OCEANA MASTER JET BASE IS THE EAST COAST HUB OF NAVAL AVIATION

Since USS Langley’s commissioning 100 years ago, the nation’s aircraft carriers and their embarked air wings have projected American power, supported deterrence and control of the seas, and maintained commitments to allies and partners around the world.

Supporting the nation’s aircraft carriers and their air wings is the mission of the Navy’s Class IV airports, and one of the most important is Naval Air Station Oceana. Today, NAS Oceana comprises 5,916 acres, supports 250 aircraft, and is the largest employer in Virginia Beach.

“The airfields of NAS Oceana and NALF [Naval Auxiliary Landing Field] Fentress represent strategic resources within America’s arsenal of support for our aircraft carriers. One of seven Class IV Naval airport systems in the DOD, NAS Oceana on a typical day supports about 600 operations for 17 squadrons, five Carrier Air Wings, and a fleet replacement squadron,” said Capt. Steven V. Djunaedi, NAS Oceana executive officer.

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Gladiators of Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106) flies alongside a Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair during the Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana Air Show. The two aircraft illustrate NAS Oceana’s eight decades supporting U.S. Navy air power.

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST SEAMAN MARK THOMAS MAHMOD

Oceana was born on the eve of America’s entrance into World War II. In November 1940, the Navy bought 328.95 acres of swampy farmland, laid down asphalt runways, and built a small auxiliary airfield near the little village of Oceana, which was literally the last stop on the rail line. With 32 officers and 172 enlisted assigned, Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Oceana could support a little more than one squadron of aircraft.

By 1943, however, it was clear that the airfield was going to have to expand to meet the needs of a nation at war, and especially the needs of carrier aviation. More airfield acreage, new, longer runways, more barracks, and more hangars were added, and Naval Auxiliary Air Station Oceana was commissioned Aug. 17, 1943.

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Growth and building continued throughout the war, but Oceana still struggled to build facilities fast enough to keep up with an expansion that, by 1945, had more than tripled the number of aircraft and officers assigned, and doubled the enlisted personnel. Nor did the growth end with World War II.

With victory attained, many bases and facilities were rapidly shuttered, but while personnel were being drawn down, ships were being mothballed, and aircraft were being scrapped, Oceana was still growing, becoming so large that it was designated Oceana Naval Air Station in 1952.

Oceana’s long runways and relatively remote location made it ideal for the Navy’s new generation of jet aircraft, and the chief of naval operations designated Oceana an all-weather air station in February 1954. A little over three years later, the airfield was named Soucek Field in honor of Vice Adm. Apollo Soucek, naval aviation pioneer, test pilot, and chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) 1953-1955. As the Navy adopted new jet aircraft and adapted to their needs with new and modified aircraft carriers, as well as new concepts of operations, Oceana was a pivotal part of the transition.

“The aircraft carrier is the centerpiece of the U.S. Navy’s arsenal. As it has evolved, and as naval aviation has advanced, so too has Naval Air Station Oceana. With the development of the jet engine, this installation grew from a small auxiliary airfield into the Navy’s East Coast Master Jet Base that we know today,” said NAS Oceana Commanding Officer Capt. Bob Holmes.

Oceana Master Jet Base has hosted five generations of naval jet aircraft, from the earliest Phantoms, Panthers, and Banshees through to today, with the station hosting the latest generations of Navy strike fighters.

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“We are called upon to provide operational and logistical support to the fleet, fighters, and families across 19 command departments, five carrier strike groups, 17 squadrons, and 79 mission partner tenant commands onboard NAS Oceana Master Jet Base, Dam Neck Annex, and NALF Fentress to strengthen the fleet’s warfighting forces around the globe,” said Holmes.

Despite echoing Oceana’s early designation as an auxiliary landing field, Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress has a mission vital to 21st century U.S. Navy carrier aviation.

“NALF Fentress enables tactical squadrons to conduct Field Carrier Landing Practice [FCLP] as part of their continuing training and preparations prior to getting underway. Fentress routinely supports 15 local squadrons [14 fleet and one fleet replacement squadron (FRS)] and seven NS Norfolk E-2/C-2 squadrons TACAIR [sixfleet and one FRS]. In addition to TACAIR [Tactical Air] support, Fentress has the shipboard spots [2 LHA, CG 52 and TAOE 6] to provide helicopter/tilt-wing training requirements. Fentress is available 24/7 to support squadron requirements and routinely oversees 60,000-75,000 operations a year, all of which support the mission requirements of our nation’s aircraft carriers,” Djunaedi said.

NAS Oceana and NALF Fentress have been fundamental to U.S. Navy carrier aviation for 80 years, and will remain a key part of naval aviation far into the future.