History
Prior to World War II, the present airport site was home to both a golf course and a grass airstrip. In 1942, the site was taken over by the U.S. Navy and the present paved runway complex constructed. Designated as Navy Outlying Field New Smyrna Beach, it operated as an auxiliary field to advanced naval flight training operations being conducted at nearby Naval Air Station Daytona Beach, NAS Sanford and NAS DeLand. In 1947, NOLF New Smyrna Beach was decommissioned and the facility conveyed back to the City of New Smryna Beach for use as a civilian airport.
As a Navy airfield, the facility originally incorporated four intersecting asphalt runways. Although all paved areas remain, only three of the runways remain operational today. Prior to 2004, the airport was an uncontrolled facility. In October 2004, a Level I contract control at the airport became operational, changing the airport's status to that of a controlled field. Today the airport serves the needs of charter airlines and general aviation activities, to include flight training and corporate air travel.
In 2006, the City of New Smyrna Beach added the additional name to the airport of Jack Bolt Field in honor of the late Naval Aviator, LtCol John "Jack" Bolt, USMC (Ret). A former New Smyrna Beach resident, LtCol Bolt was both an aerial ace and a recipient of the Navy Cross. While flying the F4U Corsair with VMF-214, LtCol Bolt shot down six Japanese Zero fighters during World War II. During the Korean War, while on an exchange assignment with the U.S. Air Force's 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron flying the F-86 Sabrejet, LtCol Bolt also shot down six North Korean MiG-15 jet fighters. A military aircraft propeller and a plaque commemorating LtCol Bolt's accomplishments was erected at the airport in 2006.
Read more about this topic: New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“All history becomes subjective; in other words there is properly no history, only biography.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.”
—Henry James (1843–1916)
“The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more”
—John Adams (1735–1826)