Naval Air Station Grosse Ile
Naval Air Station Grosse Ile was a Naval air station located on the southern tip of Grosse Ile, Michigan. It operated from 1927 until late 1969, and is now a township airport. During World War II NASGI was one of the largest primary flight training stations for Naval aviators, and RAF pilots. Among the many thousands of Navy pilots who began their careers at NASGI is game show host Bob Barker. Former President George H. W. Bush finished his active Navy career at NASGI attached to Torpedo Squadron 153(VT-153).
An aerial view of NAS Grosse Ile during the 1940s
Navy Grumman FF-2 fighters near Grosse Ile in the 1930s
U.S. Marine Corps fighter squadron VMF-251 at Grosse Ile in 1948 flying F4U Corsairs
The ZMC-2 was the only successfully operated metal-skinned airship ever built. Constructed at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile by The Aircraft Development Corporation of Detroit, the ZMC-2 was operated by the U.S. Navy at Lakehurst, New Jersey from 1929 until its scrapping in 1941. While at Lakehurst it completed 752 flights, and logged 2265 hours of flight time.
Detroit ZMC-2