Squantum and South Weymouth Naval Air Stations (MA) (Images of America) [Paperback]

Donald Cann (Author), John J. Galluzzo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2004

The eyes of the United States Navy first focused on Quincy's Squantum peninsula in 1909, when daring young pilots from around the world gathered for the Harvard Air Meet. By the 1930s, the Victory Plant a destroyer plant that set production records had come and gone and the navy had set up the nation's first naval reserve aviation training center on the site. When air traffic over Boston Harbor thickened in the 1930s, the navy moved its aerial operations inland to the South Weymouth Naval Air Station. That base and its ubiquitous hangar became South Shore landmarks for more than a half-century. Squantum and South Weymouth Naval Air Stations brings back to life the early age of naval aviation on the South Shore, from biplanes to blimps to bombers and beyond.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Donald Cann of Rockland served with the United States Army and has long been interested in American military history. John Galluzzo of Hull is the editor of Wreck & Rescue Journal, a national Coast Guard history magazine, and author of four Arcadia books on Hull and Scituate. Cann and Galluzzo also coauthored Rockland and Abington for Arcadia Publishing. Donald Cann of Rockland served with the United States Army and has long been interested in American military history. John Galluzzo of Hull is the editor of Wreck & Rescue Journal, a national Coast Guard history magazine, and author of four Arcadia books on Hull and Scituate. Cann and Galluzzo also coauthored Rockland and Abington for Arcadia Publishing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (August 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738536245
• ISBN-13: 978-0738536248
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,972,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing insight to a long gone piece of Boston-area history, April 15, 2008

By 

J. Clark "CMC Airboss" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Squantum and South Weymouth Naval Air Stations (MA) (Images of America) (Paperback)

I grew up just 5 miles from the former location of NAS Squantum and rode my bike on the old runway as a kid. But I never knew this base had a history that went back to very earliest days of aviation. I also had no idea that the base was the location of a ship yard that built US Navy destoyers. Those are a few of the gems that can be found in this easily read picture book.

Images from NAS Squantum's history are presented, from the aforementioned "gems", through WW2 and the eventual migration to NAS So. Weymouth. This book covers the history of this airfield from the late 1940's until decomissioning in the mid 90's: from the farmland that was eventually converted to patrol base with blimps and finally an airbase with fixed wing and rotor winged aircraft. The size of the blimp hangars, as shown on the cover, is almost beyond belief. Images of the giant hangar's contruction and destruction are detailed. Airshow fans that visited the base during one of the many open houses will recognize many of the scenes and may even see themselves!

A must for any New England or US Navy history buff looking for a peek into a bygone era.