October 2022

www.thelompocvision.com The Lompoc Vision “Good News You Can Use.” 14 A LITTLE LOMPOC HISTORY by Justin M. Ruhge LOMPOC NAVALAUXILIARY STATION A llan Han- cock Col- lege is encouraging stu- dents to earn ad- ditional college credits by enrolling in short-term fall classes, which start on Oct. 10. Registration is underway for short-term fall classes in English, business, viticulture, dance and more. Many of the classes are offered online and can be completed in just eight weeks. Many of Hancock’s short-term fall classes meet the general education requirements for students attending the University of California Santa Barbara and Cal Poly, SLO. UCSB students can view a list of open classes at bit.ly/shorttermUCSB. Cal Poly students can view a list of eligible classes at: bit.ly/ahccalpoly. Students taking short-term classes can earn between 0.5 and 3 units depending on the class. Registration is now open HANCOCK OFFERS SHORT-TERM FALL CLASSES and continues until the day before a class starts. Earning additional credits through these classes can help students complete their degrees and certificates and get them closer to graduation, transfer, or completing the training they need to enter the workforce. A full listing of the short-term credit classes is available at: www.hancockcollege.edu/shortterm. Registration is on- going and short-term classes begin Oct. 10. Photo Caption: Students can register for short-term fall classes at Allan Hancock College. D uring World War II the quiet little farm town of Lompoc was home to the Army and the Navy. The Army was represented by Camp Cooke, while the Navy was present in the form of the Lighter Than Air (LTA) station for balloon airships (blimps) used for coastal anti-submarine patrol. The blimps that operated from the facility were assigned to blimp squadron ZP-31, based at the LTA Naval Air Station in Santa Ana, California which became the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station. There were 12 K-type blimps assigned to the squadron, which patrolled Southern California waters for enemy submarines. The blimps used Radar and magnetic airborne/anomaly detection equipment along with visual sightings. ZP-31 was part of Fleet Airship Wing 3, which had its headquarters at the Moffett Field, California, Naval Air Station. The World War II K-type non-ridge airships used inert helium natural gas for lifting, were 251.7 feet in length, could lift 7,770 pounds, had a maximum speed of 67.5 knots and a cruising range of 1,910 miles at 50 knots. Two Pratt and Whitney 450 hp 9-cylinder radial aircraft type engines powered the blimps. The gondola was over 40-feet long and included bunks, reclining seats, radio, mechanics, navigation stations and a galley. It carried 4 depth charges and a 50-caliber machine gun, which was mounted on the deck above the pilot and co-pilot. A 30-caliber ma- chine gun was mounted in the rear of the gondola. One parachute was supplied to provide escape for one man to organize a landing party in case it was needed. Lighter than aircraft are controlled by static and dynamic means-similar to a submarine. Approximately 134 K-type blimps were built for World War II worldwide service. The bases at Santa Ana and Moffett Field had two huge blimp hangars, which remain today. Each of these large hangars could hold six of the K-type blimps. In this squadron, blimp bases were located at Santa Ana, Del Mar, Lompoc, and Ensenada, Mexico. Other squadrons and bases were located in northern California, Oregon and Washington. Two more of the huge hangars were located at Tillamook, Washington. An already existing airport at Lompoc was the attraction for the airship squadrons. Lompoc’s airport was dedicated on November 4, 1928. As with most airports of the time, it was just a flat grass-covered strip with a windsock. In the 1930s, the Lompoc Flying Club built a 50-foot square hangar on the site for $1,628. The old airport was located between present- day College and Pine and H and O Streets on the present Lompoc High School and Lompoc Shopping Center properties. Airport St. recalls the location today. The Lompoc Naval Air Station was established in December 1942 as an auxiliary field for the Santa Ana Naval Air Sta - tion, a 64-acre parcel at the old airport. It was commissioned on August 8, 1943. Two blimps were stationed at Lompoc. Improvements were a paved landing field 500 by 1,000 feet, barracks for the enlisted men, bachelor officer’s quarters for the station and Hedron officers and the pilots, a galley, mess hall, and offices. The old hangar was converted into a recre - ation room for the enlisted men. There were approximately 185 men on the base at all times. (continued on page 16)