NAS Minneapolis

NAS Minneapolis / NAS Twin Cities

Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO).
See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu.


Dick Dellwo

Dick Dellwo

Gary Verver.

Heritage-Patches

Before 1944 Naval Air Station Minnesota established.

01 JUL 1963: redesignated NAS Twin Cities.

1970: NAS Twin Cities is closed.

1962-63: Twin Cities patch.

Sources

David Weber

Dick Dellwo

John Gabbard

Commanding Officers

No info yet.

Awards

No info yet.

Base Tail ID

No info yet.

Hosted Units

Known units at Naval Air Station Twin Cities - FAS-812, VA-811, VA-813 and VA-5E2; probably established in that order.

Aircraft

194? - - - - - Stearman PT-17.

194? - - - - - North American SNJ Standard Navy Jet.

194? - - - - - Beech SNB Secret Navy Bomber.

194? - - - - - Grumman F4F Wildcat.

194? - - - - - Grumman F6F Hellcat - Whistling Outhouse.

194? - - - - - Grumman TBM Avenger - Turkey.

194? - - - - - Grumman F8F Bearcat - Blue Scooter.

194? - - - - - Douglas AD-1 Skyraider SPAD.

194? - - - - - Douglas AD-5 Skyraider - Lumber Wagon.

194? - - - - - Vought F4U Corsair.

194? - - - - - Lockheed P2V Neptune.

194? - - - - - Douglas R4D Goonie Bird.

195? - - - - - Grumman S2F Tracker - STOOF.

195? - - - - - Grumman F9F-4 Panther.

195? - - - - - Lockheed T2V-1 (T-1A) Seastar.

03 May 1966 - - Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk *

27 May 1963- - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk *

* November 30, 1962

The A4D-1 designation changed to A-4A

The A4D-2 designation changed to A-4B

For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page:

Events

19??: Naval Air Station Twin Cities established. The base is located on the north side of Wold Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wold Chamberlain Field is now known as MSP - Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport.

194?: During World War II Naval Air Station Twin Cities was used as a Navy training facility. President George Bush was a student there, flying the PT-17 Stearman there in 1943.

Following World War II, Naval Air Station Twin Cities hosted Naval Reserve units. Some of the reserve units assigned to Naval Air Station Twin Cities were VA-5E2, FAS-812, VA-811 and VA-813.

Dec 1945: The reserve Marine squadron was moved to MCAS El Toro and assigned to Marine Carrier Air Group, Marine Aircraft Group 33. It remained at El Toro until March 1946 when it was decommissioned.

July 1947: The Marine Squadron was recommissioned as Marine Fighter Squadron 234 (VMF-234) at the Naval Air Station, San Diego. The unit operated F-4U Corsairs as part of the Marine Air Reserve Training Command (MARTC). Shortly thereafter, VMF-234 occupied its new home base at the Naval Air Station, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1956: In the 1950's there were a number of Navy jet crashes on or near Naval Air Station Twin Cities. A Grumman F9F Panther crashed northeast of the airport into a residential area. This crash destroyed several houses and killed the families. Earlier there has been another jet crash into the metropolitan area. Finally, in November 1956, another F9F-4 Panther crashed, and the Navy moved the T-33B and F9F-4 jets out.

1963: VA-811 and VA-813 were dual reserve squadrons based at Naval Air Station Twin Cities. The two squadrons transitioned from A-1E to A-4B's in 1963. There were also three T-1A's to get everyone jet qualified. Most pilots went on two weeks active duty for training to Naval Air Station Kingsville or Naval Air Station Beeville Texas for that.
There were 15 A-4B Skyhawks assigned to the Naval Air Station and each reserve squadron used the Skyhawks on their weekend or when anyone would come out to fly during the week. One Squadron drilled on the 1st weekend, and the other squadron drilled on the 3rd weekend. The reserve squadrons were VA-811 and VA-813. When a squadron went on two weeks active duty training they took all the aircraft that could get into the air. Usually that would be 10 to 12 Skyhawks.
Presently reserve squadrons are commissioned organizations with Commanding Officers assigned by ComNavAirResFor. In the 1950's the base Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and Training Officer would decide who would be the next Commanding Officer and Executive Officer. Lyle Lundeen was Commanding Officer of VA-811 during much of the 1950's.
Naval Air Station Twin Cities call sign was "Employ." Skyhawks had only one- or two-digit nose numbers, so "Employ six" was a Skyhawk. The Lockheed T-1A (T2V-1) Seastars were "Employ 183", "209" or "214." A Lockheed P-2F Neptune (Two Turning and Two Burning) would be "Employ 309".

August 30, 1963: Lieutenant Dick Dellwo flew the first Skyhawk Naval Air Station Twin Cities acceptance test flight that afternoon in A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142762. Not much was said about the first Navy jet flight in seven years as the base PAO was too gunshy to go out and talk about it.

August 31, 1963: Lieutenant Dick Dellwo flew A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142762 twice this day.

September 8, 1963: A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 144922 flew its acceptance test flight. This was the second operational Twin Cities Skyhawk. A Commander from Naval Air Station Detroit checked out the Twin City pilots in the Lockheed T-1A Shooting Star. The base Aviation Safety Officer, a helo pilot, was also checked out in the T-1A.

October 1963: Naval Air Station Twin Cities received a third A-4B Skyhawk, BuNo. 144916. Others A-4B Skyhawks followed. One Skyhawk was assigned to maintenance and did not count against operational availability. The Twin Cities A-4B Skyhawk complement was:

BuNo. 142084

BuNo. 142693

BuNo. 142694

BuNo. 142762 (1st A-4B to arrive August 30, 1963)

BuNo. 142748

BuNo. 142799

BuNo. 142910

BuNo. 142931

BuNo. 144812

BuNo. 144882

BuNo. 144913

BuNo. 144916 (3rd A-4B to arrive in October 1963

BuNo. 144922 (2nd A-4B to arrive September 8, 1963)

BuNo. 144939

BuNo. 144956

BuNo. 144959

October 1963: The three Lockheed T-1A (T2V-1) Seastars were BuNo. 144183, BuNo. 144209 and BuNo. 144214 (a real dog and hangar queen).
Naval Air Station Twin Cities flew about 500 to 600 hours per month, with only twenty-eight active-duty men working on the jet line. Naval Reservist did not touch a live aircraft for their first two years. They could work on aircraft that were out of service to learn the systems.
There were two United States Navy officers assigned to Naval Air Station Twin Cities. The Captain Wily B. Howell, United States Navy was a test pilot from Empire Test in England. He went on to be Commanding Officer of United States Ship Bennington. The other was Lieutenant Dick Dellwo. Lieutenant Dellwo would carrier qualify in 1966 on the Bennington during VA-125 refresher training.

November 1963: The A-4B Skyhawk had only TACAN for navigation and instrument approaches to landing. The Minneapolis VORTAC was at Anoka airport 20 miles northwest of Naval Air Station Twin Cities. The Skyhawks only approved instrument approach was a TACAN /BACK COURSE ILS approach to runway 9. GCA (radar Ground Controlled Approach) was the ONLY way in for the Skyhawks in bad weather.

February 4, 1964: A fire at the NAS Minneapolis hangar destroyed A-4B BuNo 142931 and caused extensive damage to the hangar. One workman was injured in the fire, which was caused when a gas tank being repaired exploded. The Daily Telegram , Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1964.

April 26, 1964: LCdr. Hubert N. Jantscher, 31, was killed when his A-4B Skyhawk (BuNo 144959) crashed and exploded Sunday as he was bringing it down for a landing at the Naval Air Station, World Chamberlain Field. After hitting ground, it crunched under the steel framework for the ILS beacons, plowed into a metal shed behind the beacons and shattered when the fuel exploded. Fergus Falls (MN) Daily Journal, Monday, April 27, 1964 & Winona Daily News, Winona, MN, Monday, April 17, 1964.

1965: After trying for two years Naval Air Station Twin Cities received a TACAN trailer from Chu Lai, Vietnam Marine Corps Air Station. It took another year to get the TACAN operational. The instrument approach had a 7-mile arc to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport. The instrument approach worked for all four runways. The whole TACAN acquisition was called DELLWO's Folly.

1966: A four-plane flight led by experienced fleet Grumann F9F pilot and North Central Airline driver lost the number 2 man on a section approach to landing. The leader did not brief according to the procedure outlined in the Flight Training Manual. Old number two stalled/spin/crash/burn/died on final approach to the runway.

March 12, 1967: Cdr. Allen W. Cater parachuted to safety moments before his A-4B BuNo 144975 crashed five miles SW of Fargo, SD, when his controls malfunctioned during a landing approach. Winona, MN Winona Daily News.

The Marines flew the same aircraft as did the Navy reserve squadrons until they received the C-119's.

The function of the MARTC was to preserve the technical skills in the vast pool of Marine Aviation Specialists returning to civilian life. These technical skills were tested in March 1951 when the squadron personnel were called up to participate in the Korean War. By 23 April 1951, all that remained of VMF-234 at Minneapolis was a mailing address. Over a year later in October 1952, VMF-234 returned to the NAS Twin Cities. In February 1955, the squadron reorganized as a Marine Fighter Squadron flying the Grumman F9F-4 Panther. In May of 1958, '234 received the AD-5 Skyraider and was redesignated a Marine Attack Squadron (VMA-234).
The C-119F Flying Boxcar replaced the AD-5's in January 1962 and the squadron became a Marine Transport Squadron (VMR-234), transitioning from single engine attack to twin engine transport. The unit remained in Minneapolis until the closure of the Naval Air Station in 1970 and was transferred to Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment (MARTD) located at Naval Air Station, Glenview.

Photos

Webmasters note: Prior to 1970, reserve aircraft belonged to the local NARTU or Reserve Naval Air Station. Except for those squadrons on active duty, as in Korea, no reserve squadron "owned" their aircraft, as they were assigned to the NARTU/Station. In 1970, during that reorganization of the reserves into the "Reserve Force" concept, each new squadron was made independent of NARTU (later called NAR), and assigned either to CVWR-20 or CVWR-30. All squadrons were then made in the image of active duty units, with the reserve unit Commanding Officer owning the aircraft and reporting to the CAG.

No photos yet.


Off-Duty Photos

No info yet.

A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to NAS:

  • Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk
    • 139947 C/N 11312
      • 14 Jun 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 24 Jul 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4A
      • 20 Sep 1968 - NAS - NAS Memphis, TN
    • 142168 c/n 11422
      • 23 May 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 24 Jul 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4A
      • 03 Sep 1968 - NAS - NAS Memphis, TN
    • 142194 c/n 11448
      • 22 Jun 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 24 Jul 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4A
      • 02 Oct 1968 - NAS - NAS Memphis, TN
    • 142222 c/n 11476
      • 03 May 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 24 Jul 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4A
      • 13 Sep 1968 - NAS - NAS Memphis, TN
  • Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk
    • 142084 c/n 11338
      • 01 May 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 27 Sep 1967 - NAS 7L54 - NAS Los Alamitos, CA
    • 142125 c/n 11379
      • 10 Oct 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 11 Oct 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 20 Jan 1970 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 142679 c/n 11741
      • 18 Oct 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 23 Oct 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 22 Jan 1970 - NAF - NAF Detroit, MI
    • 142697 c/n 11759
      • 13 Jan 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 24 Jan 1969 - NAS - NAS Los Alamitos, CA
    • 142725 c/n 11787
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Olathe - Convert to TA-4B
      • 09 Jan 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 25 Jan 1969 - NAS - NAS Olathe, KS
    • 142746 c/n 11808
      • 01 Dec 1968 - NAS New York - Convert to TA-4B
      • 04 Feb 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 22 Feb 1969 - NAS - NAS New York, NY
    • 142748 c/n 11810
      • 25 May 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 23 Oct 1968 - Stricken - 3S0
    • 142778 c/n 11840
      • 18 Jun 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 21 Jan 1970 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson AZ
    • 142798 c/n 11860
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS New Orleans - Convert to TA-4B
      • 13 Jan 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 14 Feb 1969 - NARTU - NAS Memphis, TN
      • 02 Mar 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 20 Mar 1969 - NAS - NAS New Orleans, LA
    • 142828 c/n 11890
      • 26 Mar 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 02 Aug 1967 - NAS - NAS Los Alamitos, CA
    • 142829 c/n 11891
      • 03 Sep 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 20 Nov 1969 - NAS - NAS Memphis, TN
    • 142833 c/n 11895
      • 08 Oct 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 09 Oct 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 23 Jan 1970 - NAF - NAF Detroit, MI
    • 142846 c/n 11908
      • 06 May 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 15 May 1969 - NAS - NAS Glenview, IL
      • 18 May 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 02 Feb 1970 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson AZ
  • Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk (Cont.)
    • 142866 c/n 11928
      • 19 Apr 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 23 Oct 1968 - Stricken - 3SO
    • 142868 c/n 11930
      • 03 Sep 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 20 Dec 1969 - NAS - NAS Memphis, TN
    • 142897 c/n 11959
      • 29 Oct 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 30 Oct 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 22 Jan 1970 - NAF - NAF Detroit, MI
    • 142905 c/n 11967
      • 15 Oct 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 23 Oct 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 15 May 1969 - NAS - NAS Glenview, IL
      • 18 May 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 03 Jul 1969 - NARTU - NAS Memphis, TN
      • 18 Jul 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 22 Jan 1970 - NAF - NAF Detroit, MI
    • 142910 c/n 11972
      • 02 Dec 1965 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 17 Aug 1966 - NAS - NAS Glenview, IL
      • 22 Sep 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 22 Apr 1968 - NARTU - NAS Jacksonville, FL
      • 01 May 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 23 Oct 1968 - Stricken - 3SO
    • 144885 C/N 12131
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS South Weymouth - Convert to TA-4B
      • 03 Feb 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 22 Mar 1969 - NAS - NAS South Weymouth, MA
    • 144903 C/N 12149
      • 01 Oct 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 02 Oct 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 26 Jan 1970 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 144904 C/N 12150
      • 17 Apr 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 20 Jan 1970 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 144939 C/N 12185
      • 26 Jan 1967 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 13 Jan 1970 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 144956 C/N 12202
      • 16 Oct 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 23 Oct 1964 - Storage - NAF Litchfield Park, AZ
    • 144999 C/N 12245
      • 31 Jul 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 22 Jan 1970 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 145004 C/N 12250
      • 09 May 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 10 May 1969 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 27 Jan 1970 - NAF - NAF Detroit, MI
    • 145031 C/N 12277
      • 18 Sep 1968 - NATC FLT TST - Convert to TA-4B
      • 19 Sep 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 29 Oct 1969 - NAS - NAS Memphis, TN
    • 145043 C/N 12289
      • 17 Jan 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 13 Jan 1970 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 145050 C/N 12296
      • 14 May 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 14 May 1969 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 22 Jan 1970 - NAF - NAF Detroit, MI

A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to NARTU:

  • Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk
    • 142084 c/n 11338
      • 18 Oct 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 01 May 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
    • 142694 c/n 11756
      • 16 Oct 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 13 Nov 1964 - Storage - NAF Litchfield Park, AZ
    • 142748 c/n 11810
      • 30 Sep 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 25 May 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 23 Oct 1968 - Stricken - 3S0
    • 142762 c/n 11824
      • 22 Aug 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 28 Feb 1965 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN (Last)
      • Assume Stricken - No further records found
    • 142798 c/n 11860
      • 07 Aug 1968 - NAS New Orleans - Convert to TA-4B
      • 14 Feb 1969 - NARTU - NAS Memphis, TN
      • 02 Mar 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
    • 142799 c/n 11861
      • 01 Oct 1964 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 04 Dec 1964 - Storage - NAF Litchfield Park, AZ
    • 142828 c/n 11890
      • 09 Jun 1964 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 26 Mar 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
    • 142846 c/n 11908
      • 08 Jul 1964 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 06 May 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
    • 142866 c/n 11928
      • 01 Jun 1964 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 19 Apr 1966 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
    • 142905 c/n 11967
      • 23 Oct 1968 - NAS Twin Cities - Convert to TA-4B
      • 03 Jul 1969 - NARTU - NAS Memphis, TN
      • 18 Jul 1969 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
    • 142910 c/n 11972
      • 24 Sep 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 02 Dec 1965 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
  • Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk
    • 142931 c/n 11993
      • 07 Nov 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 04 Feb 1964 - Stricken - 11J1
    • 144881 C/N 12127
      • 20 Oct 1964 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 08 Dec 1965 - VA-15 - NAS Cecil Field, FL
    • 144882 C/N 12128
      • 07 Nov 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 23 Sep 1965 - NAS - NAS New Orleans, LA
    • 144904 C/N 12150
      • 09 Oct 1964 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 17 Apr 1968 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
    • 144913 C/N 12159
      • 28 Nov 1965 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 29 Nov 1965 - VA-125 - NAS Lemoore, CA
    • 144915 C/N 12161
      • 17 Nov 1965 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 01 Apr 1966 - NARTU - NAS Alameda, CA
    • 144916 C/N 12162
      • 28 Sep 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 18 Nov 1965 - NARTU - NAS Norfolk, VA
    • 144922 C/N 12168
      • 27 May 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 28 Sep 1967 - NAS - NAS Los Alamitos, CA
    • 144927 C/N 12173
      • 25 Mar 1966 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 25 Feb 1968 - NAS - NAS Glenview, IL
    • 144939 C/N 12185
      • 23 Nov 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 26 Jan 1967 - NAS - NAS Twin Cities, MN
    • 144956 C/N 12202
      • 16 Oct 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 23 Oct 1964 - Storage - NAF Litchfield Park, AZ
    • 144957 C/N 12203
      • 20 Oct 1964 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 12 May 1965 - NARTU - NAS Memphis, TN
    • 144959 C/N 12205
      • 01 Oct 1963 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 01 May 1964 - Stricken - 1AA1
    • 144975 C/N 12221
      • 04 Nov 1964 - NART - NAS Twin Cities, MN
      • 12 Mar 1967 - Stricken - 1S

Theme by Danetsoft and Danang Probo Sayekti inspired by Maksimer