“Ammunition depot, abandoned 1953” reads the inscription. Welcome to the Naval Air Station Squantum Ammunition Bunkers. These bunkers stand as silent witnesses to a time when the skies above Squantum Point buzzed with the activity of naval aviation.
Naval Air Station Squantum’s story began long before these bunkers. It started in 1910 with the Harvard Aviation Field. Imagine competitive air shows filling the sky. Daredevils flew Bleriot Monoplanes. In 1912 tragedy struck when aviatrix Harriet Quimby fell to her death in the Neponset River.
The site transformed during World War I. The Massachusetts Naval Militia built a seaplane hangar. Squantum became a primary flight training facility. However, the Navy soon consolidated training in warmer climates.
In 1923 Naval Air Station Squantum was reborn. It became a naval reserve air station. Veterans received refresher training. New recruits learned to fly. By 1929 a small airfield supported landplanes.
The 1930s saw Naval Air Station Squantum expand. Three paved runways replaced the old aerodrome design. On March 5, 1941, it became a fully fledged Naval Air Station.
World War II transformed Naval Air Station Squantum. It served as a maritime patrol and training base. American and British naval aviators learned their skills here. Regular Navy squadrons patrolled the Massachusetts Bay. Baseball legend Ted Williams even completed his paperwork here.
After the war Naval Air Station Squantum became an important part of the Naval Air Reserve Training Command. But “modern” Naval Air Station Squantum faced challenges. Its proximity to Boston’s Logan International Airport created airspace conflicts. The runways were too short for jet operations. Many facilities had been built using salvaged materials. It “grew like topsy”.
The location doomed Naval Air Station Squantum. In December 1953 operations moved to Naval Air Station South Weymouth. The CO’s SNB made the official last flight. However, an Avenger with maintenance problems was the last to depart.
Today a marina occupies the northern end. Boston Scientific is also on the site. Part of the primary runway is now Squantum Point Park. Condominiums dot the landscape. The Association of Naval Aviation Patriot Squadron maintains a museum at Naval Air Station South Weymouth dedicated to preserving the history of Naval Air Station Squantum.
These Naval Air Station Squantum Ammunition Bunkers remind us of the base’s vital role in defending our nation.