Naval Air Station Glenview facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Naval Air Station Glenview
IATA: NBU ICAO: KNBU
Summary
Airport type	Military: Naval Air Station
Operator	United States Navy
Location	Glenview, Cook County, Illinois
Built	1923
In use	Closed 1995
Elevation AMSL	653 ft / 199 m
Coordinates	42°05′26″N 87°49′21″W / 42.09056°N 87.82250°W / 42.09056; -87.82250
Runway
Runway Length Surface ft m 17/35 8,000 2,438 Paved

The Naval Air Station Glenview (NASG) was an important military air base located in Glenview, Illinois. For many years, it served as a training center for pilots and supported various military operations.

History of the Air Base

Early Days as Curtiss Reynolds Wright Airport

The land that became Naval Air Station Glenview started as Curtiss Reynolds Wright Airport in 1929. A company called Curtiss Flying Service bought farmland in the Glenview area. They wanted to open a new airfield to help with air traffic around Chicago, as an alternative to Chicago's main airport at the time.

However, just nine days after the airport opened, the Great Depression began. This was a very difficult economic time. Because of the Depression, there wasn't as much need for another big airport near Chicago. For a while, the airport mainly made money by hosting exciting air shows. In the late 1930s, some commercial flights also started using the airfield.

The Navy Arrives and World War II Training

In the 1930s, the airfield began to be used for training military pilots. In 1937, the United States Navy decided to move its aviation training program to the base. This decision was very important and likely saved the airport during the tough economic times.

The Navy's training unit was named the United States Naval Reserve Aviation Base (NRAB). On November 1, 1939, the Navy officially leased the airport. When the United States joined World War II, activity at the base greatly increased. It became a major training center for pilots learning to fly from aircraft carriers and perform other water-related flying.

After the Wars: Community and Closure

After World War II ended, the base became less busy. However, in 1950, Navy and Marine personnel from the base were called to serve in the Korean War. Later in the 1950s and in the decades that followed, the base often hosted fun community events. These included national contests for model airplanes.

In 1963, the Seabees, who are the Navy's construction battalions, also became based there. The village of Glenview officially took over the base's land in 1971.

During the Vietnam War, military activity at the base increased again. It served as a place where wounded service members were brought before being taken to the Great Lakes Naval Hospital for care.

In the 1980s, more military personnel and units moved to the base. This included the U.S. Coast Guard's search and rescue team for the southern part of Lake Michigan.

In 1991, people from Naval Air Station Glenview took part in Operation Desert Storm. However, the base's future had already been decided years earlier. In 1988, a special commission decided that the base would close.

The last air show at NASG was held in 1993, with 70,000 people watching. In August 1994, the very last KC-130 flight left the airfield. It flew to NAS Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.

What Happened After Closure?

After the air station closed in 1995, most of its buildings were taken down. The land was then changed for civilian use. Today, you can find a nature area with prairies, new homes, and a shopping district called Glen Town Center.

The old Hangar One, a large building where planes were kept, was saved and is now part of a shopping mall. This area of Glenview is now known as The Glen. A small park called Navy Park and the rededicated hangar opened in 2003. The old hangar is recognized as a historic place and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable People from the Base

• Gerald Ford: He later became the President of the United States.