View source for Sheehan Field (Airport)

''As of 1943, this article reads:''

As early as 1926, Mr. Frank P. Sheehan started an airplane factory; ,or what he intended to develop into such a factory, on a small tract of land a short distance east of Owensboro adjoining what is known as the old Hunter
Bell property. Unfortunately this project, in its mere beginning, came to a sad and sudden end. Only three or
four planes had been made when in the spring of 1927.
Mr. Sheehan, flying perhaps the fourth plane constructed,
met a tragic death. His plane, to the horror of a number
of observers, plunged into Frederica Street a short distance
south of the [[Carnegie Free Public Library|Carnegie Public Library]]. He was the
first, and perhaps the only Owensboro victim of an airplane
accident.

Mr. Sheehan's death terminated the incipient factory
enterprise, and there was no related activity at the site
for several years. But in 1933 the property (29 acres),
having passed into the hands of the Kentucky Aircraft
Corporation, of which Mr. E. L. Newton was the principal
officer, was leased by that corporation to the City
of Owensboro for use and development as a municipal
airport.

After several others had held the position, Mr. L. S.
Cox, Jr., was employed by the city as manager of the airport.
This was about 1940, during the administration of
Mayor Harry C. Smith. About two years later, Mr.
Walter G. Hoagland, Jr., became associated with Mr.
Cox and they have continued to operate as a partnership
under the name of Owensboro Aviation. Then in the fall
of 1943, the Kentucky Aircraft Corporation sold all its
assets, including the tract above mentioned, to this partnership.
in October 1942, the city, acting through Mayor Fred
Weir and Commissioner Glenn Lovern, bought from
Junius Bell and E. C. Bell 127.62 acres of land adjoining
the small airport, for the purpose of enlarging it. The
purchase price was $21,341.80. In the meantime Mr.
Cox and his partner and employees had been putting
the port in good condition and enlarging its facilities. An
article in the local paper of May 31, 1942, states that the
Aviation Company owned seventeen planes, besides which
five others owned by different persons were kept at the
airport. Under an arrangement with the Civil Aeronautics
Authority, ten students were then enrolled in a
civilian Pilot Training course. Mr. Cox was and is the
chief pilot and general manager of the airport. The company
had twelve paid employees, including five flight
instructors with government ratings. On July 20, 1949,
39 secondary war training service pilots were graduated
at the local school, after a two-months course in secondary
training.

For a year or more before that the alert Chamber of
Commerce had been making independent efforts to secure
the establishment of a larger and federal airport here.
A committee had been working on the plan and negotiations
had been carried on with officials, in part by trips
to Washington by the Secretary of the Chamber and
by several prominent citizens. On June 14, 1943, excited
interest was created by the announcement that
$600,000 had been allocated for the construction of
a new airport for Owensboro and Daviess County and the
allocation approved by the Aircraft Approval Board.
This sum was to be for construction alone and was
awarded on condition that the city and county acquire
and furnish a suitable tract of land, of about 600 acres,
for the purpose. For several months following that announcement
that subject was the chief one of local interest
in our press and with the public. An airport board
was created, of which Milford Purdy was chairman, and
was sworn in by Mayor Weir October 7th. In November,
the City Board of Commissioners pledged $50,000.00
towards the purchase of a site. The airport board sought
to raise the remainder of the necessary fund by popular
subscription. It was thought at first that the site would
cost $200,000, but later it was said that the acreage
might be reduced, and the price correspondingly to
$125,000.00. Over $60,000.00 was in fact subscribed for
the project by many individuals.

The whole enterprise became the subject of much controversy. A site near Rome was contemplated, and later
one at Dermot. In both cases opposition developed, and
in the latter a suit was instituted by owners of land at
the proposed site to prevent its appropration for the
purpose.

Later, as per announcement of April 20, 1944, whether
as a result of the delay or the controversy or both, or for
whatever reason, the federal authorities withdrew their
offer, and the whole ambitious project has come to an
end, at least for the present.

'''''Source:''' 1943 - Sixty Years of Owensboro''

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