Richards Field
Encyclopedia
Richards Field was the first airport
in the Kansas City metropolitan area
.
The field established in 1922 near the border between Kansas City, Missouri
and Raytown, Missouri
at the southeast corner of Blue Ridge Boulevard and Gregory Boulevard. It was named for John Francisco Richards II
, a Kansas City aviator killed in World War I
. The airport was visited by Charles Lindbergh
.
In 1927 Kansas City built Kansas City Downtown Airport
which was briefly called New Richards Field and then became Kansas City Municipal Airport. Richards name was to be used for Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base
.
After the downtown airport was built, the Raytown airport became known as Ong Field for aviator William Ong. The airport was abandoned in 1949 and became a subdivision called Gregory Heights, with Ong Lake in the 1950s. A historical marker/plaque can be found at 9063 Gregory Blvd, Raytown, MO, marking the spot of the old airfield.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in the Kansas City metropolitan area
Kansas City Metropolitan Area
The Kansas City Metropolitan Area is a fifteen-county metropolitan area that is anchored by Kansas City, Missouri and is bisected by the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. As of the 2010 Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 2,035,334. The metropolitan area is the...
.
The field established in 1922 near the border between Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and Raytown, Missouri
Raytown, Missouri
Raytown is a city in Jackson County, Missouri, United States, and is a suburb of Kansas City. The population was at 29,526 in 2010 census. The mayor of Raytown is David Bower.-History:...
at the southeast corner of Blue Ridge Boulevard and Gregory Boulevard. It was named for John Francisco Richards II
John Francisco Richards II
John Francisco Richards II was a first lieutenant in the 1st Aero Squadron, who was shot down during Meuse-Argonne Offensive in World War I....
, a Kansas City aviator killed in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The airport was visited by Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
.
In 1927 Kansas City built Kansas City Downtown Airport
Kansas City Downtown Airport
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport , also known as Kansas City Downtown Airport, is a public airport located in Kansas City, Clay County, Missouri, United States. This airport is publicly owned by City of Kansas City.-History:...
which was briefly called New Richards Field and then became Kansas City Municipal Airport. Richards name was to be used for Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base
Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base
Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force base. It is located south of Kansas City, Missouri. It was closed in 1994....
.
After the downtown airport was built, the Raytown airport became known as Ong Field for aviator William Ong. The airport was abandoned in 1949 and became a subdivision called Gregory Heights, with Ong Lake in the 1950s. A historical marker/plaque can be found at 9063 Gregory Blvd, Raytown, MO, marking the spot of the old airfield.