Ghosts of World War II: NAS Banana River

It was nothing more than a thin strip of land bordered by an ocean and a landlocked salt river. Its inhabitants were hoards of sand flies and mosquitoes. In time, it probably would have been taken over by developers, and become another resort area. But catastrophic events, beyond its shores, dictated a different role.

The sand was shaped into a naval base and the sand flies and mosquitoes shared space with the young men who came to prepare for war. Yet, in a time that threatened their lifestyle, their country, and the world, these strangers became a cohesive unit that worked together, played together, and in some cases died together.

The sea and sky were the canvas of aviation war machines that became the hunters and killers of the deadly efficient submarines lurking just off its shore—the German Wolf Pak.

The battle of underwater boats and flying boats gave the Banana River Naval Air Station its cause. A cause fueled by the determination of world leaders and the madness of power and greed. Here, technologies clashed in the depth of the ocean and the vastness of the sky.

Then, as suddenly as the Banana River Naval Air Station appeared, it was gone…vanished, leaving only the folklore, the official reports, and a river with stories to tell.