History of Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is a major American airport in the United States that was constructed in 1928. 1926–1929: Mines Field In 1926, the Los Angeles City Council and the Chamber of Commerce recognized the need for the city to have its own airport to tap into the fledgling, but quickly growing aviation industry. Several locations were considered, but the final choice was a field in the southern part of Westchester. The location had been promoted by real estate agent William W. Mines, and Mines Field as it was known, had already been selected to host the 1928 National Air Races. On August 13, 1928 the city leased the land and the newly formed Department of Airports began converting the fields once used to grow wheat, barley and lima beans into dirt landing strips. The airport opened on October 1, 1928 and the first structure, Hangar No. 1, was erected in 1929 by the Curtiss-Wright company for use as a flight school and to service its small fleet of aircraft. The Spanish Colonial Revival style building still stands at the airport, remaining in active use and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 1930–1939: Los Angeles Municipal Airport The next year, the dirt runway was replaced with oiled decomposed granite which could be used year-round and two more hangars, a restaurant, office space, and a control tower were built. On June 7, 1930, the facility was dedicated and renamed Los Angeles Municipal Airport. The airport was used by private pilots and flying schools, but the city’s vision was that Los Angeles would become the main passenger hub for the area. However, the airlines were not on board. The airport failed to entice any carriers away from the established Burbank Airport (then known as Union Air Terminal, and later Lockheed) or the Grand Central Airport in Glendale. (By 1940 the airlines were all at Burbank except for Mexicana's three departures a week from Glendale). During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration funded several improvements including site grading and construction of a new runway, while the city paid for runway and field lights. Still, no airlines moved to the airport. The city purchased the land under the airport in 1937. 1940–1945: Wartime Airfield World War II put a pause on any further development of the airport for passenger use. Before the United States entered the war, the aviation manufacturing companies located around the airport were busy providing aircraft for the allied powers, while the airport flying schools found themselves in high demand. In January 1942, the military assumed control of the airport, stationing P-38 fighter planes at the airfield and building naval gun batteries in the ocean dunes to the west. Meanwhile, managers at the Los Angeles Department of Airports published a master plan for the land in early 1943 and convinced voters to back a $12.5 million bond for airport improvements. With a plan and funding in place, the airlines were finally convinced to make the move. 1946–1960: "Intermediate