Melbourne in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Naval Air Station Melbourne

Photographed By Jamie Cox, February 8, 2012

1. Naval Air Station Melbourne Marker

Inscription. This site was the 129-building Naval Air Station constructed at the Melbourne Municipal Airport at the beginning of World War II. It was commissioned as Operational Training Unit No. 2 on October 20, 1942 and closed on February 15, 1946. The Station was used for training newly commissioned Navy and Marine pilots. There were over 2,200 pilots who trained in Grumman F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat fighter planes. Of the pilots trained there, 63 died in aerial accidents and two enlisted men died in ground-related accidents. The location served more than 310 officers and 1,355 enlisted personnel. Today the area is operated by the City of Melbourne Airport Authority. Florida Heritage Landmark

Erected 2001 by Sponsored by the Melbourne Airport Authority Property Manager and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-441.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1866.

Location. 28° 5.495′ N, 80° 37.83′ W. Marker is in Melbourne, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker is at the intersection of Eddie Allan Road and Playhouse Road, on the left when traveling south on Eddie Allan Road. The marker is located south of Melbourne Airport, inside Tropical Haven. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Melbourne FL 32901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Land Yacht Port-O-Call (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lincoln Hotel (approx. 0.9 miles away); Holy Trinity (approx. 0.9 miles away); United States Army (approx. 1.1 miles away); United States Marine Corps (approx. 1.1 miles away); United States Navy (approx. 1.1 miles away); United States Air Force (approx. 1.1 miles away); United States Coast Guard (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melbourne.

Regarding Naval Air Station Melbourne. This was the training base for all WW II Navy fighter pilots who were training for Wildcat or Hellcat fighters. NAS Melbourne also housed around 250 German prisoners of war. Just south of the marker is the Tropical Haven Community Center, which was the recreation hall for Naval Air Station Melbourne. It is the last original building still standing from the base.

Additional keywords. NAS

Looking North Along Eddie Allan Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jamie Cox, February 8, 2012

2. Looking North Along Eddie Allan Road

The marker is on the right of the sidewalk in a small park.

Tropical Haven Community Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jamie Cox, March 18, 2005

3. Tropical Haven Community Center

The last remaining building from NAS Melbourne at 1205 Eddie Allan Road was the base rec hall. This building is about 50 yards south of the marker.

F4F Wildcat Fighter image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jamie Cox, March 13, 2005

4. F4F Wildcat Fighter

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2012, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,360 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 8, 2012, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.