The Naval Air Station at Sanford was opened in 1942 during World War II and trained an estimated 50 percent of naval fighter and bomber pilots during the war. It was decommissioned in 1946, following the end of the war. The Navy reactivated NAS Sanford during the Cold War in 1951 and continued to serve as a Naval Air Station through the end of the Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam War. It was permanently decommissioned in 1968.

The memorial park features a fully restored RA-5C Vigilante identical to the many that were stationed at the NAS Sanford during its years of service. The Vigilante was originally designed as a long range supersonic nuclear strike bomber. The primary mission that the RA-5C Vigilante was adapted to was high-speed aerial reconnaissance by the addition of new electronic systems and cameras. The Vietnam War saw many of these RA-5C Vigilante taking on high-risk reconnaissance missions with a total of 18 lost in combat.

On May 30th, 2003 the park was opened to commemorate the service of the many Navy personnel who served at NAS Sanford and the economic boost they provided to Stanford during the years NAS Sanford was operational.

Submitted by K. Malcolm, University of Central Florida