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January 18, 2008

Gentilly Friday: NAS New Orleans on the Lakefront

NAS New Orleans, in its original location on the Lakefront in Gentilly. In 1948, the Dept. of the Navy developed the concept of a Reserve Air Training Center, and New Orleans was chosen to be the first base of this type. NAS New Orleans moved across the river, to Belle Chasse. The lakefront base was returned to the state in 1957. The state opened Louisiana State University in New Orleans (LSUNO), which was renamed the University of New Orleans in 1974.

LSUNO was constructed by the state to accomodate the many veterans who had returned to the metro area after both WWII and the Korean War who wanted to take advantage of the GI Bill. These vets were married and/or held full time jobs, making it difficult for them to just move up to Baton Rouge and go to LSU. Many didn't have the means to go to Loyola or Tulane, so they welcomed the expansion of the LSU system to the city. UNO suffered flood damage as the result of the London Avenue Canal breach (the canal is the western boundary of the main campus), but classes were back in session in the winter of 2006.

The traffic circle at Elysian Fields and Lakeshore Drive can be seen in the bottom right corner. The white area to the right of the traffic circle is part of the Pontchartrain Beach amusement park.

NAS New Orleans played a major role in the war effort. It was a primary "basic flight" base for Navy pilots. The base was also part of the overall operations of Higgins Industries, makers of thousands of the landing craft used on D-Day and other beach invasions. Higgins also built PT Boats for the Navy, which were tested on Lake Pontchartrain.

After the war, NAS New Orleans grew and expanded for a very simple, very political reason: the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee at the time, was F. Edward Hebert (D-New Orleans), from LA-01. Yet another example of why New Orleans needs competent, Democratic representation in Congress, like Gilda Reed.

Posted by YatPundit at January 18, 2008 9:34 AM

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