$2 Florida Keys Sea Heritage Journal VOL. 19 NO. 4 SUMMER 2009 USS SHARK OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE KEY WEST MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY History of Meacham Field In 1945 Lt. (jg) Winfred R. Hoey complied a report of over 600 pages on the Naval Air Station Trumbo Point, Naval Auxiliary Air Station Boca Chica, Satellite Naval Air Field Meacham and support facilities. Following is the history section of her report on Meacham Field. A.Background (I) Function in the aeronautical organization Meacham Field is a satellite field of Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida, with four runways (longest takeoff area 4,000 feet; one of the runways is very short) and with LTA facilities to support 4 Meacham Satellite Naval Air Field Key West on April 6, 1943 taken from 5,000 feet from the south. Photo credit: U.S. Navy. ZNPs, 42 officers and 114 enlisted personnel. It is used as a landplane irregular, 4000 x 4000 ft. obtained by several different deals. airport, LTA facilities, and b. topographical a. Meacham Field proper: “bounce” field for carrier planes. It Altitude is about four feet at On 1 July 1943 lease to has refueling facilities but no repair mean high water. The runways are the major portion (346.83 acres, or night landing facilities, and no constructed of coral rocks, which including most of the four runways) maintenance facilities for heavier- has been crushed and rolled to was transferred to the Navy from than-aircraft. provide a hard surface. The major the U.S. Army. This lease (with (II) General Data portion of the land surrounding the Key West Realty Co. at a rental of a. geographical runways is mangrove swamp and $1.00 a year plus taxes amounting to Meacham Field is located on salt-water ponds. approximately $5,000) had been in the S.E. edge of Key West island, (III) The land: acquisition and effect for the Army since on or about two miles E.A.E. of NAS, Key background 19 December 1941. The property West, at 24o-33’N, 81o-45’ at Right of the Navy to use center of field. Shape of the field is Meacham Field property was (Continued on page 8) SOCIETY NEWS AND NOTES by John Viele Key West Maritime Historical gold chain which indicated that Exhibit the treasure galleon Atocha had “Ships and Their Stories,” been found. an exhibit of Key West maritime In February, Susan Nugent, history, opened at the Custom author of Women Conserving the House on May 15. The exhibit Florida Keys, talked about the is a collaborative effort of the inspired and dedicated efforts of Key West Maritime Historical eleven women to save the Keys Society and the Key West Art from over-development and and Historical Society featuring ecological destruction. The Florida Keys Sea Heritage the marine paintings by David In April, City Commissioner Journal is published quarterly. Harrison Wright and purchased Bill Verge told about his Subscription is available through by KWMHS with an anymous experiences as a junior Coast membership. Copyright 2009 by grant. Also contributing were Guard officer aboard an 82- the Key West Maritime Historical foot Coast Guard patrol boat Society of the Florida Keys, Inc. KWMHS members Dr. Dan The art on the masthead, the USS along the coast and in the rivers Gallagher and John Viele. Shark, was drawn by Bill Muir. Wright’s paintings include of Viet Nam. His presentation the Spanish treasure galleon included a film he had taken Editor: Lynda Hambright Senora de Atocha, the U. S. during this period. Production:Tom Hambright In May, Dr. Dan Gallagher, Navy schooner Shark, the Key Letters and articles are welcome. West-built clipper ship Stephen author of Florida’s Great Ocean Please write to: Editor, Florida Keys R. Mallory, the sidewheele Railway, showed photographs Sea Heritage Journal, KWMHS, P.O. r City of Key West, and the and told about the many unique Box 695, Key West, FL 33041. Mallory line steamer Concha. watercraft that were used to build the Overseas Railroad. Key West Maritime In addition to the paintings, Historical Society there are ship models, Sign Up For E-Mail Board of Directors photographs, and drawings of Notification Of Changes To Lectures/field Trip Schedules. President: Edward J.Little,Jr. historic Keys vessels, captains, Vice President: Bill Verge and builders. The exhibit will It sometimes happens that Secretary: Corey Malcom be open through November. we have to make last minute Treasurer: Tom Hambright KWMHS members should not changes to scheduled lectures miss it. or field trips and it is too late Andrea Comstock to send out a notice by mail. George Craig Lectures and Other Events Bill Grosscup In January, Don Kincaid, We can let you know if you will Tom Hambright former underwater photographer provide us with your E-mail Mary Haffenreffer address. John Jones on Mel Fisher’s Treasure Sheri Lohr Salvors team, showed slides If you log on to our Web site, www.keywestmaritime.org Don Lowe and talked about his experiences Louis Maglio you will find a block where you Julie McEnroe including discovering the first can enter your E-mail address. Bill Verge New Members John Viele Craig C. Cates, Key West; Sheila & Kelley, Key West; Rob Stevens, Fred Devendorf, Key West; Frank Key West. 2 - FLORIDA KEYS SEA HERITAGE JOURNAL - SUMMER 2009 William Hackley’s Diary William Hackley practiced law returned home and bathed. At 8 80, wind northeast 3, clouds 8. Read in Key West from 1829 to 1857. He A.M. barometer 29.46, thermometer Knickerbocker magazine. There kept a diary for part of the time he 83.5, wind east northeast 1, clouds were sales morning and evening at was in Key West. Here is the diary for 6 with squall clouds. Read papers. Bowne and Curry’s wharf but few part of October and November 1856. Bought a Gutta Percha cane of things were sold. A quantity of oil Monday, October 13. Rose L.M. Shaffer for $2.75. was brought down. at 4:20 and went to Mead’s Pond Thursday, October 16. Rose Sunday, October 19. Rose at 5: and sat till light without seeing a at 5:30 it having rained during the 40 and bathed. At 8 A.M. barometer bird then went around by Linn’s night. Got several light showers 29.52, thermometer 83, wind east 2, Pond and saw nothing till near the after daylight and I would not go clouds 6. Wrote the answer in the Quarters where I got two Tringas, out, bathed. At 8 A.M. barometer bark Emigrant. returned home and bathed. At 8:30 29.48, thermometer 83, wind east Monday, October 20. Rose A.M. barometer 29.45, thermometer southeast 1, clouds 6. Yesterday at 4:10 and went out to Mead’s 81.5, wind northeast 1, clouds 4. drew up a petition for the sale of Pond and sat till light when seeing Down on Bowne and Curry’s wharf a box which fell overboard from nothing I returned. I had lost my where there was a sale of wrecked the bark Joseph Hale as they were duck call. At 8 A.M. barometer goods there were but few articles discharging her and it was sold. 29.60, thermometer 84, wind east sold as agents reserves tobacco, There was a sale of wrecked goods southeast 2, clouds 6. Drew up axes and many other things from in the evening which I attended and the libel in the case of the bark sale. Took out a roll of three-ply bought one pair of garden shears for Joseph Hale. Read Knickerbocker carpet at Bowne and Curry’s for $.75 and one pair of sheep shears magazine. 2.50 and had it sent home. Drew $.25. Took them home and had them Tuesday, October 21. Rose up a petition for the appraisement oiled. It rained for some time in the at 4:40 and went out to Mead’s of the reserve good from the ship afternoon. Matilda and Charlotte Pond and sat till near sunrise, saw Isaac Allerton. Charles Howe and got caught out and to have supper at no ducks. At A.M. 8:15 barometer Felix Senac appointed appraisers. Cornelius Curtis’ where they were 29.62, thermometer 83.5, wind Mrs. Dr. Jones came in after tea and when the rain commenced. northeast 2, clouds 1. Read Harper’s sat till 9 when Matilda and I walked Friday, October 17. Woke at 4 magazine. Wrote out the crew list of home with her. There was an eclipse but the weather was so threatening wreckers in the case of Don Juan. of the moon soon after rising nearly that I lay down again and rose at Wednesday, October 22. Lucia the whole face covered. 5:30 and bathed. At 8:40 A.M. was sent to sleep with Lizzy last Tuesday, October 14. Rose at barometer 29.54, thermometer 79, night to wean her. Matilda nursed 4:20 and walked up to Moffats lot wind north by east 4, clouds 9. her once during the night to empty where the tide having been over Down at Bowne and Curry’s wharf her breast. The steamer Isabel got the road returned home and bathed. where some good were sold and a in about 8 P.M. bringing a company At 8:20 A.M. barometer 29.42, quantity put in stowage. Went over of soldiers to relieve the company thermometer 83, wind east northeast the Newcomb’s with Matilda and stationed here.