Richmond Naval Air Station
Encyclopedia
The Richmond Naval Lighter Than Air Station was a military installation about 18 or 20 miles off Route 1 from South Miami, Florida. that was active during World War II
.
In September 15 1942, the Navy purchased 2000 acres (8.1 km²) that were bounded by SW 122nd Avenue and 137th Avenue, from 152nd Street (Coral Reef Drive) to 184th Street. The base was used as a blimp
base. The site is located in Miami-Dade County
, southwest of the Kendall
area.
Before 1943 German submarines patrolled the entire US east coast destroying over 400 merchant ships in six months. A radio man had received training about radar which had been installed on the blimps. He requested from the Base Commander to use the radar and the US never lost another ship to submarines that they escorted. As the blimp discovered a submarine they called in lighter than air to take the German subs out.
On September 15, 1945, a hurricane destroyed the hangars, blimps, 366 planes and 150 cars, ending its contribution to the war effort. In response to the sudden increase in enrollment resulting from veterans returning to college, the University of Miami
leased the decommissioned station to provide classrooms and housing for 1,100 students as its "South Campus." Other areas of the old base were utilized by the Army, Navy and Coast Guard Communications installations, then the Air Force built a MOAD facility.
From 1948 to the present the University of Miami has used it as a research facility and storage area. Buildings currently house: the Global Public Health Research Group, Miami Institute for Human Genomics, D.U.I. Laboratory (for analysis of motorist blood samples), and Microbiology & Immunology.
From 1956 to November 1966, the railroad tracks on the base were used for the Gold Coast Railroad Museum
. In 1984, the museum moved to the area previously occupied by Hangars #1 and #2..
From 1962 to 1968, the Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) leased a few buildings from the University of Miami under the "front" name of Zenith Technological Services. This "front" company was in fact the intelligence gathering headquarters for the CIA's operation against Fidel Castro
's government in Cuba
., known as JM/WAVE
or the WAVE STATION. Over 400 CIA operatives worked out of this facility. In 1968, after Ramparts magazine exposed CIA operations on other campuses, JMWAVE was moved off the Miami South campus out of concern for embarrassing the university.
In 1970, the University of Miami's programs were ordered off the base except for the toxicology department of the UM Medical School. Later, Dade County was deeded 1000 acres (4 km²) for a new zoo, today's Zoo Miami, and for public access.
The original Administration Building #25 has since been acquired for a Military Museum and Memorial. It will be moved and restored during 2010-11. It should be open to the public by 2012.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In September 15 1942, the Navy purchased 2000 acres (8.1 km²) that were bounded by SW 122nd Avenue and 137th Avenue, from 152nd Street (Coral Reef Drive) to 184th Street. The base was used as a blimp
Blimp
A blimp, or non-rigid airship, is a floating airship without an internal supporting framework or keel. A non-rigid airship differs from a semi-rigid airship and a rigid airship in that it does not have any rigid structure, neither a complete framework nor a partial keel, to help the airbag...
base. The site is located in Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
, southwest of the Kendall
Kendall, Florida
Kendall is a suburban neighborhood of metropolitan Miami, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the area had a total population of 75,226....
area.
Before 1943 German submarines patrolled the entire US east coast destroying over 400 merchant ships in six months. A radio man had received training about radar which had been installed on the blimps. He requested from the Base Commander to use the radar and the US never lost another ship to submarines that they escorted. As the blimp discovered a submarine they called in lighter than air to take the German subs out.
On September 15, 1945, a hurricane destroyed the hangars, blimps, 366 planes and 150 cars, ending its contribution to the war effort. In response to the sudden increase in enrollment resulting from veterans returning to college, the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
leased the decommissioned station to provide classrooms and housing for 1,100 students as its "South Campus." Other areas of the old base were utilized by the Army, Navy and Coast Guard Communications installations, then the Air Force built a MOAD facility.
From 1948 to the present the University of Miami has used it as a research facility and storage area. Buildings currently house: the Global Public Health Research Group, Miami Institute for Human Genomics, D.U.I. Laboratory (for analysis of motorist blood samples), and Microbiology & Immunology.
From 1956 to November 1966, the railroad tracks on the base were used for the Gold Coast Railroad Museum
Gold Coast Railroad Museum
- Description :It was founded in 1956. The museum was built on the former Naval Air Station Richmond . With over three miles of tracks, the old base was an ideal place to build a railroad museum....
. In 1984, the museum moved to the area previously occupied by Hangars #1 and #2..
From 1962 to 1968, the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
(CIA) leased a few buildings from the University of Miami under the "front" name of Zenith Technological Services. This "front" company was in fact the intelligence gathering headquarters for the CIA's operation against Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
's government in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
., known as JM/WAVE
JMWAVE
JMWAVE or JM/WAVE or JM WAVE was the codename for a major secret United States covert operations and intelligence gathering station operated by the CIA from 1961 until 1968...
or the WAVE STATION. Over 400 CIA operatives worked out of this facility. In 1968, after Ramparts magazine exposed CIA operations on other campuses, JMWAVE was moved off the Miami South campus out of concern for embarrassing the university.
In 1970, the University of Miami's programs were ordered off the base except for the toxicology department of the UM Medical School. Later, Dade County was deeded 1000 acres (4 km²) for a new zoo, today's Zoo Miami, and for public access.
The original Administration Building #25 has since been acquired for a Military Museum and Memorial. It will be moved and restored during 2010-11. It should be open to the public by 2012.