California State Military
DepartmentCalifornia State Military
Department
Oxnard is located approximately 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
In 1935, the WPA built a 1,980-ft. runway on 35 acres one mile
west of town. The airport's dedication was celebrated on July
4, 1935, with an airshow. The airport was later enlarged to 242
acres and the runway extended to 4,517 feet. In June 1940, Cal-Aero
Corporation, with headquarters at Glendale's Grand
Central Airport, opened the Mira Loma Flight Academy, a primary
training Contract Pilot School for the Army. The barracks and
administration buildings were built in a very unusual circular
layout. The Academy closed on June 28, 1944. The primary cadets
present at that time were transferred to another Cal-Aero facility,
the Polaris Flight Academy at Lancaster.
The Navy was attracted by the airport's proximity to the Advanced Base Depot at Port Hueneme, only five miles away. The Navy requested to take over the base and the Army obliged. The Army caretakers vacated the airport on July 7, 1944, and an ACORN Assembly and Training Detachment arrived six days later. The base was used for training of ACORNS, CASUs, and Seabees. On August 8, CAG 98 transferred aboard. CAG 98 conducted refresher training for pilots returning from combat, as well as training replacement pilots. On December 4, the bulk of CAG 98 departed for Los Alamitos, but a detachment remained at Ventura. CASU 47-F was present during December with 19 SB2Cs and 2 SBDs. During 1945, Ventura hosted VC-5, 10, 41, and 3 in addition to the detachment of CAG 98. Naval holdings totaled 203-leased acres with barracks for 554 officers and 2190 enlisted men.
Ventura's activity ended quickly after the war and the station disestablished on February 1, 1946. In October 1946, the Navy traveled 10 miles to the south and built NAS Pt. Mugu for a missile test center. Pt. Mugu did not exist during the war. Today, the Ventura County Airport serves general aviation in the Oxnard area.
Copied with the permission of the author from United States Naval Air Stations of World War II.