History
Merced's first airport was at what is now Castle Airport in nearby Atwater, CA. The airstrip along with sixty-six acres of land was obtained in 1932 as a gift from the Twenty-Thirty Club and the Crocker-Huffman Company, and in 1936 the City of Merced assumed responsibility of the airport. During the next 5 years several buildings were constructed and the airport site was expanded to 123 acres (0.50 km2).
After the United States entered World War II, Merced Municipal Airport was leased to the U.S. Army Air Force, eventually becoming Merced Army Airfield (1943–1946), and later Castle Air Force Base (1947–1995).
Construction of a new airport at the present site about 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Merced near Childs Avenue began in 1940. When the United States entered World War II the remaining work was completed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers working under the Civil Aeronautics Authority. This new airport was known as "New Merced Municipal Airport".
In 1943 the new airport was leased to the U.S. Army Air Force and used as an axillary field for Merced Army Airfield (present day Castle Airport). Under the lease, the airport's name was changed to "New Merced Municipal Airport Auxiliary Field". The lease was terminated immediately after the war, and the airport was returned to civil control.
In 1946 United Airlines built offices and a terminal building and began one Douglas DC-3 flight each way a day. That same year, damage incurred during the Army Air Force's use of the site was repaired, and additional improvements were completed using government funds. Two years later in 1948, Merced Municipal Airport was annexed to the City of Merced.
During the 1950s the airport was used to service military aircraft from the United States Armed Forces, and in 1975 a control tower was constructed to handle additional air traffic.
United's DC-3s were replaced by Convair 340s and Douglas DC-6s and then eventually by Boeing 737-200 jetliners in 1968-69; United left Merced for good in 1979.
On March 6, 2009 the city council voted to change the name of the airport from Merced Municipal Airport to Merced Regional Airport.
Read more about this topic: Merced Regional Airport
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