U.S. Navcommsta Londonderry Alumni Association

History of U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry

          U.S. Naval communications in Northern Ireland began out of necessity when the U.S. Naval Operating Base (NOB) at Londonderry became a center of military activity at the beginning of World War II. Allied communications centered around a radio facility which was established as an integral part of the Naval Operating Base (NOB) on 3 February 1942.  In 1943 the U.S. Navy acquired use of the land upon which the Clooney and Rossdowney compounds were later situated. 

        The U.S. Naval Radio Station (NAVRADSTA), Londonderry, was established as a separate activity from the U.S. Naval Operating Base (NOB) on 10 July 1944. Thus, this date is considered the actual commencement date of what was to ultimately become U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry. One month later, on 15 August 1944, the U.S. Naval Operating Base (NOB) was de-commissioned, leaving the NAVRADSTA, and its sailors, as the only remaining U.S. military activity in Londonderry. View the 1944 site plans for the Clooney base: View

        On 7 November 1950 the NAVRADSTA at Londonderry was re-designated as a U.S. Naval Radio Facility (NAVRADFAC).  View the 1955 site plans for the Clooney base View.  It was later designated a U.S. Naval Communications Station (NAVCOMMSTA) on 10 July, 1961.

        U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry was disestablished on September 30, 1977, ending a 35-year history of U.S. Naval communications in Londonderry, N.I., and ending what had been a very long and close relationship of U.S. Navy sailors with the Londonderry community.  

        At the time of its closing, U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry had been the oldest U.S. naval facility in Europe. No other U.S. military service organization served in Londonderry longer than the U.S. Navy. While the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marines served in Londonderry for approximately 3 years, the U.S. Navy proudly served for over 35 years.

        View a listing of all Base Commanders and Executive Officers from 1942 to 1977: View

        Read histories of the U.S. Navy Base in Derry, from 1942 through its closing in 1977.  Included are a copy of the 'Welcome Aboard' pamphlet from the late 1960's, the 1976 Change of Command Ceremony pamphlet, documents from the Base's Disestablishment Ceremony in 1977, as well as many other historical items: Historical File

U.S. Navcommsta Londonderry Alumni Association Historical Data Base

        Since its formation, the U.S. Navcommsta Londonderry Alumni Association (USNLAA) has been actively accumulating and storing member donated photos and memorabilia from our members tours of duty with the U.S. Navy in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, during those years the U.S. Navy Base was in operation in Northern Ireland - 1942 through 1977.  This collection is collectively stored in the  USNLAA Historical Data Base, copies of which are made available for purchase by Alumni Association members, historical researchers, writers, and others interested in the history of the U.S. Navy in Northern Ireland. 

        We invite our members to submit their photos and memorabilia, or copies of photos and memorabilia, for inclusion in the U.S. Navcommsta Londonderry Alumni Association Historical Data Base. All submitted items must be accompanied by a properly executed USNLAA Copyright form. To view and print this form, click on:  Submission Form 

        It is the policy of the USNLAA to own the copyrights to all copyrightable material in the USNLAA Historical Data Base, and to the individual contributions therein, in order to protect the interests of the USNLAA, and its members. USNLAA will make every reasonable effort to act in the interests of members and contributors to the USNLAA Historical Data Base, as well as in its own interests. For all third party republication requests, USNLAA requires that the consent of the USNLAA be sought as a condition in granting republication rights.  All questions regarding USNLAA copyright policy should be directed to: Jerry Keenan, USNLAA Historical Data Base Administrator, 16 E. Beech St., Central Islip, NY 11722, or e-mail: secureops@optonline.net 

Alumni Association Historian and USNLAA Historical Data Base Administrator

        Jerry Keenan (RM, 66-67, 69-70, 75-76) serves as both Historian and Historical Data Base Administrator of the U.S. Navcommsta Londonderry Alumni Association. If you would like to donate copies of photos and/or memorabilia for the USNLAA Historical Data Base, please contact Jerry at e-mail:  secureops@optonline.net  or, via mail: Jerry Keenan, Int'l Security Services, 16 E. Beech St., Central Islip, NY 11722, for instructions.   

Overhead View of NCS Londonderry, Circa 1960 

 

 

 

Overhead View of NCS Londonderry, Circa 1969 

 

Overhead View of NRS-T Dungiven, Circa 1969 

U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry Alumni Association
P.O. Box 55118
 Virginia Beach, VA 23471-5118
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