Written by Tobias Wilson
This October, the US Navy will celebrate 250 years of service of defending the seas and our nation. The Navy has had a significant presence here in the First Coast area for almost a hundred years now.
In the late 1930s, the Navy began looking for a “southeastern naval air base.” Plans included berthing two carrier groups (eventually expanding to four), including three patrol squadrons (eventually accommodating six). Also included in the plans were facilities for two utility squadrons, a complete plane and engine overhaul center, carriers at the inner end of the entrance jetty, and a channel to allow tender berthing at piers at Camp Foster (present day NAS Jacksonville). Additionally, there was the development of an outlying patrol plane operating area in the lower “Banana River.”
As a result, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Cecil Field, and Naval Air Station Lee Field were commissioned and provided valuable wartime training. Specifically at NAS Jacksonville, over 10,000 pilots and 11,000 flight crew members earned their “wings of gold”, and on average, there were two take-offs/landings every 60 seconds during WWII.
As WWII ended, operations continued for many years, but over time, Naval operations began to draw down. In 1962, Naval Air Station Lee Field closed, and the land was sold. Today it is now part of the Reynolds Industrial Park. In 1993, Cecil Field was listed for Base Realignment and Closure and closed in 1999. Today it still houses some military units of the Army, the Florida National Guard, and the US Coast Guard. Additionally, it has been developed for commercial use with the airport still active for general aviation, air cargo, and others. NAS Jacksonville and NS Mayport, on the other hand, have continued to see growth throughout the years with additional squadrons and ships, respectively.
With such a rich Naval history in the Jacksonville area, it is no wonder that there are several memorials, static displays, and museums highlighting the Navy in the First Coast area.
The most well-known place is the USS Orleck Museum along the St. Johns River in Downtown Jacksonville. Personally, I have visited there, and the staff/volunteers do an exceptional job of presenting the USS Orleck history. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and be ready to navigate through steep ladder wells. On October 13, the museum is throwing an all-day party to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US Navy, including a discounted price of admission at $8.86. You can buy tickets at: https://jaxnavalmuseum.org/.
The Military Museum of North Florida is a combination of artifacts from all branches, with ship models, D-day exhibits, and much more. I visited there when I was stationed at NS Mayport (2014-2017). The volunteers do a wonderful job and are willing to answer any questions. One of my favorite exhibits was the 100-ton amphibious landing craft. Be sure to check their website or social media pages for hours at https://themilitarymuseumofnorthflorida.com/
At Cecil Field, there are multiple memorials and a museum in the works. Currently, there is the Heroes’ Walk among trees, honoring Naval Aviators who were POWs or killed in action from the local area. The Chapel of the High-Speed Pass is open, remembering all service members and their families who attended religious services during Cecil Field’s time of operations. Future plans include the National POW/MIA museum and the Cecil Field Legacy Plaza and Memorial. It is unknown when the museum construction will begin, but the Legacy Plaza is currently under construction. The plaza will include aircraft static displays and a memorial to the USS Saratoga and USS Forrestal. The link for the museum and memorials is https://powmiamemorial.org/
There are additional memorials and static displays throughout the area that are accessible to the public. There is the Veterans Memorial Wall in the shadows of EverBank Stadium, which happens to be the second largest Vietnam Memorial Wall in the nation. At least two Navy sailors had strong ties to the Jacksonville area. Along the Southbank Walk in Downtown Jacksonville is the Lone Sailor Statue, commemorating the rich relationship the Navy has had in the area. On Fleming Island at Neptune Park, there is a small memorial remembering the aviators who died in a 1951 training crash. There are a few Navy displays at the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum.
A few static displays in the area require base access. Heritage Park at NAS Jacksonville has many military aircraft with informational displays. If you have ability to access NAS, it is a wonderful place to take a stroll and learn. Over at NS Mayport, there are a few aircraft on display just past the main gate. But the most significant memorial is the USS Stark Memorial Park. The park pays tribute to the 37 sailors who lost their lives in May 1987, when two Iraqi missiles struck the frigate while on patrol in the Persian Gulf. Each year in May, the sailors aboard NS Mayport hold a remembrance ceremony.
Source: 1 – https://cnrse.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NS-Mayport/About/History/
Source: 2- https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/06/02/nas-jacksonville-amid-world-conflict-base-trained-generation-of-navy-pilots-for-battle/
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Tobias D. Wilson, with the artist’s name of Endofthehwy media, was inspired by the literally the end of the Maine state highway 24. This was one of my favorite spots to visit while stationed at now now-closed Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, between 2004 to 2007.
I have been married now to a wonderful lady for 18 years and together we have one child, a nine-year-old daughter. We settled in St. Johns County after I retired from the US Navy after 20 years. My specialty in the military was administration and logistics. I am currently a stay-at-home dad and a volunteer at my local church.
In 2013, during outpatient treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center for deployment-related health issues, I was encouraged to find a hobby that I loved. I choose photography to see life through the lens.
I had the great opportunity to volunteer for two years as a still photographer for Honor Flights of Columbus, an organization dedicated to getting veterans to the memorials in Washington DC. My photos contributed to the flight mission video published on the organization’s website and YouTube channel. As a photographer, there was such joy to see the veterans return home to a hero’s welcome and be able to capture it.
2 Responses
Lucky enough to serve with this awesome sailor in Ohio! His perspective on Life is tirelessly captured through the lens of the beauty he shares with all of us!
Thank you Jenn for the kind words!