As a city sandwiched between two major naval installations – a hub for aircraft carriers, aviation and training operations – Coronado is, at its core, the textbook definition of a Navy town.
Since this Oct. 13 marked the Navy’s 250th anniversary, it is a good time to pause and recognize how deeply woven the Navy is into the fabric of our community. Coronado would not be what it is today without the Navy, and the sentiment works in reverse.
Coronado is a hub for major Navy capabilities – three aircraft carriers are homeported at Naval Air Station North Island and the main headquarters of Naval Special Warfare is at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, the same location where four SEAL teams are based.
The role that Naval aviation, aircraft carriers, and special operations have played in the protection of our nation is profound. Aircraft carriers act as mobile air bases for their embarked aircraft, and are designed to project power into areas around the globe as the U.S. deems necessary. They display political intent, attack targets, and provide humanitarian assistance and maritime security.
Meanwhile, Navy SEAL teams are elite special operations forces that execute a wide variety of missions, including counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, hostage rescues, capturing high-value targets, raids and much more. Since 1962, SEAL teams have played a crucial role in Vietnam, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and the Global War on Terror following 9/11. Some of their high profile successes include the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates in 2009, and the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011.
All of these aspects combined make the Navy the powerhouse that it is today. And how crazy is it that much of the Navy’s roots originated in a place that really, is only a short distance away from many of our front doors?
Famed pilot Glenn Curtiss scouted out North Island – then separated from Coronado by a small stretch of water called the Spanish Bight – as the perfect location to experiment with aviation in 1911. He flew the world’s first seaplane off of that channel of water, and eventually convinced the Navy to establish its first aircraft squadron on those grounds.
That is when Congress entered the scene and purchased all 1,232 acres of North Island in 1917, commissioning the land as a naval air station. North Island was coined the “Birthplace of Naval Aviation,” later receiving official recognition as such from the House Armed Service Committee in 1963.
Aviation operations expanded exponentially from there. At one point, North Island was home to every single aircraft carrier in the Navy. This was in 1935 when the total carrier count was four – the USS Langley, USS Lexington, USS Saratoga and USS Ranger.
To meet the influx of ships, aircraft and military personnel, the Navy began dredging San Diego Bay and using the sand to expand the land area. This was accomplished during World War II to meet the dire need for more runways and facilities.
The Spanish Bight was filled in, along with areas along Coronado’s north shore and the Silver Strand. By July 1944, North Island and Coronado were one body mass, replicating the same aerial view that we know and love today.
That historical evolution led us to this moment in time, where thousands of military personnel are still either living on, or commuting to, Coronado’s military bases daily. Naval Air Station North Island is now the homeport for three Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, operating as floating cities. And since 1971, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado has housed the selection and assessment of every single Navy SEAL to go through the program, after initial assessment training on the East Coast was discontinued.
Think about that for a moment: The training, development and oversight of the most elite special operators in the world happens right in our backyard. And historically, community members have also rubbed shoulders with many esteemed sailors and officers such as Vice Adm. James Stockdale, a Vietnam Medal of Honor winner who lived in town.
Coronado’s connection to the Navy is communal. Navy reservists, veterans, retired and active duty personnel are integral to the very fabric of our community. Beyond notable alumni, Navy servicemen and -women are your neighbors, coaches, volunteers, small business owners and homeowners.
So, 250 years after the Navy’s birth, let’s take a moment to thank our neighbors for their sacrifice, and remember that the title of “Navy Town” is a moniker we should wear with pride.
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