A hard winter drug out construction of Hanger B for nine months. Following its completion in the spring of 1943, Hangar A was erected in a mind-boggling 27 days. Of equal importance is the fact that not a single major injury or fatality occurred during the construction process.

The hangars themselves were of colossal proportions. Hangar B, at 1,072 feet long, 296 feet wide and 192 feet tall (over 21 stories tall, 1/5 mile long and a football field wide), is the Port's country skyscraper today, easily dominating the skyline south of town. The enormous doors measure 120 feet tall, and weigh 180 tons each. When they are open, they provide an opening 220 feet wide.

Squadron ZP-33 called NAS Tillamook home. The squadron consisted of eight K class blimps, the second largest model in the Navy's once prolific lighter-than-air fleet. These massive blimps held a crew of 10, and were held aloft by 425,000 cubic feet of helium within their 251-foot-long envelope.

Though only lightly armed, they often carried depth charges in recognition of their duty as protection from the threat of submarine attack on merchant convoys

The blimps were swift by airship standards, being able to cruise at speeds up to 40-50 knots on two engines. They had a range of 2,300 miles, and were able to be stocked for flights of as long as three days. Though two hangars were constructed, ZP-33's eight K's could be squeezed into one with room to spare.

In 1911, the Port of Bay Ocean, an Oregon Municipal corporation, was formed by a special election to manage land at the entrance to Tillamook Bay. The Port incorporated additional land in 1948 to construct a jetty to protect the bay.

With the surrender of Japan came an end to the war, and an end to the need for Naval Air Station Tillamook. The base, barely six years old, was decommissioned in 1948. With the departure of the Navy, the former base came under the jurisdiction of the new Tillamook County Airport Commission.

In 1953, the Port of Bay Ocean held another special election to incorporate the 1600 acres of land that comprised the NAS Tillamook, as well as the blimp hangars, airport and other buildings. On November 4, the appropriate title became the Port of Tillamook Bay.

The blimp hangars aren't the only part of the base that the Port uses. Over a dozen other buildings comprised the base, and most all of them are now occupied by Port tenants. The former Navy Administration building has been renovated and will soon be the Port offices. Regretfully, Hangar A burnt to the ground on August 22, 1992.

Along with the blimp hangars, buildings and airport, the Port also had jurisdiction over the Navy's 5.5 mile railroad spur, which connected with the Southern Pacific railroad in downtown Tillamook. From those humble beginnings, the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad now owns and operates 95 miles of that SP branch line, connecting Tillamook with the Portland area.

With the dawning of a new century, the Port has a firm and ambitious vision for the future. Renovation is now underway or planned for a number of the historic buildings, and a few new ones are planned as well. The Port has also set about the task of returning its rail line to FRA Class II condition. Much of the maintenance on the rail line was deferred by the Southern Pacific for more than 25 years. Recent growth has been phenomenal. In the past decade, the Port has better than doubled the length of its railroad, added County and School District offices, RV park, and Oregon's first youth "boot camp" for teen rehabilitation. Future growth plans include a golf course, hotel, and housing development.

Photos courtesy of the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum.