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Naval Air Station Grosse Ile was a Naval air station located on the southern tip of Grosse Ile, Michigan. It operated from 1927 until late 1969, and is now a township airport. During WWII NASGI was one of the largest primary flight training stations for Naval aviators, and RAF pilots. Among the many thousands of Navy pilots who began their carreers at NASGI were former President George HW Bush, and game show host Bob Barker.^[1]

Early years

Naval Air Station Grosse Ile was commissioned 7 September 1929 as Naval Reserve Air Base Grosse Ile at Grosse Ile, Michigan.^[2]^[3] Though that was the official beginning, the air station traces its roots back to July 1925 when four US Naval reservists started an aviation unit near Detroit.^[4]^[5] At first they had no aircraft, and for over a year had to operate using only classroom instruction.^[6] The first aircraft assigned to the Detroit Naval Air Reserves was a single Consolidated NY-1, and would remain their sole aircraft for another year.^[7] The base at Grosse Ile began with a single tin hanger floated down the Detroit River from the unit's former home near downtown Detroit.^[8] By 1927 a large hanger had been built on Olds Bay at the southern tip of the island for use by Navy seaplanes.^[9] By 1935 the Navy had acquired all the property formerly owned by The Detroit Aircraft Corporation and a Curtiss-Wright flying school, and had occupied the former Curtiss-Wright hanger, which became the base's primary hanger.^[10]

ZMC-2

The airship ZMC-2, the Navy's only all-metal airship, was constructed on the site from 1925 to 1929 by the Detroit Aircraft Corporation.^[11]^[12] The hanger where the airship was constructed measured 120' high, 120' wide and 180' long,^[13] and remained the largest structure on the base until it was disassembled in 1960,^[14] and its roof reused in the construction of a bowling alley in nearby Trenton, Michigan.^[15]

1930s

During the depression money was hard to come by, but NRAB Grosse Ile, MI continued to grow, many of its reservist drilling without pay.^[16] By the end of 1930 the first Marine unit had been commissioned and based at Grosse Ile.^[17]

WWII

World War II would come only 30 years after the Navy had acquired its first aircraft and 14 years after naval aviation had come to Grosse Ile, it would face a war that would change the world and base forever. During the war over 5,000 pilots received training at Grosse Ile, mostly Navy cadets, along with over a thousand British RAF pilot trainees.^[18] With this rapid expansion the base gained the new designation of Naval Air Station.^[19] The primary aircraft stationed at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile during the war years were Consolidated PBY Catalina, Vought F4U Corsairs, Curtiss SB2C Helldivers, and Grumman TBM Avengers.^[20] Training was conducted using SNJ, and Boeing Stearman.^[21] Immediately following the end of WWII the base was equipped with several squadrons of the huge Martin AM Maulers, and for a short time six McDonnell FH-1 Phantoms, the only jets ever based on the island.^[22]

Postwar

After the War the base's runways were too short for use by the new generation of Navy jet fighters, and efforts to expand their lengths were met with disapproval by township citizens, so in the 1950s the base would see use as an ASW training base, which would continue until the base closed.^[23]^[24] During this time the base was principally supplied with Douglas Skyraiders, S2F anti-submarine warfare aircraft, as well as Marine R4Q and R5D cargo aircraft.^[25]^[26]

Nike site D-51

In 1956 the Army came to NASGI. A Nike site designated D-51 was built on the base, armed with three Nike Ajax SAM's to defend Detroit against Soviet strategic bombers. The Nike site was operated by U.S. Army personnel who were housed and fed alongside the the Navy crews.^[27] The Nike site closed in 1963, and was never upgraded to the nuclear-armed Nike Hercules. The Nike missile site is now a conservation area and bird sanctuary controlled by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.

Helicopters

The base would also receive a small number of helicopters in the late 1950s, beginning with the Piasecki H-25, also known as the HUP-1. Later the crews converted to the larger HSS-1 Seabat. With no Coast Guard station nearby, the helicopters were a highly useful addition to NASGI, and were soon earning their keep performing rescue operations for stranded boaters on Lake Erie and along the Detroit River. On one occasion the base's HUP-1's retrieved 17 fishermen stranded on an ice flow during a snowstorm.^[28]

1960s

The air station entered the 1960s on a 604-acre (2.44 km²) installation training over 2,000 Navy and Marine Reservists. The principal aircraft remained the Skyraider and S2F, the Marines converted to OV-10 Broncos.^[29]^[30] Many of the men stationed at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile would serve in Vietnam. The base closed in the fall of 1969, with its function and squadrons being moved to NAF Detroit, located north of the city of Detroit at what was then Selfridge Air Force Base.^[31]^[32]

Grosse Ile Township Airport

Immediately following its closing the base was transformed into the Grosse Ile Municipal Airport.^[33]^[34] There are still some signs of the old NAS there. The former Hangar 1 is now the Township Hall and offices. A museum is located in the township offices, and a memorial garden dedicated to the old base and the men and women that served there is located on the old flight ramp attached to hanger 1. The original Curtiss-Wright flying school hanger still remains, and is used to house civilian aircraft, and a dance studio. Even the original tin hanger floated down the Detroit River in 1927 still stands, though it's on land controlled by the EPA, and not accessible to the public. As of 2011 the airport was averaging 24,000 takeoffs and landings a year.

Aircraft

Notes

^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Morrow and Fritsche 1967, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.7
^ Outlaw 2004, p.7
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.7
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.
^ Melton 1970, p.
^ Outlaw 2004, p.

References

Melton USNR, Lt. Comdr. Dick. (1970). The Forty Year Hitch. Wyandotte, Michigan: Publishers Consulting Services.
Morrow, Walker C. (1967). The Metalclad Airship ZMC-2. Grosse Ile: W.C. Morrow. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Outlaw, Stanley (2004). A Pictorial History of Naval Air Station Grosse Ile, Michigan 1927 to 1969 Second edition. Charleston: University of South Carolina Press. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

42°05′57″N 83°09′41″W / 42.09917°N 83.16139°W / 42.09917; -83.16139

[1] Melton 1970, p.

[2] Melton 1970, p.

[3] Outlaw 2004, p.

[4] Melton 1970, p.

[5] Outlaw 2004, p.

[6] Melton 1970, p.

[7] Melton 1970, p.

[8] Melton 1970, p.

[9] Melton 1970, p.

[10] Melton 1970, p.

[11] Morrow and Fritsche 1967, p.

[12] Outlaw 2004, p.

[13] Outlaw 2004, p.7

[14] Outlaw 2004, p.7

[15] Melton 1970, p.

[16] Outlaw 2004, p.7

[17] Melton 1970, p.

[18] Outlaw 2004, p.

[19] Outlaw 2004, p.

[20] Melton 1970, p.

[21] Melton 1970, p.

[22] Melton 1970, p.

[23] Melton 1970, p.

[24] Outlaw 2004, p.

[25] Melton 1970, p.

[26] Outlaw 2004, p.

[27] Outlaw 2004, p.

[28] Melton 1970, p.

[29] Melton 1970, p.

[30] Outlaw 2004, p.

[31] Melton 1970, p.

[32] Outlaw 2004, p.

[33] Melton 1970, p.

[34] Outlaw 2004, p.

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@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ==Early years==
-'''Naval Air Station Grosse Ile''' was commissioned 7 September 1929 as Naval Reserve Air Base Grosse Ile at [[Grosse Ile, Michigan]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> Though that was the official beginning, the air station traces its roots back to July 1925 when four US Naval reservists started an aviation unit near [[Detroit]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> At first they had no aircraft, and for over a year had to operate using only classroom instruction.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> The first aircraft assigned to the Detroit Naval Air Reserves was a single [[Consolidated NY]]-1, and would remain their sole aircraft for another year.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> The base at Grosse Ile began with a single tin hanger floated down the [[Detroit River]] from the unit's former home near downtown Detroit.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> By 1927 a large hanger had been built on Olds Bay at the southern tip of the island for use by Navy seaplanes.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> By 1935 the Navy had acquired all the property formerly owned by The [[Detroit Aircraft Corporation]] and a Curtiss-Wright flying school, and had occupied the former Curtiss-Wright hanger, which became the base's primary hanger.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref>
+'''Naval Air Station Grosse Ile''' was commissioned 7 September 1929 as Naval Reserve Air Base Grosse Ile at [[Grosse Ile, Michigan]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref><ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref> Though that was the official beginning, the air station traces its roots back to July 1925 when four US Naval reservists started an aviation unit near [[Detroit]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref><ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref> At first they had no aircraft, and for over a year had to operate using only classroom instruction.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> The first aircraft assigned to the Detroit Naval Air Reserves was a single [[Consolidated NY]]-1, and would remain their sole aircraft for another year.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> The base at Grosse Ile began with a single tin hanger floated down the [[Detroit River]] from the unit's former home near downtown Detroit.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> By 1927 a large hanger had been built on Olds Bay at the southern tip of the island for use by Navy seaplanes.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> By 1935 the Navy had acquired all the property formerly owned by The [[Detroit Aircraft Corporation]] and a Curtiss-Wright flying school, and had occupied the former Curtiss-Wright hanger, which became the base's primary hanger.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref>
 ==ZMC-2==
-The airship [[ZMC-2]], the Navy's only all-metal airship, was constructed on the site from 1925 to 1929 by the [[Detroit Aircraft Corporation]].<ref>Morrow and Fritsche 1967, p.</ref> The hanger where the airship was constructed measured 140' high, 140' wide, and 160' long, and remained the largest structure on the base until it was disassembled in 1960, and its roof reused in the construction of a bowling alley in nearby [[Trenton, Michigan]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref>
+The airship [[ZMC-2]], the Navy's only all-metal airship, was constructed on the site from 1925 to 1929 by the [[Detroit Aircraft Corporation]].<ref>Morrow and Fritsche 1967, p.</ref><ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref> The hanger where the airship was constructed measured 120' high, 120' wide and 180' long,<ref>Outlaw 2004, p.7</ref> and remained the largest structure on the base until it was disassembled in 1960,<ref>Outlaw 2004, p.7</ref> and its roof reused in the construction of a bowling alley in nearby [[Trenton, Michigan]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref>
 ==1930s==
-During the depression money was hard to come by, but NRAB Grosse Ile, MI continued to grow, many of its reservist drilling without pay. By the end of 1930 the first Marine unit had been commissioned and based at Grosse Ile.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref>
+During the depression money was hard to come by, but NRAB Grosse Ile, MI continued to grow, many of its reservist drilling without pay.<ref>Outlaw 2004, p.7</ref> By the end of 1930 the first Marine unit had been commissioned and based at Grosse Ile.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref>
 ==WWII==
-[[World War II]] would come only 30 years after the Navy had acquired its first aircraft and 14 years after naval aviation had come to Grosse Ile, it would face a war that would change the world and base forever. During the war over 5,000 pilots received training at Grosse Ile, mostly Navy cadets, along with over a thousand British RAF pilot trainees. With this rapid expansion the base gained the new designation of Naval Air Station. The primary aircraft stationed at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile during the war years were [[Consolidated PBY Catalina]], Vought [[F4U]] Corsairs, Curtiss [[SB2C Helldiver]]s, and Grumman [[TBM Avenger]]s.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> Training was conducted using [[T-6 Texan|SNJ]], and [[Boeing Stearman]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> Immediately following the end of WWII the base was equipped with several squadrons of the huge [[Martin AM Mauler]]s, and for a short time six [[McDonnell FH-1 Phantom]]s, the only jets ever based on the island.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref>
+[[World War II]] would come only 30 years after the Navy had acquired its first aircraft and 14 years after naval aviation had come to Grosse Ile, it would face a war that would change the world and base forever. During the war over 5,000 pilots received training at Grosse Ile, mostly Navy cadets, along with over a thousand British RAF pilot trainees.<ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref> With this rapid expansion the base gained the new designation of Naval Air Station.<ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref> The primary aircraft stationed at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile during the war years were [[Consolidated PBY Catalina]], Vought [[F4U]] Corsairs, Curtiss [[SB2C Helldiver]]s, and Grumman [[TBM Avenger]]s.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> Training was conducted using [[T-6 Texan|SNJ]], and [[Boeing Stearman]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> Immediately following the end of WWII the base was equipped with several squadrons of the huge [[Martin AM Mauler]]s, and for a short time six [[McDonnell FH-1 Phantom]]s, the only jets ever based on the island.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref>
 ==Postwar==
-After the War the base's runways were too short for use by the new generation of Navy jet fighters, and efforts to expand their lengths were met with disapproval by township citizens, so in the 1950s the base would see use as an ASW training base, which would continue until the base closed.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> During this time the base was principally supplied with [[Douglas Skyraider]]s, [[S2F]] anti-submarine warfare aircraft, as well as Marine [[R4Q]] and [[R5D]] cargo aircraft.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref>
+After the War the base's runways were too short for use by the new generation of Navy jet fighters, and efforts to expand their lengths were met with disapproval by township citizens, so in the 1950s the base would see use as an ASW training base, which would continue until the base closed.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref><ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref> During this time the base was principally supplied with [[Douglas Skyraider]]s, [[S2F]] anti-submarine warfare aircraft, as well as Marine [[R4Q]] and [[R5D]] cargo aircraft.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref><ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref>
 ==Nike site D-51==
-In 1956 the Army came to NASGI. A Nike site designated D-51 was built on the base, armed with three [[Nike Ajax]] SAM's to defend Detroit against Soviet strategic bombers. The Nike site was operated by U.S. Army personnel who were housed and fed alongside the the Navy crews. The Nike site closed in 1963, and was never upgraded to the nuclear-armed Nike Hercules. The Nike missile site is now a conservation area and bird sanctuary controlled by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.
+In 1956 the Army came to NASGI. A Nike site designated D-51 was built on the base, armed with three [[Nike Ajax]] SAM's to defend Detroit against Soviet strategic bombers. The Nike site was operated by U.S. Army personnel who were housed and fed alongside the the Navy crews.<ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref> The Nike site closed in 1963, and was never upgraded to the nuclear-armed Nike Hercules. The Nike missile site is now a conservation area and bird sanctuary controlled by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.
 ==Helicopters==
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 ==1960s==
-The air station entered the 1960s on a {{convert|604|acre|km2|adj=on}} installation training over 2,000 Navy and Marine Reservists. The principal aircraft remained the Skyraider and S2F, the Marines converted to [[OV-10 Bronco]]s.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> Many of the men stationed at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile would serve in Vietnam. The base closed in the fall of 1969, with its function and squadrons being moved to NAF Detroit, located north of the city of Detroit at what was then [[Selfridge Air Force Base]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref>
+The air station entered the 1960s on a {{convert|604|acre|km2|adj=on}} installation training over 2,000 Navy and Marine Reservists. The principal aircraft remained the Skyraider and S2F, the Marines converted to [[OV-10 Bronco]]s.<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref><ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref> Many of the men stationed at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile would serve in Vietnam. The base closed in the fall of 1969, with its function and squadrons being moved to NAF Detroit, located north of the city of Detroit at what was then [[Selfridge Air Force Base]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref><ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref>
 ==Grosse Ile Township Airport==
-Immediately following its closing the base was transformed into the [[Grosse Ile Municipal Airport]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref> There are still some signs of the old NAS there. The former Hangar 1 is now the Township Hall and offices. A museum is located in the township offices, and a memorial garden dedicated to the old base and the men and women that served there is located on the old flight ramp attached to hanger 1. The original Curtiss-Wright flying school hanger still remains, and is used to house civilian aircraft, and a dance studio. Even the original tin hanger floated down the Detroit River in 1927 still stands, though it's on land controlled by the [[EPA]], and not accessible to the public. As of 2011 the airport was averaging 24,000 takeoffs and landings a year.
+Immediately following its closing the base was transformed into the [[Grosse Ile Municipal Airport]].<ref>Melton 1970, p. </ref><ref>Outlaw 2004, p.</ref> There are still some signs of the old NAS there. The former Hangar 1 is now the Township Hall and offices. A museum is located in the township offices, and a memorial garden dedicated to the old base and the men and women that served there is located on the old flight ramp attached to hanger 1. The original Curtiss-Wright flying school hanger still remains, and is used to house civilian aircraft, and a dance studio. Even the original tin hanger floated down the Detroit River in 1927 still stands, though it's on land controlled by the [[EPA]], and not accessible to the public. As of 2011 the airport was averaging 24,000 takeoffs and landings a year.
 ==Aircraft==
@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 * {{cite book|last=Melton USNR|first=Lt. Comdr. Dick. |title=The Forty Year Hitch|location=Wyandotte, Michigan|publisher=Publishers Consulting Services|year=1970}}
 * {{cite book| last=Morrow |first=Walker C. |coauthors=Carl B. Fritsche |title=The Metalclad Airship ZMC-2 |publisher=W.C. Morrow |location=Grosse Ile |year=1967 }}
+* {{cite book| last=Outlaw |first=Stanley |coauthors= Hal Neubauer, Marcia Neubauer, and Dwanda Outlaw and |title=A Pictorial History of Naval Air Station Grosse Ile, Michigan 1927 to 1969 Second edition |publisher=University of South Carolina Press |location=Charleston |year=2004 }}
 ==External links==