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| NAS Fort Pierce | |
|---|---|
| Name | NAS Fort Pierce |
| Type | Naval Air Station (former) |
| Owner | United States Navy |
| Location | Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida |
| Built | 1942 |
| Used | 1942–1969 (as naval air station); later civilian uses |
| Occupants | United States Navy, Civil Air Patrol, Tangerine Aviation |
NAS Fort Pierce was a United States Navy air station established during World War II on the Treasure Coast of Florida near the city of Fort Pierce. Originally developed as an auxiliary airfield and training base, it served as a center for Naval Aviation training, antisubmarine patrols, and support operations through the Korean War and into the early Cold War before transitioning to civilian and reserve uses. The installation’s legacy intersects with wartime mobilization, aviation training, regional economic shifts, and environmental restoration efforts.
Construction began in 1942 as part of the Navy’s expansion after the Attack on Pearl Harbor and under directives from Frank Knox and the United States Department of the Navy. The airfield supported Naval Air Station Pensacola and operated as an auxiliary to Naval Air Station Jacksonville during World War II with ties to Fleet Air Wing training programs and Anti-submarine warfare squadrons assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. Postwar reductions mirrored drawdowns following the Surrender of Japan, but renewed activity occurred during the Korean War under policies directed by Harry S. Truman and United States Secretary of Defense guidance. During the 1950s and 1960s, NAS Fort Pierce hosted tenant commands aligned with Commander, Fleet Air Jacksonville and supported operations linked to Naval Air Training Command until decommissioning actions reflected the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission-era consolidations. Following naval departure, remnants of the base were repurposed for civil aviation, industrial development, and community uses in cooperation with St. Lucie County and the City of Fort Pierce.
The air station featured multiple runways, hangars, control towers, and maintenance depots constructed to Navy standards of the World War II period. Runways accommodated Grumman F6F Hellcat-class operations and later jets associated with McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II-era support trajectories via auxiliary logistics. On-base facilities included barracks, mess halls, a medical clinic, and ammunition storage areas patterned after Naval Base layouts like those at NAS Pensacola and NAS Jacksonville. Utilities infrastructure tied into regional systems serving St. Lucie County and adjacent municipalities such as Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach. Post-closure redevelopment incorporated hangar conversion projects akin to those at Former NAS Sanford and preservation efforts comparable to National Register of Historic Places nominations for similar installations.
The primary mission focused on pilot training, advanced flight instruction, and antisubmarine patrol support for Atlantic operations under commands associated with Fleet Air Wing 5, Carrier Air Wing detachments, and squadrons tied to Patrol Squadron 14 (VP-14). Tenant units included Training Squadron TEN (VT-10)-style elements, reserve components affiliated with the United States Naval Reserve, and transient squadrons from Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and USS Randolph (CV-15) during shakedown and training cycles. Coordination occurred with civilian agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration for airspace management and with Civil Air Patrol for local search and rescue support.
Aircraft operating from the station reflected shifts in naval aviation: piston-engine patrol planes like the PB4Y-2 Privateer and Grumman JRF Goose during World War II, transitioning to turboprops and early jets in the Cold War era such as the Lockheed P-3 Orion precursors and training types exemplified by North American T-6 Texan and T-28 Trojan. Support equipment included arresting gear modeled on C-1A hydraulic systems, avionics benches reflective of AN/APS-15 radar family evolutions, and ordnance handling gear similar to that used aboard Essex-class aircraft carrier support facilities. Ground handling incorporated fire-fighting apparatus from suppliers used at other naval air stations, and maintenance shops adhered to standards promulgated by Bureau of Aeronautics directives.
Training programs emphasized instrument flying, carrier qualification simulations, and anti-submarine warfare tactics feeding into broader operational readiness for the Atlantic Fleet and NATO commitments. Exercises often involved cross-training with United States Marine Corps aviation units from MCAS Cherry Point and coordination with United States Coast Guard cutters for maritime patrol exercises. Summer training schedules paralleled Naval Air Training Command curricula and supported reserve mobilization drills under direction similar to Commander, Naval Air Reserve protocols. The base hosted multi-unit operations integrating logistics, ordnance, and flight operations comparable to those staged at NAS Norfolk and NAS Oceana.
Base construction and operational activities affected local wetlands, estuaries, and groundwater resources in St. Lucie County and the nearby Indian River Lagoon. Environmental assessments mirrored concerns addressed elsewhere under the National Environmental Policy Act and led to remediation projects influenced by doctrines from the Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Community impacts included economic stimulus during wartime through jobs and contracts with firms from Tampa to Jacksonville, followed by post-closure redevelopment initiatives involving St. Lucie County Airport planning, industrial parks, and partnerships with local education institutions like Indian River State College.
Notable moments included squadron deployments during the Cuban Missile Crisis era readiness posture, search-and-rescue missions coordinated with the Civil Air Patrol following maritime incidents off the Atlantic Coast of the United States, and aircraft accidents investigated by entities such as the Naval Safety Center. The site also served as a locus for community commemorations tied to Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and for historical interest by organizations similar to the Naval Aviation Museum network. Post-closure, redevelopment disputes and preservation campaigns paralleled controversies at former bases like NAS Brunswick and attracted attention from federal and state historic preservation offices.
Category:Military installations in Florida Category:Airports established in 1942