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166-405: NAS (Naval Air Station) Norfolk started its roots training aviators at Naval Air Detachment, Curtiss Field, Newport News , on May 19, 1917. Approximately five months later, with a staff increasing to five officers, three aviators, ten enlisted sailors and seven aircraft, the detachment was renamed Naval Air Detachment, Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads. The aircraft, all seaplanes, were flown across

332-577: A Great White Fleet , the company entered the warship business by building seven of the first sixteen warships. In addition to Collis, other members of the Huntington family played major roles in Newport News. From 1912 to 1914, his nephew, Henry E. Huntington , assumed leadership of the shipyard. Huntington Park , developed after World War I near the northern terminus of the James River Bridge ,

498-441: A blessed land/Gifted with a special view/Forever home for ev'ry man/With a spirit proud and true (repeat chorus to fade) Despite city efforts at large-scale revitalization, by the beginning of the 21st century, the downtown area consisted largely of the coal export facilities, the shipyard, and municipal offices. It is bordered by some harbor-related smaller businesses and lower income housing. Newport News grew in population from

664-507: A brief set of trials before steaming south to Long Beach on 29 April. Further work was done there from 2 to 10 May, during which time she also underwent a shakedown cruise. On 10 May, she departed California to return to the fleet, then preparing for the attack on Okinawa . While en route, she stopped in Pearl Harbor from 16 to 29 May and in Ulithi from 9 to 12 June, after which she turned north to

830-520: A force of simulated battleships—played by a group of light cruisers —the carrier Lexington , and several submarines . Thereafter, California and several other vessels participated in amphibious assault training on San Clemente Island on 15 November. For Fleet Problem XVI , held from 29 April to 10 June 1935, the fleet conducted a series of maneuvers in the eastern Pacific, ranging from Alaskan waters down to Midway Island and Hawaii. In mid-1937, California transferred to BatDiv 2, and on 7 July

996-690: A naval review for President Herbert Hoover off the Virginia Capes on 20 May. The ship then returned to the Pacific and after arriving, visited Port Angeles , Washington from 7 to 11 July. She operated off Puget Sound through 11 August before steaming south to San Francisco , where she stayed from 17 to 24 August. In early 1931, she and the rest of the Battle Fleet steamed south to the Panama Canal zone. Fleet Problem XII took place from 15 to 21 February in

1162-557: A new seaport. The namesake, Sir William Newce, was an English soldier and originally settled in Ireland. There he had established Newcestown near Bandon, County Cork . He sailed to Virginia with Sir Francis Wyatt in October 1621 and was granted 2,500 acres (1,012 ha) of land. He died two days later. His brother, Capt. Thomas Newce, was given "600 acres at Kequatan , now called Elizabeth Cittie ." A partner Daniel Gookin completed founding

1328-408: A range of 42,200 yards (38,600 m); eight minutes later her forward Mk 8 fire control radar began tracking the ships, the range having fallen to 38,000 yards (35,000 m) by that time. West Virginia opened fire first at 03:52, followed by most of the other American battleships. California engaged the leading Japanese vessel at a range of 20,400 yards (18,700 m) with a six-gun salvo. After

1494-453: A single overseer. This changed on January 1, 1943 with the creation of Commander, Air Force Atlantic Fleet appointment, in which Rear Admiral Alva D. Bernhard was the first incumbent. The former NAS commanding officer was tasked with providing administrative, material and logistic support for Atlantic Fleet aviation units. AIRLANT also furnished combat-ready carrier air groups, patrol squadrons and battleship and cruiser aviation units for both

1660-531: A song was written by a city native and formally adopted by Newport News City Council in July 1989. The lyrics appear with permission from the author: (First verse): Harbor of a thousand ships/Forger of a nation's fleet/Gateway to the New World/Where ocean and river meet (Chorus): Strength wrought from steel/And a people's fortitude/Such is the timeless legacy/Of a place called Newport News (Second verse): Nestled in

1826-465: A task force of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers bound for Espiritu Santo ; while underway on 23 August, Tennessee suffered a steering malfunction that caused her to turn out of line and collide with California , tearing a hole in the latter's bow. Seven crewmen aboard California were killed in the accident, and several were trapped in their berthing compartment by bent bulkheads that had to be cut through to free them. Damage control teams shored up

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1992-593: A test, the Naval Station refueled, restocked, and returned to service 25 ships in one week. This force was but the prelude to about 100 ships converging on Norfolk at the time. It included the battleships California , Idaho and New Mexico and the carriers, Lexington , Ranger , Yorktown and Enterprise . The expansion of shipboard aviation in the 1930s brought renewed emphasis to Naval Air Station Norfolk. Reverting to its experimental roots, development and testing of catapult and arresting gear systems took

2158-485: A top speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph). The ship had a cruising range of 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at a speed of 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph). Her crew numbered 57 officers and 1,026 enlisted men. As built, she was fitted with two lattice masts with spotting tops for the main gun battery . The ship was armed with a main battery of twelve 14-inch (356 mm)/50 caliber guns in four, three-gun turrets on

2324-415: A total of 480 shells from their main guns and 800 rounds from their 5-inch guns, completely obliterating the town. At 17:00, the two ships checked their fire and withdrew for the night. The next morning, they returned to support the marines as they landed on the island. Fighting raged for the next several days, during which time California patrolled off the island, shelling Japanese forces. The ship's role in

2490-597: A year later the depot shut its doors. In 1998, the Navy began a major realignment of shore command organizations and processes throughout Hampton Roads in a process known as "regionalization". One of the biggest efficiencies in this process was the merger of separate Naval Station Norfolk and the Naval Air Station (which were directly adjacent to each other) into a single installation to be called Naval Station Norfolk. The former naval air station organizational structure became

2656-705: Is an independent city in southeastern Virginia , United States. At the 2020 census , the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the fifth-most populous city in Virginia and 140th-most populous city in the United States. The city is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula , on the northern shore of the James River to the river's mouth on the harbor of Hampton Roads. Most of

2822-416: Is located in the humid subtropical climate zone, with cool to mild winters, and hot, humid summers. Due to the inland location, throughout the year, highs are 2 to 3 °F (1.1 to 1.7 °C) warmer and lows 1 to 2 °F (0.6 to 1.1 °C) cooler than areas to the southeast. Snowfall averages 5.8 inches (15 cm) per season, and the summer months tend to be slightly wetter. The geographic location of

2988-525: Is named for him. Collis Huntington's son, Archer M. Huntington and his wife, sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington , developed the Mariners' Museum beginning in 1932. They created a natural park and the community's Mariners' Lake in the process. A major feature of Newport News, the Mariners' Museum has grown to become one of the largest and finest maritime museums in the world. The city grew in territory through

3154-718: Is the subject of popular speculation locally. Probably the best-known explanation holds that when an early group of Jamestown colonists left to return to England after the Starving Time during the winter of 1609–1610 aboard a ship of Captain Christopher Newport , they encountered another fleet of supply ships under the new Governor Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr , in the James River off Mulberry Island with reinforcements of men and supplies. The new governor ordered them to turn around and return to Jamestown. Under this theory,

3320-406: The 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred, causing significant damage to the city and killing around 120 people. The fleet sent some 4,000 men ashore to assist in the relief effort, including crewmen from California . In 1934, California was assigned to Battleship Division (BatDiv) 4, though she retained her role as fleet flagship. Following Fleet Problem XV , held from 19 April to 12 May in

3486-456: The 96th Infantry Division . Heavy fog hampered efforts by the ship's floatplanes to locate concealed Japanese positions, but California nevertheless conducted a heavy bombardment of the area over the two days. She thereafter patrolled off the island until 14 July to prevent any Japanese naval forces from attacking the invasion fleet. From 15 to 22 July, she lay at Kerama Rettō , replenishing fuel and stores, thereafter joining Task Force 95, which

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3652-672: The Battle Fleet in the Pacific Ocean for the duration of her peacetime career. She spent the 1920s and 1930s participating in routine fleet training exercises, including the annual Fleet Problems , and cruises around the Americas and further abroad, such as a goodwill visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1925. California was moored in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 when the Japanese attacked

3818-659: The Battle of Peleliu . California left Espiritu Santo on 17 September and passed along the coast of New Guinea , where crewmen observed battles between Japanese and Australian forces during the New Guinea campaign . The ship arrived in Manus on 22 September, where preparations for the next operation began. California , again part of Oldendorf's bombardment group, which now included Maryland , Mississippi , Pennsylvania , Tennessee , and West Virginia , departed on 12 October bound for

3984-600: The Battle of Surigao Strait . She was hit by a kamikaze during the invasion of Lingayen Gulf in January 1945, but after undergoing repairs, she rejoined the fleet supporting troops fighting on Okinawa during the Battle of Okinawa . Her crew took part in the occupation of Japan after the end of the war, and after returning to the United States via the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, was laid up in Philadelphia in 1946. She remained in

4150-456: The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway opened up means of transportation for the railroad to bring West Virginia bituminous coal to port for coastal shipping. Within a few years, Huntington and his associates also built a large shipyard . Newport News was incorporated in 1896, the new incorporated town . In 1958, by mutual consent by referendum, Newport News was consolidated with Warwick , rejoining

4316-544: The Great War , sits on the downtown waterfront. The "Eternal Flame" under the arch was cast by Womack Foundry, Inc. in the 1960s. It was hand crafted by the Foundry's founder and president, Ernest D. Womack. The downtown area has a number of landmarks and architecturally interesting buildings, which for some time were mostly abandoned in favor of building new areas in the northwest areas of the city (a strategy aided by tax incentives in

4482-524: The Lee Hall community, which retains historical features including the former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway station which served tens of thousands of soldiers based at what became nearby Fort Eustis during World War I and World War II . The larger-than-normal rural two-story frame depot is highly valued by rail fans and rail preservationists. In downtown Newport News, the Victory Arch , built to commemorate

4648-580: The Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California . Work was halted for a short time during World War I while the shipyard focused on outfitting smaller craft. She was launched 20 November 1919 and commissioned on 10 August 1921. On entering service, she joined the Battle Fleet , serving as its flagship . For the duration of her peacetime career, California was occupied with routine training exercises, including joint Army-Navy maneuvers and

4814-686: The North End . Developed primarily between 1900 and 1935, North End features a wealth of architectural styles and eclectic vernacular building designs. Extending along west to the James River Bridge approaches, it includes scenic views of the river. A well-preserved community, the North End is an historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register . The 1958 merger by mutual agreement with

4980-588: The Ryūkyū Islands . California anchored off Okinawa on 15 June, by which time the American forces had been fighting on the island for more than two months. The Japanese had launched a major kamikaze campaign during the operations on and around Okinawa, and these attacks continued while California was on station. On 17 and 18 June, she and the heavy cruisers New Orleans and Tuscaloosa bombarded Japanese positions on Yaesu-Dake and Yuza-Dake ridges in support of

5146-520: The Second Sino-Japanese War in Asia, the Navy cancelled Fleet Problem XXII , which had been scheduled for 1941. Early that year, the ship underwent an overhaul that concluded on 15 April, after which the ship made a visit to San Francisco. On the morning of 7 December 1941, California was moored on the southeastern side of Ford Island , the southernmost ship along Battleship Row . At the time,

Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field - Misplaced Pages Continue

5312-787: The Strait of Malacca into the Indian Ocean, stopping in Colombo from 30 October to 3 November. There, she embarked a contingent of South African troops bound for home. The ships next stopped in Cape Town , South Africa, from 15 to 18 November, where the South African soldiers were disembarked. California and the other vessels then steamed into the Atlantic, stopping in Saint Helena and Ascension Island on

5478-630: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 120 square miles (310 km ), of which 69 square miles (180 km ) is land and 51 square miles (130 km ) (42.4%) is water. The city is located at the Peninsula side of Hampton Roads in the Tidewater region of Virginia , bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The Hampton Roads Metropolitan Statistical Area (officially known as

5644-522: The United States Navy between her keel laying in October 1916 and her commissioning in August 1921. The Tennessee class was part of the standard series of twelve battleships built in the 1910s and 1920s, and were developments of the preceding New Mexico class . They were armed with a battery of twelve 14-inch (356 mm) guns in four three- gun turrets . California served as the flagship of

5810-585: The occupation of Japan . The following week, she proceeded further north to Yokosuka , arriving on 3 October and anchoring near the battleship Nagato . California thereafter joined Task Group 50.5, along with Tennessee and several other vessels for the return to the United States. They departed Japan on 15 October, bound for the Philadelphia Navy Yard. They sailed south to Singapore , stopping there on 23 October, where they met British, French, and Italian warships. The task group then proceeded through

5976-708: The 'Cornwallis Surrender Centennial Celebration", a commemoration of the British defeat at the Battle of Yorktown . Huntington knew the railroad could transport coal eastbound from West Virginia's untapped natural resources. His agents began acquiring land in Warwick County in 1865. In the 1880s, he oversaw extension of the C&;O's new Peninsula Subdivision , which extended from the Church Hill Tunnel in Richmond southeast down

6142-497: The 15th and 18th commanding officer of NAS Norfolk, to coordinate operations within the Norfolk area. The outlying fields were used for training, patrol plane operations, practice bombing and aerial gunnery. The assembly and repair (A&R) department also offers an excellent example of expansion at the Naval Air Station. In 1939, A&R occupied four World War I hangars and a few workshops. It employed 213 enlisted men and 573 civilians in

6308-471: The 1960s through the 1990s. The city began to explore New Urbanism as a way to develop areas midtown. City Center at Oyster Point was developed out of a small portion of the Oyster Point Business Park. It opened in phases from 2003 through 2005. The city invested $ 82 million of public funding in the project. Closely following Oyster Point, Port Warwick opened as an urban residential community in

6474-545: The Air Department of NS Norfolk while the actual airfield became known as NS Norfolk (Chambers Field). This consolidation became official on February 5, 1999. In 2012, the merger was fully consummated as NAS Oceana Detachment Norfolk personnel (the placeholder command for the ex-Naval Air Station) was disestablished and folded into Naval Station Norfolk's Air Operations Department. Newport News, Virginia Newport News ( / ˌ n uː p ɔːr t -, - p ər t -/ )

6640-723: The Atlantic and Pacific fleets. Following the formation of AIRLANT and the abolishment of recruit training on the surface side in 1942, the base transitioned to an advanced training location for men going directly to the fleet. With the change in the training station and the declaration of war, the mission became that of a pre-commissioning training station. The aviation service A school offered courses in metal smith work, engine repair, radio repair and ordnance. Aviation machinist's mate A school consisted of two months of training and two months of practical experience in A&;R department shops. The advanced base aviation training unit helped sailors develop

6806-405: The Battle Fleet commander, had returned to the ship. Smoke from the fire eventually reached the forward engine room at 10:00 and forced the men inside to evacuate the area. This ended pumping efforts, though after the end of the attack other vessels came alongside to first battle the blaze and then to pump the water out. The portable pumps used by these vessels lacked the power necessary to counteract

Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field - Misplaced Pages Continue

6972-507: The Caribbean, the fleet visited Haiti for two weeks. On 25 May, the ships steamed north for another naval review off New York on 31 May, attended by President Franklin D. Roosevelt . On its return to the Pacific over the course of 27 October to 9 November, the Battle Fleet conducted exercises as it passed through the canal and steamed to San Pedro, including nighttime attacks by the accompanying destroyers. The maneuvers culminated in an attack by

7138-575: The Central Force under Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita , had passed through the San Bernardino Strait under cover of darkness and arrived early on 25 October. The Japanese battleships and cruisers attacked Taffy 3 , a force of escort carriers and destroyers guarding the invasion fleet in the Battle off Samar , prompting its commander Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague to make urgent calls for help. Oldendorf immediately turned his ships northward to join

7304-750: The City Center. While the downtown area had long been the area of the city that offered the traditional urban layout, the city has supported a number of New Urbanism projects. One is Port Warwick , named after the fictional city in William Styron 's novel, Lie Down in Darkness . Port Warwick includes housing for a broad variety of citizens, from retired persons to off-campus housing for Christopher Newport University students. Also included are several high-end restaurants and upscale shopping. City Center at Oyster Point , located near Port Warwick, has been touted as

7470-513: The City of Newport News today are essentially the boundaries of the original Warwick River Shire and the traditional one of Warwick County, with the exception of minor border adjustments with neighbors. The city's original downtown area, on the James River waterfront, changed rapidly from a farm trading town to a new city in the last quarter of the 19th century. Development of the railroad terminal, with its coal piers, other harbor-related facilities, and

7636-559: The City of Warwick removed the political boundary, which was adjacent to Mercury Boulevard . This major north–south roadway carries U.S. Route 258 between the James River Bridge and the Coliseum-Central area of adjacent Hampton. At the time, the county was mostly rural, although along Warwick Boulevard north of the Mercury Boulevard, Hilton Village was developed during World War I as a planned community . Beyond this point to

7802-491: The English colony of Virginia consisted of a population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants. It was divided into eight shires of Virginia , which were renamed as counties shortly thereafter. The area of Newport News became part of Warwick River Shire , which became Warwick County in 1637. By 1810, the county seat was at Denbigh . For a short time in the mid-19th century, the county seat was moved to Newport News. Newport News

7968-554: The James River (the eastern most section of which was called Hampton Roads ) for plantations, including the present area of Newport News. In 1619, the area of Newport News was included in one of four huge corporations of the Virginia Company of London . It became known as Elizabeth Cittie and extended west all the way to Skiffe's Creek (currently the border between Newport News and James City County ). Elizabeth Cittie included all of present-day South Hampton Roads . By 1634,

8134-418: The James River and moored to stakes in the water until canvas hangars were constructed. The new location offered sheltered water in an ice-free harbor , perfect for seaplane landings, good anchorage on the beach front, accessibility to supplies from Naval Station Norfolk and room for expansion. Its mission was to conduct anti-submarine patrols, train aviators and mechanics and run an experimental facility. When

8300-537: The James River facilitates a large boating industry which can take advantage of its many miles of waterfront. Newport News also serves as a junction between the rails and the sea with the Newport News Marine Terminals located at the East End of the city. Served by major east–west Interstate Highway 64 , it is linked to other cities of Hampton Roads by the circumferential Hampton Roads Beltway , which crosses

8466-510: The James River), Jefferson Avenue Park, Kiln Creek , Lee Hall , Menchville , Maxwell Gardens, Morrison (also known as Gum Grove), Newmarket Village, Newsome Park, Oyster Point , Parkview, old North Newport News (Center Ave. area), Port Warwick , Richneck, Riverside , Shore Park, Summerlake, Village Green , Windsor Great Park and Warwick . Some of these neighborhoods are located in the former City of Warwick and Warwick County. Newport News

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8632-486: The Japanese fleet began moving into position for their counterattack. Allied reconnaissance aircraft and submarines reported sightings of the fleet as it approached the area, prompting the bombardment group to withdraw to southern Leyte every night in anticipation of a Japanese attack on the amphibious assault ships. On 24 October, reports of Japanese naval forces approaching the area led Oldendorf's ships to prepare for action at

8798-523: The Marianas, California joined Tennessee and four destroyers to form Task Unit 53.1.16, which arrived off Guam on 19 July. The ships joined the preparatory bombardment that day as the ships sought to neutralize Japanese defenses around the invasion beaches. The shelling continued over the course of the next day before the landings on 21 July, with California concentrating her fire on the areas around Tumon and Agana . California provided initial support to

8964-515: The Navy compensated the city by improving Kersloe Road (forming what is now Admiral Taussig Boulevard/ Interstate 564 ) between Hampton Boulevard and Granby Street. Special attention was paid to control facilities—prior to the expansion, operations from Chambers Field had no traffic control system except for a white placard inserted through a slot on the roof to indicate the direction of the runway in use. A new command, Naval Air Center, had been formed October 12, 1942 under Captain J.M. Shoemaker,

9130-481: The Navy had over $ 4 million in projects underway on the station. By the summer of 1940 the Station employed some 8,000 personnel, a number larger than any time since the end of World War I. The Hepburn Board had made recommendations to Congress earlier in the year that would also double the size and workload of the station. Since Chambers and West Fields were encroaching on the activities of the former Naval Operating Base, it

9296-565: The Newport News-Norfolk ferry service at that time. The larger capacity Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel and the rebuilt James River Bridge each restored some accessibility and through traffic to the downtown area. Much of the newer commercial development has been along the Warwick Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue corridors, with newer planned industrial, commercial, and mixed development such as Oyster Point, Kiln Creek and

9462-481: The Philippines. The Philippines campaign began five days later with initial landings by the 6th Ranger Battalion on the islands of Dinagat and Suluan . The latter attack made the Japanese aware of the impending assault on the Philippines, leading to the activation of Operation Shō-Gō 1 , the planned riposte to an Allied landing. Allied minesweepers then began clearing channels into Leyte Gulf in preparation for

9628-571: The Post Office Department sanctioned "New Port News" (written as three words) as the name of the first post office. In 1866 it approved the name as "Newport News", the current form. During the 17th century, shortly after founding of Jamestown, Virginia , in 1607, English settlers explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. In 1610, Sir Thomas Gates seized a nearby Native American village, which became known as Kecoughtan . At that time, settlers began clearing land along

9794-621: The United States Navy commissioned the third naval vessel named after the city with the entry of the Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine USS  Newport News , built at Newport News Shipbuilding, into active service. The ship was initially commanded by CDR. Mark B. Keef; the city held a public celebration of the event, which was attended by Vice President of the United States Dan Quayle. In conjunction with this milestone,

9960-650: The United States average is 320.9. According to the Congressional Quarterly Press' "2008 City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America," Newport News ranked as the 119th most dangerous city larger than 75,000 inhabitants. The neighborhood with the highest crime rates in Newport News is the East End . Among the city's major industries are shipbuilding, military, and aerospace. Newport News Shipbuilding , owned by Huntington Ingalls Industries , and

10126-403: The United States became involved in World War I , the size of the Navy's air component was rapidly expanded. In the 19 months of U. S. participation, a force of 6,716 officers and 30,693 enlisted served in naval aviation. The training of mechanics to support the aircraft began in January 1918 at the Norfolk detachment and the first patrol was conducted five months later. By then, the air detachment

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10292-479: The Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA) is the 37th largest in the nation with a 2014 population estimate of 1,716,624. The area includes the Virginia cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson , Portsmouth, Suffolk, Williamsburg , and the counties of Gloucester , Isle of Wight , James City , Mathews , Surry , and York , as well as the North Carolina counties of Currituck and Gates . Newport News serves as one of

10458-532: The age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04. The age distribution is: 27.5% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

10624-414: The air operations in Norfolk continued. On July 12, 1921, the name was changed again under the command of Capt. S.H.R. Doyle , to NAS Norfolk, with direct reporting to the Bureau of Aeronautics in Washington, D.C. Using the same theories of Eugene Ely's flight nearly 13 years earlier, another milestone was achieved. The air station developed an arresting device to train pilots for deck landings aboard

10790-408: The airfield by 540 acres (2.2 km²), the matter was dropped. At the outbreak of war in Europe on September 1, 1939, NAS Norfolk encompassed 236 acres (1.0 km²) with two small operating areas, Chambers Field and West Landing Field. During World War II , the Naval Air Station had a direct combat support role in the area of anti-submarine patrols. President Franklin D. Roosevelt 's response to

10956-439: The amphibious assault that began at 08:30, but left later that day at 15:00, bound for Saipan. California replenished her ammunition at Saipan and then proceeded to Tinian , the next island to be attacked in the campaign. California and Tennessee arrived on 23 July and began a bombardment of San Jose on the southern end of the island as a diversion from the actual landing beaches on further north. The two battleships fired

11122-424: The annexation of parts of Warwick County and also of the town of Kecoughtan in adjoining Elizabeth City County . In 1958, the citizenry of the cities of Warwick and Newport News voted by referendum to consolidate the two cities, choosing to assume the better-known name of Newport News. The merger created the third largest city by population in Virginia, with a 65 square miles (168 km ) area. The boundaries of

11288-431: The annual fleet problems . On the night of 11 November 1924, Lieutenant Dixie Kiefer took off from the ship, the first night aircraft launch in history. Further experimentation with aircraft continued in early 1925, when the ships of the Battle Fleet received a squadron of Curtiss TS-1 floatplanes on 31 March. In mid-1925, the Battle Fleet crossed the Pacific Ocean on a goodwill cruise to Australia and New Zealand; on

11454-449: The area now known as Newport News was once a part of Warwick County , one of the eight original shires of Virginia formed in the British Colony of Virginia by order of Charles I of England in 1634. Newport News was a rural area of plantations and a small fishing village until after the American Civil War . In 1881, fifteen years of rapid development began under the leadership of Collis P. Huntington , whose new Peninsula Extension of

11620-471: The area on 31 May, bound for the anchorage at Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands . California arrived there on 8 June, where she joined Task Group (TG) 52.17, Fire Support Group 1, under the command of Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf . California and the rest of the fleet steamed to the Mariana Islands to begin the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign . The fleet arrived off the initial target, Saipan , late on 13 June. The next morning, California and

11786-417: The attack. Robert R. Scott was also killed after he refused to leave his battle station. On 6 December 2019, the Department of Defense announced that twenty-five unknown remains from California had been exhumed for future identification. Over the next several months, salvage efforts proceeded as workers patched the hull and pumped out the water, finally re-floating the ship on 25 March 1942. On 5 April,

11952-623: The attack. She was raised in April 1942, repaired and heavily rebuilt, and returned to service in January 1944. The ship thereafter supported the amphibious operations conducted during the Pacific War , including the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign (though she was damaged in a collision with Tennessee and thus missed the Battle of Peleliu ) and the Philippines campaign , during which she took part in

12118-420: The battle culminated in a last stand by the Japanese defenders on 31 July, during which California and the other bombardment ships fired a terrific barrage against their positions. California then departed the area and returned to Guam to support the troops still fighting there until 9 August, when she left to replenish ammunition and fuel at Eniwetok. On 19 August, California departed Eniwetok as part of

12284-410: The battle, and while en route the ships came under Japanese air attack. California ' s 5-inch and 40 mm guns attempted to engage the aircraft but did not score any hits. By the time the bombardment group arrived on the scene, Kurita had disengaged, having been convinced by Taffy 3's heavy resistance that he was instead facing the far more powerful Fast Carrier Task Force . With the battle over,

12450-452: The battleship Maryland . California bombarded Japanese positions throughout the day, withdrawing for the night at 18:30. On the morning of 15 June, the American 2nd Marine Division went ashore and California supported the assault, opening fire at 06:12, first at Garapan and then at the landing beaches as dug-in defenders attempted to repel the landing. The ship also attacked Japanese artillery on Afetna Point , which had been shelling

12616-435: The bombers, though credit for the downed aircraft is difficult to establish owing to the chaotic situation. At 08:45, Commander Earl Stone, the ship's executive officer , boarded the ship and took command of the vessel. At the same time, California was struck by a bomb (which may have been one of the modified 16-inch (410 mm) armor-piercing shell ) near the forwardmost casemate on the starboard side. After penetrating

12782-467: The business centers on the Peninsula. The city of Norfolk is recognized as the central business district, while the Virginia Beach oceanside resort district and Williamsburg are primarily centers of tourism. Newport News shares land borders with James City County on the northwest, York County on the north and northeast, and Hampton on the east. Newport News shares water borders with Portsmouth on

12948-431: The centerline, placed in two superfiring pairs forward and aft of the superstructure . Unlike earlier American battleships with triple turrets, these mounts allowed each barrel to elevate independently. The secondary battery consisted of fourteen 5-inch (127 mm)/51 caliber guns mounted in individual casemates clustered in the superstructure amidships . Initially, the ship was to have been fitted with twenty-two of

13114-419: The city was 49.0% White , 40.7% African American , 0.5% Native American , 2.7% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 2.7% from other races , and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.5% of the population (2.5% Puerto Rican, 2.5% Mexican, 0.4% Cuban, 0.3% Panamanian, 0.2% Dominican, 0.2% Guatemalan, 0.2% Honduran). There were 69,686 households, out of which 35.7% had children under

13280-644: The city's first mayor. The area that formed the present-day southern end of Newport News had long been established as an unincorporated town. After Reconstruction (the period after the American Civil War) the new City of Newport News was essentially founded by California merchant Collis P. Huntington . Huntington, one of the Big Four associated with the Central Pacific Railroad , in California, formed

13446-562: The city, with respect to the principal storm tracks, favours fair weather, as it is south of the average path of storms originating in the higher latitudes, and north of the usual tracks of hurricanes and other major tropical storms. As of the census of 2010, there were 180,719 people, 69,686 households, and 46,341 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,637.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,018.5/km ). There were 74,117 housing units at an average density of 1,085.3 units per square mile (419.0 units/km ). The racial makeup of

13612-402: The community was named for Newport's "good news". Another possibility is that the community may have derived its name from an old English word "news" meaning "new town". At least one source claims that the "New" arose from the original settlement's being rebuilt after a fire. Another source gave the original name as New Port Newce , named for a person with the name Newce and the town's place as

13778-472: The confusion, California masked Tennessee and blocked her from firing for several minutes, though California continued firing during this period. The ship suffered a misfire in the right gun of her rearmost turret, and concussion from the third salvo disabled the rear Mk 8 radar and damaged the scope for the forward radar, but the gunlayers nevertheless continued to accurately direct the guns. Sixteen minutes after opening fire, California checked her fire as

13944-577: The crew, many of whom were fresh from initial training, for combat operations in the Pacific. While in San Francisco, the ship underwent another machinery overhaul in April, and on 5 May the ship departed to join the fleet that was assembling in the central Pacific for the Marianas campaign . She proceeded first to the Hawaiian islands, where she took part in shore bombardment practice off Kahoolawe . She departed

14110-404: The damaged bulkheads and were able to pump the water out of the hull. Tennessee suffered more serious damage and she had to leave the group for repairs at Pearl Harbor; California continued with the convoy, and after arriving at their destination, entered the floating drydock Artisan for repairs that lasted from 25 August to 10 September. The collision prevented the ship from taking part in

14276-567: The exit of the Surigao Strait . Vice Admiral Shōji Nishimura 's Southern Force steamed through the Surigao Strait to attack the invasion fleet in Leyte Gulf; his force comprised Battleship Division 2—the battleships Yamashiro and Fusō , the heavy cruiser Mogami , and four destroyers—and Vice Admiral Kiyohide Shima 's Second Striking Force—the heavy cruisers Nachi and Ashigara ,

14442-498: The fleet's first aircraft carrier, USS  Langley . At the same time, the station also began work on the development of the catapult. In January 1923, the Secretary of the Navy ordered a detailed study of the capacity of the bases and stations during war and peace. In comparing the development of the fleet and shore establishments, only Hampton Roads met the requirements. Airship operations, important for off-shore patrols during

14608-404: The fleet's inventory until 1959, when she was broken up for scrap. The two Tennessee -class battleships were authorized on 3 March 1915, and they were in most respects repeats of the earlier New Mexico -class battleships , the primary differences being enlarged bridges , greater elevation for the main battery turrets, and relocation of the secondary battery to the upper deck. California

14774-631: The flooding, and the ship eventually settled into the mud as the hull slowly filled with water over the next three days. In the course of the attack, 104 men were killed, and 61 were wounded. Several men were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the attack. Jackson C. Pharris , one of the ship's gunners, organized a group of men to carry ammunition up from the magazines and rescued several sailors who had been overcome by fuel oil fumes. Herbert C. Jones and Thomas Reeves both organized similar parties to carry ammunition, but both were killed during

14940-427: The forward fuel tanks, which allowed water to enter the fuel system. The contamination shut down the ship's electrical system, hindering the efforts of the damage control teams. Between 08:15 and 09:15, the ship was repeatedly attacked by Aichi D3A dive-bombers ; one bomb hit on the starboard side and a near-miss on the port side caused minor damage. Anti-aircraft gunners aboard the ship claimed to have shot down two of

15106-575: The future of naval aviation. Within seven months of the war's end, Navy manpower fell to less than half its wartime highs. The Republican party rose to power in 1920, promising fiscal austerity. Congress cut naval appropriations by 20% and manpower Navy-wide was reduced. The carriers which Congress had authorized were impossible to man. After the 1929 stock market crash and the onset of the Great Depression , President Herbert Hoover favored more naval limitation through international conferences, but

15272-422: The gulf to silence any Japanese artillery that might threaten Allied forces once they entered Lingayen Gulf. The fleet's minesweepers then swept channels further into the gulf, which California helped to cover. With Oldendorf aboard, she led the bombardment group into the gulf to begin the bombardment to prepare for the invasion of Lingayen Gulf . Shortly after 17:15 that day, a pair of Zero kamikazes approached

15438-481: The guns into action and prepared to get the ship underway. At 08:03, the crews of the ready guns began to engage the Japanese aircraft, which included Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters that strafed the ship. The gunners quickly expended the ready ammunition, however, and the magazines had to be unlocked before they could be resupplied. While this effort was going on, a pair of Nakajima B5N torpedo bombers approached and dropped their torpedoes toward California . Both hit

15604-530: The guns, but experiences in the North Sea during World War I demonstrated that the additional guns, which would have been placed in the hull, would have been unusable in anything but calm seas. As a result, the casemates were plated over to prevent flooding. The secondary battery was augmented with four 3-inch (76 mm)/50 caliber guns . In addition to her gun armament, California was also fitted with two 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes , mounted submerged in

15770-495: The harbor on two bridge-tunnels . Part of the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is in the city limits. The original area near the mouth of the James River was first referred to as Newportes Newes as early as 1621. The source of the name "Newport News" is not known with certainty, though it is the oldest English city name in the Americas. Several versions are recorded, and it

15936-487: The highest priority at the Air Station. The commissioning of the aircraft carriers Ranger , Yorktown , Wasp , and Hornet increased the tempo of routine training in navigation, gunnery and aerial bombing as new air wings formed prior to World War II . This demanded expansion, but appropriations for shore activities were meager. Although congressional approval was gained in 1934 for the purchase of land that would expand

16102-417: The hull, one on each broadside . The main armored belt was 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm) thick, while the main armored deck was up to 3.5 in (89 mm) thick. The main battery gun turrets had 18 in (457 mm) thick faces on 13 in (330 mm) barbettes . The conning tower had 16 in (406 mm) thick sides. California ' s keel was laid down on 25 October 1916 at

16268-537: The initial phase of the battle, the American battle line turned about, but California misinterpreted the vague order to "turn one five" (meaning to turn 150 degrees—Captain Henry Burnett read it as an instruction to turn 15 degrees) and turned incorrectly, passing across Tennessee ' s bow. By now realizing his mistake, Burnett ordered California to turn hard to starboard while Tennessee hauled out of line. The two ships narrowly avoided each other but in

16434-444: The inspection, which allowed water to enter the ship, particularly as the ship took on water from the torpedo hits. As uncontrolled flooding started to spread throughout the ship, California began to list to port of 5 to 6 degrees. Little ordered damage control teams to counter-flood on the starboard side to keep the list to 4 degrees, but the flooding on the port side continued to spread. The torpedo blasts had also ruptured

16600-618: The large coal piers supplied by railroad giant CSX Transportation , the modern Fortune 500 successor to the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O). Miles of the waterfront can be seen by automobiles crossing the James River Bridge and Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel , which is a portion of the circumferential Hampton Roads Beltway , linking the city with each of the other major cities of Hampton Roads via Interstate 664 and Interstate 64 . Many U.S. defensive industry suppliers are based in Newport News, and these and nearby military bases employ many residents, in addition to those working at

16766-526: The late 1930s, major construction took place at NS Norfolk. At this time, building K-BB (Naval Station headquarters), the galley, and many barracks were built. As the 1930s came to a close, the station also began to prepare for total war. By 1939, when the Atlantic Fleet returned to the East Coast, the Naval Station was clearly the biggest naval installation on the Atlantic coast. In April 1939, in something of

16932-438: The light cruiser Abukuma , and four more destroyers. As Nishimura's flotilla passed through the strait on the night of 24 October, they came under attack from American PT boats , followed by destroyers, initiating the Battle of Surigao Strait . One of these destroyers torpedoed Fusō and disabled her, though Nishimura continued on toward his objective. At 03:12, California picked up the Japanese ships with her SG radar at

17098-480: The main landings at Leyte . On 19 October, the bombardment of the island began, continuing the next day as troops went ashore. A Zero fighter dove toward the ship later that day, one of the first kamikazes , but heavy anti-aircraft fire sent the plane off course and it crashed harmlessly off the starboard bow. Over the following days, California remained off the invasion beach, pounding Japanese positions as American forces pushed their way inland. During this period,

17264-435: The marines. She remained off shore overnight, and after establishing radio communications with the marines ashore, provided fire support to break up Japanese night time counterattacks. California remained on station for several days, bombarding Japanese defenses as the marines pushed inland. On 17 June, she and Maryland shot down a Kawasaki Ki-61 fighter, and the next day California came under attack from another Ki-61 but

17430-581: The new "downtown" because of its new geographic centrality on the Virginia Peninsula, its proximity to the retail/business nucleus of the city, etc. Locally, it is often called simply "City Center". Nearby, the Virginia Living Museum recently completed a $ 22.6 million expansion plan. Newport News is also home to a small Korean ethnic enclave on Warwick Boulevard near the Denbigh neighborhood on

17596-523: The new midtown business district. Fifteen hundred people now reside in the Port Warwick area. It includes a 3-acre (1.2 ha) city square where festivals and events take place. In January 2023, a six-year-old shot his teacher Abby Zwerner in an elementary school in Newport News. Newport News is located at 37°4′15″N 76°29′4″W  /  37.07083°N 76.48444°W  / 37.07083; -76.48444 (37.071046, −76.484557). According to

17762-460: The next major assault in Lingayen Gulf on the western side of the island. Japanese aircraft attacked the fleet while en route, though California was not damaged in the attacks. The fleet arrived off the gulf on 5 January and entered it the following morning. Early that morning California launched her floatplanes to spot for her guns before opening fire on Santiago Island on the western side of

17928-672: The northern end of the city. Although it lacks the density and character of larger, more established enclaves, it has been referred to as "Little Seoul"—being the commercial center for the Hampton Roads Korean community. Newport News has many distinctive communities and neighborhoods within its boundaries, including Brandon Heights, Brentwood, City Center , Colony Pines, Christopher Shores-Stuart Gardens, Denbigh , Glendale , East End , Hidenwood, Hilton Village , Hunter's Glenn, Beaconsdale, Ivy Farms, North End Huntington Heights (Historic District – roughly from 50th to 75th street, along

18094-594: The northwestern end include the reservoirs of the Newport News Water System (which include much of the Warwick River ), the expansive Newport News Park , a number of public schools, and the military installations of Fort Eustis and a small portion of the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown . At the extreme northwestern edge adjacent to Skiffe's Creek and the border with James City County is

18260-597: The other five going to the carrier Yorktown and three heavy cruisers . In April and May, California participated in Fleet Problem XX , which was again held in the eastern Pacific. Following the conclusion of the maneuvers, Roosevelt ordered the Battle Fleet to remain in Hawaii permanently; the new forward deployment was calculated to deter Japanese aggression in the Pacific. As tensions rose owing to World War II in Europe and

18426-472: The other ships of TG 52.17 moved into their bombardment positions, launched their spotting aircraft, and began shelling Japanese positions on the island. California opened fire at 05:58 at a range of 14,500 yards (13,300 m), engaging targets in the area around the capital, Garapan . A Japanese shell from a 4.7-inch (120 mm) field gun struck the ship at 09:10 aft of the fire control platform, killing one man and injuring ten. The ship's air search radar

18592-410: The overhaul of aircraft engines and fuselages. During the war, the A&R Department went to two 10-hour shifts per day, seven days a week for a work force that now numbered 1,600 enlisted and 3,500 civilians. Women, who had been employed only as seamstress for wing and fuselage fabric, began working in A&R machine shops as labor shortages became acute. During the summer of 1942, the apprentice school

18758-464: The peninsula through Williamsburg to Newport News, where the company developed coal piers on the harbor of Hampton Roads. His next project was to develop Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , which became the world's largest shipyard. Opened as Chesapeake Dry Dock & Construction Company, the shipbuilding was intended to build boats to transition goods from the rails to the seas. With President Theodore Roosevelt 's declaration to create

18924-431: The port , bringing the United States into World War II . The ship was moderately damaged by a pair of torpedoes and a bomb, but a fire disabled the ship's electrical system, preventing the pumps from being used to keep the ship afloat. California slowly filled with water over the following three days and eventually sank. Her crew suffered 165 casualties and four men were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during

19090-520: The postwar years). City leaders are working to bring new life into this area, by renovating and building new homes and attracting businesses. The completion of Interstate 664 restored the area to access and through traffic which had been largely rerouted with the completion of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel connecting neighboring Hampton with the Southside in 1958 and discontinuance of

19256-403: The poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over. Newport News experienced 20 murders giving the city a murder rate of 10.8 per 100,000 people in 2005. In 2006, there were 19 murders giving the city a rate of 10.5 per 100,000 people. In 2007 the city had 28 murders with a rate of 15.8 per 100,000 people. The total crime index rate for Newport News is 434.7;

19422-511: The recovery operations of Apollo 7 . As part of the Navy's response to the post-Cold War drawdown of the 1990s, many new initiatives were implemented at Navy shore installations to reduce their operating cost, improve their efficiency, and better match their capacity to the reduced size of the Navy. The 1993 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended the closure of Naval Aviation Depot Norfolk and its workforce of over 4,000 repairing Grumman F-14 Tomcats and Grumman A-6 Intruders , and

19588-432: The settlement. In his 1897 two-volume work Old Virginia and her Neighbors, American historian John Fiske writes: ... several old maps where the name is given as Newport Ness, being the mariner's way of saying Newport Point. The fact that the name formerly appeared as "Newport's News" is verified by numerous early documents and maps, and by local tradition. The change to Newport News came about through usage; by 1851

19754-404: The ship at 08:05, one forward and the other further aft. The former detonated below the armor belt at frame 52 (between number 2 turret and the bridge), creating a hole 10 feet (3 m) high and 24 feet (7.3 m) long, destructively deforming the first torpedo bulkhead and transverse stiffeners between frames 47 and 60, and holing the second bulkhead with fragments. The latter tore a hole that

19920-418: The ship had two of her 5-inch guns and two of her .50-cal. machine guns designated as ready guns, with fifty 5-inch shells and four hundred .50-cal. rounds at the guns. Immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began, California ' s first lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander Marion Little, who was the senior officer aboard the ship at the time, issued the order to general quarters . Little ordered

20086-520: The ship received a new battery of eight 5-inch (127 mm)/25 cal guns on anti-aircraft mounts in place of the old 3-inch guns. She took part in Fleet Problem X , conducted in the Caribbean Sea , from 10 to 15 March 1930. Fleet Problem XI followed, again in the Caribbean, from 14 to 18 April. After the conclusion of the exercises, California steamed north to New York City , thereafter joining

20252-719: The ship remained on station, continuing to bombard Japanese positions. Troops from the US Sixth Army went ashore on 9 January, and from 10 to 18 January, California left the gulf to patrol the South China Sea to guard against a possible attack by the Japanese fleet. She then returned to Lingayen Gulf but departed on 22 January for Ulithi , arriving there on 28 January. California departed Ulithi and continued on to Pearl Harbor, where she stayed from 6 to 8 February, thereafter departing for Puget Sound for permanent repairs and modifications. On 24 April, California got underway for

20418-398: The ship suffered an accidental explosion at 13:15, most likely the result of a mixture of fuel oil vapor and hydrogen sulfide gas. The explosion dislodged the patch that had been used to cover the forward hole in the hull and damaged watertight doors, which caused serious flooding. Over the next few days, the salvage team had to re-patch the hull and pump it out again. On 9 April, California

20584-491: The ship's crew, to a total of 114 officers and 2,129 enlisted men. The ship was also reboilered, allowing her to maintain 20.5 knots despite the increase in displacement. On 31 January 1944, California , Captain Henry Poynter Burnett, commanding, departed Puget Sound and began a series of sea trials followed by a shakedown cruise off San Pedro. The ship was then occupied with a variety of training to prepare

20750-437: The ship's guns save her main battery were removed and her superstructure was razed completely in preparation for the reconstruction. Her hull was widened to improve the underwater protection scheme and increase stability. New fire control systems, which had been diverted from light cruisers that were converted into light aircraft carriers , were installed and her CXAM radar was removed and installed on Oahu . Her secondary battery

20916-518: The ship; California ' s gunners shot one of them down, but the other struck her on the port side abreast of the mainmast. Gasoline from the plane's fuel tanks started a fire and a 5-inch shell from another ship accidentally hit one of California ' s 5-inch guns, exploded inside the turret, and started another fire. Both fires were suppressed within twelve minutes, but the kamikaze inflicted significant casualties: 44 men were killed and another 155 were injured. Temporary repairs were made while

21082-518: The ships of the bombardment group resumed their ground support operations for the next month. On 20 November, she departed for Manus for repairs that lasted from 25 November to 15 December. She then proceeded to the Kossol Roads in Palau , where she remained until 1 January 1945 when she got underway to return to Leyte Gulf. After rejoining the bombardment group, the fleet steamed to western Luzon to make

21248-487: The ships of the division visited Hawaii, returning to California on 22 August. California and her sister Tennessee transited the Panama Canal in early 1938 for a visit to Ponce, Puerto Rico , which lasted from 6 to 11 March. In 1939, the Navy decided to acquire six experimental XAF radar sets; on being delivered to the Navy, they were designated as CXAM radar ; one set was installed aboard California in 1940, with

21414-549: The shipyard and in other harbor-related vocations. Newport News plays a role in the maritime industry. At the end of CSX railroad tracks lies the Newport News Marine Terminal. Covering 140 acres (0.57 km ), the Terminal has heavy-lift cranes, warehouse capabilities, and container cranes. USS California (BB-44) USS California (BB-44) was the second of two Tennessee -class battleships built for

21580-432: The shipyard, brought new jobs and workers to the area. Although fashionable housing and businesses developed in downtown, the increase in industry and the development of new suburbs pushed and pulled retail and residential development to the west and north after World War II . Such suburban development was aided by national subsidization of highway construction and was part of a national trend to newer housing. In July 1989,

21746-676: The skills necessary to maintain all types of aircraft at advanced bases in combat area. The aircraft they completed went to the fleet pool for distribution to squadrons in the process of commissioning. A similar service for maintenance crews in squadrons awaiting the commissioning of new carriers was provided by the carrier air service unit. Among the earliest schools at NAS was the fighter director school, which taught fleet communications and tactics, radar operations and direction of aircraft from ships before moving to  Georgia . The celestial navigation training unit instructed pilots being assigned to patrol squadrons. The aerial free gunnery training unit

21912-468: The southeast and Suffolk on the south across the Hampton Roads Area, and Isle of Wight County on the southwest and west and Surry County on the northwest across the James River . The city's downtown area was part of the earliest developed area which was initially incorporated as an independent city in 1896. The earlier city portions also included the " East End " or "Southeast" community, which

22078-484: The start of the war in Europe was the National Emergency Program of September 8, 1939. It resulted in fantastic growth for all Navy activities in the Norfolk area. The combat support role began on October 21, 1939, when a 600-mile (970 km)-wide Neutrality Zone was declared around the American coast. Four Norfolk-based patrol squadrons, VP-51, US VP-52, VP-53 and VP-54 were among the first units to enforce

22244-410: The surviving Japanese ships turned and fled. By this time, several torpedoes launched by the Japanese vessels approached the American line, but none of them struck the battleships. In the course of the action, California fired a total of 63 shells from her main battery; the Japanese had lost both battleships, Abukuma , and four destroyers in the battle. In the meantime, the main Japanese fleet,

22410-404: The two localities to approximately their pre-1896 geographic size under the more widely-known name of Newport News. With many residents employed at the expansive Newport News Shipbuilding , the joint U.S. Air Force – Army installation at Joint Base Langley–Eustis , and other military bases and suppliers, the city's economy is very connected to the military. The location on the harbor and along

22576-472: The upper deck, the bomb ricocheted off the second deck and detonated in the ship's interior, where it caused extensive damage, started a serious fire, and killed around 50 men. At around the same time, the boiler room crew got four of the boilers restarted, which restored power. By 09:15, the fire had spread to casemates No. 3, 5, and 7, by which time Captain Joel Bunkley and Vice Admiral William S. Pye ,

22742-637: The war, ceased in 1924. In an effort similar to base closure struggles the military has today, civilian employees of the Assembly and Repair Department (forerunner of the former Naval Air Depot) joined the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce in successfully fighting the planned suspension of aircraft overhaul work. The training of air groups from newly commissioned aircraft carriers such as USS Langley , USS Saratoga and USS Lexington demanded expansion, but appropriations were meager for shore establishments. During

22908-416: The waters off the canal; the exercises consisted of an attack by a fleet reliant on aircraft carriers against the canal zone, which was defended by California and the battleships of the Battle Fleet. The maneuvers revealed critical limitations in the endurance and armament of the carrier aircraft of the day, and the battleships were easily able to defeat the carrier force. From 1 July to 16 August, California

23074-406: The way to their destination. They reached Philadelphia on 7 December, where 754 officers and men were sent to discharge centers. Another 40 officers and 1,345 men were discharged over the following months as the crew prepared the ship to be laid up . She was formally placed in reserve, still in commission, on 7 August 1946. The ship was decommissioned on 14 February 1947 and remained in

23240-634: The way, the ships stopped in Pago Pago , American Samoa . California underwent a refit at the Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington later that year. In 1926, California had an aircraft catapult installed on one of her main battery turrets, and she carried up to three Vought UO-1 floatplanes. She participated in a naval review for President Calvin Coolidge held off Hampton Roads , Virginia on 4 June 1927. In late 1929 and early 1930,

23406-630: The west, much of the city takes on a suburban nature. Many neighborhoods have been developed, some around a number of former small towns. Miles of waterfront along the James River, and tributaries such as Deep Creek and Lucas Creek, are occupied by higher-end single family homes. In many sections, wooded land and farms gave way to subdivisions. Even at the northwestern reaches, furthest from the traditional downtown area, some residential development has occurred. Much land has been set aside for natural protection, with recreational and historical considerations. Along with some newer residential areas, major features of

23572-490: The western part of the country's First transcontinental railroad . He was recruited by former Confederate General Williams Carter Wickham to become a major investor and guiding light for a southern railroad. He helped complete the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway to the Ohio River in 1873. On October 19, 1881, the first train to ever depart from Newport News left Lee Hall Depot on temporary tracks and arrived at Yorktown for

23738-651: The wing headquarters for Reserve Patrol Wing Atlantic, the local headquarters for Naval Air Reserve Norfolk and Reserve E-2 Hawkeye , C-9 Skytrain II and various helicopter squadrons. A Marine Corps Reserve medium helicopter squadron with CH-46 Sea Knight aircraft was also assigned. NAS Norfolk also responded to national times of stress, such as Operation Sincere Welcome in 1994, when 2,000 civilian workers, dependents, and non-essential military personnel were evacuated to Norfolk from Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba . This influx of people

23904-415: The winning of World War II was in the training it provided to a wide variety of allied naval air units. With only a few exceptions, all Navy air squadrons that fought in the war trained in Norfolk. The air station also trained numerous British fighter squadrons and  French  and  Russian  patrol squadrons. At the start of the war, training activities at NAS did not fall under the direction of

24070-622: The zone. After war was formally declared following Pearl Harbor,  Germany  began a  U-boat  offensive, " Operation Drumbeat ", against shipping along the Atlantic coast. The Eastern Sea Frontier , a command headquartered in New York, directed the American response. Locally,  Fleet Air Wing 5  units flew under its operational command of the 5th Naval District . Wing 5 units involved consisted of scouting squadrons, 12  OS2U Kingfisher  seaplanes and VPs 83 and 84 equipped with  PBY-5A Catalinas . By 1942, NAS Norfolk

24236-406: Was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 36,597, and the median income for a family was $ 42,520. Males had a median income of $ 31,275 versus $ 22,310 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 17,843. About 11.3% of families and 13.8% of the population were below

24402-415: Was 40 feet (12 m) long below the belt armor. The interior torpedo bulkheads nevertheless held and helped to contain the flooding. The ship had been prepared for inspection at the time of the attack, so the watertight doors had all been opened; the crew was still in the process of closing the doors when the torpedoes struck and flooding began. Many of the portholes and exterior doors were also open for

24568-477: Was 624 feet (190 m) long overall and had a beam of 97 ft 5 in (29.69 m) and a draft of 30 ft 2 in (9.19 m). She displaced 32,300 long tons (32,800 t) as designed and up to 33,190 long tons (33,720 t) at full combat load. The ship was powered by four-shaft General Electric turbo-electric transmission and eight oil-fired Babcock & Wilcox boilers rated at 26,800 shaft horsepower (20,000  kW ), generating

24734-494: Was a rural area of plantations and a small fishing village until after the American Civil War . Construction of the railroad and establishment of the great shipyard brought thousands of workers and associated development. It was one of only a few cities in Virginia to be newly established without earlier incorporation as a town. (Virginia has had an independent city political subdivision since 1871.) Walter A. Post served as

24900-436: Was able to enter Dry Dock No. 2 in Pearl Harbor; after completing initial repairs, she was re-floated on 9 June and remained in port for several months. On 10 October, California departed Pearl Harbor and met the destroyer Gansevoort at sea; the two vessels proceeded to Puget Sound, where California would undergo permanent repairs and a major modernization. This work lasted from 20 October 1942 to 31 January 1944. All of

25066-448: Was added to the deck over the magazines and 2 inches (51 mm) of STS was added elsewhere. In place of her original conning tower, she received one of the towers that had been removed from the Brooklyn -class cruisers that had recently been rebuilt. California also had her old cage masts removed, with a modern tower mast installed in place of the forward cage mast. The changes doubled

25232-508: Was an instance of history repeating itself, as the station also welcomed evacuees during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. In 1968, the air station was given a major role in John F. Kennedy 's vision of putting a man on the moon . The air station became Recovery Control Center (RCC) Atlantic, which provided command, control, and communications for the ships and aircraft that participated in

25398-406: Was available and highways were built. While the shipyard and coal facilities, and other smaller harbor-oriented businesses have remained vibrant, the downtown area went into substantial decline. Crime problems have plagued the nearby lower-income residential areas. West of the traditional downtown area, another early portion of the city was developed as Huntington Heights. In modern times been called

25564-549: Was decided to expand to the east. East Camp, with an area of about 1,000 acres (4 km²) between the east side of Naval Station and Granby Street, had been sold off by the Army at the end of World War I. Congress authorized its repurchase in early 1940. On June 29 of that year, a contract was signed with the Virginia Engineering Company of Newport News for the expansion of the station. The cost of expansion and construction

25730-507: Was disabled by the hit, which started a fire that was quickly contained by damage control teams. Later in the day, California left the area for the night, returning the next morning. At 09:54, American observers spotted a group of Japanese Type 95 and Type 97 tanks in Garapan, and California engaged them, destroying at least one of the tanks. The ship then helped to suppress a battery of Japanese guns on Mañagaha island that had been engaging

25896-642: Was home to 24 fleet units. From January through April 1942, the Eastern Sea Frontier recorded 82 sinkings by U-boats. During the same period, only eight U-boats were sunk by U.S. forces. Eventually, coastal convoys were instituted and more aircraft became available. German U-boats moved elsewhere and sinkings decreased. To move closer to their patrol areas and free up space for the training of new squadrons, NAS Norfolk-based patrol squadrons transferred their operations from Breezy Point to Chincoteague and Elizabeth City. However, NAS Norfolk's biggest contribution to

26062-604: Was not damaged, apart from one of the 5-inch guns that was accidentally shot by one of the 40 mm guns. On 22 June, California withdrew to replenish ammunition and stores at Eniwetok in the Marshalls. After arriving in Eniwetok, she underwent repairs from 25 June to 16 July, thereafter returning to Saipan, which had by that time been secured. The next target, Guam , was to be attacked in Operation Stevedore . On arrival in

26228-456: Was opened to provide training in nine trades. By war's end, assembly and repair had developed into a Class "A" industrial plant with peak employment of 3,561 civilians and 4,852 military workers. The air station has hosted more than 70 tenant commands, including several carrier groups, a carrier airborne early warning wing and associated squadrons, a helicopter sea control wing and associated squadrons, and various Naval Air Reserve units, primarily

26394-501: Was originally located at Breezy Point, but moved to  Dam Neck  in 1943 to be able to carry out range work without restricting airspace. From 1943 to the end of the war, a total of 326 U.S. units were commissioned and trained under the control of AIRLANT. World War II profoundly changed the appearance of the Naval Station. With the eruption of war in Europe in September 1939, the station began to vibrate with activity. By December,

26560-527: Was predominantly black American, the "North End" and the shipyard and coal piers. The town of Kecoughtan in Elizabeth City County was annexed by Newport News in 1927, extending the city along Hampton Roads from Salter's Creek to Pear Avenue. After World War II, public housing projects and lower income housing were built to improve housing in what came to be known as the East End or "The Bottom" by locals. The city expanded primarily westward where land

26726-446: Was recognized as one of the most important sources of trained naval aviators. In recognition of its importance, on August 27, 1918, the detachment became NAS Hampton Roads, a separate station under its own commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Patrick N. L. Bellinger . As World War I came to an end, the former NAS Hampton Roads saw erratic growth, growing to nearly 167 officers, 1,227 enlisted men and 65 planes. However, demobilization threatened

26892-446: Was replaced with sixteen 5-inch/38 cal dual-purpose guns in new twin turrets and she received a large number of close-range anti-aircraft guns. In total, she was fitted with forty Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in) guns in ten quadruple mounts and forty-three 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon guns . Horizontal protection was considerably strengthened to improve her resistance to air attack; 3 inches of special treatment steel (STS)

27058-595: Was sent into the East China Sea to clear mines. On 8 August, she was detached from TF 95 for maintenance at San Pedro Bay in the Philippines, the work lasting from 11 to 15 August. While there, California ' s crew received word of the Japanese surrender. Once the work was completed, she steamed north to Nakagusuku Bay , Okinawa, where she remained from 23 August to 20 September, awaiting further orders. She then departed, bound for Wakayama , where she arrived on 23 September to support Sixth Army troops as they began

27224-533: Was stationed in Puget Sound, and later in August she steamed south to San Francisco and then to San Pedro . The ship took part in gunnery practice in early 1932 off San Nicolas Island . In March 1933, the frigate USS  Constitution , then on a tour of the United States, arrived in California; a fleet of 130 ships, including California , welcomed the vessel on her arrival in Long Beach on 9 March. The next day,

27390-456: Was still largely composed of temporary hangars and workshops left over from World War I. Many were unsafe and costly to maintain. The last permanent structure added had been the administration building, constructed in 1930. Some 353 acres (1.4 km²) were eventually reclaimed at a cost of $ 2.1 million. Two large hangars and ramps for seaplanes, barracks, officer quarters and family housing were built. This construction cut off Mason Creek Road and

27556-452: Was to reach more than $ 72 million. Hangars, a new dispensary, three runways, magazine areas, warehouses, barracks and docking areas were patterned after similar existing airfields. The plan was revised and approved by Captain Bellinger, returning as commanding officer 20 years after first holding the job. Bellinger insisted that as many structures as possible be permanent ones, as the air station

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