History
The airport was built by the United States Army Air Forces about 1942, and was known as Napa Flight Strip. It was an emergency landing airfield for military aircraft on training flights. It was expanded later in the war and was re designated as Napa Army Airfield, becoming an auxiliary airfield of the Fourth Air Force Hamilton Army Airfield. 4th Air Force used the base as a training base for replacement fighter pilots, primarily flying P-38 Lightnings before being deployed to combat units in overseas areas.
Following World War II, the airfield property was deeded to Napa County by the War Assets Administration for civilian use. The airport soon became a business hub for what was once a rural, sparsely populated portion in the southern end of the county. Jonesy's Restaurant opened for business in 1946 at the airport and was a longtime favorite of locals and visitors. The restaurant remained in business for 63 years before closing in 2010. By 1947, half a dozen small businesses had opened at the facility but only Bridgeford Flying Service remained open past the first year and still remains in business today. In 2012 the name was changed from Bridgeford Flying Service to Napa Jet Center. In 1971, International Air Services Company (IASCO) and Japan Airlines opened a flight training school at the airport. In June 2010 Japan Airlines announced that it would be closing its training facility as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan. In February 2012 IASCO announced that it would be moving its training facility to Redding, California in early March.
Read more about this topic: Napa County Airport
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