Introduction

For those of you who have not visited this site before please take the time to read this short introduction.

This site is about NAF Detroit and the men and women that have served on board her from the transition from NAS Grosse Ile, MI and her commission in November 1969 until 1994.

If you have any information, pictures, etc. that could be used on the web site please contact the Webmatster .

We have tried to be as accurate as possible. While mistakes may have been made, none were intended and we will correct them as soon as possible after they are discovered. You also have to take into account that many buildings were used for different purposes and also terminology changed over the years. To move from one page to the next click on the title of the page and to return use the back button on your browser. Also you may want to use the reload or refresh button to make sure you are viewing our latest updates.

You may want sign up for the NAF Detroit Yahoo email group. It is for the exchange of information and general chit chat between those of us that are interested in the history of naval aviation and NAF Detroit. You never know you may run across some old shipmates and friends.

That is it for the introduction, so stay and visit as long and often as you like. 

Naval Aviation Comes Back To Selfridge AFB, MI 

Naval Air Facility Detroit, was established on 9 November 1969 on west side of what was then Selfridge Air Force Base. Very soon afterwards the control of the base was transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard. Today the Navy is the largest command located onboard Selfridge ANGB. At the time NAF Detroit was first established on Selfridge all branches of the service were located at Selfridge. Air Force and Army on the east side of the base and Navy, Marines and Coast Guard on the west side.

This is not the first time the Navy has used Selfridge. The air station traces its roots back to July 1925. That is when a Naval Reserve Unit consisting of four men was formed by Navy Lieutenant Robert Bridge at the Detroit Naval Armory. In 1926 the Navy officially designated this unit Torpedo Squadron 31 (VT-31).

Having no aircraft or base of their own to fly from , VT-31 pilots had to go to NRAU Great Lakes to get in a few hours of flight time in an UO-1.  On December 7, 1926 the temporary transfer of a NY-1 was authorized to be put loan from NRAU Great Lakes upon the completion of a hanger built at Memorial Park by the City of Detroit. This aircraft was to be returned by summer, in time for student training at NRAU Great Lakes.  In September 1927 VT-31 received its first permanent aircraft, another NY-1.

VT-31 now also had hanger space at Mount Clemens Army Air Base, which later would be know as Selfridge AFB. The NY-1 was quite a contrast to the Army P-1 sleek pursuit planes, but at least they were flying their own aircraft now. This would be the same base the reserves would return to over 40 years later after NAS Grosse Ile was decommissioned in 1969. Even though VT-31 had hangar space at Mount Clemens Army Air Base they used the NY-1 mostly as a seaplane flying it from the Detroit River.

Naval Reserve Air Base Grosse Ile, MI. was commissioned 7 September 1929 and all functions were moved to the new base.  In 1964 DOD had decided the base would be decommissioned by September 1967.  There was an extension and the date was moved to July 1969.  This date also came and passed.  The final move was made to Selfridge Air Force Base in November of 1969.

After 40 years at NAS Grosse Ile the Navy moved back to Selfridge as a tenant.  The new activity was designated Naval Air Facility Detroit which was closed in 1994.
 

NAF Detroit Photo Index

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Revised: May 12, 2008