Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Naval Air Station Richmond
WWII L.T.A. Facility
Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, May 3, 2014
1. Naval Air Station Richmond Marker
Inscription.
Naval Air Station Richmond. world war two L.T.A. Facility. At this site, on 15 September 1942, the United States Navy established a 2,000 acre (810 hectare) lighter-than-air facility. The Navy constructed 3 huge hangers, each 17 stories (175 feet/54 meters) high, 297 feet (110.5 meters) wide, and 1,088 feet (404.8 meters) in length. Among the largest wooden structures in the world, each covered about 7 acres (2.8 hectares). This base was home to Fleet Airship Wing 2 and Airship Patrol Squadron ZP-21, consisting of 25 “K” class blimps. Airships from NAS Richmond searched for German submarines over the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Other station activities included training homing pigeons, helium equipment operators, and night torpedo bomber crews. Exactly 3 years to the date of the commissioning of NAS Richmond, a severe hurricane and resulting fire destroyed all 3 hangers containing 368 military and civilian aircraft, 100 automobiles and 25 airships. Winds of 170 mph/272 kmh to 196 mph/309 kmh were recorded at nearby Homestead Air Base. The facility was never rebuilt. In this area of the base you can see the remaining concrete supports for the 51 wooden truss arches of hanger number 1 and the sole remaining massive main door support.
At this site, on 15 September 1942, the United States Navy established a 2,000 acre (810 hectare) lighter-than-air facility. The Navy constructed 3 huge hangers, each 17 stories (175 feet/54 meters) high, 297 feet (110.5 meters) wide, and 1,088 feet (404.8 meters) in length. Among the largest wooden structures in the world, each covered about 7 acres (2.8 hectares). This base was home to Fleet Airship Wing 2 and Airship Patrol Squadron ZP-21, consisting of 25 “K” class blimps. Airships from NAS Richmond searched for German submarines over the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Other station activities included training homing pigeons, helium equipment operators, and night torpedo bomber crews. Exactly 3 years to the date of the commissioning of NAS Richmond, a severe hurricane and resulting fire destroyed all 3 hangers containing 368 military and civilian aircraft, 100 automobiles and 25 airships. Winds of 170 mph/272 kmh to 196 mph/309 kmh were recorded at nearby Homestead Air Base. The facility was never rebuilt. In this area of the base you can see the remaining concrete supports for the 51 wooden truss arches of hanger number 1 and the sole remaining massive main door support.
Erected by The Historical Association of Southern Florida and Goldcoast Railroad
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Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is September 15, 1942.
Location. 25° 37.011′ N, 80° 24.01′ W. Marker is in Miami, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. Marker can be reached from SW 124th Avenue, one mile south of SW 152nd Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located near the Gold Coast Railroad Museum gift shop. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12450 SW 152 Street, Miami FL 33177, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. Blimps inside hanger at NAS Richmond, ca. 1944.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2017. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. This page has been viewed 755 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 4, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
