Construction crew of NASFL, circa 1943.
Sunday, May 06, 2012
LeRoy Crouch USN (Ret)
(Post Navy career he was an architect for Broward County School system in Florida).
"My knowledge goes way back till the time the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale was first built. My Dad was one of 2 Public Services Directors that built this facility in 1942. Dad claimed this to be one of his outstanding building projects. He talked about the methods they used to construct those long-span wooden trusses for the hangars, as well as the building used to contain the "Link Trainers." He told of the times that they would have to carry a pilot trainee out on a gurney-- after he had crashed in the simulator.
He claimed that he was the only one able to view the entire set of construction plans for the building. Everyone else could only see the portions they were currently working on. Dad proudly displayed a plaque he was awarded by the Base Commander, for the efforts he had made during the construction and maintaining of that facility. I have the picture of him receiving this award. He cherished that till his dying day. His claim to fame, I guess. He used to point to every building on that site-- and say "I built that one, and this one, and that one...." and on and on: the hangars, the hospital, the mess hall, the barracks, the officers club...."
LeRoy Crouch USN (Ret)
(Post Navy career he was an architect for Broward County School system in Florida).
"My knowledge goes way back till the time the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale was first built. My Dad was one of 2 Public Services Directors that built this facility in 1942. Dad claimed this to be one of his outstanding building projects. He talked about the methods they used to construct those long-span wooden trusses for the hangars, as well as the building used to contain the "Link Trainers." He told of the times that they would have to carry a pilot trainee out on a gurney-- after he had crashed in the simulator.
He claimed that he was the only one able to view the entire set of construction plans for the building. Everyone else could only see the portions they were currently working on. Dad proudly displayed a plaque he was awarded by the Base Commander, for the efforts he had made during the construction and maintaining of that facility. I have the picture of him receiving this award. He cherished that till his dying day. His claim to fame, I guess. He used to point to every building on that site-- and say "I built that one, and this one, and that one...." and on and on: the hangars, the hospital, the mess hall, the barracks, the officers club...."
