Site History: The Association of Naval Aviation

The Association of Naval Aviation, Patriot Squadron is the custodian of the Shea Field Memorial Grove at the Base. The Grove, dedicated on Veteran's Day in 1997, was created to remember Commander Jack Shea, the two Naval Air Stations dedicated to his memory; and dedicated men who gave so much to their country and earned the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The Grove, a living history classroom, consists of 32 trees dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients from Norfolk and Plymouth counties.

In 1940 Commander John J. Shea was ordered to report to the aircraft carrier USS Wasp as Assistant Air Operations Officer. The Wasp was sunk on Sept. 15, 1942 off the Soloman Islands. Commander Shea was reported missing in action. He was last seen "fighting the fire on the flight deck, displaying great courage and devotion to duty, disregarding the danger of exploding ammunition and debris filling the air and rapidly spreading the fire."

The ANA welcomes donations of military memorabilia and artifacts, and is seeking individual and corporate donations. Anyone can join the Association for a $15 annual membership fee. For information, Call Walter O’Connell: (781) 335-0553 or email to wocon24376@aol.com.

Original entrance to the Air Station from White Street opened in 1942. The Navy relocated the main gate to Route 18 in 1987.	The colossal structure of Hangar 1 was 956 feet wide, 191 feet high and covered more than eight acres of land. Construction was completed in November 1942. The Hangar was capable of holding up to six blimps and stood as one of the world's largest hangars.
In the Summer of 1944, six blimps flew out of South Weymouth and completed the first crossing of the Atlantic. These airships became the first "Blimp Barrier" in the Mediterranean, flying anti-submarine patrols around the Straits of Gibralter.	ASG radar allowed the blimps to search for enemy submarines throughout the night and maintain position in the night skies with the convoys that they were protecting. The "Airship Patrol Squadron Eleven was established in 1942.
In 1961 the Navy celebrated 50 years of Naval Aviation. In that Autumn, the last operating blimp squadron was disestablished. Navy blimps over New England became a thin of the past. The last vestige of the blimp era at NAS South Weymouth disappeared in 1967 with the demolition of the huge blimp hangar, a landmark at the station since WWII.	Memorial Jet