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HISTORY OF NAS LAKEHURST

FROM 1960 YEARBOOK

The history of Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, is unique in the various capacities in which it has served our nation.

Prior to 1916, the present location of the Naval Air Station was used as an ammunition proving ground for the Imperial Russian Government.  Later, but still prior to WW1, the Eddystone Chemical Company leased the area for an experimental firing range.  Many types of chemical shells were tested and perfected here.  Eventually, the U.S. Army bought the territory, added more acreage, and named it Camp Kendrick.

After WW2, it was purchased by the Navy and commissioned as a lighter-than-air station in 1921.  This designation was changed in 1955 to an unrestricted Naval Air Station.

NAS Lakehurst covers an area of approximately 11¼ square miles, more than 7,300 acres, including over ten million square feet of paved landing area (as of 1960).  This is the oldest, largest, and presently the only lighter-than-air station in the country.

The original hangar—Hangar One—was completed in 1921.  The USS SHENANDOAH (ZR-1), the first rigid airship constructed in the United States, was assembled and erected in this hangar.  The airship parts were manufactured at the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia.  Hangar One is the third largest hangar in the world, measuring 807 feet long, 200 feet high and 262 feet wide.

In January of 1923 the Marine Barracks Command  was established to provide a security force for the Naval Air Station.  That same year a permanent structure was built to house and mess the personnel serving on board.  This is the large, brick, E-shaped building which faces the airship landing mat.  It now houses the mess hall, small stores, NAS enlisted barracks, hobby shop, Master-at-Arms Office, gymnasium, and the Marine Barracks.

The use of this station and its facilities as the U.S. terminal for trans-oceanic operations of the German airships GRAF ZEPPLIN and HINDENBURG made Lakehurst famous as an international airport.  It was at Lakehurst on Thursday evening, May 6, 1937, that the hydrogen-filled HINDENBURG was destroyed by fire while landing.  Of the 97 persons on board, 62 survived.

During WW2 considerable expansion took place on the NAS.  The Chief of Naval Airship Training and Experimentation’s Office was established, and the station became the headquarters of the Commander Fleet Airships, Atlantic.  All Atlantic, South American and European Squadrons were commissioned and fitted out at Lakehurst under the Fleet Airship Commander.  In addition, all airships destined for those squadrons were accepted for the Navy, and large-scale training of pilots, crewmen and maintenance personnel was expedited.

Since the early days, Lakehurst has seen many types of airships on board.  There were the “J” ships of the immediate post World War era (210,000 cubic feet capacity); two “TC” ships inherited from the U.S. Army of more modern design and larger size; the “ZMC-2” experimental metal-clad ship to study feasibility of using thin metal for the envelope, both for the gas container and external cover; the “L” ships similar to the familiar Goodyear blimps, which were the first modern training ships; the “G-1” larger trainer of the Goodyear Defender size, useful for group instruction; and the 320,000 cubic foot “K-1” which had been built for experiments in the use of fuel gas.  The “K-2” prototype of 416,000 cubic feet patrol ships ordered later, represented a real advance in airship design, and was the forerunner of the familiar K-ships of WW2.  August 30 1962, last flight of Navy airship made at NAS Lakehurst, NJ.