BASES -- Summary                                                                                         [p5 of 14]

GALETA ISLAND (1965-1999) (Atlantic side/Navy Communications facility) (550 acres)

The U.S. Naval Security Group Activity, Galeta Island (NSGAGI), in Panama dates back to 1925 when the Navy and the Panama Canal Company jointly developed a radio compass station to provide lines of bearing to commercial and naval ships approaching the Atlantic terminus of the Panama Canal with the original site at Toro Point on the approaches to the western breakwater of Limon Bay within the confines of Fort Sherman. In 1952, Toro Point Station was changed to Naval Communications Unit Number 33 and moved to Galeta Island. In 1958, the station was designated U.S. Naval Security Group Activity, Galeta Island, and established as a separate activity under the control of the Commandant, Fifteenth Naval District. A new radio facility site was constructed on Galeta Island 1962-1965, equipped with AN/FRD-10 circularly disposed antenna array, and became fully operational in 1965 and redesignated as a command in 1966. Over the next several years, the activity was assigned an ever-increasing cryptologic mission. NSGA Galeta Island was officially decommissioned June 30, 1995, and the operations there were transferred to the Army. From 1995 until before the island was transferred to Panama, the facility was operated as a remote site by a civilian defense contractor to maintain it as an automatic U.S. Coast Guard relay station. Galeta Island was transferred to Panama September 17, 1999.

Galeta Island also hosted a field laboratory of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) since 1967 for monitored over the local environment through several programs and extensive research, including the physic monitoring program, weather monitoring unit, and program for monitoring the flora and fauna of the Atlantic coast of Panama. Since 1999, STRI maintains its facilities there under a separate agreement with the Panamanian government.

[WHO's Source Note: Naval Security Group Activity Galeta Island Decommissioning Ceremony pamphlet, March 31, 1995, on Navy Security Group's unofficial website at http://www.anzwers.org/free/navyscpo/, owned by Joe Glockner (CTTCS, U.S. Navy retired).  Used here with Joe Glockner's permission.  Pamphlet contributed to that site by CTR1(SW) Stephen Craddick at the Galeta Island section of that site http://www.anzwers.org/free/navyscpo/ galetaisland_intro.html.  

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Site developed, owned and maintained by  

William H. Ormsbee, Jr.  2005

Galeta Island Navy Communications Facility [Courtesy of Joe Glockner from his website; photo by Stephen Craddick -- see source note]

Galeta Island- History 

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