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The Shea Memorial Grove And The Shea Naval Aviation Museum |
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The Shea Memorial Grove And The Shea Naval Aviation Museum |
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The Shea Memorial Grove |
The Association of Naval Aviation, Patriot Squadron is the custodian of the Shea Field Memorial Grove and the Shea Naval Aviation Museum located at the Union Point development (formerly Southfield) on former NAS South Weymouth.
The Grove, which was dedicated on Veteran's Day 1997, was created by CAPT Robert A. Duetsch and the NAS South Weymouth Public Works Department's SeaBees just before the base was decommissioned to remember Commander John J. "Jack" Shea, USNR, the two Naval Air Stations that were dedicated to his memory; and the dedicated military personnel from the local area who gave so much to their country and earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. The Grove, a living history classroom, consists of 32 trees dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients from Norfolk and Plymouth counties.
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Visitors at the old Shea Naval Aviation Museum |
The Shea Naval Aviation Museum was previously located in the Shea Fitness Center (former USN base gymnasium) at Union Point. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the museum was forced to vacate this location and put its collection in storage in June 2017.
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Visitors at the new Shea Naval Aviation Museum |
In late 2024 Patriot Squadron members made arrangements with the Southfield Redevelopment Authority to lease the former Coast Guard Housing Office Building at Union Point. This is a small white cinder block building located directly behind the Union Point Sports Complex soccer fields. After many months of hard work the Shea Naval Aviation Museum was reopened in this new venue on Saturday June 14th 2025. The museum contains a large collection of photographs, documents, and other historical artifacts associated with NAS Squantum and NAS South Weymouth. The museum is presently open from 9 AM to noon on the second and last Saturdays of the month. Admission is free and all are welcome.
CDR John "Jack" Shea was a popular member of the Navy Reserve at NAS Squantum during the 1920s and 1930s. After the Second World War started in Europe, CDR Shea was called up to active duty and in 1940 he was ordered to report to the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp as Assistant Air Operations Officer. The Wasp was sunk on Sept. 15, 1942 off the Soloman Islands. Commander Shea was reported missing in action. He was last seen "...fighting the fire on the flight deck, displaying great courage and devotion to duty, disregarding the danger of exploding ammunition and debris filling the air and rapidly spreading the fire."
