Crows Landing Naval Auxiliary Air Station Naval Auxiliary Air Station Crows Landing is a former United States Navy air station NAAS Crows Landing , located 2 - 1 / 2 miles northwest of Crows Landing , California , began in late 1942 as an auxiliary air station to Naval Air Station , Alameda . It was used to train Navy fighter pilots . Pilots of F4F Wildcats , TBF and TBM Avengers trained here first in Link and Panoramic trainers then eventually in actual planes . Later , pilots in R4D Skytrains and R5D Skymasters ( Navy versions of the Army ' s C - 47 and C - 54 ) trained here . After the war the station was placed in caretaker status . History . In late 1942 , the Navy chose a site in the San Joaquin Valley , 71 miles southeast of NAS Alameda , for an auxiliary air station . An 804 - acre parcel of land was purchased for $ 86 , 708 and ground broken on December 1 , 1942 . The site was located near the agricultural community of Crows Landing , 1940 population of 363 , which consisted of a gas station , country store , and a freight train stop . During construction , the project was known as NAAF Patterson for the nearest post office , six miles to the north . After the Navy decided to include a post office on the station , the base commissioned on May 25 , 1943 , as NAAF Crows Landing . On 18 June 1943 , VC - 36 became the first unit assigned . A detachment of Alameda ' s CASU 6 also arrived in support . For the next nine months , Crows Landing hosted various carrier units . These units included VC - 65 , and elements of CAG 28 , CAG 18 , and CAG 11 . In the meantime , a detachment of CASU 37 replaced CASU 6 and Crows Landing was upgraded to an NAAS . Up to the spring of 1944 , multi - engine patrol aircraft were based at NAAS Vernalis , 18 miles to the northwest . The Navy realized that Crows Landing ' s 7 , 000 - ft . concrete run ways would be better suited for the heavier weight multi - engine aircraft than Vernalis ' s asphalt run ways ; thereafter , Vernalis was designated for carrier units and Crows Landing for multi - engine types . In March 1944 , the first multi - engine squadron , VPB - 137 arrived from Alameda with PVs . From June to November , the station embarked on an expansion project that added housing , a hangar , and other improvements . The runways were widened from 150 to 200 ft . The station ' s ramp that initially was 200 x 400 ft . was enlarged by a 1200 x 200 - ft . and a 1890 x 260 - ft . section . In August 1944 , the first PB4Y - 2 Privateer squadron , VPB - 118 , arrived from Camp Kearny . In January 1945 , Crows Landing added six enlisted barracks , a warehouse , and a 100 - man ground training building . From February 2 , to March 27 , 1945 , a VRE - 1 Detach ment with 12 R4D s was based at the station . VRE - 1 was one of the Navy ' s three evacuation squadrons that transported wounded men from combat areas in the South Pacific to the various Naval Hospitals in the U . S . In addition , Oakland ' s VR - 4 and VR - 11 used Crows Landing for training throughout the station ' s existence . Crows Landing ' s isolated location prompted the Navy to run 10 liberty buses a day to Modesto and Patterson . Navy men were allowed to use the swimming pool at Patterson High School . In June 1945 , the station ' s complement stood at 27 officers and 185 men — squadron personnel added an additional 245 officers and 1220 enlisted men . Available billeting accommodated 268 officers and 2116 men . Patrol squadrons that passed thought the station during the war included VPB - 115 , 122 , 101 , 103 , 107 , 133 , 140 , 118 , and 108 . The PV operational training squadron , VPB - 198 , also spent time aboard . Patrol squadrons were supported by PATSUs 8 - 2 , 8 - 4 , 8 - 5 , and 8 - 7 . Other units that operated and trained at Crows Landing were VJ - 12 and ABATU 105 . By war ' s end , the station was valued at $ 4 million . Crows Landing decommissioned on 6 July 1946 , becoming an OLF to Alameda and later Moffett Field . In recent years , the Navy maintained a permanent detachment at the field that supplied crash equipment and refueling services for Naval aircraft from the stations in the area . With the closing of Moffett , the Navy turned Crows Landing over to NASA ' s Ames Research Center in 1993 . By the year 2000 , the Navy had completed an EPA cleanup project and transferred most of the facilities to Stanislaus County with plans to convert it into a business park . As of 2013 , the County ( with NASA partners ) have cleared all of the abandoned and decaying building structures save for the historic control tower . In addition , Stanislaus County is currently seeking a CEQA consultant to assist with environmental impact analysis .