On March 12, 1941, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi was commissioned to train Naval Aviators and began its work on May 5, 1941. President George Bush was among the many aviators who were trained at this facility during WWII. In 1948, the aviator training was moved to Jacksonville, Florida, while the Overhaul and Repair Department was given greater responsibility until its closing in 1959. Just two years later, the Army took possession of this section of NAS Corpus Christi in 1961 and has shared the larger base with the Navy since.

The Corpus Christi Army Depot, a United States Department of Defense Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence, is dedicated to the repair and maintenance of rotary-wing aircraft. This facility has been a tenant of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi since 1961, adding to the military presence in this beautiful coastal city in Texas that sits on the Gulf of Mexico. Following the move of the Naval Aviation training to Jacksonville, Florida and the closing of the Overhaul and Repair Department, the Army chose the available resources that were on this site to build the Army’s first aircraft maintenance facility. Prior to moving to Corpus Christi, the Army relied on the Navy, Air Force, and civilian contractors to maintain its aircraft. The mission and purpose of the Army Depot is to provide support for combat essential equipment, equipment necessary in case of national emergency, and technical training for military personnel in depot maintenance of aeronautical equipment. Initially the Army Depot worked on both fixed and rotary winged aircraft, however, currently the work at this facility is on helicopter component repair and remanufacture.

As of 2019, Corpus Christi had a population of just under 326,000 people, many who are connected to the United States military. In addition to the beautiful beaches and parks, there are many fun and interesting places to visit that provide many different activities for all ages. The Texas State Aquarium which has touch pools, an aquatic nursery, and a shark exhibit is in Corpus Christi. Nearby, the Padre Island National Seashore is where the endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles call home along with a variety of migratory birds. Not too far from Corpus Christi the USS Lexington, an aircraft carrier from WWII houses an aviation museum. Among other great places to visit here are the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, the Art Museum of South Texas, and a Surf Museum. Many water-based activities are enjoyed here that include kayaking, windsurfing, surfing, and fishing.

For those PCSing to Corpus Christi and who wish to live off-post, there are many great neighborhoods to consider including Calallen, Downtown, Central City, Bay Area, Ingleside, Rockport, Bishop, Fulton, and Mustang-Padre Island. If you are new to the area and/or looking for homes for sale, our dedicated team of realtors and loan officers can help you find the home you’ve been looking for. Contact us today.