Navy faces resistance over landing strip

HAMPTON ROADS, Va., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A U.S. Navy admiral says he is amazed at the level of distrust he gets from residents fighting a proposed landing strip in Virginia.

Navy Rear Adm. David Anderson says opponents of Outlying Field project near Hampton Roads, Va., have been unswayed by the various concessions and accommodations offered by the Navy.

"It's a credibility issue," Anderson told the (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot. "I hate to say it, but there are certain areas right now where, because I'm wearing a uniform, people do not believe me."

"In 31 years of being in the Navy, I never thought I would see that," he added.

The newspaper said Tuesday that residents of the five proposed sites for the field have been busily gearing up for a public-relations and potential legal battle against the Outlying Field, which would be used for training flights by pilots from the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Va.