Naval Air Station (NAS) Hutchinson

This was a Naval Air Station in Hutchinson, Kansas in which the main operations were active from 1942 to 1946. It is the sister NAS Station to NAS Ottumwa (Iowa) as both locations were determined to move forward by the US Government at the same time. Despite closing in 1946, NAS Hutchinson was reopened from 1952 to 1958 due to the Korean War. The US Navy ceased operations at that point at this location. The facility is then was under the oversight of the Kansas Air National Guard and the US Air Force, and was known as the Hutchinson Air Force Station, but ceased operations in 1968. The military buildings no longer exist.

There has not been much history of NAS Hutchinson that has been compiled online. However, from research using the newspapers of the 1940's and a few other primary sources, an effort is being made here to put together some of the history of this base during World War II. As information on individuals who were officers of and served at the base is located, those individuals are listed here. This page is a work-in-progress.

1942

Construction on NAS Hutchinson began in 1942, and was reported as costing ten million dollars to complete. By the fall of 1942, residents in Hutchinson were preparing for a population increase due to this work. The company Black and Veatch (which was founded in 1915 and is still in operation today in Kansas) was the architect-engineer firm for the base. The Kiewit-Condon Construction Co. worked on the construction of the base, as it was reported that they had leased Reno County road equipment. Roofing work was sub-contracted to the Jacobson Roofing Co. (Chicago) for a reported $24,000. The first service men that were expected to be cadets at Hutchinson would be transferred from the Navy Pre-Flight School in Athens, Georgia.

Early on it seems there was a housing shortage for the soon-to-be new residents of Hutchinson, Kansas. The first group of individuals to be at the base in September 1942 numbered 600 - 300 Naval officers and 300 enlisted men (not counting the families of these individuals as well), though 775 had been recruited by later that month. There are indications that there had been barriers to new construction of residences, but Lieut. Commander King was reported as traveling with the Secretary of the Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce R. R. "Bert" Snyder to work out the issue and it was reported that "Hutchinson may be declared within a defense housing area so that new construction and re-modeling may be permitted." ("Navy Officers Hunt Homes Here in Vain," The Hutchinson News-Herald, September 11, 1942, p. 1). Additionally, farmers were negotiating deals for the use of their land for the base, though it was also reported that "[t]he land already [had] been condemned in federal court and possession given to the navy." ("Navy Officers Hunt Homes Here in Vain," The Hutchinson News-Herald, September 11, 1942. p. 1).

Lt. Commander King also worked to recruit more petty officers for NAS Hutchinson in September 1942, and was taking applications that month.

The first planes were expected to arrive in October 1942 - N2S-3 (aka "Kaydet") or N2S-4 (the specific Navy version of the N2S-3) Stearman trainers that were two-seater biplanes.

Individuals (Officers and those with Specific Roles)

Lt. Commander W. C. King - noted in an article dated September 2, 1942 as being in charge of NAS Hutchinson. It was noted in another article that King had previously been at NAS Peru, Indiana.

Lt. Frederick S. Cowen - Aviation Officer - noted as arriving in September 1942 with his wife and son. Noted as being from Los Alamitos, California.

Lt. Earl G. Dobbins - Navy Engineer in charge of construction as of September 1942.

Lt. (Junior Grade) Wayne Morris - Flight Instructor - noted as arriving in September 1942, Morris was a Hollywood movie star that joined the Navy during World War II, and became a flight instructor at NAS Hutchinson.

Lt. (Junior Grade) R. K. Hood - Mathematics Instructor - noted as arriving in September 1942 with his wife. Noted as being from Hanover, New Hampshire.

Ensign Guy P. Witherspoon - Public Relations Officer - serving under the command of King as of fall 1942

Ensign Sydney S. Kellem - handling legal matters for the base serving under the command of King as of fall 1942

Seaman 1st Class Myrl M. Stark - noted as arriving in September 1942. Noted as being from Turon, Kansas.

Seaman 2nd Class Oliver Ortwin Riffel - noted as arriving in September 1942.

Ship's Cook, 1st Class, John William Dibble - noted as arriving in September 1942 and that he had 30 years serving the Navy upon arrival. Was previously serving at NAS Peru, Indiana. It was reported that "Dibble will preside over the galley at the state fair grounds when the navy moves in after the fair. Kitchen equipment is arriving." ("Movie Actor An Instructor At Navy Base," The Hutchinson News-Herald, September 15, 1942, p. 1)

Photographer, 1st Class, Joseph Adam Skowronek - noted as arriving in September 1942 and had worked at newspapers in Chicago and New York, and arrived from Great Lakes (training station). It was reported that "Skowronek will take documentary films of base construction and shoot pictures for the press relations officer." ("Movie Actor An Instructor at Navy Base," The Hutchinson News-Herald, September 15, 1942, p. 1). It's not clear yet if these films and pictures are available (where they might be archived).

R. H. Putnam - land buyer for the US Navy Bureau of Yards and Docks - had an office at the Contractors' Office Building

Medical Staff

Betty Hodges (nee Keller) - Registered Nurse - reported as having started work as of September 1942 in the infirmary. Completed training at Grace Hospital. Noted as being from Claflin, Kansas.

Phyllis Dunn (nee Vanderlip) - Registered Nurse - reported as having started work as of September 1942 in the infirmary. Completed training at Grace Hospital. Noted as being from Woodston, Kansas.

Ella Schmidt - Registered Nurse - reported as having started work as of September 1942 in the infirmary.

Pharmacist's Mate, 3rd Class, Harold Franklin Davis - reported as having started as of September 1942, and having transferred from Great Lakes.

Facilities on at NAS Hutchinson

Base Headquarters - temporarily at the state fair grounds in October 1942.

Concrete Runways - reported as being 5,000 feet in length and were to begin to be instructed by October 1942. Planned to include landing mats half a mile in diameter, made of asphalt.

20 Outlying Fields - was to be leased for use

Contractors' Office Building

Infirmary - implied as being operational as of September 1942.

Barracks - sidewalls were pre-fabricated on site. Had concrete footings.

Mess Halls

Warehouses - sidewalls were pre-fabricated on site. Had concrete footings.

Sewage Disposal Plant

Gymnasium [reported that this was planned as of September 1942 - reviewing for confirmation that it was built]

Swimming Pool [reported that this was planned as of September 1942 - reviewing for confirmation that it was built]

Bowling Alley [reported that more than one planned as of September 1942 - reviewing for confirmation that at least one was built]

Movie Theatre [reported that this was planned as of September 1942 - reviewing for confirmation that it was built]

Playing fields [reported that this was planned as of September 1942 - reviewing for confirmation that they were built]