Naval Air Station Wildwood Designated Historic District

ERMA – Seldom do dreams come true, but with hard work and perseverance, Dr. Joseph and Anne Salvatore realized their long-time vision Dec. 4. Naval Air Station Wildwood at Cape May County Airport received official designation as a historic district.
The ceremony, held inside the vintage hangar surrounded by 26 retired military aircraft, the latest an F-16, took place before a TBM Avenger, No. 86180, one of some 7,500 of the aircraft produced in Trenton, mostly by women, according to Salvatore for General Motors of a Grumman design. Those trainer bombers made skilled pilots of the young naval officers who came from throughout the nation during World War II.
The district was placed on the New Jersey State Register of Historic Places in late August 2013.
The district encompasses both vintage hangars and the terminal building. Hangar No. 2 is rented to Penn Turbo, a firm that specializes in restoring DeHaviland cargo aircraft. Also included is a buffer zone that preserves space without interfering with airport operations or the business-industrial part of the airport.
The importance of Naval Air Station Wildwood Historic District was extolled by Freeholder Will Morey, who oversees economic development for the county. A pilot, Morey worked with the Salvatores and officials from Delaware River and bay Authority, which operates the airport.
“This is really a big deal,” Morey said to the assembled officials. He added that not only was the district important to preserving history, it was a step in making the airport more durable as a historic place, and also looked to the future that could help the county bolster the industrial side of the airport.
‘Dr. Salvatore has worked tirelessly to bring the naval station’s history to life by raising public awareness of its importance during World War II, and by preserving military aviation and artifacts,” stated Morey in a release. “The museum is a treasure and a great attraction for our community.”
“The man’s passion is unbelievable,” said DRBA Chairman James Hogan. He noted the tireless work that the Salvatores had performed in an effort to get the historic designation.
Dan Saunders, deputy state historic preservation officer, represented the Department of Environmental Protection, and handed the official certificate to the Salvatore in a moment that was the climax of 11 years of labor, attending meetings and countless miles back and forth to Trenton.
Anne Salvatore told of seeing the hangar, now maxed out with vintage aircraft, for the first time, seeing flocks of pigeons roosting in the upper rafters and wondering if her husband ought to wear a mask when entering the place.
Lower Township Deputy Mayor Norris Clark termed the Salvatores “treasure hunters of Lower Township,” Joseph for treasuring things that flew and Anne, director of Historic Cold Spring Village, for treasuring things on land.
Dr. Salvatore believes historic designation is but the first step toward getting a nationally-recognized Coast Guard museum at the airport. His reason, because the sea service’s lone enlisted training center is located in nearby Cape May, and because the Coast Guard has no such national museum to hold its treasures.
Salvatore noted the historic designation would “provide for increased grant funding opportunities at the federal and state level to further rehabilitate the buildings in the NASW Historic District.
The next step would be to register the district on the National Register of Historic Places, something that is expected sometime in January 2014.
‘A few days from now, we will remember and reflect on the attack on Pearl Harbor,” stated Hogan. “The Naval Air Station Wildwood served a vital role during World War II and Dr. Salvatore has done a tremendous job preserving that history. With the creation of the historic district, we will ensure that future generations can appreciate its history, too.”