Intro | Newcomer's Information | HousinG | facilities and services
Morale, welfare & recreation | Commands at NAS corpus christi
Quick REference numbers

Three years before the United States entered World War II, Congress found that a lack of aviation training facilities constituted a grave situation for our nation. It recommended the establishment of a second air training station, and further that it be located on Corpus Christi Bay.

As a result of their foresight, NAS Corpus Christi was commissioned on March 12, 1941, and flight training began in the Coastal Bend area on May 5, 1941, just three months and two days before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In its first year, 800 instructors provided training for more than 300 cadets a month. The training rate nearly doubled after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and, by the end of World War II, more than 35,000 aviators had earned their wings at Corpus Christi, contributing significantly to the success of America’s Naval operations.

Air training continued to be the primary mission for the base after the war with Naval Air Training Command headquarters moving to Corpus Christi in 1972; but the base also began gaining other critical missions. In 1961, the Army established what is now the largest helicopter repair depot in the world. In 1993, Mine Warfare Command moved to NAS Corpus Christi, followed in 1996 by a helicopter mine countermeasures squadron.

Today there are more than 50 tenant commands and activities located on NAS Corpus Christi. The air training program is much longer than when it was established in 1941 - approximately 18 months due to the increased complexity of today’s aircraft - and far fewer pilots here receive their Wings of Gold - about 400 newly qualified aviators each year.

Today the base is the major hub of military activity in South Texas. More than 10,250 employees from all parts of the country - military
from all branches of the service, civil service employees and contractors - now work at NAS Corpus Christi. All work together to support
our national defense.

The Navy Region Southeast Newcomers' Guide is published by Benchmark Publications Incorporated, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Navy, under exclusive written contract with The Navy Region Southeast. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Navy or Benchmark Publications, Incorporated of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Navy Region Southeast Newcomers' Guide is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-81. Editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of Navy Region Southeast All photos are provided by the Public Affairs Office unless stated otherwise.