Alum Rock Airport
Encyclopedia
The Alum Rock Airport was an early airport in the town of Alum Rock, California
. It was in an area now in the city limits of San Jose
near the intersection of Alum Rock Avenue and Capitol Avenue. The airport was established in 1919 by Reserve Lieutenant Johnny Johnston after returning from World War I. Much of the early aerial photography of the then-rural Santa Clara Valley
, now better known as Silicon Valley
, were taken on flights from the Alum Rock Airport.
A 1936 edition of the federal Airport Facility Directory (A/FD) described the Alum Rock Airport as having one runway of 1800 feet (548.6 m), a hangar with "San Jose" painted on the roof (to help pilots navigate), and facilities to service aircraft.
The events in the decline of the airport are not clearly documented. A lawsuit by neighbors in 1928 eventually led to relocation of the operation. Johnston was killed in a crash of an air mail flight in 1932 at age 34. The airport was still listed as existing in the Alum Rock location in the 1936 A/FD.
Today remnants of the airport are visible in suburban city streets of San Jose's Alum Rock district. A minor residential street called Pala Avenue is located approximately at the original runway. The oddly-named cross streets, Avenues A, B and C, are believed to be named for lettered airport Taxiways A, B and C they were constructed upon.
Air transportation for that vicinity today is served by Reid-Hillview Airport (established 1937) and San Jose International Airport
(established as San Jose Municipal Airport in 1945).
Alum Rock, California
Alum Rock is a census-designated place in Santa Clara County, California, United States and a community of San Jose. The CDP, which excludes all annexed areas, had a population of 15,536 at the 2010 census. Alum Rock was named after a rock formerly thought to be composed of alum in nearby Alum...
. It was in an area now in the city limits of San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
near the intersection of Alum Rock Avenue and Capitol Avenue. The airport was established in 1919 by Reserve Lieutenant Johnny Johnston after returning from World War I. Much of the early aerial photography of the then-rural Santa Clara Valley
Santa Clara Valley
The Santa Clara Valley is a valley just south of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California in the United States. Much of Santa Clara County and its county seat, San José, are in the Santa Clara Valley. The valley was originally known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight for its high concentration...
, now better known as Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
, were taken on flights from the Alum Rock Airport.
A 1936 edition of the federal Airport Facility Directory (A/FD) described the Alum Rock Airport as having one runway of 1800 feet (548.6 m), a hangar with "San Jose" painted on the roof (to help pilots navigate), and facilities to service aircraft.
The events in the decline of the airport are not clearly documented. A lawsuit by neighbors in 1928 eventually led to relocation of the operation. Johnston was killed in a crash of an air mail flight in 1932 at age 34. The airport was still listed as existing in the Alum Rock location in the 1936 A/FD.
Today remnants of the airport are visible in suburban city streets of San Jose's Alum Rock district. A minor residential street called Pala Avenue is located approximately at the original runway. The oddly-named cross streets, Avenues A, B and C, are believed to be named for lettered airport Taxiways A, B and C they were constructed upon.
Air transportation for that vicinity today is served by Reid-Hillview Airport (established 1937) and San Jose International Airport
San Jose International Airport
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is a city-owned public-use airport serving the city of San Jose in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is named for San Jose native Norman Yoshio Mineta, who was Transportation Secretary in the Cabinet of George W...
(established as San Jose Municipal Airport in 1945).
External links
- 1925 photo of Johnny Johnston at Silicon Valley History Online