Naval Air Warfare Center Trenton was the former site of a United States Navy facility in the West Trenton section of Ewing Township, New Jersey, just outside the city of Trenton. The center encompassed 528 acres on Parkway Avenue in Ewing, NJ, directly adjacent to the Trenton–Mercer Airport. It was operated by the U.S. Navy as a jet engine test facility from 1953 until its closure in 1998 per recommendations of the 1993 Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC). Nearly 700 civilian positions were lost, most of which were relocated to other facilities in Maryland and Tennessee. The base's Marine operations were transferred to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

The site in Trenton was originally the General Motors Inland Fisher Guide manufacturing plant, which was requisitioned by the government during World War II in December 1941. In January 1942, the plant was transformed into Eastern Aircraft, a division of GM, retooling to produce the Avenger, the US Navy’s primary torpedo bomber.

While the GM plant focused on aircraft production, the Navy utilized 1000 acres across the street, which it had purchased from GM, to build a testing facility for jet engines. This strategic decision led to the establishment of the Naval Air Turbine Test Station (NATTS) in 1951, which became operational in 1956. In July 1967, the Naval Air Propulsion Test Center (NAPC) was created, merging NATTS and the Aeronautical Engine Lab (AEL), formerly located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

The links below will take you multiple resources that speak to the history and mission of NAPC in greater detail:

Naval Air Turbine Test Station Newspaper (1955)

Naval Air Turbine Test Station Newsletter (1959)

Naval Air Systems Command- The Naval Air Propulsion Center Story, Trenton New Jersey, 1953-1998

Naval Air Propulsion Test Center (1969 brochure)

Naval Air Propulsion Test Center (1975 brochure)

Naval Air Propulsion Test Center (circa 1980 brochure)

Naval Aviation News, April 1958: Proof of Quality- Tested at Trenton

NATTS/NAPTC/NAPC/NAWCAD- Trenton News (June 1998 Commemorative Edition)- Part 1

NATTS/NAPTC/NAPC/NAWCAD- Trenton News (June 1998 Commemorative Edition)- Part 2

NATTS/NAPTC/NAPC/NAWCAD- Trenton News (June 1998 Commemorative Edition)- Part 3

NATTS/NAPTC/NAPC/NAWCAD- Trenton News (June 1998 Commemorative Edition)- Part 4

NAPC closure article, Trenton Times, March 18, 1993

The Ex-NAPC Group

A site for former employees of NAPC (also maybe referred to as NATTS/NAPTC/NAWCAD-TRN).

This Group is managed by former employees of the Naval Air Propulsion Center. If you were in any way connected with NAPC, either as a civilian, military or contractor, consider joining this group. To keep up- to-date on NAPC activities and events, this group is your primary means of communication. This is a closed list; only members can send or view messages.

Please note that the group moderator(s) cannot add or modify your email address. You have full control over joining, leaving or changing your account information.

References
Former Naval Air Warfare Center Trenton (navy.mil)
Naval Air Warfare Center Trenton - Wikipedia
Abandoned Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division - NAWCAD | Flickr