The only Navy air base in Maine, Naval Air Station Brunswick is located just 2 miles northeast of Brunswick, Maine. The base has a lot of history, but is due to be closed down in 2011. The runways have already been shut down, with the last aircraft departing on November 28th, 2009, and the runways being officially closed down in January, 2010. Though the NAS is set to be closed, there are still big plans for it. The plan is to turn it into a green energy park, named Brunswick Landing. It will be open to the public, and should begin being built shortly after the base closes in early 2011.
NAS Brunswick was built in 1943, and used from 1943-1946. It was inactive for several years, and reopened in 1951. It has been used steadily since then. The NAS is currently commanded by Captain George G. Womack, and there are 2,317 active members stationed there. However, due to the future closure of the base, that number is going down quickly, so an accurate figure is hard to get.