The Navy Department selected Fort Gordon in late 1940 as the site for a Naval Reserve Aviation Base. Contractors quickly turned what used to be an infantry training center during World War I into an airfield. The new base was officially commissioned and opened for business March 22, 1941 with the primary responsibility of training Navy and Marine Corps aviators. The base was officially designated U.S. Naval Air Station Atlanta in January 1943.
As wartime training was phased out, the Naval Air Reserve Training Program was activated. NAS Atlanta was ideally situated for training personnel from throughout the southeastern part of tho U.S. With the evolution of jet fighters and large patrol bombers, it soon became apparent that the limited area at Chamblee could not be used safely for very long.
In April l955, Congress appropriated more than $ 4 million to start building a new Naval Air Station at a more suitable location to allow longer runways. The site selected was a large military reservation jointly occupied by Dobbins Air Force Base and the Lockheed Company, between Marietta and Smyrna. The new air station was completed in April 1959.
The 1960s brought the first assigned tactical training jet to NAS, the Lockheed Seastar T2V. Further developments and changes were made to the air station as the years passed. The mid-1980's were years of transition and farewells. The retirement of the U.S. Navy's last C-118 Liftmaster, after 33 years of service, brought forward its replacement, the McDonnell Douglas C-9 "Skytrain" operated by Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 46 (VR-46).
In the 1990's there was phenomenal change and growth. Attack Squadron 205 (VA-205) transitioned from the A-7E Corsair to the A-6E, Intruder. Although VA-205 was decommissioned, an A-7 marks the entrance to the air station, and an A-6 stands watch over hanger 5. Fighter Attack Squadron 203 quickly filled their spot, bringing the advanced F/A-18 Hornet to Atlanta. In June 1992, the Marine presence was redefined as Marine Air Group 42 relocated to Atlanta, now an Air component of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with a full component of helicopter and fixed wing aviation. June of 1993 saw the standup of Marine Light Medium Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 (HMLA-773) and their UH-1 Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobras.
On November 18, 1995, Carrier Early Airborne Warning Squadron 77 (VAW-77) was commissioned, flying the E-2C Hawkeye. VAW-77, a Reserve Squadron serves with the US Coast Guard and other Federal Agencies to fight the war on drugs, providing sophisticated air and surface surveillance on traffic off the southern coast of the US. In September 1997, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142 (VMFA-142) joined the Atlanta Team, adding another F/A-18 squadron to the Air Station.
The Air Station was proudly awarded the Edwin F. Conway Trophy in 1987, 1993 for being the most efficient Naval Air Station in the Naval Reserve, and the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) won the Commander, Naval Reserve Force Robert S. Gray Maintenance Excellence Award in 1987 and 1992. In 1990 the air station was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for unprecedented accomplishments, consistent performance and unswerving dedication to duty. Other awards between 1988 and 1993 include: Secretary of Navy Energy Conservation Award; major claimant nominations for the Bronze Hammer Award, nomination for the Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award, and the 1992 Commander, Naval Air Reserve Force Safety Ashore Award.
The base is situated 20 miles north of Atlanta in Marietta, Georgia in Cobb County.
Main
phone numbers: commercial (678)655-6392 or
DSN 625-6392
Mailing
address: NAS Atlanta, 1000 Halsey Ave.,
Marietta, GA 30060-5099
Population:
1,483 active duty; 2,100 reservists; 2,500 family
members; 130 civilians
Housing: 10
family housing units, wait up to 24 months; 24
unaccompanied officer spaces; 92 unaccompanied enlisted
spaces (678)655-6515
Temporary
lodging: 33 temporary lodging units for
unaccompanied personnel only (678)655-6393
Family
Support Center: (678)655-6735
Schools: None
on base.
Child
Care: Center for 30, nine-month wait
(678)655-6590
Health
care: Clinics. Appointments
(678)655-5300; benefits (678)655-5314; also see Fort
Gordon
Recreation at Atlanta NAS - Marietta, GA
includes arts and crafts, bowling, library, auto hobby,
gym, tennis, swimming, outdoor activities, and camping.
