Moffett Field

Moffett Field was established by the U.S. Navy in 1931 as a huge airship base. This base was later named Naval Air Station Sunnyvale and its runway named Moffett Field in memory of Rear. Adm. William A. Moffett. When the dirigible era ended Moffett Field was transferred to the Army, which used it as basic training base. In 1939, the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory was established here. This laboratory was engaged in high-speed wind tunnel testing.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the base was returned to the U.S. Navy, which used it for its Blimp airships. These airships were used by the U.S. Navy used for reconnaissance, patrol and against bombers. In early 1945 the base received a major overhaul facility for transport aircraft. In March of that year, an intact Japanese balloon was tested here.

The huge hangars for the airships can still be visited.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Wayne Hsieh
• Richard E. Osborne, World War II Sites in the United States - A Tour Guide & Directory