VAQ-33 Firebirds on March of 1993. VQ-11 was the US Naval Air Reserve's only Reconnaissance Squadron, but preformed Electronic Aggressor roles during fleet exercises.
  • Fleet Logistic Support Squadrons 52 (VR-52) and 64 (VR-64) of the Naval Air Reserve, operating the C-9 Skytrain II and C-130T Hercules, respectively. Both VR-52 and VR-64 relocated to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in March 2011.
  • 913th Airlift Wing (913 AW) of the Air Force Reserve Command. The 913 AW was inactivated by BRAC action on 30 September 2007.

Base Realignment and Closure

On May 28, 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure commission recommended that the base be closed as part of the 2005 BRAC round, that the tenant Air Force Reserve Command airlift wing be inactivated and that Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve flying units relocate to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey as tenant units.

On September 30, 2007, the Air Force Reserve Command disestablished the 913th Airlift Wing at the collocated Willow Grove ARS, and redistributed its C-130 Hercules aircraft to other active duty Air Force and Air Force Reserve units.

On February 29, 2008, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania released a report detailing a plan for a joint interagency installation (JII), with a mission of national defense, homeland security and emergency preparedness. On November 13, 2009, Pennsylvania dropped the plan for the JII based on the gradual removal of the 111th Fighter Wing. Since then it is planned that a portion of the base will be used for the National Guard and other Reserve Component military personnel. [5]

The airfield shut down on March 31, 2011; VP-64, VR-52, and a C-12 detachment were transferred to McGuire Air Force Base.[6][3]

On September 15, 2011, the base was closed. The Pennsylvania Air National Guard took custody, and the facility was to be designated Willow Grove Air National Guard Base, or Horsham Air Guard Station per source. A handful of National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers remained, and the Air Force maintained administrative offices on the property. The surplus land with the runways was turned over to Horsham Township for redevelopment. Horsham and other adjoining townships in Montgomery and Bucks Counties were debating the nature of this redevelopment.[7] In September 2015, the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority worked on an "economic development conveyance" (EDC) application to acquire the base. An EDC transfer is one way for the Navy to dispose of federal surplus property.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b FAA Airport Form 5010 for NXX PDF, effective 2007-12-20
  2. ^ "streets.gif 2009-02-05 at the Wayback Machine." Horsham Township, Pennsylvania. Retrieved on January 25, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Jeremy Roebuck, Willow Grove sees final departures Philly.com, March 31, 2011
  4. ^ "Air Force Selects Horsham's 111th Fighter Wing for New High-Tech Mission". PR Newswire. March 19, 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  5. ^ Pa Pulls Out of Plan to Operate Willow-Grove Airfield kyw1060.com November 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Welcome to VP-64. Home of the Condors!
  7. ^ Willow Grove site a gift, and a burden, for Horsham Philly.com, 21 February 2011
  8. ^ Gary Weckselblatt (September 16, 2015). "HLRA inches closer to negotiations for Navy base". Intelligencer (PA). Retrieved 20 September 2015.

(9) Harold F. Pitcairn By Carl F. Gunther, Legacy of Wings ( The Harold F. Pitcairn Story) by Frank Kingston Smith

External links

  • Horsham Township Land Reuse Authority
  • Resources for this U.S. military airport:
    • FAA airport information for NXX
    • AirNav airport information for KNXX
    • ASN accident history for NXX
    • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
    • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KNXX

January 24, 2023
naval, station, joint, reserve, base, willow, grove, nasjrb, willow, grove, iata, icao, knxx, naval, station, owned, navy, located, horsham, township, montgomery, county, pennsylvania, united, states, four, miles, northwest, central, business, district, willow. Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove or NASJRB Willow Grove IATA NXX ICAO KNXX FAA LID NXX was a Naval Air Station owned by the U S Navy and located in Horsham Township Montgomery County Pennsylvania United States 2 four miles 6 km northwest of the central business district of Willow Grove 1 which is north of Philadelphia The installation was transferred to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and the name changed to the Horsham Air Guard Station after the U S Navy departed in 2011 Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow GroveHorsham Township Pennsylvania in the United StatesA US Navy Grumman C 1A Trader taxiing at NAS Willow Grove in 1987Willow GroveLocation in the United StatesCoordinates40 11 59 N 75 08 54 W 40 1998 N 75 1482 W 40 1998 75 1482 Coordinates 40 11 59 N 75 08 54 W 40 1998 N 75 1482 W 40 1998 75 1482TypeJoint baseSite informationOwnerDepartment of DefenseOperatorUS NavyConditionClosedWebsiteOfficial website archived Site historyBuilt1928 1928 Built byUS NavyIn use1928 2011 2011 FateRealigned to the US Air Force as Horsham Air Guard StationAirfield informationIdentifiersIATA NXX ICAO KNXX FAA LID NXX WMO 724086Elevation109 metres 358 ft AMSLRunwaysDirection Length and surface15 33 2 439 metres 8 002 ft Porous European MixSource FAA 1 Contents 1 History 2 Units 3 Base Realignment and Closure 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditFlight activity began in 1926 when Harold Frederick Pitcairn constructed a hangar and a grass airstrip in Horsham Pennsylvania The airfield was named after the nearest town Willow Grove Pennsylvania At the time Horsham was a rural township with little significance From 1926 to 1942 Pitcairn used the airfield for design construction and testing of a number of aircraft including the Mailwing which was used by the United States Postal Service 3 After the start of World War II the United States purchased the property under threat of eminent domain and launched a classified anti submarine warfare program at the base Following WWII and into the Cold War it became an operational and training base for aviation activities of the Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces such as United States Navy Reserve Marine Corps Reserve Air Force Reserve Air National Guard United States Army Reserve and Pennsylvania National Guard As part of its joint recruitment efforts the base was an annual host to one of the largest air shows on the East Coast until 2006 Units EditHorsham Air Guard Station was home to the following 111th Fighter Wing 111 FW Pennsylvania Air National Guard which operated the A 10 Thunderbolt II It lost its aircraft to other ANG Squadrons and active duty components under BRAC As of 2013 the Wing now renamed the 111th Attack Wing was slated to acquire ground control stations to remotely fly the MQ 9 Reaper and became operational in 2016 4 201st RED HORSE Squadron Detachment 1 201 RHS Pennsylvania Air National Guard 270th Engineering Installation Squadron 270 EIS Pennsylvania Air National Guard Group 3 Headquarters of Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol 902nd Search and Rescue Squadron of Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol The Liberty Bell Squadron of the United States Naval Sea Cadet CorpsThe base was home to the following military aviation units U S Army Reserve Units A 4 158th Aviation Regiment flying UH 1H GhostRiders A amp HHC 2 228th Avn flying UH 1H OH 58 amp C 12R Winged Warriors Marine Aircraft Group 49 headquarters and HMH 772 of the Marine Air Reserve s 4th Marine Aircraft Wing the latter operating the CH 53E Super Stallion Both MAG 49 and HMH 772 relocated to Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst in 2011 Also Reserve Marine Attack Squadron VMA 131 flying McDonnell Douglas A4 aircraft from 1972 until their deactivation in 1998 https en wikipedia org wiki VMA 131 Patrol Squadrons 64 VP 64 and 66 VP 66 of the United States Naval Reserve operating the P 3 Orion VP 64 was later re designated Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 64 VR 64 and traded in its P 3 Orions for the C 130T Hercules Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 11 VQ 11 Bandits established at Willow Grove moved to NAS Brunswick Maine in the middle of 1997 were establishment ceremony was held at VQ 11 Bandits was formed from VP 66 Liberty Bell s Detachment 66 called VQ 66 Bandits which received the Lockheed EP 3J Electronic Orion aircraft BuNo 152745 amp BuNo 152719 from VAQ 33 Firebirds on March of 1993 VQ 11 was the US Naval Air Reserve s only Reconnaissance Squadron but preformed Electronic Aggressor roles during fleet exercises Fleet Logistic Support Squadrons 52 VR 52 and 64 VR 64 of the Naval Air Reserve operating the C 9 Skytrain II and C 130T Hercules respectively Both VR 52 and VR 64 relocated to Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst in March 2011 913th Airlift Wing 913 AW of the Air Force Reserve Command The 913 AW was inactivated by BRAC action on 30 September 2007 Base Realignment and Closure EditOn May 28 2005 the Base Realignment and Closure commission recommended that the base be closed as part of the 2005 BRAC round that the tenant Air Force Reserve Command airlift wing be inactivated and that Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve flying units relocate to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey as tenant units On September 30 2007 the Air Force Reserve Command disestablished the 913th Airlift Wing at the collocated Willow Grove ARS and redistributed its C 130 Hercules aircraft to other active duty Air Force and Air Force Reserve units On February 29 2008 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania released a report detailing a plan for a joint interagency installation JII with a mission of national defense homeland security and emergency preparedness On November 13 2009 Pennsylvania dropped the plan for the JII based on the gradual removal of the 111th Fighter Wing Since then it is planned that a portion of the base will be used for the National Guard and other Reserve Component military personnel 5 The airfield shut down on March 31 2011 VP 64 VR 52 and a C 12 detachment were transferred to McGuire Air Force Base 6 3 On September 15 2011 the base was closed The Pennsylvania Air National Guard took custody and the facility was to be designated Willow Grove Air National Guard Base or Horsham Air Guard Station per source A handful of National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers remained and the Air Force maintained administrative offices on the property The surplus land with the runways was turned over to Horsham Township for redevelopment Horsham and other adjoining townships in Montgomery and Bucks Counties were debating the nature of this redevelopment 7 In September 2015 the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority worked on an economic development conveyance EDC application to acquire the base An EDC transfer is one way for the Navy to dispose of federal surplus property 8 References Edit a b FAA Airport Form 5010 for NXX PDF effective 2007 12 20 streets gif Archived 2009 02 05 at the Wayback Machine Horsham Township Pennsylvania Retrieved on January 25 2009 a b Jeremy Roebuck Willow Grove sees final departures Philly com March 31 2011 Air Force Selects Horsham s 111th Fighter Wing for New High Tech Mission PR Newswire March 19 2013 Retrieved 4 October 2013 Pa Pulls Out of Plan to Operate Willow Grove Airfield kyw1060 com Archived November 15 2009 at the Wayback Machine Welcome to VP 64 Home of the Condors Willow Grove site a gift and a burden for Horsham Philly com 21 February 2011 Gary Weckselblatt September 16 2015 HLRA inches closer to negotiations for Navy base Intelligencer PA Retrieved 20 September 2015 9 Harold F Pitcairn By Carl F Gunther Legacy of Wings The Harold F Pitcairn Story by Frank Kingston SmithExternal links EditNaval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove Joint Interagency Installation Implementation Plan for Willow Grove Horsham Horsham Township Land Reuse Authority Resources for this U S military airport FAA airport information for NXX AirNav airport information for KNXX ASN accident history for NXX NOAA NWS latest weather observations SkyVector aeronautical chart for KNXX Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove amp oldid 1103180501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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