| Description: |
Commissioned July 16, 1943 as an auxiliary to NAS Pensacola, Whiting Field took its name from Captain Kenneth Whiting, Naval Aviator #16 and WWI commander of aviators in combat. Created from squadrons at both NAAS Saufley Field and NAS Pensacola, the new aviators took up residence in tents. Constructed on 2,920 acres of agriculture land, Whiting’s complement grew to 3,300 officers and men and 1,431 students. Training took place using SNBs, SNJs, and PBYs. WAVES operated Link Trainers to simulate flight conditions while on the ground. Outlying fields to NAAS Whiting included Choctaw, Holley, Milton “T”, and Pensacola Airports.
German POWs from the Army facility at Camp Rucker, Alabama arrived at NAAS Whiting in July 1945 for duty in construction and soil erosion projects. The number of detainees at this site reached as high as 225 until released in March 1946.
Little evidence of the WWII site remain at NAS Whiting Field, home of Training Air Wing Five.
Public access is restricted to those persons having prior permission from the Base Public Affairs Office.
|
