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Airport History Signs
An Interpretive Trail Walk
Over the years the airport office has compiled a collection of historical articles, pictures, drawings, and documents. There are over 300 original blueprints and reprints from the 1940s and many are in excellent condition. There are also over 230 scanned Arlington Times articles, a complete electronic collection of the Navy’s newsletter titled “Skylines,” and several aerial and building photographs. From this collection, nine history signs were designed and will be placed along the airport trail (in December 2008) to tell the history of the airport. Stop by the airport office to view all nine signs.
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Sign 1 - Path of History
The Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Arlington, Washington, was one of four similar stations located in Northwestern Washington developed by the Navy in 1942 to 1943 primarily for the operational training of fleet carrier squadrons.
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Sign 2 - Fire House & Supply Building
This building was constructed by the Austin Company of Seattle in 1943 and was part of a larger airfield development project implemented by the Navy soon after they re-assumed use of the airport from the Army Air Corps.
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Sign 3 - Army & Navy Buildings
In its initial role as a military airfield, the Arlington Airport was simply an outlying practice field for operational training of fleet carrier squadrons and for dive-bomb training for aircraft based out of Sand Point.
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Sign 4 - Navy Recreation
As the Navy regained its former possession of the airfield, room for expanding and improving its facilities proved efficient.
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Sign 5 - Boresighting Range
This boresighting range was constructed by Gaasland Construction Company in the fall of 1944 and was used for test-firing fixed guns on aircraft.
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Sign 6 - Army Hardstands, Perimiter Road
After much discussion and collaboration by City leaders, local farmers and businesses in 1934, Arlington Airport was constructed southwest of the small town of Arlington.
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Sign 7 - Shotgun Range, Magazine Storage
While undergoing several construction projects, the Navy found it necessary to install storage buildings for their much needed ammunition.
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Sign 8 - Runway Construction & Phasing
The airport came to be in existence in 1934 and was simply a cleared area for a 4,000 foot long by 400 foot wide landing strip funded by a Works Progress Administration grant and administered by the Arlington Commercial Club.
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Sign 9 - Navy Operations Buildings
The Navy Hangar, Boiler House and a 400 foot by 1,200 foot concrete warm-up apron were constructed in 1943 soon after the Navy reassumed control of the airport from the Army Air Corps.