Cats and traps at Navy Lakehurst

Wings of Gold, Fall 2002 by Worsdale, Tom, Odoardo, Pattie

When Army helos replaced some Navy aircraft on USS Kitty Hawk a Lakehurst team rapidly developed a deck-- spotting plan for the ship. Moreover, when a ship's RAST (Recovery, Assistance,Securing, and Traversing System (RAST), which is designed for aiding helicopter recov eries in heavy seas on Navy destroyers, and other ships, jammed, our people journeyed to the Persian Gulf and re paired it. We have a raised flight deck at Lakehurst which simulates those on destroyers, frigates and cruisers, designed for RAST test and evaluation purposes.

Our in-service engineering teams average 17 shipboard technical assists on a bi-weekly basis.

Having 22 tenant commands leasing space on base certainly contributes to our strength and viability. I wouldn't be surprised to see that number of tenants rise in the future as we continue to fulfill our obligation to offer the unique capability and flexibility that is NAES Lakehurst at the lowest possible cost.

Unlike many air stations we have no encroachments problems. The base is bounded on two sides by wildlife management areas and on one side by Fort Dix. Additionally, we have over 300 acres of previously developed land in various parcels that could be easily developed to accommodate additional units with far fewer environmental documentation requirements.

In fact, because of our strategic location the many unique attributes of Lakehurst, Fort Dix and McGuire AFB, and the presence of many tenants who already conduct Homeland Security operations, the proposed Homeland Security Department, which is to be located at least 100 miles from Washington D.C. might consider Navy Lakehurst an ideal location. Nearly one third of the total U.S. population resides within 300 miles of Lakehurst, yet it remains a secluded, secure base, deep within the Pine Barrens of central New Jersey.

Our primary order of business, however, is and will always be a total commitment to serving the needs of our Naval Aviation forces in the fleet.

Historical Note

Lakehurst is one of America's oldest military installations. From 1915 to 1921 it was an Army Ammunition Proving Ground site. After WWI Lakehurst became a naval air station and home of the airship program. It was also the western terminus for flights of the German airships. In 1921 Hangar One, now a registered historical landmark, was built for $4 million. Two of the Navy's rigid airships could be housed in Hangar One at one time. In a tragic way, the German rigid airship, Hindenburg, put Lakehurst on the map on May 6th, 1937. The hydrogen filled airship caught fire during mooring and burned nearly to cinders in half a minute. Hangars Five and Six were built in 1943. Throughout WWI and ensuing conflicts Lakehurst has gained in importance. It continues to flourish in its critical role of serving Naval Aviation and the fleet.

Lakehurst's Legend

John Iannaccone is a legend at Lakehurst. He is 91 years young, works out daily at the base gym and is as articulate as someone half his age. He is the last surviving participant of the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, which claimed the lives of 34 of the 97 passengers on board and one man on the ground as it was being moored following a 60 hour journey across the Atlantic. John was an aviation machinist mate first class on the mooring team when Hindenburg burst into flames.