Glenview Naval Air Base

The Glenview Naval Air Base was a U.S. Naval Air Station from 1923 to 1995. Located in Glenview, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, the air base primarily operated seaplanes on nearby Lake Michigan, and later, P-3 Orions, stationed there as a staging point for Anti-Submarine Warfare against Soviet submarines. The former air base has now been redeveloped into a residential subdivision and commercial area called The Glen, although the control tower has been preserved as a historic building.

Pre-military History

The base was originally built by the Curtiss Flying Service and intended to be the hub of Chicago's air service. When the field was dedicated on October 20, 1929, it was home to the largest hangar ever built.

Related Topics:
Curtiss Flying Service - October 20 - 1929

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In 1930, the National Air Races took place at Curtiss Field and in 1933, the International Air Races took place there in conjunction with the Century of Progress. Such aviation luminaries as Charles Lindbergh, Wiley Post, and Jimmy Doolittle attended. In 1934, Post tried to set an aviation altitude record from Curtiss. By 1938, civilian and military operations both ran out of the field, but in 1940, it was sold outright to the United States Navy. The name was officially changed to the Glenview Naval Air Base on January 1, 1943.

Related Topics:
1930 - 1933 - Century of Progress - Charles Lindbergh - Wiley Post - Jimmy Doolittle - 1934 - 1938 - 1940 - United States Navy - January 1 - 1943

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