North Kingstown, Rhode Island

OS2U-2 Kingfishers, part of the Navy's VS-2D1 scouting squadron, along with a J2F-1 Duck (biplane) lined up in Hangar 1 at Quonset Point Naval Air Station. 1941

US Navy

American World War II Heritage City

North Kingstown, Rhode Island began its home front story in July 1941, with the U.S. Navy’s construction of Naval Air Station (NAS) Quonset Point. The Naval Air Station quickly became the main shipping facility for the Lend-Lease Program and a major naval base for both military planes and ships. U.S. Navy pilots as well as Allied pilots from units such as the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm were trained at NAS Quonset Point. Quonset Point was also where engineers built the first “quonset hut”, a lightweight building that was easy to manufacture and assemble. The huts soon became common at military sites in the U.S. and overseas and were also used as housing after the War.

Along with NAS Quonset Point, the Navy established the Naval Construction Battalion Center at Davisville in North Kingstown in 1942. Located just north of NAS Quonset Point, Davisville also became the home of the Atlantic Fleet's Construction Battalions. In late 1942, the Navy established Camp Endicott at Davisville as the main training facility for all of its Construction Battalions (Seebees). Enlisted men and officers trained for six weeks at the Camp before joining their construction battalions at bases in the U.S. and across the world.

Today North Kingstown commemorates World War II and the home front with remembrance ceremonies, the Seabee Museum & Memorial Park, and the preservation of a part of Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center.

Surviving Quonset Huts from Camp Endicott at the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park. 2015

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