Picture this a small wooden seaplane ramp. It’s 1937. This is the 1937 Seaplane Ramp in San Diego. Right here before you stands a humble structure. This unassuming ramp played a vital role in San Diego’s rich aviation history. It was part of the newly commissioned Coast Guard Air Station San Diego. This station wasn’t just about preventing smuggling. It was about saving lives at sea.
The ramp itself was part of a larger project. The US Government and the City of San Diego collaborated. Twenty-three acres of tideland were filled and brought up to grade. Long piles stabilized the building sites. The project was ambitious. It included a hangar a mess hall barracks and two aprons. The ramp was a small but critical piece of this ambitious project. This small wooden ramp witnessed countless seaplanes taking off and landing. It facilitated crucial search and rescue missions.
Imagine the scene in 1941. World War II cast a long shadow. The Coast Guard Air Station San Diego played its part. Its planes patrolled the Pacific. They searched for Japanese submarines. The threat was minimal. The station’s primary mission was still search and rescue. This 1937 Seaplane Ramp was still vital to these operations.
The small ramp saw a dramatic increase in activity. Many student pilots had offshore crashes. The 11th Naval District commander was concerned. CDR Watson Burton recommended a rescue squadron. Coast Guard Air-Sea Rescue Squadron 1 was formed. The little ramp remained a crucial element of the station’s operation. It served as a gateway to the sea. It facilitated countless rescue missions saving lives in the vast expanse of the Pacific.
The 1937 Seaplane Ramp might appear insignificant. It is a small wooden structure. However this simple ramp saw a lot of activity. It played a crucial role in San Diego’s rich aviation history. It was a silent witness to countless takeoffs landings and rescues. It stands as a testament to the vital work of the Coast Guard. The ramp is a legacy to the courage and dedication of those who served. Remember the 1937 Seaplane Ramp next time you explore San Diego’s fascinating past.