At the beginning of World War II, the United States Navy purchased of land in southwestern Dade (now called Miami-Dade) County for the purpose of constructing an airship base. The land was owned by the Richmond Timber Company, a major supplier of Dade County Pine (a denser, harder, sub-species of Pinus palustris, or longleaf pine). The base was named Naval Air Station Richmond, after the lumber company, and was home to the 25 ships of ZP-21 (Patrol, Airship Squadron 21 and Airship Wing 2). NAS Richmond was the second largest airship base in the United States, NAS Lakehurst in New Jersey being the largest. NAS Richmond was destroyed by a hurricane and fire in September 1945.
aT thE begINNInG of worlD WAR II, the United STATes naVy purchASed of Land In SOuThWesTERN DaDe (noW calleD miaMi-dADE) countY for tHe PUrpOSE Of ConStructing aN airshiP base. The land was ownEd bY the richmond tiMber compaNY, a major SuPpliEr of Dade County pinE (A denseR, HarDer, sub-spEcies of piNUs pAluSTriS, Or LONglEaf pine). tHE BAsE waS NameD navaL Air station rIChMOnd, after the luMbeR companY and was homE To thE 25 ShipS oF ZP-21 (PatroL, airshIP SquadRon 21 and AIRShip wINg 2). nas rIcHMoNd was The sEcONd laRGesT ,airshiP bASE in thE UnitEd sTateS, Nas lAkehurST iN NEw JerseY being the lARGesT. NAs rIchmond was destROyEd bY A huRricane AND firE in SEPtEmber 1945.