SSI Archives

Wartime Christmas Cheer at Naval Air Station St. Simons

As Christmas approaches, we usually think in terms of planning festivities for a small circle of our family and friends. But at Naval Air Station (NAS) St. Simons during World War II, it was a different story. The base was responsible for entertaining up to 1,700 enlisted personnel, officers, and civilian employees, many away from their loved ones for the holiday.

In December 1943, the base newspaperTally-Ho announced numerous Christmas events. These included caroling, religious services, dinner in the mess hall, and dancing at the King and Prince Hotel, which the Navy had transformed into an advanced radar training facility and Bachelor Officer Quarters. Since some of the families of base personnel had moved to St. Simons Island, a party with Santa was held for the children. As the paper noted, “You may be away from home, but it is your fault if you don’t catch some of the Good Cheer that comes with Christmas.” The following year, according to a December 1944Tally-Ho article, the problem of getting a Christmas turkey and the traditional accompaniments during wartime rationing was solved for enlisted men stationed at the base. The Navy invited wives and children to join them at a Christmas dinner of turkey and all the trimmings. The dinner brought to a close the Yuletide celebrations, which included a children’s party where Santa handed out hard candy, apples, and oranges and a dance in the “gaily decorated” recreation hall. Everyone could only hope they had celebrated the last Christmas of the war. The images for this month include the 1943 Christmas dinner menu for NAS St. Simons and a picture of Navy photographer Jack Daniel Lane with his family at Christmas, 1944. As official photographer of NAS St. Simons, Lane created a visual record of activities and personnel at the station. A collection of these images is preserved at the Coastal Georgia Historical Society. After the war, Dan Lane returned to his family’s business, Lane Brothers Commercial Photography, in Atlanta and worked there until his retirement in 1975.

Coastal Georgia Historical Society presents this article and images from our archives as part of our mission “to connect people to Coastal Georgia’s dynamic history.” The Society operates the iconic St. Simons Lighthouse Museum and the World War II Home Front Museum, housed in the Historic Coast Guard Station at East Beach. To learn more about the Society, its museums, diverse programs, and membership, please visit coastalgeorgiahistory.org.

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