Nation’s first Naval Air Station is established in Pensacola
Country’s first Naval Aviators are trained at NAS Pensacola
“Annapolis of the Air”
Florida’s foremost spot in U.S. aviation history shines all the more brightly for its having been chosen as the home of the country’s first U.S. Naval Air Station. Built on the existing site of the Pensacola Navy Yard, which had been in operation since the 1820s, the Pensacola Naval Air Station was established in January of 1914. By the time the U.S. entered World War I, in April of 1917, NAS Pensacola was fully operational, training naval aviators and supporting various aviation activities. Sometimes referred to as the “Annapolis of the Air,” the Naval Air Station (NAS) at Pensacola continues to serve as the primary training ground for Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers and enlisted aircrewmen today. It focuses on training the world’s finest combat-quality Naval Flight Officers. Additionally, NAS Pensacola is home to the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the famous Blue Angels, who practice and train there. The National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola is one of the finest aviation museums in the world. A historic district within the base includes 55 historic buildings and six metal seaplane hangars.
Additional reading:
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-herald-06-jan-1914-an/158843527/