PIA – A History: Airport Improvements and the 169th ANG, 1946-1947

The last installment of this series covered the restoration of scheduled commercial airline service at the Peoria Municipal Airport. Now we’ll cover some subsequent airfield improvements.

Although touted as one of the most modern airfields in country when American Airlines and Chicago & Southern Air Lines resumed service on May 1, 1945, the airport was unable to handle night flights. The issue was resolved when flush contact and range lights were installed on all runways in the spring of 1946. Plans for a control tower built atop the airport’s weather bureau office also began to move forward at this time. Tower construction, however, would not begin until late-December 1947.

In addition, the Park Board desired “No. 4 Skyport” designation by the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA), which required extension and widening of runway 12-30 from 100′ to 150′ and extension from 4002′ to 5000′. The 3,603′ East-West runway, 8-26, was also widened from 100′ to 150′. These improvements would also help meet requirements for an Air National Guard squadron here.

The establishment of the 169th Air National Guard squadron was perhaps the airfield’s most significant development project at this time. In June 1947, construction had begun on a 147′ x 164′ temporary hangar, and two 20′ x 100′ Quonset hut-type structures for office, operations, storage and maintenance shop facilities.

The 169th Airlift Squadron had been formed as the 304th Airlift Squadron on August 23, 1942 and operated out of the Pinellas County Airport in Florida until disbanded in 1944. The 304th was re-activated in 1946 as the 169th Fighter Squadron and part of the Air National Guard. After an inspection June 21, 1947, the unit received federal recognition.

Necessary runway extensions and widening had been completed in August 1947 so on September 12, four P-51 Mustangs and two AT-6 Texans arrived Peoria Municipal Airport. A fifth P-51 developed engine trouble on the flight from Chicago and had to turn back. Also, a C-47 (military DC-3) arrived with Air Guard personnel then returned to Chicago. Additional P-51s arrived in subsequent months.

In November 1947, 169th Commander Major Arthur Szold suggested that runways be extended to 6000′. This was to accommodate jet fighters like the P-80 Shooting Star, expected to replace the Mustangs in three or four years. Interestingly, the major predicted the use of 4-engine airliners at PIA in 1948! Although this proved overly optimistic, the airfield attracted interest from a number of airlines. Between September 1943 and August 1947, no fewer than seven existing or proposed carriers petitioned regulators to add Peoria to their route systems.

Airline service expansion will be covered in the next installment.

- David P. Jordan