I am not sure when the booklet from which the photos were taken was published. The base Captain was Virgil C. Griffin.

WELCOME ABOARD NAS BARBER'S POINT

From the U. S. Naval Air Station, Barber's Point, Oahu, T.H. Welcome Aboard Brochure Circa 1956
Contributed by AEM2 Ronald P. Doran ron379@msn.com [21FEB98]

We hope you will find the coming months both profitable and enjoyable. Those who have been at NAS BARBER'S POINT in the past know that this station is one of the finest support facilities in the Pacific.

Every man in the Navy constantly strives to be a part of the winning team our service produces. This booklet has been prepared to help all new men get "squared away" as soon as possible so that they can feel at home and take advantage of the many benefits this Command offers its men.

HISTORY

BARBER'S POINT, NAVAL AIR STATION, comprising 3,693 acres of land is located on the coral plains 25 miles by road from Honolulu. The station is near the point named for the unfortunate Captain Henry Barber of the British Brig "Arthur", which was wrecked during a tropical storm on the coral reef in 1769. Hawaiian legend hints that the area now occupied by the air station may once have been the floor of that coral reef--and that the station on this foundation may, as Hawaiian name (Long Cape) implies, hang suspended over the fathomless sea.

BARBER'S POINT, under construction just two months before the Pearl Harbor attack and commissioned on 15 April 1942, is now one of the Navy's largest air stations. The story of its rise from the wilderness of coral and tangled brambles to an efficient military power-house in the space of a few months, is one of the sagas of American productive genius.

WORLD WAR TWO AT BARBER'S POINT; During the war, the station became one of the busiest air bases in the world, handling more take-offs and landings in a 24 hour period than known of any other air field. Training squadrons maintained a pool for replacement of carrier pilots. Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 2, which was based at this station, contributed greatly to the war effort by servicing planes assigned to the USS LEXINGTON, YORKTOWN and ENTERPRISE. Air groups from the USS HORNET, SARATOGA and ESSEX were based at this station for changes, modifications and extended training before rejoining their ships. British Fighter Squadrons from HMS VICTORIOUS came to the station for night flying refresher training. At the termination of the war, carrier airplanes were pooled at this station, while the "MAGIC CARPET" carrier fleet returned personnel to the Continental United States.

The assembly and repair department, one of the largest and best in the Pacific, set an impressive war-time record--345 airplane engines given overhaul and checks in a single month and in less than a year of peak operation, turned out 2,500 engines.

The supply department maintained a 150 acre plane-pool storage area and supplied squadrons bound for the forward area with all necessary parts and replacements.

PRESENT MISSION: Upon the closing of the other air stations in the Hawaiian area in 1949, NAVAL AIR STATION, BARBER'S POINT ass.-med support of all naval air operations in this area.

BARBER'S POINT during the Korean conflict assumed its previous role as a supporting activity for fleet squadrons and transport squadrons supplying the UNITED NATIONS FORCES with vital cargo and replacement personnel.

STATION ORGANIZATION

NAS BARBER'S POINT is under the Military control of Commander, Naval Air Bases, 14ND.

Internally, NAS BARBER'S POINT has 9 departments which are divided into divisions. The departments are Administrative, Operations, Communications, Supply and Fiscal, Public Works, Medical Dental, Security and Industrial Relations.

The Tale of Captain Barber

The Barbers Point tale first emerged from vintage Pacific lore, when a vicious tropical depression battered the southwest coastline of Oahu. As evening approached on October 31, 1796, despite all other sea captains holding their ships in port, Captain Henry Barber hoisted anchor on his 100-foot brig, Arthur. Shortly into his fateful journey, the Arthur was deluged by the wind, rain and pounding surf. The ship went down, taking with it all but Captain Barber and six of his crew. The seven Sailors managed to struggle ashore near a tract of land referred to by native Hawaiians as "Kalaeloa" (long cape or headland), a legendary birthplace of Hawaiian Kings. Kalaeloa, which was left in its pristine state until the 1900's, was now referred to as Barbers Point.

Military Activity

In the early 1930's, the Navy leased a 3,000 square foot piece of land from the Estate of James Campbell. This tract was to he used as a mooring location for the dirigible, Akron. Once the original lease expired (1940), the Navy purchased in excess of 3,500 acres from Campbell Estate. This purchase laid the groundwork for the Ewa Marine Corps Air Station, which later became NAS Barbers Point. The site, chosen for its ideal peacetime air training atmosphere, was completed in early 1941. Concurrently with the groundbreaking, plans were already being developed for an expansion of naval aviation facilities at Barbers Point.

As construction surged forward near the end of 1941, the December 7, Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor marked the entrance of the United States into World War II. Although the attack was concentrated at Pearl Harbor, Wheeler AFB and Hickam Field, the Marine Corps Air Station at Ewa (and its supporting equipment) experienced a great deal of damage. Nine of eleven total Wildcats, 19 of 32 scout bombers and all six utility aircraft were rendered inoperable. This attack, along with the increasing need for additional facilities to train pilots, led to an extensive construction project. As the war raged in the Pacific Theater, the troop and equipment capacity of the base more than doubled.

Although only partially completed, NAS Barbers Point was officially commissioned on April 15, 1942. Commander H.F. MacComsey assumed the initial command, with a supporting cast of 14 officers and 242 enlisted men. The initial air operations were conducted under less than ideal conditions. In lieu of the "under-construction" control tower, mechanics fired flare pistols from a tiny platform to guide incoming and outgoing traffic. As Sailors, soldiers and supplies flowed into Oahu from the mainland, the air station quickly developed into one of the busiest airports in the world. As training squadrons prepared carrier pilots for combat, mechanics from Fleet Aircraft Carrier Unit Two serviced planes from USS Lexington, USS Yorktown and USS Enterprise.

As the war neared its culmination, the 250 man station had grown to over 4,000 personnel. Upon the declaration of Armistice in 1945, Barbers Point assumed the role as a rapid demobilization center. Over 6,000 personnel transitioned through the station en route out of the military during the next 365 days. As 1947 neared its completion, the base strength had dipped to 378 personnel. The future of NAS Barbers Point as a military installation seemed tenuous, at best, as post-war budget constraints trimmed excess personnel and facilities. NAS Barbers Point's immediate future was solidified in 1949, as it assumed the support role for all aviation operations in the Leeward area. In addition, the Marine Corps Air Station at Ewa was incorporated into the boundaries of NAS.

Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) in Hawaii

In April of 1950, Patrol Squadron Six (VP-6) arrived to NAS Barbers Point from NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., bringing with it the first Neptunes to the islands. Operational tempo increased with VP-6's arrival, as other maritime patrol squadrons lined up to claim their stake in NAS Barbers Point's future.

As the war in Korea began raging in 1951, Barbers Point again became a critical staging area for supplies and equipment, soldiers, Sailors and forward deploying squadrons. The United Nations additionally tasked the air station to provide a support area for deploying cargo and personnel. The additional missions required additional manpower; subsequently, personnel strength jumped to nearly 800 Sailors. Additional facilities were built, and base housing increased to support the growing support staff. By the end of the conflict, the station had gained fame for fully meeting the support challenges set forth, by acting as the primary source of aviation units of the fleet operating force.

In 1956, Airborne Early Warning Squadron Two (AEWS-2) transferred to the station. AEWS-2's mission included the extension of the continental air defense Distant Early Warning (DEW) line further into the Pacific. By mid-1958, the staffs and crews of Airborne Early Warning Wing, Pacific, and Commander, Barrier Force, Pacific staked claims at NAS Barbers Point. Commander, Fleet Air Hawaii and Fleet Air Wing Two followed suit by moving headquarters from their Ford Island locations.

With its move in 1950, VP-6 had laid the framework for the air station's operational and training mission roles for the entire VP community. New construction included additional bachelor officer quarters (BOQs), enlisted barracks, over 1,000 new housing units, a special weapons and jet engine test site, a survival equipment shop and numerous other support facilities. With state of the art equipment, and cutting-edge facilities, NAS Barbers Point took on the role as one of the most modern VP facilities in the Naval community.

After seven years of surveillance operations and 58 million nautical miles, the Pacific extension of the Distant Early Warning line ceased operations. In June of 1965, Barrier Forces Pacific was disestablished.

In the late 1960s, Barbers Point was tasked to provide support to military operations in Vietnam. This mission was conducted concurrently with the support of the VP community's readiness mission. Fleet Tactical Support Squadron Twenty-one (VR-21) supplied logistical support throughout the theater until its decommissioning in March 1979. Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Three (VQ-3) began in 1968, as a detachment of VR-21 in Guam, and moved to Barbers Point in early 1981. VQ-3 eventually (1990) gained certification with the E-6A, the Navy's newest aircraft. VQ-3 uprooted again in June 1992, as it moved operations to Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Fleet Utility Squadron One, one of NAS Barbers Point's senior residents, was recommissioned in 1951, and redesignated Fleet Composite Squadron One (VC-1) in 1965. VC-1's tenure gave the air station modern service capabilities in support of the fleet. Before its decommissioning in 1992, VC-1 supported defense exercises, conducted joint operations with Hawaii Air National Guard, supplied aerial photography to the fleet, conducted air intercepts and towed aerial targets for ship/air gunnery.

NAS Barbers Point provided support to the numerous readiness exercises, preparing aircraft carriers for their roles as they headed off to Vietnam. In June 1973, the Fleet Air Hawaii command was Disestablished, causing the complete reorganization of VP units in the Pacific theater. NAS Barbers Point now assumed the role as operational shore command, subordinate to Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific (CNAP), San Diego, Calif. Fleet Air Wing Two assumed operational control of maritime patrol (VP) squadrons VP-1, VP-4, VP-6, VP-17 and VP-22, in addition to Patrol Special Projects Unit Two (VPU-2). With its additional command responsibility, Fleet Air Wing Two was redesignated Commander, Patrol Wing Two (COMPATWING Two).

Today's Rainbow Fleet

In July 1993, Commander, Patrol Wings Pacific Fleet (COMPATWINGSPAC) moved to NAS Barbers Point from NAS Moffett Field, Calif. COMPATWINGSPAC's arrival replaced the command structure lost by the disestablishment of COMPATWING Two. Its mission included the operational development and maintenance of patrol squadron combat readiness.

Following the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) guidelines, Moffett Field closed its gates in 1993. Its departure moved VP-9 and VP-47 to Barbers Point. These patrol squadrons joined current residents, VP-4, VPU-2, Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Thirty-seven (HSL-37), Coast Guard Air Station and COMPATWINGSPAC.

The VP squadrons fly the P-3C Update 2.5 and 3 MOD Orion aircraft, a military version of the Lockheed Electra. The P-3C replaced the antiquated P-2 Neptune. The extended range and slow flying capability of the P-3C make it an ideal choice for an antisubmarine warfare aircraft. In addition to ASW missions, VP squadrons are often tasked to perform medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and search and rescue (SAR) missions.

VP-1, nicknamed the "Screaming Eagles," was homeported at Barbers Point since February 1970. The squadron transferred to NAS Whidbey Island in June 1995. The VP-4 "Skinny Dragons," originally commissioned as a Pearl Harbor unit in 1928, returned to NAS Barbers Point in 1964. The VP-6 "Blue Sharks" were commissioned in Hawaii in 1946, transferred to NAS Whidbey Island, then returned to NAS Barbers Point in 1950, where they remained until their decommissioning in March 1993. The VP-9 "Golden Eagles" moved from Moffett Field to Barbers Point in 1992. The VP-17 "White Lightnings" moved to Barbers Point in December 1968, after 18 years at NAS Whidbey Island. VP-17 disestablished in March 1995. The VP-22 "Blue Geese", established just before World War II, called NAS Barbers Point "home" until its disestablishment in March 1994. The VP-47 "Golden Swordsmen" returned to Barbers Point in June 1993, after a 28-year tour at Moffett Field.

VPU-2, homeported at NAS Barbers Point, operates from numerous detachment sites throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It was originally established as a small cadre of personnel assigned to squadrons, with the mission of supplementing aircrews on special collection missions. However, its manning and responsibilities expanded during the 1970s. In light of its unique mission capabilities and responsibilities, it was commissioned as an independent unit on July 16, 1982.

HSL-37, commissioned on July 3, 1975, was the first Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) squadron home-based outside the continental United States. Its mission is to reinforce the antisubmarine and anti-ship missile defense of the naval surface forces. The squadron's SH-60B Seahawks also provide vertical replenishment, medical evacuation and personnel transfer to naval ships throughout the Pacific. Detachments from the squadron are regularly assigned to destroyers deploying throughout the Pacific theater.

n addition to these naval aviation squadrons, NAS Barbers Point hosts the Coast Guard, which has been a part of the station since 1949. The Coast Guard facility was later upgraded to an air station in 1964. It has since been designated U.S. Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS), Barbers Point. The CGAS flies the C-130 Hercules aircraft and HH-65 Dolphin helicopters which perform SAR missions within the central Pacific maritime region. Its aircraft also conduct water pollution patrols in the Hawaiian Islands chain.

Today and the Future

While NAS Barbers Point is primarily a VP support community, it also hosts a changing mix of squadrons and activities. In addition to the tenant squadrons mentioned above, transient aircraft from all branches of the armed forces fly to NAS Barbers Point for military exercises, including RIMPAC, a biennial multi-nation combined arms exercise. Aircraft also use the air station as a refueling stop on their way to destinations throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

For more than half a century, Naval Air Station, Barbers Point has been the pride of the Pacific, and home of the "Rainbow Fleet". In 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) committee announced NAS Barbers Point would close its gates in July 1999. Although various facilities will remain (housing, morale, welfare and recreation, DRMO) the tactical community will move to Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), in Kaneohe. The departure of NAS Barbers Point will write the final chapter in a distinguished and storied history, and close the book on the finest air station in the western hemisphere.