Overlooking the Susquehanna River near the Chesapeake Bay, the base takes its name from Commodore William Bainbridge, a naval hero of the War of 1812. The Navy moved quickly to establish the base, beginning with the purchase of the Tome School buildings and 188-acre campus for $900,000. An indication of the urgency involved was that the school's staff was only given 36 hours to vacate the premises. Farms in the vicinity were added to the acreage for the training base. By the time the base was opened in October 1942, the Navy owned 1,070 acres, which would eventually expand to 1,200 acres.