Friday, April 05, 2019

1946 airport hanger hiding in plain site as a lumber company warehouse



http://members.tripod.com/airfields_freeman/CA/Airfields_CA_SanDiego_N.htm

Upon getting discharged from the military in 1944, 45, and 46, guys who had run training programs for pilots and mechanics as part of the war effort, or had been pilots, began looking for land on which to build an airport.

In the beginning, the airports consisted of a runway without any buildings, 'a Plymouth coupe as office and maintenance shop' and one war-surplus airplane.

 Gradually, more planes were acquired and a war surplus Quonset hut was erected. They gave flying lessons, taught aircraft maintenance and other ground crew functions and students took courses under the GI Bill.

Then, by the mid 50s, land values were up past the point of having an airport, and they were sold off and subdivided, the owners made some money as developers, and since this was about the time interest and affordability in surplus planes gave out, and cities grew up and encroached with complaints about the noise, everything seems to have worked out to where small privately owned airports were a great investment, were timed perfectly to flow with the economy, and the interest in aviation. 

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