Download or read book San Diego's North Island written by Katrina Pescador and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2007-09-05 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: San Diegos North Island is one of the most significant venues of aviation in the world. Starting in 1911, it was the home to one of the nations first aviation schools, founded by Glenn Curtiss, who pioneered seaplane flight. He trained the nucleus of Americas future air forces there, including Lt. Theodore Ellyson, the first naval aviator. When the United States entered World War I, the government took over the island with plans to build a training center for the nations armed forces. The new army base was named Rockwell Field, and the navy portion was named Naval Air Station San Diego. By 1937, the army had moved out, and the navy became the sole tenant. Today NAS North Island is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the navy and is headquarters for the Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.