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Master and Commander
Posts: 1890
Location: Patterson, New York | Subject: From Blimps to Microchips: Moffett Field
I found this story interesting. Its about blimps and the evolution of a naval base and its mission.
I had never heard of this naval base.
I do know about Sunnyvale CA since that is the home of Lockheed which produced the Polaris missiles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDaAnKcwndI
BTW - thanks to Ric who put me onto this History Guy some time ago.
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Plankowner
Posts: 9165
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: From Blimps to Microchips: Moffett Field
This guy is good. I wish I'd had him as a history teacher when I was in school. |
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Old Salt
Posts: 272
Location: Vista, Ca. | Subject: RE: From Blimps to Microchips: Moffett Field
What I found interesting was the title "Director of Yards and Docks." I had a Chief once go off about how something wasn't right and that they should fire the Director of Yards and Docks. We were in Mare Island at the time. I thought the Chief was jst a little stressed and was over emphazing some person that really didn't exist. The, boom THG mentions Admiral Moffet and Yards and Docks in the same sentence. I also found if quite telling how even more so back then, (pre- WW 11) the services were very agressive toward each other for real estate, money and any better deal. Interesting stuff for sure. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1890
Location: Patterson, New York | Subject: RE: From Blimps to Microchips: Moffett Field
Geno,
Rivalry between services was alive and well in the 1960s.
The instructors at Polaris A School would tell us how the USAF objected to the US Navy having control of ballistic nuclear missiles.
USAF wanted their officers to be stationed aboard submarines to handle the missile and fire control duties.
Also, the Air Force was uncomfortable with enlisted sailors being the caretakers of the missiles.
The final argument from the Air Force was that the Polaris missiles fired from submarines were not accurate.
When one of my boats fired six Polaris A-3 Missiles down at the Atlantic Missile Range, we hit the targets.
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Plankowner
Posts: 9165
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: From Blimps to Microchips: Moffett Field
Air Farce when first created wanted the Navy to hand over all its planes. Navy laughed at them. Along came the Korean War. AF was flying from Japan to targets in Korea. Could only spend minutes over a target. Navy came in with ship launched air cover and took targets and established land air fields. AF demanded to use the fields. |
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From Blimps to Microchips: Moffett Field
