Overview
Readers interested in military history will find exciting images and enjoyable stories about one of Florida's most prominent naval bases within these pages. Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West was established on Trumbo Island in 1917 during World War I for elementary flight training and anti-submarine patrols. After the armistice, the station was closed following a catastrophic hurricane and an economic downturn until war once again arrived in America. NAS Key West was revitalized during World War II, and those stationed there initially fought German U-boats that terrorized American waters. When this threat receded, the station’s principal role shifted to training. As NAS Key West grew, nearby Meacham Field—now the Key West International Airport—and Boca Chica Field were incorporated as auxiliary air facilities. By war’s end, Boca Chica had grown in prominence and assumed its predecessor’s moniker. After World War II, the station continued to train naval aviators across the fleet. Aircraft flying from the station conducted reconnaissance flights over Cuba and helped enforce the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The station’s tropical climate attracted presidents and dignitaries for both relaxation and work. Today, NAS Key West remains an active base, woven throughout the island’s social fabric.
Geoffrey M. Anthony relied on images from the military and national and local sources, including NAS Key West, the National Archives, the Naval History and Heritage Command, the Florida Keys History Center, and others, for the remarkable photographs in this volume.
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