**** Hurricane Information****
Due to the recent devestation that has affected the New Orleans Metro Area, many services that are listed in SITES are not available yet. With time, these services will start up again. We recommend that you call each particular business or service for information. If you have questions, please feel free to contact our office as well, 504-678-3417 or DSN 678-3417. IF no answer, please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible. We also have a limited staff.
Thank You,
926th Fighter Wing Family Support Staff
HISTORY of NAS JRB New Orleans
Naval Aviation first came to New Orleans in July 1941, when the Naval Air Reserve Air Base, located on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, was commissioned. Due to the Navy's need for Naval Aviators in the early part of World War 11, the station was re-designated a Naval Air Station in November, 1942, and assumed the role of a primary training base for student aviators.
After the end of hostilities, the station again changed its primary mission. In 1946, the training of selected Naval Air Reservists became the chief task.
In the summer of 1948, the idea of a Joint Reserve Air Training Center was conceived and the plans laid for the present facility located near Belle Chasse, Louisiana. Congressman F. Edward Hebert was the dominating figure behind the construction of the new Naval Air Station, which began in 1955.
It was not until the fall of 1957 that the first contingent of naval personnel was assigned workstations at the new field. In December 1957, the American flag was raised and the station rapidly prepared for resumption of operations. The first aircraft flew from the runways January 6, 1958, by the Naval Air Reserve squadrons. The installation was dedicated in April 1958 to Alvin Andrew Callender, a native of New Orleans who lost his life in World War I while flying with the Royal Flying Corps. Since that time, the station has been known to the public as Alvin Callender Field.
There have been many changes in squadrons, types of aircraft and tactical missions, but the basic mission of the Naval Air Station, supporting Reserve aviation units, has remained unchanged.
NAVAL AIR RESERVE UNITS
The Commanding Officer, NAS JRB New Orleans, has under his command the non-tactical units which train selected Naval Air Reserve pilots, naval flight officers, air crewmen and aviation maintenance personnel. The Commanding Officer, in his additional capacity of Local Area Coordinator for Air, provides coordination for the tactical squadrons operating here. These are high priority units; manned, equipped and trained to supplement the Fleet on short notice should the need arise.
LOCATION/NEWCOMERS/LODGING
The base is located at 400 Russell Ave. in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, 70037. Newcomers should report to their specific branch of service for information regarding arrival and reporting. If Base lodging is needed, please call 504-678-3730.
TENANT UNITS
NAS JRB is a Joint Reserve Base. For specific information about each unit, see the contacts/links section.