| August 30, 2001 Burbank AM radio show I happened on to your radio show
today and noticed that the story of our airport history was not quite accurate
as it confused the original Lockheed plant property with the current operating
airport. I'm sure that many people would say, "Who cares?" but I am sure
that you would not want to propagate incorrect information about our local
history. Your mention of '1928' and 'San Fernando Road at Turkey Crossing'
refers to the original Lockheed plant near 5 corners (now 4 corners?), which
came to be known as the B-1 plant. It had a single dirt landing strip, which
was used by Amelia Earhart, Roscoe Turner, Charles Lindbergh and the other
aviators of the time but it was a private company landing strip, not a public
airport. Your mention of "paved over acres of cantaloupe fields" refers
to the existing airport, which was built in 1930. At the time, it was the
first million-dollar airport and it had the largest hardened runways in
the world. They were not paved as such. The contractors merely used the
sandy soil already in place. They oiled it seven times and rolled it flat.
The oil soaked in and hardened the sand into a dust free yet somewhat pliable
surface, which was desirable in the days before efficient shock absorbers
were developed. The original builder was the Boeing Company, a subsidiary
of the United Aircraft Company and it was originally called United Airport.
It was renamed Union Airport in 1934 when other airlines came over from
Grand Central Airport in Glendale. They complained about the airport being
named after one of their competitors. The Lockheed Company bought the airport
in 1940 in preparation for WWII and called it Lockheed Terminal. The named
changed again to "Hollywood/Burbank" in the 1960's and, as you mentioned,
it's now the Burbank, Glendale Pasadena Airport, an unnecessarily ponderous
name. I enjoyed your show and was happy to learn about some of our local
history. If I can help in any way with your interesting radio show please
let me know. You may find my website on local aviation history of interest.
http://www.GoDickson.com Also, there is a non-profit group dedicated to
the preservation and presentation of the men and women who did the work
of aviation in our area. It is called the Burbank Aviation Museum and is
also known as BAM. As they have no public location for the public to access,
we need help letting the public know that we are always looking for oral
history and memorabilia to preserve. Could that be mentioned on your show?
Thank you. J. Ron Dickson Burbank, CA 848-2877 |
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