Marianna Municipal Airport: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 30°50′16.10″N 085°10′54.80″W / 30.8378056°N 85.1818889°W / 30.8378056; -85.1818889
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== History ==
== History ==
Before World War II, the City of Marianna managed an airport at the existing airport site, which covered {{convert|635|acre|km2}} and included a {{convert|4600|ft|m|sing=on}} long dirt runway. The federal government acquired the airport in 1942 and added {{convert|1915|acre|km2|1}} additional to construct the Marianna Army Air Field for the [[U.S. Army Air Forces]]. One year later, the Marianna Army Air Field had six hard surface runways averaging {{convert|4000|ft|m}} in length and was serving as a training base for the Southeast Army Air Force Training Command. The base was closed in 1946 and the Federal Government returned control of {{convert|2010|acre|km2}} to the City of Marianna in 1947. <ref>http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm</ref>
Before World War II, the City of Marianna managed an airport at the existing airport site, which covered {{convert|635|acre|km2}} and included a {{convert|4600|ft|m|sing=on}} long dirt runway. The federal government acquired the airport in 1942 and added {{convert|1915|acre|km2|1}} additional to construct the '''Marianna Army Air Field''' for the [[U.S. Army Air Forces]]. The airfield opened on 8 August 1942 and eventually had six hard surface runways averaging {{convert|4000|ft|m}} in length and was used as a training base for the Southeast Army Air Force Training Command. The Army Air Forces Pilot School (Advanced-Single Engine) was activated on 1 September 1942, with the 17th Single Engine Flying Training Group being the Operational Training Unit. Aircraft used during training were [[P-40 Warhawk]]s and [[AT-6 Texan]]s. Marianna field was transferred from the jurisdiction of Eastern Flying Training Command to [[Third Air Force]] on 12 October 1944. The station came under the command of the 137th Army Air Forces Base Unit. With the reassignment to Third Air Force, the mission of the airfield was changed from the training of pilots for single-engined aircraft to training of combat crews for [[A-26 Invader]] light bomber aircraft


After the war ended, the airfield was closed on 15 Feburary 1946 and the Federal Government returned control of {{convert|2010|acre|km2}} to the City of Marianna in 1947. <ref>http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm</ref>
⚫
In 1951, the old Marianna Army Air Field was reactivated as a [[U.S. Air Force]] installation initially named Marianna Air Base. As part of the [[Air Training Command]] (ATC), its mission was to provide primary flight training for Air Force student pilots in response to increaed demands of the [[Korean War]] and [[Cold War]]. Students were a combination of both commissioned USAF officers and non-commissioned air cadets, the latter who would receive their commissions upon completion of flight training. New bachelor officer quarters, cadet barracks and other facilities were built, and by 1952 military personnel began arriving and were greeted warmly by the residents of Jackson County. The air base ultimately employed 700 civilians. http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm


The facility was renamed Graham Air Base for William J. Graham, a civilian instructor who provided primary flight training to pilots and headed the school. The air base was a contract flight school with predominantly civilian instructors providing training in USAF [[T-34 Mentor]] and [[T-28 Trojan]] aircraft, graduating a group of student pilots from primary training every six weeks. Because its short runways could not accommodate the jet trainers of the period, student pilots completing primary training were then assigned to select air force bases for more advanced training in aircraft such as the [[T-33 Shooting Star]]. Although its instructor cadre was primarily civilian, Graham AB was still an Air Force installation and operated under constant military supervision. http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm
In 1953, the old Marianna Army Air Field was reactivated as a [[United States Air Force]] installation and was renamed '''Graham Air Base''' for William J. Graham, a civilian instructor who provided primary flight training to pilots and headed the school. Graham AB replaced Greenville AFB, [[Mississippi]] as a contract pilot training school in response to increaed demands for pilots as a result of the [[Cold War]] and the increase in number of Air Force wings. The 3300th Pilot Training Squadron was activated at the base to support the mission, with predominantly civilian instructors providing training in USAF [[T-34 Mentor]] and [[T-28 Trojan]] aircraft, graduating a group of student pilots from primary training every six weeks. Because its short runways could not accommodate the jet trainers of the period, student pilots completing primary training were then assigned to select air force bases for more advanced training in aircraft such as the [[T-33 Shooting Star]]. Although its instructor cadre was primarily civilian, Graham AB was still an Air Force installation and operated under constant military supervision.<ref>http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm</ref>


⚫
Students were a combination of both commissioned USAF officers and non-commissioned air cadets, the latter who would receive their commissions upon completion of flight training. New bachelor officer quarters, cadet barracks and other facilities were built, and by 1952 military personnel began arriving and were greeted warmly by the residents of Jackson County. The air base ultimately employed 700 civilians. <ref>http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm</ref> In August 1959, the T-28s were replaced by T-37 jet trainers.
By 1960, the Air Force began to transition to the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) concept at selected Air Training Command installations with longer runways which would eventually host [[T-37 Tweet|T-37]] and [[T-38 Talon]] jet trainers. Facilities like Graham AB, with civilian contractor instructors and short runways became obsolete and were eventually closed in the early 1960s.
By 1960, the Air Force began to transition to the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) concept at selected Air Training Command installations with longer runways which would eventually host [[T-37 Tweet|T-37]] and [[T-38 Talon]] jet trainers. Facilities like Graham AB, with civilian contractor instructors and short runways became obsolete and were eventually closed in the early 1960s.


The Air Force decided to close Graham AB in late 1960, despite the efforts of influential Florida Congressman [[Robert L. F. Sikes]] (D-FL) to keep it running. Jackson County lost a combined military and civilian payroll of $6 million, along with several hundred military and contractor families. As the installation was being scaled down as a military facility, the industrial committee of the Junior Chamber of Commerce began working to adapt the air base into a combination industrial park and civilian airport. http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm
The Air Force decided to close Graham AB in late 1960, despite the efforts of influential Florida Congressman [[Robert L. F. Sikes]] (D-FL) to keep it running. Jackson County lost a combined military and civilian payroll of $6 million, along with several hundred military and contractor families. As the installation was being scaled down as a military facility, the industrial committee of the Junior Chamber of Commerce began working to adapt the air base into a combination industrial park and civilian airport. <ref>http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm </ref> The base was closed on 15 December 1960.


Today the Marianna Municipal Airport has two {{convert|4900|ft|m|sing=on}} long by {{convert|100|ft|m|sing=on}} wide intersecting hard surface runways with a pavement strength of 56,500 pounds single wheel load. Runway 18/36 serves as the primary runway. Although the original USAF control tower and base operations building remain standing on the flight line, the airport has remained an uncontrolled field for its entire time as a civilian facility.
Today the Marianna Municipal Airport has two {{convert|4900|ft|m|sing=on}} long by {{convert|100|ft|m|sing=on}} wide intersecting hard surface runways with a pavement strength of 56,500 pounds single wheel load. Runway 18/36 serves as the primary runway. Although the original USAF control tower and base operations building remain standing on the flight line, the airport has remained an uncontrolled field for its entire time as a civilian facility.

Revision as of 17:05, 23 March 2009

30°50′16.10″N 085°10′54.80″W / 30.8378056°N 85.1818889°W / 30.8378056; -85.1818889

Marianna Municipal Airport
10 Jan 1999
Summary
Airport typePublic use
OwnerCity of Marianna
OperatorHomer Sims
ServesMarianna, Florida
LocationJackson County, Florida
Elevation AMSL110 ft / 34 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
8/26 4,895 1,492 Asphalt
18/36 4,896 1,492 Asphalt
Statistics (1999)
Aircraft operations28,016
Based aircraft37

Marianna Municipal Airport (ICAO: KMAI, FAA LID: MAI) is a public use general aviation airport located 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of the central business district of the city of Marianna in Jackson County, Florida, United States. The airport is publicly owned.[1]

History

Before World War II, the City of Marianna managed an airport at the existing airport site, which covered 635 acres (2.57 km2) and included a 4,600-foot (1,400 m) long dirt runway. The federal government acquired the airport in 1942 and added 1,915 acres (7.7 km2) additional to construct the Marianna Army Air Field for the U.S. Army Air Forces. The airfield opened on 8 August 1942 and eventually had six hard surface runways averaging 4,000 feet (1,200 m) in length and was used as a training base for the Southeast Army Air Force Training Command. The Army Air Forces Pilot School (Advanced-Single Engine) was activated on 1 September 1942, with the 17th Single Engine Flying Training Group being the Operational Training Unit. Aircraft used during training were P-40 Warhawks and AT-6 Texans. Marianna field was transferred from the jurisdiction of Eastern Flying Training Command to Third Air Force on 12 October 1944. The station came under the command of the 137th Army Air Forces Base Unit. With the reassignment to Third Air Force, the mission of the airfield was changed from the training of pilots for single-engined aircraft to training of combat crews for A-26 Invader light bomber aircraft

After the war ended, the airfield was closed on 15 Feburary 1946 and the Federal Government returned control of 2,010 acres (8.1 km2) to the City of Marianna in 1947. [2]

In 1953, the old Marianna Army Air Field was reactivated as a United States Air Force installation and was renamed Graham Air Base for William J. Graham, a civilian instructor who provided primary flight training to pilots and headed the school. Graham AB replaced Greenville AFB, Mississippi as a contract pilot training school in response to increaed demands for pilots as a result of the Cold War and the increase in number of Air Force wings. The 3300th Pilot Training Squadron was activated at the base to support the mission, with predominantly civilian instructors providing training in USAF T-34 Mentor and T-28 Trojan aircraft, graduating a group of student pilots from primary training every six weeks. Because its short runways could not accommodate the jet trainers of the period, student pilots completing primary training were then assigned to select air force bases for more advanced training in aircraft such as the T-33 Shooting Star. Although its instructor cadre was primarily civilian, Graham AB was still an Air Force installation and operated under constant military supervision.[3]

Students were a combination of both commissioned USAF officers and non-commissioned air cadets, the latter who would receive their commissions upon completion of flight training. New bachelor officer quarters, cadet barracks and other facilities were built, and by 1952 military personnel began arriving and were greeted warmly by the residents of Jackson County. The air base ultimately employed 700 civilians. [4] In August 1959, the T-28s were replaced by T-37 jet trainers.

By 1960, the Air Force began to transition to the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) concept at selected Air Training Command installations with longer runways which would eventually host T-37 and T-38 Talon jet trainers. Facilities like Graham AB, with civilian contractor instructors and short runways became obsolete and were eventually closed in the early 1960s.

The Air Force decided to close Graham AB in late 1960, despite the efforts of influential Florida Congressman Robert L. F. Sikes (D-FL) to keep it running. Jackson County lost a combined military and civilian payroll of $6 million, along with several hundred military and contractor families. As the installation was being scaled down as a military facility, the industrial committee of the Junior Chamber of Commerce began working to adapt the air base into a combination industrial park and civilian airport. [5] The base was closed on 15 December 1960.

Today the Marianna Municipal Airport has two 4,900-foot (1,500 m) long by 100-foot (30 m) wide intersecting hard surface runways with a pavement strength of 56,500 pounds single wheel load. Runway 18/36 serves as the primary runway. Although the original USAF control tower and base operations building remain standing on the flight line, the airport has remained an uncontrolled field for its entire time as a civilian facility.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b FAA Airport Form 5010 for MAI PDF, effective 2008-02-14
  2. ^ http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm
  3. ^ http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm
  4. ^ http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm
  5. ^ http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reithmannlynda/ghistory.htm
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