South Weymouth Naval Air Station
Post-WWII the airfield was slowly converted for use as a jet airbase for the Navy and Marines. First it housed surplus aircraft from WWII where the enormous hangers were perfect for storage. The Navy repurposed the base for aircraft training from the 1960s-1990s. Three runways were built with the longest being 7,000 feet. Fighters and cargo planes continued to operate here until the base was declared surplus and closed in 1997.
I autocrossed cars and did some performance driving events here in the late 1990s. Rumors formed quickly of redevelopment. It wasn't until the early 2010s that new townhouses were built and most of the old military structures were taken down.
The film Patriots Day was filmed on several makeshift sets here in 2015. The residential street where the climactic shooting scene was filmed still stands (barely). The runways are mostly intact along with the two control towers. The site is definitely in transition with more development sure to come.
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
The southern approach to the main runway. Runway is actually under the debris mound on the right.
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
7,000ft runway
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
7,000ft runway
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
Debris from the Patriots Day set and other demolition.
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
Patriots Day set.
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
Towers. In the foreground is the footprint of Blimp Hanger 2, which was demolished to make room for the 7,000ft runway.
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
Tower 1. The stairs seemed too decayed to support me so I didn't venture past the door.
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
Tower 2. This tower was approved and funded for construction in the mid-1990s. But the base closed in 1997. The Navy did not want the money to go to waste so the tower was built but never put to use.
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
The remains of Blimp Hanger 2, demolished to make way for the main runway.
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
The remains of Blimp Hanger 2, demolished to make way for the main runway.
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
The remains of Blimp Hanger 2, demolished to make way for the main runway.
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk
South WeymouthNaval Air StationNASNavyabandonedairfieldgate guard
South Weymouth Naval Air Station
Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk
South WeymouthNaval Air StationNASNavyabandonedairfieldgate guard