In 1942, the Department of Defense acquired land in St. Mary's County and began construction of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, a facility that would play a crucial role in testing airplanes used on World War II aircraft carriers. The establishment of the base brought a surge in population and added technical jobs to the traditional agricultural and maritime economy of St. Mary's County. After World War II, Patuxent River remained a testing center for aircraft and was the training site for the first astronauts. Today it continues to play a vital role in testing cutting-edge aircraft for the U.S. Navy and is the largest employer in the county.
[Photo captions, left to right:]
Aerial view of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, 1943.
Capt. Rassieur, Patuxent River Naval Air Station Commissioning, April 1, 1943.
First officers at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, World War II era.
Patuxent River Naval Air Station Commissioning, April 1, 1943.
Hanger construction, 1943.
Joint Fighter Conference Flightline, October 1944.
Photos courtesy: Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Archives
Logos of: Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation and St. Mary's County Maryland, 1637
This panel was funded by our Partners for Preservation ...
Comments 0 comments