Naval Air Station Sanford
Naval Air Station Sanford was a naval air station of the United States Navy in Sanford, Florida, approximately 20 miles north of Orlando, Florida. Opening less than a year after the start of World War II, NAS Sanford's initial function was as an advanced training base for land-based patrol bombers, followed by carrier-based fighter aircraft. The air station briefly closed in 1946 and was placed in caretaker status until being reactivated in 1950. It eventually served as a Master Jet Base for carrier-based heavy attack and reconnaissance aircraft until 1969. After its closure, it reopened as civilian general aviation airport under various names with a non-Navy civilian airport identifier until finally transitioning to a scheduled air carrier airport under its current name of Orlando-Sanford International Airport.
A3D-2 (A-3B) Skywarriors of VAH-7, BuNo 138916 and Buno 142660, over NAS Sanford in the early 1960s
F4F Wildcat fighter, circa early 1942, similar to examples flown at NAS Sanford beginning the following year
AJ-2 Savage, BuNo 134043 of Heavy Attack Squadron SEVEN (VAH-7) from then-NAAS Sanford refuels a pair of FJ-3M Fury fighters of Fighter Squadron SIX TWO (VF-62), circa 1958.
An A3D-2, BuNo 138955, from NAS Sanford-based Heavy Attack Squadron NINE (VAH-9) suffers a nose wheel collapse while landing aboard USS Saratoga (CVA-60), c. 1959-1960.
Sanford is a city and the county seat of Seminole County, Florida. It is located in Central Florida and its population was 61,051 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Sanford Grammar School in January 2007
Lake Monroe, circa 1912
Sanford SunRail Station
City Hall, 2017