Reservists in front of Hangar One
Richard A. Schram Memorial Chapel
Bi-planes over NAS Glenview
| DATE | EVENT |
| 1923 | The United States Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Great Lakes, Illinois, was commissioned. The base
operated a number of seaplanes from the shore facilities of nearby Lake Michigan. |
| 1929 | The Curtiss-Reynolds Airfield was built by the Curtiss Flying Club, a subsidiary of the Curtiss Corporation established by aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss.
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| 1929 | Hangar One, the original hangar of Curtiss-Reynolds Airport, was built. Designed in the International
Style by Chicago architect Andrew N. Rebori, it was planned to be the center of a string of airports and
flight academies for the company that would stretch across the country. |
| 1929 | The Curtiss-Reynolds airfield was dedicated nine days before the stock market crash, and the economic
depression that followed kept the facility from ever meeting its expectations. |
| 1930 | Two major air races were staged at the airfield in the 1930s. These included the National Air Races in 1930 and the Internationals in 1933. There were many airshows held in the 1930s; most were sponsored such groups as the American Legion and the Chicago Girls Flying Club. |
| 1936 | Space at Curtiss-Reynolds Airport was leased to the U.S. Navy, including 3 of the 5 bays in Hangar One. |
| 1940 | Rear Admiral John Downes, USN, Commandant, Ninth Naval District recommended that the Naval
Researve Aviation Base be moved to the Curtiss-Reynolds Airport. The Navy petitioned for condemnation
of the 319-acre tract and the court ordered payment of $530,000 for the property. |
| 1942 | With the outbreak of World War II, the field became a focal point for the Navy’s expanded flight training
program and a Primary Training Command. A massive construction program ($12,500,000) was begun.
Prior to expansion, the station consisted of barracks, 20 officers, 120 enlisted men and less than 100 cadets.
In only 212 working days, 1,300,000 sq. yards of concrete were placed for landing mats and runways.
Hangars, administration buildings and classroom buildings followed. |
| 1942 | An additional 569.55 acres were purchased adjacent to the field, west of Shermer Road and south of old
Lake Avenue. These acquisitions included the remainder of the old Herman Rugen property and the
36-hole Pickwick Golf Course. |
| 1943 | The station was designated a Naval Air Station and recognized as NAS Chicago. It had grown to 300
officers, 1,000 cadets, and 3,500 enlisted men. |
| 1943 | NAS Glenview’s first contingency of WAVES arrived. These 3 enlisted women were joined later in the
year by 25 additional WAVES. By 1944 there were 322 contained enlisted women and 12 attached officers. |
| 1944 | The station was renamed Naval Air Station Glenview. |
| 1945 | Construction of the U.S. Navy Memorial Chapel began. The chapel was dedicated on July 1, 1945 |
| 1946 | Capt. J.M. Carson announced the station’s war-time status was closing. Its function as the Primary Training
Command was discontinued and it became the Naval Air Reserve Training Command Headquarters. |
| 1947 | NAS Glenview became the home for the Combat Information Center Officers School. |
| 1950 | Two squadrons flying F8F Bearcats were ordered to active duty and sent to Korea. |
| 1950 | The first FH1 Phantom jet arrived. |
| 1951 | NAS Glenview became home to the Naval Air Reserve Training Command, the Marine Air Reserve
Training Command, and the Marine Air Detachment. |
| 1958 | Reserve Officers School Extension was commissioned to provide constructive continuance of Naval
Reserve Training to sustain specialized experience and interest. |
| 1961 | Reservists were called to duty for the Berlin Crisis. |
| 1962 | Reservists provided support for air operations during the Cuban Missile Crisis and helped secure
the enforcement of the blockade of Cuba. |
| 1970 | The U.S. Navy Chapel was named the Richard A. Schram Memorial Chapel, honoring Capt. Richard A.
Schram, known to millions as “The Flying Professor. He was killed in an air show in Reading, Pa. in 1969. |
| 1971 | The U.S. Navy approved the plan for annexation of NAS Glenview to the Village. |
| 1973 | NAS Glenview served as an arrival point for prisoners of war returning from Vietnam. |
| 1991 | NAS Glenview deployed forces to serve in both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. |
| 1993 | NAS Glenview was selected for closure by the U.S. Department of Defense |
| 1995 | The U.S. Navy hosted a closure ceremony, marking 58 years of support for national defense. Before its closure, it was a COMNAVRESFOR air station serving the north central U.S. It provided facilities, services, materials, and training in direct support of all assigned units for their mobilization mission. The units included two P-3 (VP-60 and VP-90) Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW Squadrons, one Logistic Support Squadron (VR-51), one Marine Air Control Group (MACG-48) including a C-130 Transport Squadron (VMGR-234) and a Light Helicopter Squadron (HML-766), ten Fleet Intelligence Support Units and numerous other Navy and Marine reserve units.
The 86th Army Reserve Command, located in Forest Park, IL had several
subordinate units and a civilian aviation support facility at NAS Glenview. They
included (1) 244th Theater Aviation Group [244th TAG] located in Hangar One, (2)
3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (Attack Helicopter) [3/158th Avn Regt
(AH)] located in Building 122, (3) Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 228th Theater
Aviation Regiment [B/2-228th TAR] located in Building 122, (4) Alpha Company,
2nd Battalion, 502nd Aviation Regiment (Aviation Intermediate Maintenance)
[A/2-502nd Avn Regt (AVIM)] located in Building 122, and (5) Aviation Support
Facility 26 [ASF 26] located in Hangar 124. The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, Chicago was a tenant having facilities and helicopter aircraft for search and rescue operations over the Great Lakes. Over the years, every military service was represented at NAS Glenview including the Air Force and Seabees which had small reserve units.
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