Naval Air Station Jacksonville From 1907 to Present - CNIC.Navy.mil ...

Aug. 15, 1942 - First fired target at Naval Air Gunners School.
Aug. 16, 1942 - ASW patrols discontinued.
Aug. 28, 1942 - Aviation Free Gunnery School commissioned near Cecil Field.
Aug. 30, 1942 - Ferry service started.
Sept. 10, 1942 - Naval Training Station (Recruit Center) opened.
Sept. 19, 1942 - Air Station football team beats Florida Gators, 20-7.
Sept. 21, 1942 - First 29 students graduate from Gunners School.
Oct. 15, 1942 - Operational Training began with PBYs as VPB2 OTU (Outgoing Training Unit) #1
is established and squadron VN-15 disestablished. First aircraft turrets arrive (.30 + .50 caliber) at
Gunners School.
Nov. 10, 1942 - First WAVE officer logged aboard (Ensign Katherine Doe).
Jan. 1, 1943 - Service school's name changed to Naval Air Technical Training Center.
Jan. 17, 1943 - Saint Edward's Catholic Chapel dedicated.
Feb. 4, 1943 - VTB squadron begins operational training.
Feb. 9, 1943 - First WAVES report to A&R Department.
Feb. 20, 1943 - NAAS Cecil Field and NAAS Lee Field commissioned.
Feb. 20, 1943 - Squadron VN-14 became VO-VCS and began operational training with OS2U type
aircraft, syllabus including catapult practice.
Feb. 26, 1943 - Last class of aviation cadets awarded wings.
Feb. 28, 1943 - All Saints' Protestant Chapel dedicated.
March 6, 1943 - Severe storm damages 87 aircraft and 28 buildings at NAAS Cecil Field.
April 1943 – Lt. Cmdr. Charles Henri de Levis Mirepoix succeeded Lt. Andre Gilbert as
commanding officer of the Fighting French Naval Aviation Unit at NAS Jacksonville.
April 1, 1943 - JAX AIR NEWS, station newspaper, published first edition, replacing THE