Naval Air Base San Pedro
In 1942, NAB San Pedro, now NAS Terminal Island, was designated for equipping and performing flight-tests on the large number of military aircraft fabricated at nearby plants in Southern California: Lockheed, Douglas Aircraft Company and & Vultee Aircraft. To facilitate delivery of these aircraft, the U.S. Navy established the Naval Air Ferry Command (NAFC) (VRF-3) in 1943. During the war the base was commander was Captain Kneflar "Socko" McGinnis. The base was a 24/7 operation, testing and shipping out planes at a rate of approximately 200 a month.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Naval_Air_Station%2C_San_Pedro%2C_Shipboard_ceremony_-_NARA_-_295533.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Naval_Air_Station%2C_San_Pedro%2C_Shipboard_ceremony_-_NARA_-_295533.tif.jpg)
Due to a shortage to servicemen during the war, a unit of WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) was stationed at the base. The 200 strong WAVES served as mechanics, air traffic controllers, radio operators, trainers and air navigators.
After the war the base was closed in 1947 and turned over to the Bureau of Yards and Docks. The nearby Naval Air Base Long Beach continued to use the air field until 1997 at which time the base was abandoned; there is no trace of the base today.
See also
- California during World War II
- Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
- Naval Base San Pedro
- San Pedro Submarine Base