Abandoned Naval Air Station | New England History
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- Опубліковано 8 тра 2021
- These are some of the remains of a once sprawling naval air station, constructed on the eve of WWII and abandoned in 1997. It served a critical role during WWII as part of America’s defense network, providing support for anti-submarine blimp operations, and operated during the postwar era primarily as a Navy and Marine Air Reserve training base.
Filmed/Edited by Jason Allard
Additional Footage by Dave Lawlor | rb.gy/sixwzy
Movie Set Footage by Al the Great | rb.gy/xs7i4e
My website: www.UncomSenseMedia.com
Follow me on Instagram: @Uncomsense
Drone: DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo
Main Camera: DJI Osmo Pocket w/ Freewell lens attachments
Secondary Camera: Sony A7S III w/ Sigma 24-70mm
Editing: Final Cut Pro X w/ custom plugins
Music By:
Elevated Productions | rb.gy/768e90
WaveyyBeats | rb.gy/pcsrlk
DWNLD | rb.gy/v2by3u
Knox | rb.gy/ejkt9s
Unknown Instrumentalz | rb.gy/wopy7g
Malloy | rb.gy/lldbrz
Additional photos by:
Digital Commonwealth - Massachusetts
US Navy Archives
Archives at Boston Public Library
Marc J. Frattasio
Order Marc J. Frattasio’s Book, “NAS South Weymouth: The Defender Of Freedom” | rb.gy/uadf52
Just outside of Boston, Naval Air Station South Weymouth began construction in September 1941, only 3 months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Once the United States entered the war, there was a massive effort to secure the coasts. This site was established March 1st 1942 primarily as a blimp base to monitor the coastline for nazi submarines, while also serving other military functions.
It was one of 17 wartime blimp bases in the United States. There was some overlaps in the patrols, but these guys had every bit of America’s coastline covered. Blimps are often referred to as lighter-than-air craft, or LTAs, and were perfect for patrolling because these airships could fly lower with greater safety and much more slowly and quietly than conventional airplanes could.
The K-type blimps were 251 feet long and were powered by two 425-hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp aircraft engines. They carried a crew of nine or 10 men and were armed with one .50-caliber M2 Browning machine gun and up to four 350-pound Mark 47 depth charges. They could reach a maximum speed of 78 mph and had a range of 2,025 miles. The blimps’ mission was to locate enemy submarines and then call for help; their limited armament was considered too light to directly engage a U-boat.
From 1954 to 1961 the base hosted the Naval Air Development Unit which provided blimps and other types of aircraft, like the Douglas F3D Skyknight, to flight test highly classified electronic equipment developed by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory and other defense contractors such as Raytheon. An important research project supported by NADU was the SAGE air defense system, which was supposed to use radar-equipped blimps to throw a defensive barrier around the country to protect against air attack. For that reason, South Weymouth was one of the last places in the country where the Navy operated blimps. But in 1961, NADU was officially demobilized.
For the next 30 years NAS South Weymouth focused on providing training for members of the Navy and Marine Corps reserve. This base saw tens of thousands of reservists and hosted numerous airshows. But in 1995, The Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) directed this station be closed. All personnel and equipment would be transferred to the nearby active Brunswick base, since it was reportedly better suited for operations. So, on September 30th, 1996 the airfield was closed, and on September 30th 1997 the base itself was vacated by the Navy.
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My first duty station. I crewed UH-1E and N models before going into the Army rotary winged flight training. My squadron, HML-771 was decommissioned I think in the late 90s. Made some good friends and enjoyed serving in the Marine Corps. Some of the guys I remember, were Richard Oldham, Tom Zion, Ricky Rice, Bruce Wise.
I was an air traffic controller here from 1992-1996. Very sad to see the state of the control towers, airfield and the base as a whole. This Naval Air Station had a very interesting history. I'm glad to see there is a memorial and museum. Thank you so much for the video.
I was ATC there from 94-96
@@jasonperkins286 Dude!!! This is Tammy. Hope you've been good!
@@TK-je2gq you still FAA?
ua-cam.com/video/siwpn14IE7E/v-deo.html
What you are doing with short documentaries like this one is more important than you know. Your work preserves priceless historical knowledge which would otherwise be left to disintegrate by our depraved school system. The grafitti brings to mind just how ignorant young people are these days. Keep doing what you do. Your videos have important historical value and are of professional caliber.
finally an urban that actually gives details on what happened to the place he's exploring. I'm so tire of having to spend hours trying to figure out about the location of the video that I'm watching. Thank you!
it’s already out of date, the only true remains are the tower and a support building as everything else is gone with the runways only still existing due to being used as roads for the construction vehicles...
I served here in the early 1990s, when the Marine Air wing was still active there too. Whey they left, I got out. Thanks for bringing back some good memories!
MALS 49 85-92
I used to love going to the air shows as a kid in the early 90's at South Weymouth Naval Air Station! Thanks for your service
Thank you for your Service 🇺🇸❤🇺🇸❤
I came to Southweymouth with a crew of sailors from NAS Oceana to recover and repair a F-14B Tomcat that crashed after stopping for fuel on a mission. The people on the base were helpful and friendly. I remember a picture of our airplane on the front page of the local paper. I remember a sign I saw “last person out turn off the lights”
The Skipper was pretty unhappy that yellow tee shirts with a drawing of Massachusetts and a finger on the light switch (placed where the station was) had been dispersed so quickly. "Will the last person leaving NAS South Weymouth please turn out the lights".
When I was in junior high, we lived in a town in Iowa that had an old train depot that was almost totally unknown because of the overgrowth around it. I was so overwhelmed each time I explored inside because of things left behind and it was as though no one had been back since it was abandoned.
Places like the airfield have so many silent stories to be told, only to have people with nothing better to do than to go around vandalizing property that isn't theirs. What a shame.
Agreed. These relics of our past deserve to be remembered.
Where is this train station in iowa?!?!
@@bobgatti3854 The train station was in Deep River, Iowa. Keep in mind, this was back in 1977. The station was very dilapidated even back then and may be totally gone by now. Even back then, the tracks had been long removed, but what I clearly remember was a bail of cotton inside that was home to many mice. A couple friends of mine and I kind of made the place our secret fort. Oh, the memories!
I lived on Gaslight Drive in South Weymouth (right next to this naval station) from 1987 to 1990. My wife and I enjoyed going this naval station each year when they welcomed the public in to see the base. Great memories.
But did you really live on gaslight? I think you lived two over.
@@Lucifer-qt9gh My afdress was 3X-X Gaslight Drive.
@@1999Shortstuff gaslight drive isn't even real is it?
Nah jk I grew up in braintree.
@@BigMacOrange My address was Gaslight Drive. It is listed on Google.
Saw my first airshow at South Weymouth in 1965. Has lead to a lifelong love of aircraft. My husband was stationed there in the 70's. Thank you.
My paternal grandfather worked there during WWII. He worked for a then-classified project called Radar. It's really cool that you made this video!
Was one of the last 4 Navy personnel to be stationed at Weymouth. Myself and three others built the memorial with the Skyhawk that's still there. My first duty station out of Basic and AD A school and worked in the AIMD. Fun fact. I put a 1997 quarter in the concrete at the base of the airplane pedestal right after we poured it. There's also a dollar bill in the concrete at the base of the small pedestal with the plaque on it. Used to fly RC planes on the huge open concrete area after the runways were officially closed. Lots of good times there and a decom crew certificate in my love me book.
As a kid, I have been there to see the Blue Angles and I remember the Blimps flying over our house real low.
I was born in South Braintree in 1951. As a little kid, I can remember we would drive by & I was terrified of the huge hanger & would hide under a blanket as we drove by. It was more than once I'm sure. Funny how this brought back those memories. Thank you & I subbed.
Where exactly is this?
@@wildlifearoundme_18 South Weymouth, Massachusetts
@@AppaloosaDreams appreciate it
What a place for drag racing.
Indeed it is people do all the time . Cops know it a hot spot that's the only negative.
lol cops just posted more signs the other week😂
my dad was LTA flight engineer on blimps during world war 2, he was stationed in Newfoundland, Massachusetts, Lakehurst NJ, and said the blimp he was on sank a German submarine and was shot down, latter on he flew Catalina aircraft, and P-2's for the navy. 37 years and 3 wars....
Another great video! I lived next door to the Air Base for 13 years and witnessed the beginning of the redevelopment and its very stalled, staggered, delayed, and underwhelming transition. Before Southfield/Union Point really started to get underway, I enjoyed driving through the campus and seeing what was.
I grew up 15 minutes from this base - Remember going to Air Shows in the mid 90's.
I grew up down the street from one of the entrances to the Naval Base. I went to school with some of the kids whose parents worked on the base, who were super intelligently nicknamed “base kids.” I went to camp there; we met in the gymnasium located on the base. I didn’t know most of the information in this video, and found it so interesting! I was wondering why “base kids” were in my class in the third grade, but all moved after that. This video was awesome and informative!
Funny, I was born into a house on the corner of White (the original entrance) and Union. We were probably neighbors :) We left in '74
@@smeuse I lived on the corner of Reed Ave and Union. Spent a lot of time at the Armstrong's house on White St. Went to Union st school. Also left in '74. Small world.
I was a Naval Reservist stationed there from 1981-1987. I helped with repairs on the P-3s assigned to the tenant Patrol Squadron (VP-92). So different looking now. I believe it was originally called Shea Field.
This place had a private runway there for civilian too. I used to fly out of there with my father in the 70s. It was really cool to see the navy planes there
My brother took me there to get a haircut once... I looked like a recruit when they were done with me... it was fun times...
I grew up down the road and we would be able see the Blue Angels perform from our yard.
We live in the home of the Blues😁😁😁
Not just a look at a defunct place, but a full history lesson.
Nice touch.
I was stationed for a short time in the early 90's as a reservist after finishing my active duty and I'm a life long Weymouth resident. I remember seeing the P-3's flying over my house heading out on patrol. Thank you so much for this video.
Thank you Jason for a fantastic video. I grew up in Cohasset and my Dad had served on the USS Massachusetts while in the USN, so the annual Blue Angels Air Shows were a favorite activity growing up. I have lived in East Weymouth for almost 30 years now, and have been out to that site.....memories of much simpler times, for sure. Thank you for allowing us to see the NAS from the eyes of your drones as well as the great history lessons!
Got to visit the air station and the big hangar in the Sixties when my naval aviator uncle flew out of So Weymouth. Later ,as a railroad conductor, I got to take my train over the runway to deliver boxcars to the GSA. Cool memories of So Weymouth NAS!
My dad was a Senior Chief. He took me there once in the mid 70's. Took me for lunch on base and I tried Chile for the first time. Great memories.
I had a friend that served on the base when it was active. There was a proposal to turn it into an overflow airport for Logan, but the residents shot it down.
Just like the blimp eh? 🚀💥🤣
Outstanding. Thanks . Great video. I was sworn in in the big hanger in 1968 and after active duty I stuck around another 8 years and flew with VP 92. I remember as a kid on Duxbury Beach the blimps would always be flying up and down the coast. Miss SOWEY.
Typo 66
I live right near this place! My friends and I have been exploring this place for five or six years now. It's sad to see it lose more and more of its buildings over the years, but it's nice to see that some people still appreciate it! The views from these towers are seriously unbelievable! Nice video, and thanks for the memories 🙌
My Dad was stationed there, his last before retiring. I worked (and played) there for much of my youth and teens. It is rather sad driving past the abandoned buildings where I spent time. Great information, much appreciated.
I used to drill there as a Sea Cadet and remember P-3 Orions flying over my house in Brockton.
Not sure how this came into my algorithm, but man I’m glad I watched this. Great job on making this video. Very inter3sting and great editing. Thank you for this.
I spent nearly my entire childhood here. My Dad was active duty for 25 years and he was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Boston (multiple times) so we lived nearby NAS South Weymouth. We did all our shopping here and got most of our routine medical care at the Dispensary. My mom used to take us to the pool and the bowling alley, too.
I drive through here almost every day nice to see that somebody finally took a look at it
Another excellent production. Thanks for doing these.
Thanks for the video. It brought back memories of when my dad was stationed at NAS South Weymouth from 1958-1962 as the Training Officer. He also flew the S2-F ASW aircraft and started the Navy Sea Cadet Program (Boy Scouts of the Navy) there. There were many hours that I spent as a 15 year old kid flying the Link Trainers (Flight Simulators) that were used for instrument training of pilots. Seeing the blimps parked inside the hanger, as well as watching them being launched and recovered was an impressive sight. My time in the Navy was spent as a Helicopter crewman (AW-2) performing dipping sonar, sea/air rescue and door gunner duties. The many hours in the Link Trainer eventually paid off when one of the helicopter pilots would get out of his seat to stretch his legs during a long flight and there was an empty seat to fill, at least for a few minutes, sometimes longer.
You're the best. So many 'urbex' channels have no information about the history of the site, give out blatantly false assumptions and teach you nothing. This is next level. Subscribed.
My grandfather was CO of a NADU squadron there in the 1950s. Mom remembers their time there. In fact, it was during this time that Granddad was on the record-setting flight of the "Snow Bird", a ZPG-2 blimp that was up for a little over two weeks straight! This record STILL stands and the cockpit section is on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, FL. 😊👍
Absolutely phenomenal history!! We have had this place on our list for so long because we wanted to see the filming location for the movie Patriots Day. Now after seeing this we want to go here even more than before!!! Thank you so much for this amazing history lesson and amazing footage!!! Great work as always!!! :)
Thanks guys! There isn’t a whole lot left but still worth a visit 👍🏼
Do it before all the buildings are torn down!
Thanks for the coverage! I spent so much time here and this video brought back a lot of memories.
We were on a beach near Scituate in the early `90s when an F-18 buzzed us doing an aileron roll so low the sand blew away from our feet.
I would really love to have you do a story on Davisville and Sun Valley home of the fighting east coast Seabees. With the mysterious burning of building 101 destroying many important secret documents I think the only thing left is the chapel in the pines with the large Seabees and please do not forget the old Nike site
my dad helped build one of those large seabees. I have pictures of his unit mustering in front of building #118 to go to camp lejune in 1961 before they landed at chu lai in 1962.
Could you do Fort Revere in Hull? Not a ton to see, but a history lesson would be nice. Bonus view of the ocean lol.
Wow I live in the town over scituate and love walking through here and never knew the depth of its history. Thank you so much!
Jason, that was fascinating, thank you!!
I grew up just a couple of streets over from NAS S Weymouth. I had a lot of friends that lived on base, and would walk with them onto the base through an unsecured gate on Union St. We'd watch A-4s and P-3s do 'touch and goes' during Reserve weekends, and we'd sit in our back yard to watch the annual Blue Angels shows.
I also saw a live Rex Trailer show there.
I noticed at the 17:13 mark, two Air Force EC-121's parked on the tarmac. These were from the 551st AEWCS (Airborne Early Warning Control Squadron) from Otis AFB, MA just about the time the Air Force took over the coastal defense mission from the Navy. The planes were outfitted with over 40 tons of electronic radar and telemetry equipment that would downlink to the 102nd Fighter Squadron at Logan Airport. If enemy subs or aircraft were detected along the coast from Maine to Puerto Rico, the fighters would scramble to meet the threat.
I was a member of the 551st in the mid-60's. I also flew Space-A out of NAS South Weymouth in a C-130 a couple times to Florida and Andros Island in the Bahamas just before the base closed in 97. Years before the closure, I heard that the plan was for the base to close to military operations and be used as a cargo plane extension to Logan Airport providing more than a thousand jobs but once the three towns got control of the land that idea was scrubbed. Such a shame!
I live not far from that place but they turned the whole damn place into luxury housing complexes. They should've made it into a museum or and outdoor one!
Wow! Interesting. I had no idea this even existed. And I didn’t know the extent to which blimps were used to protect us. Thanks for the upload!
Awesome video Brother! I served in the Navy for 20 years and love the history of our Navy. Well done Brother!
Your detail is quite good and I really appreciate the stories behind it all. New sub!
I remember when Weymouth NAS was an active base. Sometimes very active at night. Remember the Blue Angels as well. Surprised it's not all industrial parks now.
The air shows there were epic! They would back up traffic way out on route 128.
Really interesting. There are more than condos and apartment buildings on the site; there are a lot of single family homes, two sports bubbles, and a senior community with independent living and a nursing home. There are trails and nice walking paths through the area, and even recently there was something being filmed in the hangar. There's also a commuter rail train station, and a thruway that runs down into Rockland.
My step dad was stationed at NAS South Weymouth from 1991-1994. I spent my summers during that time at a day camp hosted on the base and have many fond memories of the place. Seeing it in this state is saddening.
I was in a helo squadron in Rhode Island and we had a helo went down there and I spent a couple days in hangar one changing the transmission. I think it was 61 or 62. The hangar was huge and it was so high clouds formed inside near the roof..I just sent my son this video because I told him about it many times and now he can see it..Thanks for the vid.. It brought back some fond memories.. We also used to fly mail runs into Floyd Bennett Field, the naval air station in Brooklyn..
Really good video! Thanks for making! Keep up the great work!
Glad I stumbled upon this! Really awesome editing and love the content
Fabulous video! I grew up in North Abington about 1 mile from the south end of the N-S runway, and spent lots of time sneaking on to the facility to watch the blimps and the airplanes up close and personal. We used to enjoy being chased out by the Navy folks once they spotted us. Living in the shadow of NAS South Weymouth triggered my life-long love of airplanes and flying. I saw many presentations the Blue Angels at the numerous open houses and air shows held there. Thanks for a great trip down memory lane!
Great video. I grew up right down the street. Exploring this base and its abandoned buildings was my favorite thing to do.
Great video. Excellent editing.
Well done! Thanks for sharing!
I was stationed here twice and have some very good memories of this base. Sad to see the condition of it now.
Awesome explore. I’ve been to the Naval Air station at Lakehurst NJ. They still actively fly blimps there. The hangar building which actually housed the Hindenburg still stands and is breathtaking inside.
I am from Rhode Island and just found tour channel and videos. Well done!
Nice video! As a 22 year ARMY Vet, i can appreciate videos like this!!!. My name is Gary Allard!! Keep them comming bud!
Never been there, sadly, even though I worked right in N Quincy from the mid to late 90s while the base was still active. Knew some folks who were based there during that time as well and definitely remember the air shows. Hanscom was closer for me as it was during that time (I was only 10 miles from HAFB). Thanks for the tour!
Just want to let you know that my wife and I really enjoy your videos. She finds your work very engaging and wanting to see more. Plus, we are just fascinated with these abandoned area. We're keeping a list for when we retired. Thank you.
Well done, thank you for all your research and work!
My brother was a Marine in the early 90's coming from Quincy & on his leave home,we go to the PX for his smokes & get his hair cut. Funny how I cut thru now to get to the Pot shop at the back exit. Lol
Love this historical stuff man...truly awesome the work u do....if we dont know our past, how can we ever know our future...good stuff man...keep rocking this history...
Thats crazy Jason, I went there summer last year and I dont remember the stairs looking that rusted, it was cool but honestly didnt miss much especilly since u know what it looks like with the drone
JA, awesome video! I've heard of NAS Weymouth but, never really new where it was. I'm glad your video popped up so I was able to watch it. Going to buy the book also. Very nice work.
The evolving decay of a building left to the natural elements of decay is interesting.
The vulgar destruction and desecration of history by ignorant punch vandals is not.
i know it's quite randomly asking but does anyone know a good place to stream new movies online?
@Tomas Leland i would suggest Flixzone. You can find it by googling :)
@Roberto Clay Yea, been watching on FlixZone for years myself =)
@Roberto Clay thanks, I signed up and it seems like a nice service :D Appreciate it !
@Tomas Leland No problem :)
Thanks for the history lesson Jason ... I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks Matt glad you liked it! This was a fun one to put together.
"All wars are a racket for Banks, Wall Street, and Corporations."
Major Smedley Butler USMC
Butler died relatively young: let's hope they didn't bump him off for speaking out against the System.
Great video, brings back some memories as I was stationed there twice in 1972 and 1990. In 1972 I was at the GCA (Ground Control Approach radar site) just down the road from the tower and in 1990 at base security. Have been all over the base and on the runways many times, I you look at the sides of the runway running N/S you can find the foundations from house that were taken over to expand the runway. Great job and hate to see the vandalism, would have made a great site for posterity!
What a great video! Your video style is so engaging. Thank you for what you do!
Thanks for that great video. I was with HML-771 out of NAS SOWEY. Great squadron on a great base!
I was in HML-771 from 76 to 82.
Weymouths last airshow was my very first I remember being next to the controll tower with my dad and watching the blue angels Your video about Weymouth NAS really got to me thank you
I remember seeing a couple of the blue angels airshows when I was a young also. They were great.
Worth checking out is NAS Glenview just north of Chicago. Full of history and also closed in the mid 90s.
Except it’s a shopping center and houses now. A handful of relics remain, but by no means abandoned.
Phewwwwww! Another banger! Let me know when the next one is happening. I need to tag along! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
Jason do you know this guy?
@@coreybrunelle1479 he has no idea who I am. I'm just a crazed fan from Illinois who wants to party
Since I don't live too far from Weymouth, I had driven past that naval air station many times before they started putting condos up. I can remember as a very young child occasionally seeing blimps flying overhead. We were use to having airplanes flying above but not blimps. The first time I saw a blimp it frightened me and I had to ask my mother what it was. I never knew what they were for though until just now and I'm 72. It isn't something you would want to tell a small child.
Great video, thanks.
Thanx for posting, we work so hard to maintain our bases on active duty, once closed theu become trashed.
Great exploration; thanks for posting.
Great video man. Well shot, very good narration, AND informative. 👌🏻
Thank you for researching, creating, and sharing this great video. I'm sure it took a lot of effort. And a big middle finger to the graffiti vandals and arsonists! ;-)
Loved it. New subscriber
Amazing Video.... I grew up at the airbase... My father was USCG in Boston, and we had housing at the Base. Lived here from 1979-1991, and worked at the base starting at the Age of 15 for the MWR department at the Base Gym, Pool, Bowling Alley, And Officers Club until the base shut down..
Awesome! And yet so sad the conditions
This was cool to watch. I lived on the base as a kid as my dad was stationed there from 1986 - 1989.
Thanks for this vid ... Awesome ...
I used to live right near there and explored the area top to bottom, there is still some hidden treasures there...
Awesome video. This is my 3rd time watching this. Definitely need to come here.
Glad three blimp hangers remain at NAS Moffet Field in Mountain View, CA near San Jose. One houses a NASA Ames wind tunnel facility and the other two are still used as airplane hangers. They are immense in person.
Keep up the Great work
Cool video. I remember my Dad taking us here in the mid 70's for an air show. It was my first time seeing the Blue Angels. I also seem to remember there was a tragic crash too but I don't know any details of it. Thanks for sharing this.
i remember going to an open house there with a friend whos dad worked there in the 70s. cool video