a north-facing aerial view of weeksville naval air station in 1944, showing steel lta hangar (center) , timber lta hangar (top left). at beginning of world war ii, naval air station lakehurst, established in 1921, active lighter-than-air (lta) naval air station operated navy. in 1940, navy proposed congress development of lighter-than-air station program anti-submarine patrols of coast , harbors. program proposed, in addition expansion @ lakehurst , reestablishment of nas moffett field naval lta station, construction of new stations in boston, cape may, cape hatteras, southern florida, southern georgia, louisiana, los angeles, san francisco, , puget sound areas. original contract included steel hangar, 960 feet (290 m) long, 328 feet (100 m) wide , 190 feet (58 m) high, helium storage , service, barracks 228 men, power plant, landing mat, , mobile mooring mast. in june 1941, shortly before congress completed action on navy s proposed lta program, work began @ nas lakehurs...