California National Guard Airport – Los Angeles CA

Description

Under project number 5517, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) graded and improved a national guard airfield on the site of Griffith Park where the zoo and Autry Museum are currently. $28,491 was spent by the federal government with $7,489 by the local sponsor. Total was $35,980. It employed 40 men on average for 8 months.

Built in the mid 20’s as the Griffith Park Aerodrome, the National Guard Air Service’s 40th Air Corps Division (115th Observation Squadron) established a base & laid 2 runways: 3,600′ northwest/southeast & 2,975′ oil & gravel north/south strips. Training missions were flown from Griffith Park until 1939, at which time the city Planning Commission charged that a military airport violated conditions of the original land deed. The airfield was abandoned before being used as a temporary site for quonset huts for returning WW2 veterans. In 1966, the Los Angeles Zoo was moved from its old location to the current location.