NAS Seattle: Lake Washington's Air Base
By Tim Nelson
WARchive Photo Series #1
Author: Chris Banyai-Riepl
ISBN: 979-8307460665
Binding: Softcover (Hardcover available)
Pages: 96
Introduction
The subject title, authored by longtime Seattle-area modeler and author Chris Banyai-Riepl, is a photo essay on Naval Air Station Seattle at Sand Point during the late-1950s to mid-1960s period. It's the first of a new "WARchive Photo Series" by the author featuring the photography of his father, Will A. Riepl ("WAR"). The senior Riepl frequented NAS Seattle during his time serving in the Marine Corps Reserve – and compiled a plethora of first rate "all access" images.
Contents
The paperback book is 8.5" x 11" and printed in full color on quality paper. Its 96 pages are divided into the following chapters:
- Origins (a history of Sand Point as an airfield, a concise but thorough summary – though oddly missing mention of the famous 1924 around-the-world flight by the Douglas World Cruisers. There are subsections covering "Then & Now" comparisons, and "Sights of Seattle" with nostalgic images of the city at mid-century.)
- Skyraiders (a treasure trove of Douglas AD-5s, many in glorious dayglo schemes)
- Boxcars (a bounty of R4Q-2s, the Navy version of the C-119, again with dayglo aplenty)
- From the Air (a collection of bird's eye scenes of Seattle, the state of Washington, and the West)
- Not Alone (miscellaneous other aircraft types which operated out of NAS Seattle)
- Spokane (views of aviation activities around the photographer's hometown in eastern Washington)
In addition to the aircraft and scenery, the images include candid glimpses into the lives of air and ground crews during this period.
Summary
NAS SEATTLE is a unique, engaging, and entertaining time capsule of a colorful local aviation era not previously well documented. If you have an interest in Seattle aviation history, naval aviation, or just interesting airplane photos, I highly recommend this book. It's available at Amazon.com in both softcover and hardcover editions.
A big thank you to the author for the review copy.