Photos taken at USCG Air Station Salem (Massachusetts)

February-March 1946

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7. Scene from the motorboat underway in Salem Harbor with the base in the background and the Fort Pickering Light off to the right of the base. . . . . . 8. Motorboat (center) with two skiffs setting out floating runway lights in Salem Harbor. Coasties rowed the skiffs out to the mooring buoys (dark floating rectangles in the distance) and the motorboat operator would tow a string of lights out to them. The men in the skiffs would tie the string off to the moorings while the motorboat returned and brought out another string. These runway lights would be set out whenever one of the base's seaplanes was out on a mission with the possibility of not returning until after dark. . 9. The Fort Pickering Light (aka the Winter Island Light) is located just east of the former Air Station Salem and has guided mariners entering Salem Harbor since 1871.

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All photos are from the collection of Vince Grobbel, who was a BM1/c in the USCG
and was briefly stationed at AIRSTA Salem in February and March of 1946.

Related Links:

"Coast Guard Air Station Salem: A Fate Unknown" an article written by PA2 Jaimie Knife for the 06 Nov 2003 USCG First District Newsletter
"Coast Guard Aviation History" A web site that includes 51 photos taken from 1925 through 1969 at Air Station Salem. Select "CGAS Salem" from the "Inactive Air Stations" drop-down menu and then click "Select Inactive Units".
"Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Salem Coast Guard Air Station, Salem, MA" The history of Air Station Salem, told with the help of aeronautical maps and photos.
1942 Photo of Air Station Salem Hangar showing four parked Vought "Kingfishers" and one PBY "Catalina"
The Story of the 1957 Armed Forces Day Tragedy at Air Station Salem
The History of the Fort Pickering Light (aka Winter Island Light) which was adjacent to Air Station Salem
An Aerial Photograph of the Former USCG Air Station Salem
A Map Showing the Location of the Former USCG Air Station Salem
USCG Air Station San Diego - description of mooring and beaching a PBM in 1946
USCG Air Station St. Petersburg - description of a "normal" three week duty rotation cycle during 1948

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