Peoria Station

Previously, we explored not only air service changes at the Peoria Municipal Airport during 1949, but also problems with mining subsidence which threatened the airfield's future.   (Originally posted December 24, 2015) In February 1950, the U. S. Air Force informed the Park Board that if its demands for improved facilities - including a 7,000-foot runway - were not met, the 169th Air National Guard unit would have to relocate to another city. The same month, a second fissure was discovered on both ANG and adjoining private property after 14 rooms mined by Edward Mohn & Sons had collapsed. This diagram, which appeared in the Peoria Star  on May 25, 1950, shows the problem areas. Airport officials agreed that the solution was to either buy out the Mohn's mineral rights or condemn the property. Lack of adequate sources of funding proved a barrier to either course. A push to create an airport authority gained support. With a goal to hold a public vote by May 31, 1950...

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 improvement...