Naval Air Station Oceana celebrates its
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It’s hard to imagine this began with 328 acres of swamp land.� – Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic
70th Anniversary celebrates history, heritage of Oceana By Cathy Heimer Jet Observer
In 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, the Pentagon was completed, ďŹ rst class stamps were three cents, the U.S. was in the middle of World War II, future rock star Mick Jagger was born, and on Aug. 17 of that year, Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Oceana was commissioned to support the ight training of naval aviators heading off to war. No one could have imagined that 70 years later, local and national politicians, senior Navy leadership and others who played an important role in the base’s history would gather at a hangar to share stories of Oceana’s past, present and future. During the anniversary celebration on Aug. 2, sponsored by the Navy League of Hampton Roads, Capt. Bob Geis, the 41st Oceana commanding ofďŹ cer, paid special recognition to a large contingent of the Potter family whose land became part of the original base. Oceana was originally carved out from 328.95 acres known as “Potter’s Farm,â€? and owned by John W. and Dean S. Potter, whose family remains in Virginia Beach today. As Geis thanked the family for their sacriďŹ ce, he noted they “became the ultimate patriots when they gave up their land, their family farm for the beneďŹ t of their country.â€? The land was obtained for $35,000, most of which was deposited on Dec. 18, 1940 with a “declaration of taking,â€? known today as eminent domain. With the U.S. on the edge of entering World War II and with just NAS Norfolk and two grassy airstrips for ight training, Oceana was needed to serve as an auxiliary landing ďŹ eld on which to train naval aviators. Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic was among
several guest speakers. “It’s hard to imagine this began with 328 acres of swamp land. I can only imagine how Lt. Jesse Fairley must have felt when he became the ďŹ rst ofďŹ cer-in-charge of NAAS Oceana,â€? he said. “I’m sure Lt. Fairley thought he was in charge of the mightiest naval aviation force in the world.â€? The admiral noted that the original number of ofďŹ cers and enlisted Sailors on Oceana when it was commissioned was half the number at of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 today, a squadron Shoemaker previously commanded. As Shoemaker discussed Oceana’s legacy of service, he noted that “as long as we have aircraft carriers, we will need bases like Oceana.â€? Shoemaker praised community leaders Virginia Beach Mayor William Sessoms and City Manager Jim Spore for their support of the base. That praise was echoed by Geis. “The city has been fully committed to a relationship built on trust and conďŹ dence and I know if they have a question that could potentially affect the Navy, the dialogue that will enable a forward-looking decision will take place,â€? said Geis as he introduced the mayor. The mayor drew loud applause when he thanked the base for inviting him to be part of the celebration of the “greatest naval air station in the world – NAS Oceana.â€? Sessoms noted how in the early years of Oceana, activities on-base and off were very separate, something that he said has changed for the better. Unless someone is in uniform, it’s very hard to distinguish them from other citizens in Virginia Beach, said Sessoms. “In my mind, nothing illustrates this oneness than our combined actions during the Good Friday jet crash,â€? said the mayor, referring to the April 6, 2012 mishap in which an
Harry Gerwien | Military Newspapers of Virginia Seventy years of history was on display for Oceana’s history celebration, as NAS Oceana Commanding OfďŹ cer Capt. Bob Geis addressed the audience of state and local politicians, senior Navy leadership, former commanding ofďŹ cers and others who played an important role in the base’s history. Among the many displays in hangar 145 was the A-6 Intruder (foreground).
F/A-18 from VFA-106 crashed into the Mayfair Mews Apartment Complex near Oceana. Navy and Virginia Beach emergency personnel worked together at the scene and long afterwards. “Our history and our daily lives are increasingly intertwined and interwoven,â€? said Sessoms, adding he was conďŹ dent the city and the base together could meet the challenges that lay ahead in the next 70 years. Rear Adm. Dixon R. Smith, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic also praised the partnership between Oceana and surrounding cities. “I’m convinced that our success may lay in continuing those partnerships and relationships we enjoy,â€? he said. The admiral pointed out 70 years ago, “Issues such as encroachment were non-existent. Seventy years ago, we would have never even thought of training alongside our counterparts ‌ Strong partnerships will continue to deďŹ ne the installation ‌ We will continue to work together to build upon our partnerships.â€? U.S. Congressman Scott Rigell also participated in the ceremony. “It’s a great joy and privilege to celebrate 70 years in the company of patriots,â€? he said before providing the invocation. Although never stationed at Oceana, Navy League of Hampton Roads President Jon Gallinetti, a retired Marine Corps major general and aviator, shared his memories of landing at Oceana and visiting the OfďŹ cers’ Club on Friday night. Gallinetti said the Navy League of Hampton Roads was proud to be able to
Our history and our daily lives are increasingly intertwined and interwoven.�
sponsor the anniversary celebration. Among the guests was Melba Fairley Carter, just 10 years old when her father became the ďŹ rst commanding ofďŹ cer of NAAS Oceana. The family lived in the Norview section of Norfolk and she still remembers how her mother used to pack an emergency kit for the long drive to the base. At that time, Carter explained there wasn’t much along the two-lane road known as Virginia Beach Blvd., so if the vehicle broke down, her mother knew she could be stranded. Carter was responsible for ironing all of her father’s white uniforms. “They had to be creased just so. It was all spit and polish back then,â€? she laughed. She said her father who retired as a commander in 1955, and died in 2006 at the age of 98, would have been amazed at what Oceana looks like today. Former NAS Oceana commanding ofďŹ cer retired Capt. Dexter Rumsey was also recognized during the celebration. Rumsey, whose 96th birthday was Aug. 4, commanded the air station from July of 1964 to November of 1966. Rumsey recalled how his ďŹ rst order of business was to get more money to run Oceana. Only having been allotted $300,000, Rumsey found out NAS Jacksonville had received $3 million. After a lot of work, he was successful in getting that $3 million and believes “that’s when the air station really took off.â€?
Âť see 70 YEARS | C2
It’s a great joy and privilege to celebrate 70 years in the company of patriots.�
- Virginia Beach Mayor William Sessoms (below)
- U.S. Congressman Scott Rigell (below)
Photos by Harry Gerwien | Military Newspapers of Virginia Local author Amy Waters Yarsinske signs copies of her book “Mud Flats to Master Jet Base: Fifty Years at NAS Oceana� for those attending the 70th Anniversary celebration. Much of the information for this section was obtained from her book and NAS Oceana Public Affairs archives.
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