Requiem for Naval Air Station Alameda

Naval Air Station Alameda, now known as Alameda Point, sits quietly across the bay from San Francisco with stellar views of the Bay Bridge and downtown. It’s fascinated me for years.
The base closed in 1997 after 57 years of operation. Another casualty of the Base Realignment and Closures act, which killed off over 350 installations in the wake of the Cold War over five rounds of closures between 1988 and 2005.
Since the early 2000s, the city of Alameda has been slowly converting the former base into new housing projects and moved private companies into the historic structures, but the whole place still feels really empty and unfrequented. I’m not certain this part of the island will ever really get over the ghost of its former function.
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[@nickrrob]

Just wanted to say that I am very humbled by the reception to this vid. I didn't expect so many veterans to find it, and I'm honored by those who have added their stories in the comments here about NAS Alameda. Thank you all for your service and for taking the time to watch my little spin around the old base.

[@USSLKA-116]

Thank you doing this video Nick. USN Retired.

[@Navyvet787]

Nick, thank you for the Video, Visited this base in 1987, when stationed at Treasure Island. Brought back some memories. 😊

[@bananaking2782]

I was stationed aboard the USS Samuel Gompers AD 37 from 91 to 94. There were some good times there. Of course back then I always said I couldn't wait to get out. Got out and realized it was a mistake. Took my family back to Alameda 5 years ago. It had changed but really not that much. Wanted to show my kids where Dad would hang out when not on board. We got on the base and it was disheartening because I remember how it was. We toured the Hornet and my kids got a taste of what life was like for Dad before they were born. But before we toured I had to stop because the memories were so real. I saw the base as it is now, but in my mind? Just like I had never left. All the sights and sounds and smells all came flooding back so much that it brought tears to my eyes. Now I do maintenance work for a coalition for the homeless and my property is strictly veterans.

[@johndowning2231]

My late Dad was recalled to active duty and assigned to Oakland Naval Air Station (Now Oakland International). We traveled across country in our Chevy sedan in 1951 and lived on base housing at Alameda NAS. I was 4 years old when we moved there. For a young boy, it was a treat, watching the WWII aircraft, still inservice, flying around. Mom would take me down to the bayshore to watch the Mars flying boats land and take off. I remember Dad taking us down to the dock to see the USS Boxer when she was in port. My sister was born in the Alameda NAS base hospital. I went to kindergarten at Mastick School in Alameda. San Francisco was a magical place. Long ago, California was the home of dreams. When Dad was released, he had a job opportunity at the Oakland Tribune as a sports writer, but Mom wanted to go home to Wisconsin. And the rest is history. I used the Base BOQ at least once when I lived in Morgan Hill, CA and my Guard units was in Richmond.

[@sulevisydanmaa9981]

@John Downing WOW -WHAT A MEMORY : Martin Marses in front of little boy s eyezzzz. Got any pictures ? Seems like a purr-fect youth 4 a pac war buff. Very nice to read, most comments are inferior or superficial. DO read mine from above, just put. Didn t know of the demise. Since 97 ! Godspeed from Finland, been a USN /Pac-Korea war buff since my early teens, mid 70s - got meters of shelves of books, + modelling. Repeat : nice talkin to ya. Check my ... BROADSIDE ... .. .

[@johnslagboom1836]

I was on the USS Coral Sea from 1980 to 1983 as part of the Marine Detachment that guarded the Nukes onboard. My first time out on the Coral Sea was to test its recently installed CIWS self-defense Vulcan cannons! Did a tour in the Indian Ocean during the Iranian hostage crisis. We were in port Hawaii when President Reagan was shot. Thanks for making this video! It was a cool trip down memory lane!

[@Johnwilson-dl9nm]

Thanks for this video. I served as a photographer aboard the USS Hancock CVA - 19 out of Alameda 1959 - 1961. One of the greatest experiences of my life. This is where my adventure began. All the best.

[@jhollie8196]

I was stationed there from 77-80 as a Marine part of the MarDet, USS Coral Sea, CV-43. Was sad to see it shut down. Got married at the station Chapel in 1980. Memories!

[@dr.williamparker5060]

Been to that chapel...1978

[@jamesvehlewald2401]

Great Video, it brought back some fond memories. USS Independence CV-6 2 1975-1979

[@scottbuildsthemall5124]

I spent my last month in the Navy at Alameda after delivering the USS Abraham Lincoln there. Thanks for sharing what happened to the base!

[@michaelfedoryk1196]

I worked at NARF (Naval Air Rework Facility) Alameda overhauling A-6 Intruders from 1987 to 1990 in Hangar 11. Sad to see how it has decayed. Thanks for the video.

[@slowpoke96Z28]

My first home. Pops was stationed there. Too bad Oak Knoll Naval Hospital is no more.

[@geneard639]

I was on Det to NAS Alameda September of 1989. I loved that base, even if I was there for only 2 weeks. It was one of the very few places left in the Navy that the dry cleaning shop had a WWII era neckercheif roller. You could turn in your old soiled one, they would open it up to make sure it wasn't too bad and hand you a neckercheif rolled sharp and narrow as a pencil in a cardboard tube. NAS Norfolk was the only other base I knew that had that.

[@ussreeves]

Thanks for sharing this video. I was stationed there on USS Enterprise from 1974-1977 and this brings back a lot of memories.

[@moappleseider1699]

Thank you for your service. My dad did a Vietnam deployment on the "The Big E"

[@adrianosarto8705]

I landed there with a Grumman T-S2A back in spring 1973 in a stop over during a cross country flight from Nas Corpus Christi 😊

[@randymeyer6482]

I was stationed at KNGZ (Alameda) for my first tour, from early 73 to 76. I was an Aerographer's Mate, an Observer then Section Leader at the Naval Weather Service Environmental Detachment, located one floor below Air Traffic Control, in the OPS Bldg next to the airstrip. Some of the best years, ever. AG2 when I left for C7 school, the did 3.5 years at NAS Barber's Pt, HI...two tough duty stations...

[@BlueCore2010]

Thank you for making this video my grandpa was born on third street in 1925 almost nearby the Base. But my grandpa told me when he was growing up he remembered before it was a Naval Air Station, it was nothing but Mud flats and he also remembered that there were US Marines Guarding the mud flats and Navy personnel with tents. That was the starting planning for the Alameda Naval Air Station. My grandpa served in the Navy in WWII, wasn’t stationed in Alameda but has his grandson, I will always called it Alameda Naval Air Station. New generations are forgetting that these Bases are a reminder that our men and women of the past fought for our country. We cannot forget. Alameda Naval Air Station took part in one of WWII secret missions and that was the Doolittle Raid.

[@joenop3393]

I am so touched by these types of Videos......As an Air Force veteran I'm humbled, I often wonder what the Men and Women who worked at these bases are doing now. Their sweat, tears and blood have helped America maintain its Freedom. It's quiet now......as if these bases will one day awaken to a new threat and will once again do what they've always done........ Serve! Thanks!!

[@billpeterson178]

I was stationed onboard the Carl Vinson, and homeported in Alameda in 1983/84. Lots of fond memories of the base.

[@davidboaz5600]

First memories of my life took place here. Dad served on Midway and Enterprise in mid 70s. Best deep water port on west coast. It was small but the tide was never a factor unlike shallow San Diego harbor.

[@moappleseider1699]

My dad did a Vietnam deployment on the "The Big E"

[@Pookiepup1]

I was stationed at the US Army Personnel Center at Oakland Army Base from 1969-71. We were just across the estuary from Alameda NAS. Their PX was much larger than our tiny one so I did some shopping there. I even bought my wife's engagement ring there. (It must have worked, 52 years and counting.) After the Army, I commuted across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco and at times the jets taking off from NAS would be screaming just above the bridge. Sorry to see it close.

[@brentblasi7899]

my first duty station was NAS Alameda VA-23, 1960. What a great place.

[@johnanton6049]

Thank you so much for this video. I was stationed at NAS Alameda from 1991 to 1994 with the helicopter mine countermeasure squadron HM-15. It was some of the best times of my Navy career and of my life in general. Great to see that some of the base is being reapropriated but rather sad to see the shape of my old barracks and other buildings.

[@wramsey2656]

My dad was stationed at Alameda among other bases in his 22 years as a fighter pilot and officer (Commander John W Ramsey 1941-1963 USN with VF-11/VF-111 Sundowners. He was even on CV-12 Hornet for his 2nd WESPAC tour in 1944. Looking at the old base is sad as i wonder when he was there it must have been in its hay-day. He was also stationed at Miramar among others. Thanks for the video it was very clear. The museum ship looks like it has slowed down with fewer exhibits on deck than when i was there in 2018. His picture is in one of the exhibits with The Sundowners exhibit rooms. I think his last stay there at Alameda was in 1959 as Ex-O of the USS Oriskany upgrade across the bay in dry-dock. Thanks again for the video.

[@dmutant2635]

Their F-14 and F-4 are currently displayed on the hangar deck. The Phantom is getting some new paint. The sun takes it toll on the old birds. They also have an F-8 Crusader, TA-4J, F4F and a C-2 Trader. In fact the Hornet has salvaged parts from the Oriskany. Her last or next to last berth was at Hunter's Point before she was towed to the Gulf of Mexico and converted into an artificial reef. An old friend used to fly Panthers with VF-111 back in Korea....

[@wramsey2656]

@@dmutant2635 Great info friend. Somehow i never knew CV12 had parts from Oriskany which is something extra special to me. You see my dad was also on the Oriskany in 1959 as Ex-O in charge of her refit at Alameda (training the crew in prep for their sea trials after upgrades also). A hearty thank you friend, this is something really special i did not know. That project in 1959 was his last ship assignment before working at BUWEPs until retirement in Dec 1963. God bless!

[@dmutant2635]

@@wramsey2656 You might like the book Over the Beach by Zalin Grant. It's about the O-boat's Vietnam war cruise(s). My uncle was flying off the Intrepid around the same time the Oriskany was over there. He sent me an autographed photo from a Crusader pilot who'd just shot down the Navy's first Mig-21 kill, flying from Oriskany. A great ship. Keep the faith.

[@wramsey2656]

@@dmutant2635 Awesome information i will do that. The Navy wanted dad to consider being captain of a CV but by then he had been thru two wars (WWII & Korea) seen a lot of death, shot down 4 IJN fighters, been in two plane crashes, etc etc its a long unbelievable list even to me. By then he was tired and declined. He did want to ready the guys on the Big O for their deployment and he did. Somehow after 4 Navy flying Crosses he survived, it was a miracle i was ever born. I loved him.

[@michaelbandeko3519]

I called NAS Alameda home for 9+ years of my Navy career. 3 separate tours there. Some probably didn't know it was home to the largest Naval Air Reserve Unit in the Navy. That Richard M Nixon served there. It was my very first duty station after training and my last shore duty assignment before retirement. I remember my time there fondly :)

[@courtlandbates2683]

My late father, Corbett Bates, was part of the electrical shop on NAS Alameda for over 30 years and three wars. I was an electrician on the USS Abraham Lincoln from 92-94 stationed there, as well. Thank you for the video.

[@JamesJeisel]

Brings back some really good memories. I was aboard Enterprise from 11-66 thru 6-70 as a nuke MM in M Div. #4 plant. Loved coming home from WestPac and seeing the wife and friends on the pier. Now I have family that live in Alameda and love it. I've visited the old NAS Alameda many times, but the last time was about 5 years ago. Handicaps having me sticking closer to home.

[@moappleseider1699]

My dad did a Vietnam deployment on the "The Big E". Thank you for your service.

[@joachimgoethe7864]

Lot's of fond memories of NAS Alameda. Was stationed there 81-82. Hard to see it all boarded up and abandoned. Place was a hub of military and civilian personnel 40 years ago. Aircraft carriers were homeported there as well as other naval ships. Now, it's a ghost town. I Google earth the place and was sad to see the barracks were I lived for 18 months run down with graffiti on the walls. Nothing stays the same. Time marches on.

[@thesmartershepherd5524]

I was in SF in 2018 and spent a whole day alone walking around NAS Alameda. It did feel ghostly, and somehow wrong that it was no longer a base. Hornet was great and I concluded my day at Almanac Brewing =) Great video you posted-brought back a memorable day.

[@bajamedic]

The fact there is no longer a Naval base in the bay is a damn shame. I used to live down the road from NAS Alameda and would ride and run through there, it’s amazing.

[@dfunited1]

Over the years, and during the pandemic especially, Alameda Navy base is a great place to walk, bike, or drive without real vehicle traffic. It's a nice corner of the Bay that isn't on the way anywhere. The military buildings and miles of concrete make it great place to get relative peace and quiet. Or to push your vehicles to the limit with an amazing backdrop.

[@oveazeus1]

Thanks for a great video. I was stationed there from 70'-73' as an air traffic controller. I spent many a watch, rotating 3 8hr shifts, 24/7, at that tower. Arguably the best view of the "City"

[@USATA45auto]

You must have talked to my dad, he was a pilot in VR30 and commanded it if I remember before he retired.

[@dogsense3773]

In high school I was there on a field trip, and a air plane crashed into some housing area there, I think it was 1972

[@oveazeus1]

@@dogsense3773 I was the air controller on watch when that crash happened. I believe it was in Feb. Normal positions, at minimum, are three controllers. One to handle flight data, one to control ground traffic and another to control aircraft in the air. That night I was the controller handling air traffic (landings and take offs, etc. That night a Navy A-7 flying a training mission as a flight of two just fell out of the sky from over 20,000 feet. At that altitude aircraft are handled by civilian controllers. As fate would have it the jet crashed less than 3 miles from Alameda NAS. It was never under our control, I can attest to that. There is more to this story for anyone that is interested.

[@Starguard631]

The base looks beautiful, then i feel for the carrier all alone and seemingly distant to the roaring city it protected for years behind it.

[@ds94541]

Thank you for this video. I was stationed there from 87-91 at the Comm. Center. Lot's of memories. I'm still in the Bay Area and one day I will head over and take a drive around.

[@ronaldschild157]

Thank you so much for producing and posting this. The videography is fantastic! You picked a picture-perfect day to do your filming. I visited the USS Hornet in the last few years. It is definitely an old ship. Its main claim-to-fame is recovery of the Apollo 11 astronauts. The ship has the original quarantine station the Apollo 11 crew was isolated in, after splashdown, inside the hangar. At the time, no one from NASA knew if there were powerful space microbes present the astronauts may be bringing back to earth and wreaking global havoc. So, consequently they had to be isolated for a period. The Hornet also recovered the following Apollo 12 astronauts with less media fanfare. The irony about the Hornet's role in the Apollo missions is the ship itself was powered by an already-then--antiquaited steam plant. It took a full 20 minutes and an entire engine room crew to affect a change in speed.

[@johnmarkley2620]

I was stationed at NAS Alameda from 1993 to 1995. I work in electronics repair division. Our office was just below the tower. During the summer and warm days we would gather at our remote field communication site. We hung out on the edge of the water across San Francisco watch the lights turn on as the sun went down. It difficult for people to understand sometimes that it was superfund waste hazards site. It had left over bombs, ammunition, containment land from the in ground fuel tank from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. It was good to see it again

[@cageordie]

According to the report it had all sorts shoved off the end and then covered over, they mentioned aircraft engines and paint tins specifically. For all the years I lived on the island they were continuously running water through the ground to extract chemicals. One of the odd things was that when the aircraft left so did the birds. Initially, after the base closed, I could cycle all round, and did. But they fenced off the runways to protect the birds that never came back. Odd symbiosis, aircraft and birds.

[@johnmclaughlin4292]

Thank you for the trip down memory lane. I grew up in the East Bay area and passed by Alameda many times. Ended up doing 23 years of mostly honorable duty in the Navy including being stationed here on USS Carl Vinson after her SLEP in Bremerton. Too bad they had to close it down, but it made a lot of sense financially. Thanks again for the tour.

[@clarksvilletnlandscapingse6985]

Was there 78-82, VA-304 and last two years AIMD. Lived in 3 different locations off base last 2 years. Best was above Stone's cyclery shop down on the corner of Park ST. I've been back a few times, last being in 2015. Stayed in an apt basement of a Victorian home on Central ave with my wife. She loved it. I'll be back someday in the near future.

[@garysavage5997]

I was born there in 1954 when my dad was stationed there flying Cougars off the Oriskany.

[@BigDaddy-dr8gf]

My dad was stationed at NAS Alameda from 1952 to 54. I was born at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital (Oakland) in 1953. He was a 25 year veteran of the Navy and retired out of NAS Moffett Field in 1968. He was an Atomic Veteran and died of cancer in 1978. God bless our veterans.

[@goobfilmcast4239]

I was stationed at Mare Island Naval Base in Vallejo. Made quite a few visits to Alameda. I am in awe of just how big it was (is). Never saw it from above.

[@sgtzsquad]

I floated out in 1978 with my Marine Harrier Squadron Detachment for Kadena AFB on an LPH from the station. I didn't know it had closed.

[@DardanellesBy108]

This was my dad’s last duty station, ‘71-‘74. After his retirement our family still spent lots of time here since it was our primary location for shopping including groceries. Also my dad would take me there for Arm Forces Day and other open house events. I got to go on USS Enterprise, USS Coral Sea, and a few other ships back in the ‘70s. When I was in the Navy I was down at Moffett Field NAS. Everything all closed now except for Camp Parks in Dublin.

[@HrdRockFan]

I was briefly stationed onboard USS Coral Sea CV-43 at NAS Alameda. Really enjoyed my time in that area. It was so laidback compared to the cities surrounding it. Sad to see the base in its current condition.

[@wgaswyt]

Stumbled across your channel searching for vids on old bases. I use to live on base from 90-92. Typical Navy family station time. I've lived in many places but this was my favorite and most memorable as it was my dad's last duty station. I can remember the day the Gulf War began. George Bush Sr was in office. Alameda NAS was still the Carl Vinson's home port. I lived in Officer's housing just outside the East gate that I always thought was the main gate. The A-7 Corsair is on the stick at this gate. Not sure if its still there. Many good memories. Thanks for making this.

[@dmutant2635]

Nice video, Nick. Thanks. I've seen pictures of Alameda when those ramps were packed with aircraft coming from and going to Vietnam. One year they had an airshow (88-89?) and the traffic through the tubes was so bad they city made them promise not to do it again.....There used to be an old viewing tower at the end of 7th St. in Oakland. It was a great place to watch the A-4s and A-6s launch and recover.😊

[@oldvet7547]

So sad. There may come a day we will wish we still had some of these bases.

[@westsailfortytwo1950]

HM2 stationed at dispensary (you missed in video :( ) 1972-1975. I remember the Big E playing with the HMAS Melbourne or via versa. USN pilots had a harder time on hitting the smaller Melbourne flight deck. Coral Sea and Midway both caught fire while berthed. A7 pilot lighting a smoke up at 30K AGL and crashing in town plus many more eventful moments. Won't go into evil empire (CA) so thanks for video!

[@robertbeaty4909]

I was on the USS Dixie AD-14. We were across the pier from the Coral Sea when my enlistment was up on Sept 29 1980. A couple days before I got out the Coral Sea was host to the Oakland Raiders cheerleaders, we were on the signal bridge of the Dixie with the Big Eyes. LOL Fun times! Unfortunately the Coral Sea was towed to Baltimore for scrapping. :(

[@cdrocrossdiscovery]

I used to shop at the Exchange when I was stationed in the Bay Area. (1989-1992 Yea, I was there for Loma Prieta.) Many Good memories.

[@andrek1709]

I grew up in the Bay Area when there when all of the installations/bases were active, including NAS Alameda. Now, only Travis AFB in Fairfield remains.

[@aardque]

As a boy I visited Enterprise when it still had the square tower, the first version, that would have been around 72-74. Also went on a submarine there around the same time. A few years later a Skyhawk taking off from there crashed into the Bay Bridge.

[@moappleseider1699]

My dad did a Vietnam deployment on the "The Big E". She had probably just finished he deployment when you saw her.

[@richardhenson3028]

I was stationed aboard USS Enterprise and Alameda was our home port. Miss the place.

[@ussreeves]

I was stationed on USS Enterprise there from 1974-1977.

[@mikegallant811]

I would have to assume that this base in the video was the one that Uhura and Chekov were trying to find in the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home! 😅

[@alexanderscott9001]

@@mikegallant811 I was wondering that too! I'm assuming it is with the Enterprise there. Didn't know they closed it

[@moappleseider1699]

My dad did a Vietnam deployment on the "The Big E"

[@garrycoston491]

Kind of reminds me of Naval Air Station Cecil Field in Jacksonville Florida, not by the water, but at least they made Cecil a Space Port and Commercial Air Base, etc.

[@johnm.5848]

I was stationed on the USS Arkansas CGN 41 in the late 80s when she was homeported at Alameda with the USS Enterprise CVN 65, USS Carl Vinson CVN 70 and USS Samuel Gompers.

[@muskaos]

I used to walk by the husk of the Arkansas in 1998 as she was being defueled in PSNS. My ship _USS Kitty Hawk_ was there for 3 months in the start of 1998 to get her screws and rudders replaced. Now she is in TX being busted up for scrap. I served 20 years, 1994-2014, and I think the Navy should never have given up Alameda. There is no naval port between San Diego and Bremerton now.

[@patrickmccrann991]

My grandfather helped expand Camp Devens in Massachusetts into Fort Devens during World War II. Home of the 26th "Yankee" Division that saw service in Northern Europe during the war. Another longtime base that served into the early 90s. Fort Devens went through a huge renovation in the early 80s to serve the New England National Guard units. After spending millions of dollars to upgrade facilities throughout the base, they closed it down less than 10 years later. Now these units have to train at Fort Drum, NY several hundred miles away. Fort Devens was the last Army base in New England, all the others had already been closed.

[@scottmanthey3092]

Thank you for this video. It brought back many memories. I was stationed there on the Vinson from '88-'90.

[@Richardzmaxdragway]

The aircraft that I worked on in the Navy are now museum pieces and naval Air station Miramar no longer exists it's a Marine corps base now. Two of the aircraft carriers that I served on are now scrap metal somewhere in a scrap metal yard. And the naval Air station that I spent 3 years at is now closed? The only thing left of my naval career is a few photos and myself. Soon even that will be gone.

[@elefja1]

A lot of the base is a Superfund cleanup zone. From what I saw online, of the 34 sites only three have final plans drawn out. The city of Alameda is basically waiting for the Navy to make these areas habitable again

[@slycer2002]

I was on the USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 when she did her Noah’s Ark move (aircraft carrier full of personal vehicles) from NAS Alameda to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA in late 1995.

[@aj-2savage896]

My "local" bank when stationed at NAS Fallon, Nevada, was the NAS Alameda Federal Credit Union. I remember when NARF Alameda got the contract to rehab the cable system for SF's cable car system. The BOQ in the 80s was like stepping back into the 40s. Art deco oozed from everyplace aboard. And, by all means, support the USS Hornet Museum. Subscribe to their e-newsletter and see what it's all about. You might be surprised.

[@richardbelsky7098]

Fallon was a great little town ,grew up in Fernley Nv nearby . Smallest navy base i spent time on was Oakland Naval supply station in California onboard the USS Mars.

[@TheSoCalRealtor]

I was on the Vinson and stationed at Alameda. So many memories. Thanks for sharing.

[@margaretadler6162]

I was home ported in Alameda when I was a crew member on the Enterprise in 1972 Dl Neal

[@tedwpx123]

I was on the USS Ranger for 5 years that was home ported at Alameda. Great base club and pool

[@samuelmelton9995]

We lived on the base when I was a kid from 1968-1972. My father was Robert Melton. He was on the USS Ranger also. I remember Bob Hope did a Christmas special on the USS Ranger. My mom let me and my siblings stay up late to watch the special to see if we could spot my dad on the special. I went to school the next day to brag to my friends that my dad was on the Bob Hope.

[@SolarHarvestSolutions]

I was stationed there 77-81 , USS Kansas City AOR-3 refuel and supply, fueled constellation coral sea enterprise just a name a few, sad to see this…

[@sarapbuhay5519]

I was aboard the USS Wichita AOR1 homeported in Alameda in 1978-79.

[@juanpena7436]

Nick thanks for making this video this base was my home from sept 85 to sept 89 what great memories thanks

[@davidyetter5409]

I was stationed in Alameda on the USS Tulare LKA 112 in the mid seventies. So different seeing the emptiness now. What a waste of a great port. Was also at MINSY, TI. and Hunters Point for short periods of time. The entire area has gone downhill since the military has been removed.

[@dingo8babym20]

My Dad was here in February of 1940. NAS Alameda was the site of Elimination Base for Naval aviator Cadets. I have pictures of him on the flight line. He became squadron commander of VT-25, USS Cowpens.

[@jhbright]

Well done! Great footage Nick.

[@blech71]

I remember in the 80’s I was standing o it there waiting on the Enterprise to bring my u clue back and we had to wait hours cause the ship got stuck on a shallow mud bank. Bad day for that captain.

[@DardanellesBy108]

That was an interesting case to me. Lots of times for a captain in that situation it’s career over. That captain went in to become a four star admiral - Admiral Robert J. Kelly.

[@MrGPMcMahon]

I was stationed on the USS Oriskany CVA-34, home-ported at Alameda 1970/72

[@donalddodson7365]

Nick, I wonder if the old Main Chapel on the main green is still there? You showed a wooden Chapel, but my memory is of a red tiled roof, Mission Style. In early September 1969 Oakland Army Base Transit Depot (a few miles north) was so full, the Army sent a squad of us down to Alameda Naval Air Station for storage. I thought this might mean my orders to Vietnam were being rescinded. Unfortunately, my orders finally caught up with me. I attended Navy Chapel Service hours before returning to Oakland, and entering Building 14 or 26 ¿?, from which there was "no return." God honored my prayers made in that Chapel. I returned from Vietnam in September 1970. Now 60% Rated, but alive!

[@dwcobb43]

Donald I am a volunteer at the USS Hornet yes the chapel is still there. If you Google map it. It's on the corner of W. Red Line and Saratoga. I will be down at the base in a couple weeks if you want to email me I will send you pictures

[@donalddodson7365]

@@dwcobb43 Great. Is there a "private message" feature in KZbin?

[@sfs11c]

My Dad was stationed here...USS Ranger...lived in housing went to school at Encinal HS...sophomore n junior years.

[@dr.williamparker5060]

My dad was stationed there.I lived on bainbridge streat and went to school at woodstock and longfellow

[@cageordie]

HA! I lived in Alameda for most of my 20 years in CA. I used to cycle round the base after work before heading home, at the other end of Alameda. One of my friends was an admiral's assistant there at the end of its time with the USN, he couldn't stand to go back. I got there right before flying stopped, so initially I couldn't go onto the base, but we could sit on the deck at the original Chevy's and watch aircraft land overhead. The day security disappeared from the gates was surreal. One day I couldn't go in, and then there was nothing stopping me. I cycled up to where I should have had to stop, round at the entrance next to the Alameda Channel, and there was nobody to stop me. I didn't go in that night, not until I checked with longer term locals. I was there the night that barracks building burned, the cop who I asked said it was probably a homeless person... then he said "where were you half an hour ago". I put him on the phone with my lawyer and he lost interest. Incredible that he was trying to put me in the box for arson when I only stopped to ask what was happening. I volunteered on the Hornet for a short time, but the work I was interested in was reserved for experienced ex navy people, One thing I learned is that the keel plate doesn't say Hornet. There used to be more big ships there. I am surprised the USCG didn't take over the base, it would put their ships (cutters I suppose) closer to the ocean and give them more space, and also would have allowed them to bring in the C-130s instead of operating them out of the base north east of Sacramento. Sad to see the place declining, but it was way expensive to live there, too expensive for me. I swapped coasts.

[@deannmerliederion6310]

I grew up and lived here 80-95. It saddens me to see the base like this.

[@Martin_L478]

In the game GTA San Andreas, I don't remember if it was officially given a name, but the naval base in San Andreas was featured as a nod to Alameda. The time period of the game was the early 90s so the base was still active with military personnel guarding it. The main protagonist CJ would get shot at if he wandered into the base. Just a personal note, I was stationed in Fort McClellan Alabama which was also on the list of shut down bases, part of the Base Realignment Act. I was part of one of the last units before being transferred to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri. Right now, most of the structuresame of that base are being torn down and decrepit. What's left of that base is being used by the Alabama National Guard. It's sad to see so much military history disappearing like that.

[@SuperSirianRigel]

I still remember how this base; and the USS Enterprise, featured in the 80's Star Trek movie, "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." You ever wanna see just a small glimpse of it while open and the USS Enterprise carrier check it out.

[@Coffeeman-yq6xu]

USS Enterprise was out to sea during filming. USS Ranger, which was in San Diego, was actually used for the movie.

[@SuperSirianRigel]

@@Coffeeman-yq6xu Well. They say "Enterprise" in the movie. That's all I was going off of. lol.

[@mikegallant811]

@@SuperSirianRigel that's okay the USS ranger was just masquerading as the Enterprise. In any event they needed to find a nuclear powered naval vessel to get the photons to recrystallize the Klingon bird of prey's dilithium crystals. Oh well, sometimes that kind of stuff can happen when you wind up using a ship that gets its dilithium crystals from Rural Penthe, although they might have been from Praxis for all we know! 🤣 Because this was before Star Trek 6 so praxis hadn't gone boom yet!

[@fredwood1490]

I've noticed that sadness around old military bases, even the half dead ones seem to be waiting for something to come back. The bus at Quonset Point back in the sixties would wind its way around the functioning part of the base then venture into the empty parts, where signs would announce this Sea Bee battalion or that one, there even was a carved boulder where the command center of one World War Two battalion once was, and not a building in sight. Like loose pages from a history book, or a romance novel, there was the sense of stories being lost and something important dying. Quonset Point is a housing development now, so is Rosey Rhodes and the half of Puerto Rico that once was military bases, a better use some say, but something must be lost for something else to be gained and time washes all things away, even memories and old forts, but that carved boulder will remain for a thousand years and that means something.

[@glennkistner4954]

Had a good job in the early 80s working at NARF good ole days

[@robertcaturegli3982]

What a great video. If you have not already done so, I hope you will visit the Alameda Naval Air Museum, open Saturdays 10-3 p.m. across the Seaplane lagoon from the Hornet.

[@zacharyfindlay-maddox171]

I spent two weeks there doing Naval Sea Cadet boot camp in June of 1996! My grandpa was there during ww2. I later served in the Marines at Marine Barracks Washington

[@robburns4176]

The runway was transformed into the highway chase scene location for the second Matrix movie. The high walls of the set hid it's actual location.

[@vicdonovan5758]

HM3 at the NRMC branch clinic there from 1980 to 83.I was there when the Big E got stuck in the mud , think she was coming back from dry dock at Bremerton after a 2 year refit .

[@dogsense3773]

Was fishing in my boat that day and saw the hole thing

[@anthonyziegler7829]

The reason, I would guess, that the city is not taking it over more quickly is that the soil there is very contaminated. I did some work at NAS Jax and they had signs on some areas of grass to keep off. You were to keep off because the soil was so toxic. I assume it is no different there. They dumped so much stuff into the water and soil back before there were environmental regs.

[@jefferycsm]

What’s your proof?! Signs saying “Stay off the Grass”, don’t count either.

[@danteaubert3645]

@@jefferycsm If you'd spend 30 seconds looking it up, you'd find that NAS Jacksonville is a Superfund site.

[@jefferycsm]

@@danteaubert3645 I did. The EPA noted specifically in 1999 that the fuel farms were the primary areas of contamination. After 23 years of remediation I think the statement of stay off the grass because the soil is so toxic is a wild overstatement. If it was THAT bad, they wouldn’t let anyone on the base at all unless you were wearing a hazmat suit. Have a Merry Christmas.

[@stellarose2579]

@@jefferycsm I grew up near Alameda and it's well known that the airfields are irradiated, there's radiation warning signs everywhere. The main parts of the base are safe but once you get out into the closed off areas out in the air fields it gets fairly bad.

[@dfirth224]

In the 1960s it was decided to move the naval air station about 150 miles south to Lemoore in Kings County where there was an unused WWII air field. The main advantage is lots of wide open spaces and sparsely populated areas. Alameda city and county was against the move because of the loss of the federal payroll money. Several crashes in the Alameda area sealed the deal to move.

[@gbr1960]

Alameda and Lemoore would both become my duty stations.

[@ZekeUlrey]

That was quite moving. Well done.

[@jasonbabila6006]

I had an uncle my dad’s brother who was stationed there during the 70’s.

[@dirtystatic9290]

Sad to see her in her current state. NAS Alameda was home for me from '91 - '96.

[@johnmagill7714]

That base should never have been shut down.

[@carolinafrog4365]

of my 11 uncles, 8 were stationed there at one time or another, and i believe one was part of the base closure staff, its hard seeing a Post WW2 workhorse station looking so solemn, sooner or later, Whitby Island and San Diego are going to need dock refits, sure wish we hadnt let this treasure go!

[@apryason]

I remember going to an air show here, sitting in a fighter jet cockpit, and touring the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier.

[@michaelchristensen5421]

The Bay Area got what they wanted with the 1994 BRAC, every military installation in the Bay Area closed. They didn't understand that billions of dollars were pumped into the local areas by the military members. Once they found out after the bases were starting to be shut down they wanted the bases back because of all the list revenue that the military members took with them to other bases. I was stationed here from May 1991 through September 1994. My old squadron hangar is now Hangar 1 Vodka.

[@califinn]

Easy on the facts buddy, because a make believe reality matters more than actual reality. As long as it makes their fragile sensibilities feel good, they'll vote for it or force others to pay taxes for it. I hate the Bay Area, but it's still a place where dumb taxpayers vote for massive contracts - which I happily take full advantage of. Love taking from California taxpayers' money...they're stupid voters, and they all deserve to be broke.

[@michaelchristensen5421]

@@califinn They didn't realize how much it would effect the local economy until 1996. Most commands and bases were still around for all of 1994 and some into 1995. 1996 is when they started seeing the real financial situation that they created. I have lots of friends who live out in the Bay Area. They have excellent jobs but I prefer living in the country side and in the woods where I can do what I went when I want and that includes shooting firearms on my property. You definitely cannot do that in the Bay Area.

[@tylerpoling7888]

I was stationed there on the USS Mars (AFS-1) 1991-1992.

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

Stationed there 87-90 HM-15 good memories there.

[@Adalla]

Thanks for sharing. Amazing video.

[@slowpoke96Z28]

3:23, thanks a lot Clinton.

[@darweb3417]

San Francisco was once a supportive Navy Town. But not since WWII, decline started in the 60s.

[@jhollie8196]

Diane Finestein (sp) made it a point to have it shut down. My father in-law was always saying she is ruining this country.

[@dogsense3773]

She had nothing to do with the closing, the u.s government wanted them close, no matter what, I had 20 years on these bay area bases went they closed

[@joelgalvan8358]

Coast guard boot camp, use to be in Alameda . Semper paratus.

[@ronaldschild157]

You're correct. Although, technically the Coast Guard boot camp (now USCG Support Center Alameda) was on an adjacent sub-island to Alameda Island called, what else? - Coast Guard Island.

[@westsailfortytwo1950]

@@ronaldschild157 I thought it was named "GOAT ISLAND"

[@JimCTSCLO]

The Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) was also stationed at Alameda.

[@joelgalvan8358]

Oddball, naval airstation, Grand prairie, Texas. Next to small lake.

[@DSJVNdsjnvf4356]

Navy Base is lit 🔥

[@glennyork6800]

So so sad., same with Charleston S.C. Naval base

[@westsailfortytwo1950]

An NRMC Charleston ... gone