U.S. Naval Base, Pearl Harbor, Ford Island Polaris Missile Lab & U.S. Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Training Center, Between Lexington Boulvevard and the sea plane ramps on the southwest side of Ford Island, Pearl City, Honolulu County, HI

Significance: Facility 39 is located within the Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark. Its construction and ensuing modifications reflect the evolution of Navy activity at Ford Island, with periods of significance in the pre-war, World War II, and Cold War eras. Its pre-war significance is tied to its function as a Navy aircraft servicing facility in the newly established Naval Air Station. It is also significant as a distinctive building type erected in this era. During World War II, its expansion reflected the increased demand for aircraft repair activities at the Naval Air Station, and contributed to the readiness for Pacific air battles which made the final victory possible. Its Cold War significance derives from its association with training, as the training devices within Facility 39 served as the center of training for missile submarines in the Pacific. These specific training activities, from servicing and launching a missile, to plugging leaks, to making a submarine hover, were absolutely crucial to the conduct of the Cold War because they enabled the Navy to maintain the most survivable of all the nuclear deterrent weapons in this period. Further, it appears that the missile and dive training performed in Facility 39 on Ford Island were initially unique to the Navy nationwide and the missile training lab is the only survivor of its type.

Survey number: HAER HI-86

Building/structure dates: 1933 Initial Construction

National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 66000940

naval yards and naval stations war world war ii cold war repair shops military aircraft military training submarines nuclear weapons industry hawaii naval base pearl harbor pearl harbor ford polaris missile lab ford island polaris missile lab fleet ballistic submarine fleet ballistic missile submarine lexington boulvevard lexington boulvevard sea plane ramps sea plane ramps ford island pearl city honolulu honolulu county historic american engineering record photo ultra high resolution high resolution navy us navy navy base library of congress national register of historic places

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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