Former Willow Grove Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NXX/KNXX)

 closed / former military, United States Navy

A 1,100 acre airbase, north of Philadelphia, formerly specializing in anti-submarine training, mostly for Reserve forces.

NASJRB Willow Grove was home to the following:

111th Fighter Wing (111 FW), Pennsylvania Air National Guard, which operated the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It lost its aircraft to other ANG Squadrons under BRAC and as of 2013, it was slated to acquire ground control stations to remotely fly the MQ-9 Reaper.

201st RED HORSE Squadron (201 RHS), Pennsylvania Air National Guard

270th Engineering Installation Squadron (270 EIS), Pennsylvania Air National Guard

The Liberty Bell Squadron of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps

Group 3 Headquarters of Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol.

Marine Aircraft Group 49 headquarters and HMH-772 of the Marine Air Reserve's 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, the latter operating the CH-53E Super Stallion. Both MAG-49 and HMH-772 relocated to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in 2011.

Patrol Squadrons 64 (VP-64) and 66 (VP-66) of the United States Naval Reserve operating the P-3 Orion. Vp-64 was later re-designated VR-64 and traded in its P-3 Orions for the C-130T Hercules

Fleet Logistic Squadrons 52 (VR-52) and 64 (VR-64) of the Naval Air Reserve, operating the C-9 Skytrain II and C-130T Hercules, respectively. Both VR-52 and VR-64 relocated to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in March 2011.

913th Airlift Wing (913 AW) of the Air Force Reserve Command. The 913 AW was inactivated by BRAC action on 30 September 2007.

On February 29, 2008, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania released a report detailing a plan for a joint interagency installation (JII), with a mission of national defense, homeland security and emergency preparedness. However, on November 13, 2009, Pennsylvania dropped the plan for the JII based on the gradual removal of the 111th Fighter Wing. Future plans for the base include using a portion for the National Guard and reserve troops. The airfield eventually shut down on March 31, 2011; VR-64, VR-52, and a C-12 detachments were transferred to McGuire Air Force Base.Currently, the 111th Fighter Wing, operating the A-10 Thunderbolt II, has lost all its aircraft to other ANG Squadrons under BRAC; the unit will take on a new role (so far undecided) in the near future. The unit will no longer operate aircraft.

Final closure of NAS JRB Willow Grove occurred won September 15, 2011. The Pennsylvania Air National Guard took custody, and the portion of the facility that will remain under the control of the military was designated Willow Grove Air Guard Base. A handful of National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers will remain, and the Air Force will maintain administrative offices on the property. The surplus land containing the runways will be turned over to Horsham Township for redevelopment; Horsham and other adjoining townships in Montgomery and Bucks Counties are currently debating the nature of this redevelopment.

www.cnic.navy.mil/cnrma/about/BRAC/
www.cnic.navy.mil/willowgrove/index.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/111th_Fighter_Wing