Evening star., 1943-04-01
Navy Air Base
Commissioned
Al Cedar Point
Experimental PIont
Will Be Transport
Command Center
BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY,

CEDAR POINT, Md, April H.
The Nays gigantic new air expert
mental center at the junction of the
Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay
was formally commissioned today.
The station, in addition to carry
ing on work for development OF
better aircraft, will be the base for
the Naval Air Transport Command.
1t was revealed at the ceremonies.
Comdr. w. T. Rassieur placed the
new station in service before a dis,
tinguished gathering of Naval and
governmental officials, including
Rear Admiral John S. Mccain, chief
OF the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics;
Rear Admiral F. L. Reichmuth, COM
mandant of the Washington Navy
Yard and the Potomac River Com
mand, and Representative Sasscer,
Democrat, of Maryland, who repre-
sents the district in which the new
air base Is located.
Admiral Mccain Speaks.
Admiral Mccain called attention
to the fact that at the establishment
the Navy will be able, for the first
time, to cooperate and combine it's
experimental work under a single
unit. He told the members of the
rapidly growing force here that the
Importance and value of their eff.
forts cannot be overstated,
1t is the function of this station
TO test and criticize, from an operat-
Ing point of view, all change and
Improvement in the material that
goes into the air and in its USE"
admiral Mccain said. "A great re-
sponsibility is put into your hands.
for growth and change is still the
very life of any air service which
nopes to survive. The whole coun-
try is aroused to the need for guam
tlty IN our weapon, but 1 look to
Patuxent River to carry a large part
OF the burden of insuring that quail
lty, imagination and resourcefulness
are all included in our future equip.
ment and in its typical use."
Admiral Reichmuth also said that
ne realized the citizens here have
suffered sacrifice that is both real
and sentimental" but told them
that they have devoted much that
they personally value to meet a real
need OF their country in a critical
hour.
Sasscer Lauds Navy Flyers.
After praising the Naval Air
Forces, Representative Sasscer de-
clared that the casualties among our
land forces in battle are minimized
IN direct proportion to the eff.
cheney and speed of our air forces.
At the conclusion of the speaking.
| Comdr. Rassieur read his orders to
the marines and sailors lined up for
the ceremony. Then he gave the
command to place the station in
commission. The troops in forma-
ton were called to attention and
while the Navy Band played THE
i Star Spangled Banner" the ma
tlonal ensign was drawn to the ton
OF the mast by detail of marines.
The new air base, which is known
omcially as Naval Air Station.
Patuxent River" is loacted on a
6,500-acre tract. It will combine
and concentrate flying and operat-
ing aspects of experimental work
previously conducted at the Naval
Air Stations at Anacostia and Nor
tolk and the naval aircraft factory
at Philadelphia. 1t will serve also
as the East Coast terminal for
Naval Air Transport Service, now
located at Norfolk.
Facilities for Land Planes.
Facilities for both land and sea
planes have been installed, the Navy
announced, while docks also have
been constructed for vessels which
will handle freight. In addition to
sea plane ramps. the field has three
runways for land planes. The larg-
est is 1000 feet in length and 500
feet wide, while the others are 5000
feet long and 800 feet wide. Four
hangers for all types of planes are
among the As buildings at the sta
tion.
When fully stated, according to
the Navy, the station will have sew
eral thousand officers and men.