Aerial View of the Airport, 1937
In December of 1936, the first 3 planes landed at what would become the Danville airport. One was piloted by John Morris of the state WPA, one by Dr. Howard Foss who was instrumental not only in helping to build Geisinger, but also in getting the airport built, and the third was a small plane from Williamsport. The airport was not completed at that time, there was still no well, nor electric.
The Danville Airport was Dedicated on May 19th 1938
The Danville Airport is located not in Danville, but in Riverside, Northumberland County Pa. [Danville is in Montour County].
The site was chosen in February of 1934 - a 45 acre field on the farm of George Campbell. An attempt had been made to find property in Montour County, but the nearest available ground was in Washingtonville, at the time. Although the chosen site was in a different county, it was only a five minute drive from downtown Danville.
Building the airport was in part, a WPA project.
Aerial View, 1937
The site was also in direct line of "the United Airlines Lane, which fly passenger planes between Los Angeles and New York City". The Danville News reported tat 22 air planes were flying over the field daily, in 1934.
A special "Cachet" was designed for all air mail letters, to be sent from Danville on May 19th, when the first air mail plane would "swoop down upon the field for it's cargo of mail"
The cachet included mention of the first T-Rail in the world being rolled at Danville in 1845
At the grand opening event, a banquet was held in the hangar. Foss spoke about the history of Air Mail in America.
Seven instructors at the airport taught Army and Navy pilots how to fly, through 1945. The cadets were houses at the armory.
During the flood of 1946, airplanes from the Sunbury and Bloomsburg airports were flown to Danville, "the only field high and dry from swollen waters." Nineteen planes in total were there that May - 12 from Sunbury and Bloomsburg, and 7 that were "Danville Airport's regular complement." Fourteen of the planes were stored in the haner, the rest were safely anchored.
Civil Air Patrol At Danville Airport, 1959
On August 22-23rd 1959, 125 Civil Air Patrol Cadets took part in "Operation Deep Dark", a training exercise, at the Danville Airport.
Two ranger squadrons from Philadelphia, one from Northumberland, one from Ashland, and one from Harrisburg participated. "The Rangers were the part of the Civil Air Patrol charged with the rescue of downed airmen."
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Civil Air Patrol at the Danville Airport, 1977
Civil Air Patrol Encampment at the Danville Airport, 1977
In June of 1946, two young pilots, were critically injured when the cub trainer they wee flying crashed in a field near snydertown. James Beaver & John Enterline Jr both held private licenses, having recently taken tests at the Danville Airport.
This was only the 3rd accident from the airport, since it had been built, and it was the first involving an airport owned plane. In 1940 George Cooke and Fred Dalibreda were injured when their plane "cracked up" at Catawissa. In 1942, Joseph Harper of Shamokin was killed when his plane crashed in Paxinos.
1960, Ken Burrows Manager of Airport
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1987 - Mechanic Joe Fox
In 2000, the airport acquired 26 additional acres and built a 3,000 foot paved runway, which was a benefit for Geisinger and Merck. Prior to that, only small planes could land on the grass runway.
2005 - New Hangar being constructed
Today the airport is owned by the Montour and Northumberland Commissioners. It covers 114 acres, and includes an asphalt runway with lights. Flying lessons are available on site, and private planes are housed on the ground. Geisinger's Life Flight Pilots practice at the airport.
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Joe Morrall & Ken Burrows at the Danville Airport
On September 27th 1932: For the first time in the history of Danville High School, a plane was used to advertise one of its activities, when Joe Morrall circled over Danville and strewed announcements of the opening football contest under the flood lights at the Rotary Field. The first night game was played against Lewisburg High School.
See more about Morall here:
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