3 months ago
BRUNSWICK (NEWS CENTER) -- This weekend marked a big step toward the base's final closure. The final squadron makes its way to the runway at Brunswick Naval Air Station. Since the Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC) Commission decided to close down the Brunswick Naval Air Station in 2005 -- military personnel have been leaving the base little by little.
Patrol Squadron 26 will be the last squad to leave Brunswick. Its also been there the longest -- dating back to 1952. 60 members spent Sunday packing into one of the squad P-3 Orions. The first one is bound for deployment in Africa.
After deployment, Patrol Squadron 26 will head to their new base in Jacksonville, Florida. Squadron Commander Mike Parker says the BNAS has been a great home, but the squad is excited for thier new mission. "You're not going to see a lot of sad people around here. We are headed do to the things we've spent 18 months training for," said Commander Parker. "And thats go deploy and take care of our country's business whatever that may be." The first departure was suppose to take place at noon Sunday, but mechanical issues delayed the flight two hours. The rest of the Patrol Squadron 26 is scheduled to take off this coming Saturday. BNAS is slated from full closure in the Fall of 2011.
