Naval Air Station Alameda, located on the western edge of Alameda Island in the San Francisco Bay directly across from Oakland, was one of the Pacific Fleet’s primary carrier aviation installations from its WWII-era establishment until the station’s 1997 BRAC closure. NAS Alameda served as the homeport for Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers, hosted carrier air wing squadrons between deployments, and was the site of Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) Alameda — one of the Navy’s primary carrier aircraft depot maintenance facilities. The station’s large WWII-era hangars and building complex created multiple asbestos exposure pathways for Navy and civilian personnel assigned to the installation.

WWII-Era Hangar and Building Infrastructure

NAS Alameda was established in 1940-1941 and its primary building infrastructure reflects wartime construction:

  • WWII-era carrier aircraft hangars — the large aircraft maintenance hangars at NAS Alameda built in 1940-1942 used structural steel with asbestos spray-on fireproofing on hangar interior framing and asbestos insulation in hangar mechanical systems. Aviation maintenance ratings working in these hangars throughout their NAS Alameda assignments accumulated ambient asbestos exposure from the hangar building’s structural asbestos
  • WWII-era barracks and support buildings — the original station support infrastructure used asbestos-containing floor tile, ceiling tile, and building mechanical system insulation throughout the WWII-era construction on the station
  • Base steam heating system — the steam heating distribution serving older NAS Alameda buildings used asbestos-insulated piping in the base heating plant distribution system

NARF Alameda Depot Maintenance

Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) Alameda was one of the Navy’s primary aircraft depot maintenance and overhaul facilities, performing comprehensive aircraft maintenance on Pacific Fleet carrier aircraft:

  • Aircraft component overhaul — NARF Alameda’s industrial operations included engine overhaul, airframe structural repair, and systems overhaul for Pacific Fleet carrier aircraft. Workers in the NARF’s machine shops, paint shops, and assembly areas worked in building environments with WWII-era construction containing asbestos
  • Older aircraft with asbestos — carrier aircraft types maintained at NARF Alameda through the 1960s-1970s included aircraft with asbestos-containing insulation in engine compartments and cockpit fire protection systems, maintained by both military and civilian NARF workers

Carrier Homeport Period

Pacific Fleet carriers homeported at NAS Alameda — including USS Enterprise (CVN-65) during parts of her service — moored at the station’s carrier pier, with crew members having ship’s force access throughout their homeport periods. Engineering maintenance during NAS Alameda homeport periods included steam system maintenance in the ship’s engineering spaces.

VA Claims for NAS Alameda Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure at naval aviation installations. Veterans who served at NAS Alameda in WWII-era base buildings, in NARF Alameda maintenance facilities, or aboard carrier air wing aircraft and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.