Shoreline station springs up at Dinner Key

The advent of World War I and the rise of aircraft for use in wartime operations greatly accelerated the need for skilled pilots. Following the U.S. entry into the war in April of 1917, Congress authorized a wave of federal spending of up to $650 million for military aeronautics, and pilot training programs were set up across the country. In October 1917, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels announced that a U.S. Naval aviation training station was to be built at Miami’s Dinner Key. The work proceeded rapidly. By January 1918, officers, men and students were able to occupy the barracks that had been erected even as work continued on dredging the adjacent bay and building additional facilities. Early photos show a very large naval air base in 1918.

Recreation and community

While the war was ongoing, at the station’s height of activity in 1918, NAS Miami was a beehive. Believing the Navy men needed healthy entertainment, a YMCA was built on the site. Local residents also hosted entertainments for the enlisted men. NAS cadets formed a baseball team which competed with local civilian teams and the Key West NAS team. The games were reported in the local newspapers and were highly popular with residents.

Distinguished record

It is estimated that during WWI, approximately 1,200 naval aviators were trained at Dinner Key, making it one of the key training facilities for seaplane pilots during the war. It was deemed the Navy’s most efficient training station for World War I, with 150 seaplanes at the station at all times. A record of flying every day for a year without weather interference was established which remained unbroken for at least another 20 years.

At left: Navy Curtiss HS-2L flies over Royal Palm Hotel at mouth of Miami River – 1918

Controversial deactivation moves ahead

After the war ended, in November 1918, arguments for and against deactivating the NAS among Miami residents became hotly contended. It appears that some wealthy Grove residents formed a lobby to have it deactivated, complaining about the noise. The County Commission, however, lobbied strenuously to keep the NAS open. The issue was settled conclusively in February of 1920 when the Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels, announced that the station was to be deactivated. The NAS was formally abandoned in May. Almost immediately, ads were placed in local newspapers by Aviation Salvage Co. offering the entire base up for sale, whole buildings at a time. Over the remaining months of 1920, the entire station was simply sold off.

At left: One of many announcements inviting Miamians to acquire materials or entire buildings being disposed of at the former Naval Air Station. Miami News May 4, 1920. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-miami-news-04-may-1920-an/163676041/