Delano Municipal Airport: Difference between revisions

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Delano Airport was opened in April 1940. It was built by the Federal Government with monies appropriated by Congress for Development of Landing Areas for National Defense (DLAND) as a result of [[World War II]] breaking out in Europe during 1939. It was constructed by the [[Civil Aeronautics Administration]] (CAA).
Delano Airport was opened in April 1940. It was built by the Federal Government with monies appropriated by Congress for Development of Landing Areas for National Defense (DLAND) as a result of [[World War II]] breaking out in Europe during 1939. It was constructed by the [[Civil Aeronautics Administration]] (CAA).


In late 1943, The [[United States Army Air Forces]] acquired usage rights to the airport. It was placed under the jurisdiction of the IV Fighter Command. The 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group (NFOTG) used the faciity, named '''Delano Army Airfield''' as part of the Army Air Forces Night Fighter School which had transferred from Florida to [[Hammer Field]], California.
In late 1943, The [[United States Army Air Forces]] acquired usage rights to the airport. It was placed under the jurisdiction of the IV Fighter Command. The 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group (NFOTG) used the faciity, named '''Delano Army Airfield''' as part of the Army Air Forces Night Fighter School which had transferred from Florida to [[Hammer Field]], California. Delano was used as an auxiliary training airfield and the school operated a combination of modified Douglas [[A-20 Havoc]]s for night fighter operations, designated P-70, and brand-new prototype [[YP-61 Black Widow]] purpose-built night fighters


Between 31 March and 15 June 1944, the [[426th Night Fighter Squadron]] trained at Delano; the [[548th Night Fighter Squadron]] between June and September 1944. In addition, flights of P-61s from the 427th, 547th, 549th and 550th Night Fighter Squadrons moved in and out of Delano AAF during 1944 as part of their training prior to being deployed to combat units, primarily in the Pacific and CBI theaters.
Later it was used by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] Air Technical Service Command. With the end of the war, the base was declared excess to requirements and returned to civil control.

In December 1944, the 481st NFOTG was inactivated as part of an AAF reorganization. Delano Field was transferred over to the jurisdiction of Air Technical Service Command on 10 December. It was placed on standby status and the airport was only used for emergency purposes, being under the control of Hammer Field.

With the end of the war, the base was declared excess to requirements and returned to civil control.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 21:50, 20 August 2011

Delano Municipal Airport
USGS aerial photo as of 4 September 1994
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Delano
ServesDelano, California
Elevation AMSL314 ft / 96 m
Coordinates35°44′44″N 119°14′11″W / 35.74556°N 119.23639°W / 35.74556; -119.23639
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
14/32 5,651 1,722 Asphalt
Statistics (2006)
Aircraft operations19,000
Based aircraft44

Delano Municipal Airport (ICAO: KDLO, FAA LID: DLO) is a public airport located two miles (3 km) southeast of the central business district of Delano, a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is owned by the City of Delano.[1]

Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, Delano Municipal Airport is assigned DLO by the FAA but has no designation from the IATA.[2]

Facilities and aircraft

Delano Municipal Airport covers an area of 546 acres (221 ha) which contains one asphalt paved runway (14/32) measuring 5,651 x 75 ft (1,722 x 23 m).[1]

For the 12-month period ending January 23, 2006, the airport had 19,000 aircraft operations, an average of 52 per day, all of which were general aviation. There are 44 aircraft based at this airport: 68% single engine, 5% multi-engine and 27% helicopters.[1]

History

Delano Airport was opened in April 1940. It was built by the Federal Government with monies appropriated by Congress for Development of Landing Areas for National Defense (DLAND) as a result of World War II breaking out in Europe during 1939. It was constructed by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA).

In late 1943, The United States Army Air Forces acquired usage rights to the airport. It was placed under the jurisdiction of the IV Fighter Command. The 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group (NFOTG) used the faciity, named Delano Army Airfield as part of the Army Air Forces Night Fighter School which had transferred from Florida to Hammer Field, California. Delano was used as an auxiliary training airfield and the school operated a combination of modified Douglas A-20 Havocs for night fighter operations, designated P-70, and brand-new prototype YP-61 Black Widow purpose-built night fighters

Between 31 March and 15 June 1944, the 426th Night Fighter Squadron trained at Delano; the 548th Night Fighter Squadron between June and September 1944. In addition, flights of P-61s from the 427th, 547th, 549th and 550th Night Fighter Squadrons moved in and out of Delano AAF during 1944 as part of their training prior to being deployed to combat units, primarily in the Pacific and CBI theaters.

In December 1944, the 481st NFOTG was inactivated as part of an AAF reorganization. Delano Field was transferred over to the jurisdiction of Air Technical Service Command on 10 December. It was placed on standby status and the airport was only used for emergency purposes, being under the control of Hammer Field.

With the end of the war, the base was declared excess to requirements and returned to civil control.

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency