In 1940, Lexington Mayor T. Ward Havely led the planning for a new full service airfield for Lexington. More than a dozen sites were reviewed, before selecting a farm on Versailles Road opposite Keeneland, five miles west of Lexington. In May 1940, Mayor Havely filed an application with the Work Progress Administration for Federal funding. On December 1, 1940, the Civil Aeronautics Administration approved the development of the airfield.[i]
On December 12, 1940, the WPA also approved an initial grant of $57,000 to fund the engineering and planning of the field. On December 24, 1940, an option was granted to the city and county on 593 acres, owned by T. Field Van Meter, for $160,000 ($270 per acre). The property was conveyed on March 6, 1941 to the Lexington Airport Board. Eventually, the airport was expanded to 911 acres. [ii]
The first shovel of dirt was excavated on March 10, 1941. However, on April 4, 1941, Alex Fugette, a tenant on the property, obtained an injunction to stop construction. He was growing tobacco and corn on the farm. In August, the suit was settled for a payment of $1,000 (plus lawyer’s fees). [iii]
In July 1941, the WPA granted an addition $77,000 to fund an administrative building on the site. On July 31, 1941, the formal groundbreaking was held. In August 1941, the WPA approved another $235,000 for the concrete runways and taxiways. [iv]
After the Pearl Harbor attack, the field was considered for military use. Initially, the Army Air Corp turned down the facility because it lack lighting for night operations. The field was used as an auxiliary landing field. In addition, the Troop Carrier Command used the field to train glider pilots. During the summer of 1944, night lighting was installed on the field. [v]
In July 1942, the airfield was completed at the cost of one million dollars. The airport had three runways. Runway #4-22 was the main runway, 4,000 feet in length and 150 feet wide. The two cross wind runways were Runway #15-33 and #8-26. Both were 3,500 feet in length and 150 feet wide.[vi]
On July 11, 1942, the first aircraft to land was a B-25 Mitchell bomber. The bomber was commanded by Lt. Col. Charles J. Jones, who lived in Versailles. The bomber made a “causionary” landing at the field. While the plane was being inspected, Jones visited his family.
The airfield became an auxiliary field for the Army Air Corps’ glider training school established at Bowman Field, Louisville. In addition, the field was used for military cargo flights. The Lexington Signal Depot, at Avon, manufactured and repaired radio equipment. This equipment was shipped by air.[vii]
First landing at Blue Grass Field <Herald Leader>
In July 1944, the Weather Bureau established a station at the airport. Peter G. Powell was named the airport’s first manager. [viii]
In August 1944, the field was officially named Blue Grass Field. This was a compromise between factions that wanted the field named Lexington Field, Havely Field (after Mayor Havely), Chandler Field (after Governor A. B. “Happy” Chandler) and Umstead Field (after Lt. Col. Stanley M. Umstead, a Lexington native and test pilot).[ix]
On November 12, 1944, plans for a new terminal were approved. The terminal was two-story building, with offices on the second floor for administration and the Weather Bureau. In addition, a coffee shop was opened in the lobby. The airport was accessed by a U shaped driveway, surrounding a blacktop parking lot.[x]
New Terminal Building <BGAirport>
On August 15, 1945, the army turned over the field to the City of Lexington. The field became a municipal airfield. The Blue Grass Airlines, a short haul airline, established service from the field. J. E. Steward was the airline’s manager.[xi]
In 1945, the first air freight shipment was made from Lexington, of a case of Big Top peanut butter to President Truman in Washington. The Big Top plant in Lexington was one of the largest peanut processing plants in the county.[xii]
In 1946, the Lexington-Fayette County Airport Board was established to oversee the operations of the airport.
Commercial Aviation:
On October 13, 1946, the first interstate commercial flights landed at Blue Grass Field. Two Delta Airlines flights arrived at 7:45 am and an Eastern Airline flight arrived at 10:41 am. The aircraft were met by Acting Mayor Dan Regan and County Judge W. E. Nichols. Edward S. Dabney, President of the Board of Commerce, presented flowers to the stewardesses. Postmaster Roy Williams loaded sacks of airmail on all three flights. In addition, several air express packages were placed aboard the planes. Both Delta aircrafts left for Cincinnati at 7:53 am and the Eastern flight left for Washington at 10:56 am.[xiii]
First Scheduled Airline Flight, 1946
The first passenger to arrive at Blue Grass Field was Earl D. Wallace. Wallace was an oil company executive, who flew to Venezuela every six weeks. On the final leg of his return flight from Venezuela, Wallace was transferred to a DC-3 for Lexington at midnight. He was the only passenger on the flight. The fare from Atlanta to Lexington was $14.85 and flight time was 2 hours and 15 minutes.[xiv]
First Flight Air Mail Cover, 1946
Earl Wallace receiving flowers after the first flight <BGAirport>
Dedication:
On November 10, 1946, the formal dedication was held for Blue Grass Field. A crowd of 10,000 attended the ceremonies. Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, World War One ace and President of Eastern Airlines, was the main speaker. Rickenbacker remarks included:
“I congratulate all of you, particularity the leaders who fought so hard to make this port reach its present stage of completion. I am sure that you who approved and you who opposed the work will now join hands and carry on to make this port a memorial to those men who gave their all that you and I might continue to be free men and women.”
“This is your airport, your foundation, your opportunity and your obligation; make the most of it.”
“one of the finest airports to be found in any city of any size”
His address was followed by a flight demonstration by the Civil Air Patrol and Army Air Corp. In addition, a monolith dedicated to the late Mayor T. Ward Havely was unveiled.[xv]
Famed Ace Eddie Rickenbacker at Dedication <BGAirport>
In May 1947, Piedmont Airlines established service to Lexington, with the first flight bound for Cincinnati. The airline used DC-3 airliners.[xvi]
Piedmont Airlines was the third airline to establish service to Lexington <BGAirport>
Blue Grass Field, 1951
In January 1950, the airport opened a new control tower, built on the roof of the terminal building. The tower cost $28,000. The new tower was operated by the Civil Aeronautics Authority, which directed landings and takeoffs at the airport.[xvii]
In June 1950, Peter G. Powell resigned as airport manager and was replaced by Oscar Parks. Parks was the former manager of the Greater Cincinnati Airport.[xviii]
In October 1950, the Army conducted a flight test from Lexington to Knoxville with an experimental helicopter. The flight was conducted in a H-13 Bill helicopter and flown from Captain R. H. Popson.[xix]
H-13 Bell helicopter during test flight <BGAirport>
In November 1950, the airport finalized plans to extend Runway #4-26 from 4,000 to 5,500 feet to accommodate larger, four engine aircraft. The plans also called for additional taxiways. The total cost of the improvements was $100,000. The airport requested the Civil Aeronautics Authority fund one-half of the total. In June 1952, after several delays, the plan changed to an extension of 5,000 feet. In June 1953, construction finally began on the extension and in October 1953, the runway extension was in operations.[xx]
Uniform Taxi Service, circa 1950s <BGAirport>
New wings on expanded terminal building, circa 1960
In 1964, Blue Grass Field was the destination of Goldfinger’s flight in the James Bond film Goldfinger. The filming was actually done in Louisville.
In 1968, the airport erected a new control tower separate from the terminal.[xxi] In April 1968, the first jet passenger plane inaugurated jet service at the airport.
Jet Air Mail Service also began in April 1968
In March 1973, the airport closed Runway #15-33, the old general aviation runway. The runway was converted into a taxiway.[xxii]
New Terminal:
In July 1972, the Lexington-Fayette County Airport Board imposed a $1 surcharge on all passengers leaving the airport. The surcharge was intended to pay for a new terminal buildings.[xxiii] In November 1974, White & Congleton was awarded the bid for the new terminal. The bid was $3,320,000. The terminal was 70,000 square feet. Construction on the terminal began the next month.[xxiv] The new terminal opened for traffic on April 27, 1976 and was dedicated two days later.[xxv] In June 1976, the original terminal building was demolished, with a memorial plaza and viewing area located on the site.[xxvi]
New Terminal Building, circa 1976 <Ambrose>
In November 1972, three hijackers took over a Southern Airways jet and demanded $10,000,000 in ransom. The hijackers landed in several cities, including Lexington, before heading to Cuba. The ground crewman refueling the jet were forced to strip to his underwear before approaching the plane.[xxvii]
In August 1975, James Obermiller was appointed acting manager, after the death of Logan Gray, Jr. In November, James A. Brough was appointed airport manager.[xxviii]
During the 1970s, larger jet aircrafts required longer runways to take off. In 1978, the airport proposed several alternatives for a longer runway. The main proposal was for a 9,000 foot, parallel runway to Runway #4-26. The projected cost was $24.4 million dollars. These proposals were met with strong community protests from the surrounding farm and residential owners. Eventually, during 1979 these proposals were abandoned.[xxix]
During 1980, Frontier Airlines established two round trip flights, to St. Louis and Denver. Both flights were non-stop.[xxx]
In August 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization called a strike for all air traffic controllers. In Lexington, Local #278 walked out of the control tower. President Reagan eventually fired the controllers and air traffic slowly returned to normal with replacement controllers.[xxxi]
In January 1982, ComAir, a Cincinnati commuter airline, began service at Bluegrass Field.[xxxii]
On May 7, 1983, Vice President George H. W. Bush arrived at the airport on Marine Two. He planned on attending the Kentucky Derby, with William Farish of Lane’s End Farm.
In May 1983, the airport finalized plans to extended Runway #4-26, to 7,000 feet in length. This extension allowed the airport to handle all but the largest jet aircraft. The Federal government granted $26 million to fund the expansion.[xxxiii]
In October 1983, Allegheny Commuter Airlines established service at the airport, with in-state flights to Paducah and London and interstate flights to Dallas and Washington.[xxxiv]
In October 1984, Queen Elizabeth II landed at the airport on a special charter British Airways jet. She spent several days visiting horse farms and attending the Fall Meet at Keeneland.[xxxv]
The Queen is met at the airport <BGAirport>
In March 1985, the new concourse opened with four covered gates. The concourse cost $1.87 million dollars. Construction was started on the concourse in October 1984.[xxxvi]
In July 1986, the first Boeing 747 landed at the airport. The jet was owned by the Maktoum brothers of Dubai, who flew in to attend the Keeneland sales.[xxxvii]
In December 1986, James A. Brought resigned as the executive director of the airport. In February 1987, Mike Flack was named to the position.[xxxviii]
In May 1987, Presidential Airways began daily non-stop flights to Dulles International airport in Washington.[xxxix]
In September 1988, ground was broken for Concourse B. The concourse cost $12 million dollars. The new concourse opened in December 1989, with eight gates.[xl]
In August 1989, the British Airways Concorde SST landed in Lexington, with 20 passengers, from New York. The aircraft was the fastest passenger airline in the world. The flight was a promotional for the airline. A large crowd gathered at the airport to watch the landing.[xli]
In June 1991, Northwest Airlink began daily round trips flights to Detroit.[xlii]
On November 4, 1993, Airforce One landed in Lexington with President Clinton. Clinton was accompanied by his wife Hilary and daughter Chelsea. While in Lexington, Clinton visited the Lexmark plant, talked with reports and made several speeches.[xliii]
Airforce One on tarmac, November 4, 1993 <BGAirport>
President Clinton deplaning from Airforce One <BGAirport>
In June 1997, the short-term parking lot in front of the terminal was closed for the construction of a new three story parking garage. The garage cost $10.5 million dollars. The garage opened in 1999.[xliv]
New Parking Garage under construction <BGAirport>
On August 27, 2006, Comair Flight 5191 crashed after mistakenly taking off from the shorter, general aviation runway. The regional jet overrun the end of the runway and crashed into the adjacent farm. During the crash, 49 passengers and crew were killed, with one survivor.
On April 18, 2007, Concourse A was finished, with six boarding gates and four jetways. The expansion cost $16.9 million.
In May 2007, Queen Elizabeth II arrived at Blue Grass Airport for her second visit to local horse farms. She also attended the Kentucky Derby.[xlv]
In December 2008, Director Mike Gobb resigned after news coverage of his expense account and other issues.
In 2010, 1,104,558 passengers used the Bluegrass Airport.
In January 2010, the airport opened Runway #9-27, south of the main runway.
Runway #4-22 - the airport’s main runway, built in 1942 during World War Two. The runway has been extended several times to meet the requirement of passenger aircraft. The runway is 7,003 feet long and 150 feet wide.
Runway #8-26 - the airport’s old crosswind runway, built in 1942 during World War Two. The runway was closed in 2010 and replaced by Runway 9-27. In 2006, a Comair Commuter Jet crashed when it mistakenly took off from the shorter runway. The runway was used for general aviation aircraft. The runway was 3,501 feet in length and 150 wide.
Runway #15-33 - the airport’s second crosswind runway, also built in 1942 during World War Two. The runway was 3,500 feet in length and 150 wide. In 1973, the runway was closed and converted into a taxiway.
Runway #9-27 - the airport’s new east-west crosswind runway opened in August 2011. The runway is 4,000 feet in length and 75 feet wide.
[i] Lexington Leader, November 11, 1946, page 1, column 2 and Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[ii] Wright, John D., Jr., Lexington – Heart of the Bluegrass, Lexington-Fayette County Historic Commission, 1982, page 182, Lexington Leader, November 11, 1946, page 1, column 2 and Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[iii] Lexington Leader, November 11, 1946, page 1, column 2 and Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[iv] Lexington Leader, November 11, 1946, page 1, column 2 and Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[v] Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[vi] Lexington Leader, November 11, 1946, page 1, column 2 and Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[vii] Blue Grass Airport, “Master Plan Update,” February 2005, pages 2-7 and 2-8 and Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[viii] Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[ix] Wright, John D., Jr., Lexington – Heart of the Bluegrass, Lexington-Fayette County Historic Commission, 1982, page 182 and Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[x] Lexington Leader, November 11, 1946, page 1, column 2 and Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[xi] Lexington Leader, November 11, 1946, page 1, column 2 and Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[xii] Bluegrass Airport Website.
[xiii] Lexington Leader, October 13, 1946, page 1, column 4.
[xiv] Lexington Herald, October 14, 1981, page A-3, column 1-4.
[xv] Lexington Herald, November 10, 1946, page 1, column 1, Lexington Leader, November 11, 1946, page 1, column 2 and Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1963, page A-19, columns 1-7.
[xvi] Bluegrass Airport Website.
[xvii] Lexington Leader, January 12, 1950, page 14, column 1 and January 16, 1950, page 9, column 7.
[xviii] Lexington Leader, June 1, 1950, page 1, column 2 and Lexington Herald Leader, June 11, 1950, page 3, columns 2-7.
[xix] Bluegrass Airport Website.
[xx] Lexington Leader, November 8, 1950, page 9, columns 1-4, April 17, 1951, page 1, column , June 29, 1952, page 10, column 4, March 10, 1953, page 1, columns 5-7, April 8, 1953, page 1, columns 2-3, April 17, 1953, page 1, columns 2-3 and June 3, 1953, page 11, columns 1.
[xxi] Lexington Herald, June 4, 1968, page 1, column 6.
[xxii] Lexington Leader, March 28, 1973, page 56, column 3.
[xxiii] Lexington Herald Leader, June 1, 1972, page 1, columns 1-3, Lexington Leader, September 6, 1972, page 1, columns 5-7 and January 8, 1974, Metro Page, Columns 5-7.
[xxiv] Lexington Herald Leader, November 28, 1974, page 15, columns 6-8 and Lexington Herald, December 25, 1974, page 1, columns 1-5.
[xxv] Lexington Leader, February 4, 1976, page 1, columns 6-8 and Lexington Herald Leader, April 28, 1976, page E-1, columns 1-3.
[xxvi] Lexington Leader, June 3, 1976, page D-1, column 1.
[xxvii] Bluegrass Airport Website.
[xxviii] Lexington Leader, August 6, 1975, page 1, column 3 and November 11, 1975, page B-1, column 1-2.
[xxix] Lexington Leader, July 26, 1978, page A-3, columns 2-4 and April 12, 1979, page A-1, column 2-4 and A-6 and Lexington Herald Leader, January 6, 1979, page A-1, column 6 and page A-9.
[xxx] Lexington Herald, December 4, 1979, page A-3, columns 1-4.
[xxxi] Lexington Herald, August 6, 1981, page A-1, columns 1-4 and A-12.
[xxxii] Lexington Herald, November 5, 1981, page A-19, columns 1-3.
[xxxiii] Lexington Herald Leader, May 13, 1983, page C-9, columns 5-6.
[xxxiv] Lexington Herald Leader, October 13, 1983, page B-5, columns 1-6.
[xxxv] Bluegrass Airport Website.
[xxxvi] Lexington Herald Leader, May 19, 1985, page C-5, columns 1-3.
[xxxvii] Lexington Herald Leader, July 25, 1986, page A-1, columns 4-5.
[xxxviii] Lexington Herald Leader, December 12, 1986, page B-1, column 6 and February 12, 1987, page B-6, columns 1-2.
[xxxix] Lexington Herald Leader, April 14, 1987, page B-4, columns 2-4 and B-6.
[xl] Lexington Herald Leader, September 2, 1987, page A-1, columns 3-6 and A-10, September 20, 1988, page A-1, columns 4-5 and A-6 and December 14, 1989, page B-5, columns 3-6.
[xli] Lexington Herald Leader, March 17, 1989, page A-1, columns 4-5, August 7, 1989, page A-1, column 1-6, August 9, 1989, page A-1, columns 3-5 and August 10, 1989, page A-1, columns 1-5.
[xlii] Lexington Herald Leader, April 16, 1991, page C-6, columns 3-6.
[xliii] Bluegrass Airport Website.
[xliv] Lexington Herald Leader, June 19, 1997, page A-1, columns 1-4, November 6, 1997, page A-1, columns 5-6 and December 2, 1997, page A-1, columns 1-3.
[xlv] Bluegrass Airport Website.
