A county airport that was used as an Army and California National Guard training site from 1938 until November 1941. From 1943 to 1946 is served as an outlying field for NAS Alameda and NAAS Monterey. Some sources indicate that at some time the status of this field was upgraded to that of a Naval Auxiliary Air Station.
US Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District History (27 August 1999)
Use of 218 acres of the San Luis Obispo County Airport by the U.S. Army Air Corps and the California National Guard was initiated in November 1938. Acquisition records were neither specific nor complete. The Army and the National Guard used the airport as an aerial observation training center, associated with the California National Guard's Camp Merriam. Improvements constructed by the Army Air Corps and National Guard consisted of three runways, hangars, mechanic shops, mess halls, barracks, and a photography studio. It is unclear whether fuel tanks were present during Army use of the airport. The Army and the National Guard used the airport until at least November 1941. Disposal records were neither specific nor complete.
On 4 January 1943 the Navy leased 208 acres of San Luis Obispo County Airport from the County of San Luis Obispo. The Navy used the airport as an air training center, in support of Amphibious Forces in the Pacific Fleet during World War II. Navy improvements consisted primarily of construction of wooden, prefabricated buildings and surficial improvements to the runways and taxiways. No fuel tanks were present during Navy use of the airport. In May 1946, the Navy disposed of the 208 leased acres and abandoned the airport facilities, leaving all improvements to the County of San Luis Obispo. One of the former Navy barracks may have subsequently been used in 1946 as the initial Southwest Airlines office. The Corps of Engineers records show that Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 5 (CASU 5) operated at this field.
Use of the airport by the County of San Luis Obispo has continued to the present. With the exception of the runways, it does not appear that any of the existing improvements were in use during Army, National Guard, or Navy occupation.
US Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District History (28 September 1999)
Use of 218 acres of the San Luis Obispo County Airport by the Army Air Corps and the California National Guard (115th Observation Squadron) was initiated in November 1938. Acquisition records were neither specific nor complete. Army and National Guard occupation continued until at least November 1941. On 4 January 1943 the Navy leased 208 acres of the San Luis Obispo County Airport from the County of San Luis Obispo. With the exception of an unspecified 10 acres, the portion of the airport used by the Army appears to be identical to that portion used subsequently by the Navy.
The Air Corps and the National Guard used the airport as an aerial observation training center, associated with Camp Merriam (now Camp San Luis Obispo). The introduction of improved aircraft in the late 1930's caused the 115th Observation Squadron to discontinue Camp Merriam's parade field as its training area. Improvements constructed by the Air Corps and National Guard consisted of three runways, hangars, mechanic shops, mess halls, barracks, and a photography studio. The airport was used simultaneously as a municipal airport. The Navy used the airport as an air training center, in support of Amphibious Forces in the Pacific Fleet and as an outlying field for NAS Alameda during World War II. Navy improvements consisted primarily of construction of wooden, prefabricated buildings and superficial improvements to the runways and taxiways.
In May 1946, the Navy disposed of the 208 leased acres and abandoned the airport facilities, leaving all improvements to the County of San Luis Obispo. Disposal records were neither complete nor specific. Use of the airport by the County of San Luis Obispo has continued to the present. With the exception of the runways, it does not appear that any of the existing improvements were in use during Army, Navy, or National Guard occupation.
