Mitchell International Airport is one of three host airports for the 2010 Wisconsin Aviation Conference, May 3-5, at the Country Springs Inn, Waukesha, Wis. For additional information, see www.wiama.org/conference.htm). Mitchell International is the largest airport in the state, and will welcome conference and guests that arrive by commercial airlines. The Wisconsin Aviation Conference is cosponsored by the Wisconsin Airport Management Association, Wisconsin Aviation Trades Association, and the Wisconsin Business Aviation Association. Airport managers and commission members from around the state, fixed base operators, and individuals and businesses that use their aircraft for business, attend the conference, as do officials from the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics and Federal Aviation Administration.
Milwaukee Aviation History
Milwaukee formally entered the aviation era on July 3, 1919, when it established the first county-operated airport, named Butler Airport, on the current site of James Currie Park and Golf Course, located in the northwest corner of Milwaukee County. At this humble airport facility, the Lawson Airliner was assembled. On August 27, 1919, the airliner departed on a demonstration flight to the east coast of the United States. Airmail service began for the Milwaukee region on June 7, 1926, and soon the local residents and aviators realized the current airfield was too small, but a small river to the east and a railroad line to the west prevented any significant expansion.
On October 5, 1926, the Milwaukee County Board approved the $150,000 purchase of a new airport facility. The land was owned by Thomas Hamilton, a local aviator who operated a propeller manufacturing business and small airport. Soon after the Hamilton land purchase, aviation activity at the Currie Park site ceased and was transferred to the new location. The first airport terminal, the Hirschbuehl Farmhouse, opened on the Hamilton Airport site in July of 1927. That same month Northwest Airlines, Inc., initiated air service from Milwaukee to Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul. World-famous aviator Charles A. Lindbergh visited the Milwaukee airport on August 20, 1927.
During the late depression years (from 1938 to July, 1940), a new two-story terminal building was constructed by the Work Projects Administration (WPA). In 1941, the name of the Milwaukee County Airport was changed to “General Mitchell Field” after Milwaukee’s military advocate, Brigadier General William “Billy” Mitchell.
It is a source of pride for Milwaukeans that its main airport is named in honor of General William Mitchell, who, though impatient with those who did not share his beliefs, nevertheless retained, until his death, his boundless faith in aviation’s future which he so unerringly visualized.
General William “Billy” Mitchell (1879-1936) was born to a prominent Milwaukee family. His father, John Lendrum Mitchell, who eventually became a United States Senator for Wisconsin, was an only child to millionaire Milwaukee banker and railroad tycoon, Alexander Mitchell.
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, Billy Mitchell returned to Milwaukee from what is now known as George Washington University in Washington, D.C., to enlist. Mitchell quickly rose through the ranks in the Signal Corps and in 1912 was appointed to the General Staff, the youngest person at that time to hold such a position.
In 1916, when Europe was on the verge of the first World War, Mitchell recognized the increasing importance of aviation in war and took it upon himself to learn to fly at his own expense. Mitchell was promoted to Major and appointed the head of the Army’s aviation section. He was then sent to Europe, where he became a leader in establishing a United States aviation force. Mitchell was promoted again, this time to the rank of Colonel, and was appointed Chief of Air Service of the First Army. In the Battle of St. Mihiel, he was given command of more than 1500 British, French, and American aircraft units. This was the largest air force ever assembled to that date. For Mitchell’s action, he was promoted to Brigadier General and made Chief of Air Service of the Group of Armies, the top aviation command.
Returning to the United States in 1919, Mitchell was appointed Director of Military Aeronautics. He vigorously began promoting aviation, planning the building of a strong air force and fostering the budding aircraft industry to establish commercial aviation on a sound footing. But his opponents were not in sympathy with his efforts. His claims of air superiority over the sea led to a confrontation with the U.S. Navy. In July, 1921, in a test bombing of German warships, Mitchell proved his point when his men sank a battleship.
Inevitably, Mitchell’s forceful promotion of his ideas led to a clash with the traditional forces. As his opposition grew stronger, Mitchell became more outspoken in his criticism. Finally in September 1925, he charged the administration with neglecting the national defense. He was tried by court-martial and found guilty of insubordination. He resigned from the service on February 1, 1926, but his influence lived on as he carried his case to the people. He continued his work incessantly until his untimely death in February 1936.
Shortly after the completion of the first terminal and through the early 1950s, Mitchell Field experienced growth in the number of flight operations, including the large propeller-driven StratoCruisers and Constellations. Due to congestion at the Layton Avenue terminal building, construction began on a larger terminal facility to be situated on Howell Avenue. On July 19, 1955, at a cost of $3.2 million, a new three-concourse, two-level structure opened with a capacity of 23 aircraft gates. The airfield then included 1,530 acres of land for runways and taxiways.
Milwaukee entered the jet age in July of 1961 with the arrival of a Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing 720 four-engine jet (similar to a Boeing 707). In 1983, Mitchell Field entered the space age and welcomed Eastern Airlines’ “Spirit of Milwaukee,” an advanced technology Boeing 757 jet aircraft, which utilized the same computer system as that of the American Space Shuttle.
In the late 1970s, deregulation and continued growth prompted another expansion project. The focus of this project was to renovate the existing terminal building. Today, the $44 million terminal expansion project is complete. The expanded facility now houses new and larger shops and an enlarged ticketing and baggage claim area.
In keeping with the new appearance of the airport and its increased national recognition, a new name was also appropriate. On June 19, 1986, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors officially renamed the airport “General Mitchell International Airport,” also reflecting the presence of United States Customs at the airport.
In October of 1989, a new Airport Systems Cargo Complex was opened to provide security and ground support services for cargo carriers. The complex also provides services for loading and unloading freight and houses a vehicle maintenance shop, which provides maintenance for ground support equipment.
With increasing air traffic and growing airline service, Mitchell International needed to expand its gate area. On December 14, 1990, a 16-gate addition to Concourse D opened. The additional 16 gates boost Mitchell International’s total number of gates to 42. In addition, a new $6 million, 425-foot moving walkway was constructed to move passengers swiftly from the Concourse D entrance to the new gate area.
The terminal building at Mitchell International Airport features an aviation “museum” called the “Mitchell Gallery of Flight,” created by a non-profit corporation. The organization locates, acquires, preserves and displays artifacts, memorabilia, photographs and artwork representing the contributions of aviation pioneers from Milwaukee County and Wisconsin.
The Mitchell Gallery administers operation of the gallery primarily through the solicitation of monetary donations in funding the exhibits, maintaining displays and
providing informational publications. The museum is open without any admission fee during normal airport hours.
Captain James A. Lovell Exhibit
In July 2009, the Mitchell Gallery opened two new exhibit cases displaying artifacts and photos from the Naval and NASA careers of Captain Jim Lovell. While Captain Lovell is best known for his four Gemini and Apollo spaceflights, he also was a Naval Aviator and test pilot prior to joining NASA. The two displays separately cover Jim Lovell’s Naval Aviator and test pilot service prior to 1962, as well as his NASA career between 1962 and 1973.
Captain Lovell has loaned the Mitchell Gallery numerous items for these displays, including his Navy flight jacket, a NASA flight helmet, various aircraft and spacecraft models, and several items flown on his space missions. Also included are various photos from Captain Lovell’s personal collection, as well as from other sources.
For information about supporting the Mitchell Gallery of Flight, refer to http://www.mitchellgallery.org/join/.
The director of General Mitchell International Airport is Barry Bateman (www.mitchellairport.com).
