# Naval Air Station Patuxent River

> military naval air station and flight test center in Maryland, United States

**Wikidata**: [Q1972204](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1972204)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Patuxent_River)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/naval-air-station-patuxent-river

## Summary
Naval Air Station Patuxent River is a United States Navy installation and flight test center located in St. Mary's County, Maryland. Commissioned in 1943 during World War II, the base serves as a primary hub for naval aviation research, development, and testing. The facility covers 6,400 acres and is home to the United States Naval Test Pilot School.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** St. Mary's County, near Lexington Park, Maryland, United States.
- **Type:** Naval air station, facility, and research institute.
- **Operator:** United States Navy.
- **Area:** 6,400 acres.
- **Commissioned:** April 1, 1943.
- **Inception:** Groundbreaking ceremony took place in 1942.
- **Elevation:** 26 feet (approx. 8 meters) above sea level.
- **Coordinates:** 38.2837401° N, 76.4185285° W.
- **Components:** Trapnell Field and the United States Naval Test Pilot School.
- **Naming:** Named after the adjacent Patuxent River.

## FAQs
### Q: Where is Naval Air Station Patuxent River located?
A: The station is located in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States, near the community of Lexington Park. It sits at the mouth of the Patuxent River near the Chesapeake Bay.

### Q: When did Naval Air Station Patuxent River officially open?
A: The station was commissioned on April 1, 1943. Ground was broken for the facility one year earlier in 1942.

### Q: What is the primary function of Naval Air Station Patuxent River?
A: It serves as a military naval air station and a flight test center. It is also classified as a research institute, hosting the United States Naval Test Pilot School.

### Q: How large is the installation?
A: The base covers a total area of 6,400 acres.

## Why It Matters
Naval Air Station Patuxent River holds significant strategic importance for the United States Navy as a dedicated flight test center and research hub. During its commissioning in 1943, Rear Adm. John S. McCain declared it "the most needed station" in the Navy, highlighting its critical role in consolidating flight test operations during World War II. The station was established to replace farms at Cedar Point, Maryland, rapidly converting the landscape into a functional aerodrome within a year.

The facility drives the advancement of naval aviation technology through its integration of testing, evaluation, and education. It houses the United States Naval Test Pilot School, a vital institution for training elite pilots and engineers. By providing a controlled environment for the development of aircraft systems, the station ensures the reliability and safety of naval aviation assets before they are deployed to the fleet. Its continued operation underscores its enduring value as a center for innovation and military readiness.

## Notable For
- **Flight Test Center:** Designated as a primary center for naval flight test operations and research.
- **Test Pilot School:** Hosts the prestigious United States Naval Test Pilot School.
- **Historical Significance:** Declared "the most needed station" in the Navy by Rear Adm. John S. McCain during the 1943 commissioning ceremony.
- **Rapid Construction:** Transitioned from agricultural land (Cedar Point farms) to operational status within a year (1942–1943).
- **Geographic Scale:** Encompasses a substantial footprint of 6,400 acres in Southern Maryland.

## Body

### History and Inception
The establishment of Naval Air Station Patuxent River was spurred by the events of World War II. In 1942, a groundbreaking ceremony initiated the rapid consolidation of flight test operations. The site selected was Cedar Point, Maryland, where existing farms were replaced by the new military infrastructure. The consolidation effort was described as swift, with flight operations beginning within a year of the groundbreaking. The official commissioning ceremony took place on April 1, 1943. At this event, Rear Adm. John S. McCain, then chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics, emphasized the station's necessity to the war effort.

### Geography and Location
The station is situated in St. Mary's County, Maryland, with a local address associated with Lexington Park. It occupies a land area of 6,400 acres. The facility is geographically positioned at coordinates 38.2837401° N, 76.4185285° W and has an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. It is uniquely positioned near significant bodies of water, specifically the Patuxent River—after which it is named—and the Chesapeake Bay.

### Facilities and Operations
Operated by the United States Navy, the installation functions as a multifaceted entity classified as a naval air station, a facility, and a research institute. Key components of the station include:
- **Trapnell Field:** An aerodrome serving as a core part of the naval air station.
- **United States Naval Test Pilot School:** An educational institution dedicated to the training of test personnel.

### Contact and Identification
The station is accessible via the web at `https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/ndw/installations/nas_patuxent_river.html`. The physical mailing address is 22268 Cedar Point Rd, Building 409, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1154. It holds various identifiers across databases, including ICAO code KNHK, IATA code NHK, and FAA/NPIAS ID NHK. It is also recognized under the Library of Congress Authority ID `n88241965`.

## References

1. Geographic Names Information System
2. [Source](https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0300429)
3. [Source](https://www.cnic.navy.mil/contact_us.html#ndw)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. Integrated Authority File
6. [Source](https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/ndw/installations/nas_patuxent_river/about/history.html)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. National Library of Israel
9. GeoNames
10. Foursquare Labs, Inc.
11. Faceted Application of Subject Terminology
12. BabelNet
13. [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/naspaxriver/)
14. Quora
15. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
16. Instagram