NAS North Island started out as an Army Air Corp Field and it serves the
distinction of being an historical back drop for Naval Aviation. North Island
not only berths Air Craft Carriers sorry that was not the ENTERPRISE in the
Voyage Home of Star Trek fame that you saw supposedly in Alameda rather it was
the USS RANGER berthed at North Island . North Island has two berths central to
the ships that I have have been on that berthed there. First is the ammo pier
that we on the USS KILAUEA would berth at when servicing the Naval Magazine. And
another berth at North Island to wait for the fuel dock to open up across the
sound. The KILAUEA had berthed at this pier whenever it was not at the ammo
pier. This is where we would have a barge deliver us fuel. We would berth at
North Island when ever we came down to San Diego except when it anchored out to
conduct REFTRA drills in 1975. It was the RAPPAHANACK that had to wait for the
fuel berth to open and I believe that I was there in 1995. I did not think the
liberty was all that great there in the 70's and in the 90's it was better to be
berthed at the Broadway Supply Pier. There had always been way to much walking
involved getting off the NAS. I do not recall during my Navy years ever
berthing at the 32nd street Complex but I may be wrong.
