[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 43 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2321-S2322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak on the 70th anniversary of 
the commissioning of Naval Air Station, NAS, Patuxent River. On April 
1, 1943 the base was commissioned and the Navy Department issued the 
following press release:
  ``Naval Air Station, Patuxent, situated on a 6,500-acre tract at 
Cedar Point, Maryland, was commissioned today with Rear Admiral John S. 
McCain, U.S.N., Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics; Rear Admiral F. L. 
Reichmuth, U.S.N., Commandant of the Potomac River Naval Command, and 
Representative Landsdale G. Sasscer of Maryland speaking at the 
commissioning exercises.

[[Page S2322]]

  The commissioning address was made by Rear Admiral Reichmuth who 
turned the situation over to Commander William T. Rassieur, U.S.N., of 
1429 South Westmoreland Avenue, Los Angeles, California.
  Naval Air Station, Patuxent, will be one of the finest and largest 
Navy aviation establishments in the East when construction work is 
completed. It will combine and concentrate flying and operating aspects 
of experimental work previously conducted at Naval Air Station, 
Anacostia, and Norfolk, and at the Naval Aircraft Factory, 
Philadelphia. It will serve also as the East Coast terminal for Naval 
Air Transport Service, now located at Norfolk.
  The new station is 60 airline miles southeast of Washington, D.C. Six 
thousand people have been employed constructing the station, beginning 
work on March 1, 1942.
  Facilities for both land and seaplanes have been installed, while 
docks also have been constructed for vessels which will handle freight 
in connection with activities of the air transport unit.
  In addition to seaplane ramps, the field has three runways for land 
plane. The largest is 10,000 feet in length and 500 feet wide, while 
the remaining two are 6,000 feet long and 300 feet wide. Four hangars 
for all types of planes are among the 45 buildings of the station.
  When fully staffed the station will have several thousand officers 
and men.''
  Mr. President, as noted earlier in the Navy's press release, my 
Grandfather then Rear Admiral McCain, was a speaker at the 
commissioning in 1943. In his speech he said, ``I have every reason to 
expect that under your expert guidance this work will be done more 
rapidly and more efficiently, and that it will rapidly increase in 
scope and its effectiveness, as it must do for naval aviation to meet 
its present problems and to hold its proper place as an outstanding 
major air service of the world.''
  Mr. President, today NAS Patuxent River, commonly referred to as Pax 
River, hosts over 17,000 people, including active-duty servicemembers, 
civil-service employees, defense contractor employees, and military 
dependents. NAS Patuxent River is home to the Naval Air Systems 
Command, NAVAIR, Headquarters, Air Test Wing Atlantic, U.S. Naval Test 
Pilot School, Scientific Development Squadron 1, Air Test and 
Evaluation Squadron 20, Rotary Wing Test Squadron 21, and Air Test and 
Evaluation Squadron 23.
  For nearly 70 years, the dedicated men and women of NAS Pax River 
have made the impossible possible, turning theory into experiment and 
experiment into operational capability. The dedicated and skilled 
workforce of NAS Patuxent River has made innumerable contributions to 
the aerospace industry, the Naval Aviation Enterprise, and the economic 
and national security of the United States. Their attention to detail 
is directly reflected in the record of excellence of United States 
Naval Aviation. During both war and peace their meticulous and exacting 
work to support the defense of our Nation has continued, ensuring, as 
my grandfather expected, that naval aviation meets its present problems 
and holds its proper place as an outstanding major air service of the 
world.
  While the historic sites, natural resources, and technology contained 
within its gates make it a unique destination; it is undoubtedly the 
people of Naval Air Station Patuxent River and their distinguished 
service that make it an irreplaceable National asset. On April 1, 2013, 
they will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the base commissioning. In 
recognition of this major milestone I wish them continued success in 
their future endeavors.

                          ____________________