Laserfiche WebLink
""NOV <br /> IIISTO IC" ]�DATA -�STOCI�ITIDII�MIlrp-o�POIIl��r"�AlI �117 <br /> April 1, 1920 (Charles Mcuenry Ford) inaugurated the first <br /> sch,eduled airline flight in the West, and p045lblY the natioft* <br /> it was to fly between ()akland and Los Angeles, with stop$ at <br /> Stockton, presno and Bakersfield, using a Curtis 6 Eagle tri <br /> tore biplane carrying 12 passengers. The original Stockton <br /> base was a field northwest of town. <br /> 2. In 1925, Bill Qregg landed his Curtiss jenny in Mr. Wilber <br /> 5.1mon,s pasture, approximately 21 miles south of the Stockt<>n <br /> city 1.imjts on Sharps Lane no Airport WaY), Just east Of Mr- <br /> Salmon*s pig run. He became the first flier to land at what Is <br /> now the ptesext t site of Stockton metropolitan AirPOrt- <br /> 3. Tn the sprinq of 1926, the City of StOcktOnt Purch"ed 14r' <br /> galyAonls lease to the 23 areas where the airman had been landing <br /> beeaqse of its proximity to the Tidewater-Southern Pacific <br /> Railroad and proceeded to build a runway. <br /> 4. On Kay 7, 1927, Stockton Municipal Airport becaMe the fieials <br /> name and the City hold a dedication ceremorly and the liras Aid� <br /> show. <br /> 5. Tn 1928, the V.S. Army used Stockton municipal Airport ain a "Gas <br /> Stopo on training flighha around the state. <br /> 6. on Auqust 15, 1940, the U.S. At-MY, City of Stockton and County <br /> of San joaquin entered into a Lease Agreement for the Federal <br /> Government (Army) to operate an airbase for one dallar per <br /> year from 1940-1965, Dile to acreage required for Army Air Force <br /> use, the CitY and COunty entered into & joint Land Purchase <br /> Agreement. The Army then took total command of the field and <br /> began building an advanced Pilot Training school. <br /> 7. on January 2, 1941, flight instruction began with a class of 93 <br /> cadets. <br /> 8. on January 11, 1941, the AMY held a dedicatiOn ceremony and <br /> Stockton pield became the new official nalfte Of the Airport. <br /> 9. Stockton Field became the largest advanced pilot Training base in <br /> the West. The last grOuP Of cadets to graduate was On <br /> mitrch 2, 1945, <br /> 10. 14any graduates Of the school went On to become decornted aces <br /> of world War 11. The Most notable graduates werO eleven of the <br /> thirty-six Pilots who participated with General Doolittle on his <br /> historiQ raid over Tokyo on April 18, 1942. <br /> Another to call Stockton .rfield his Alma maker, was Lt. ThOmas <br /> Lan-phier who shot down Admiral Yamamoto's Plane in the Pac'f'c <br /> during the battlO Of New Guinea. Admiral YamamOtO was the Chi4f <br />