Quonset Point Naval Air Station collection (rppc_qpnas)

Historical note

The Quonset Point Naval Air Station collection details the rich history of the naval air base from its inception as training and shipping facility during World War II, to its post-war role as a major site for overhauling and repairing aircraft, harboring anti-submarine aircrafts, and becoming the off-season home for the Navy's Antarctic Development Squadron Six. These duties, in addition to many other responsibilities, were imperative for the success of United States naval and air operations. Furthermore, the Quonset Point Naval Air Station served as a stimulus for Rhode Island's employment, internal development, and overall economy.

Quonset Point, seeped in naval history dating back to the American Revolution, became the primary choice for an East Coast naval base in 1938. The United States Congress had commissioned the Naval Board, under Rear Admiral Hepburn, to scout out an area for a new air and naval station on June 7, 1938. The geographic protection afforded by Narragansett Bay, coupled with accessibility to the Atlantic Ocean, made Quonset Point an attractive option. On July 16, 1940, Congress approved $24,204,000 for the construction of the base. After necessary changes were made to the landscape, the construction was finished two years ahead of schedule in 1941.

Under the Lend-Lease Act, the base was formally commissioned as a United States naval and air station on July 12, 1941. The base, which included the Naval Construction Training Center at the Davisville Construction Battalion Center, consisted of one-thousand, seven-hundred and forty-eight acres, making it the largest naval station in Rhode Island.

During World War II, Quonset Point Naval Air Station trained and shipped countless land-based and carrier-based anti-submarine squadrons, playing a crucial role in fighting U-boats. The base was also home to aviation squadrons, such as the land-based patrol squadron P-2 Neptune and carrier-based antisubmarine and airborne early warning squadrons the S-2 Tracker, E-1 Tracer, and A-1 Skyraider. The deep water ports at the station also docked several ESSEX class air craft carriers.

In addition, Quonset Point was at the forefront of airborne radar and electronic system research and development. Due to the advancements made at Quonset Point, British and Canadian naval air pilots were trained at the facility, and even President Richard M. Nixon underwent basic training here in 1942. The base also became famous for the invention and production of the Quonset hut, a lightweight and inexpensive standardized steel building, which militaries around the world used for barracks, hospitals, kitchens, warehouses and latrines.

After the war, Quonset Point Naval Air Station pushed forward in its anti-submarine work against the Soviets in the North Atlantic. The Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) was also established and served as a major overhaul and repair center for aircraft. Additionally, from 1956 until 1973, Quonset Point acted as the base for VX and VXE-6 squadrons, which was part of the Navy's Operation Deep Freeze, an international scientific exploration of Antarctica. Throughout the 1960s, both Quonset Point and Davisville housed over a hundred capital ships and helicopters, making the base an indispensable asset to naval operations.

Quonset Point Naval Station also contributed greatly to the advancement of Rhode Island. In 1944, the base reached a peak military and civilian employment of one-hundred and sixty-two thousand. Although this number was reduced after the war, Quonset Point and the Davisville Construction Battalion Center continued to provide numerous jobs for Rhode Island citizens. This greatly helped the local economy by elevating employment and earning the area federal aid for internal improvements, particularly in the field of education. Also, military and civilian personnel were active participants on and off the base, maintaining a visible presence in Rhode Island.

After thirty-years of service to the United States Navy, Quonset Point Naval Air Station finally closed in 1973. Due to military budget cuts and a general trend to close bases at the end of the Vietnam War, President Nixon officially ordered the station to decommission on June 28, 1974. Today, a small military presence remains with the Quonset Point National Guard Station. The Quonset State Airport, a public general aviation airport, also continues to serve as a base for Air and Army National Guard flying activities. The area now primarily encompasses Quonset Business Park, an important hub for commerce and industry within the north-east region.

Chronology