Williston Municipal Airport
Encyclopedia
Williston Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport
located two nautical miles (3.7 km) southwest of the central business district
of Williston
, a city in Levy County
, Florida
, United States
. Commonly referred to as Williston Airport, it is located 23 miles (37 km) SW of Gainesville Regional Airport
(GNV). Opened in 1974 for public use, it does not have a control tower.
, the airfield was opened as a US Army Air Forces installation on 1 January 1942. Montbrook was a sub-base of Alachua AAF
under the Air Technical Service Command. The airfield was very small with only a few personnel assigned. As part of the Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics
, it was home to B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator
and B-25 Mitchell
bombers as part of the 99th Bombardment Squadron and P-40 Warhawk fighters as part of the 10th Fighter Squadron.
Known units assigned at Montbrook AAF were:
On 20 May 1944 the airfield was put on standby status and placed under the control of the 4318th Army Air Force Base Unit (Base Maintenance). It appears to have been closed by the end of 1944.
In 1974, the facility was deeded to the City of Williston. It serves as a basic utility airport in Levy County for the City of Archer
, City of Bronson
, City of McIntosh
, City of Reddick
and the City of Williston. It is one of two airports in the county, serving alongside the George T. Lewis Airport
in Cedar Key
.
A planned upgrade of the airport slowly started with annexation of land in 1988. In 1992, it was selected as a preferred location for a regional airport within 20 miles (32 km). A second, larger, runway was completed by 2002 and allowed for jet aircraft to use the facility. An Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS) was installed at the airport by the end of 2005. Future upgrades on the 2,000 acre (8 km²) site include additional hangars, a corporate hangar park and a new fixed base operator
. As of 2006, the facility averaged only 44 flights per day.
Services available at the airport include painting, upholstery, turbine engine repair and helicopter sales. Within 5 miles (8 km) of the airport are the internationally known dive springs of Devil's Den and Blue Grotto.
of 76 feet (23 m) above mean sea level. It has two runway
s:
5/23 is 6,668 by 100 feet (2,032 x 30 m) with a concrete surface;
14/32 is 4,399 by 100 feet (1,341 x 30 m) with an asphalt surface.
For the 12-month period ending February 3, 2009, the airport had 16,250 general aviation
aircraft operations, an average of 44 per day. At that time there were 52 aircraft based at this airport: 77% single-engine
, 17% multi-engine, 2% helicopter
and 4% ultralight.
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...
located two nautical miles (3.7 km) southwest of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Williston
Williston, Florida
Williston is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,297 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 2,467.-Geography:Williston is located at ....
, a city in Levy County
Levy County, Florida
Levy County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 34,450. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 37,998. Its county seat is Bronson, Florida. Levy is pronounced lee vee.- History :...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Commonly referred to as Williston Airport, it is located 23 miles (37 km) SW of Gainesville Regional Airport
Gainesville Regional Airport
Gainesville Regional Airport is a public airport located three miles northeast of the central business district of Gainesville, a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States. The airport is owned by the City of Gainesville, FL and operated by the Gainesville-Alachua County Regional Airport...
(GNV). Opened in 1974 for public use, it does not have a control tower.
History
Formerly known as Montbrook Army Air Field during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the airfield was opened as a US Army Air Forces installation on 1 January 1942. Montbrook was a sub-base of Alachua AAF
Gainesville Regional Airport
Gainesville Regional Airport is a public airport located three miles northeast of the central business district of Gainesville, a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States. The airport is owned by the City of Gainesville, FL and operated by the Gainesville-Alachua County Regional Airport...
under the Air Technical Service Command. The airfield was very small with only a few personnel assigned. As part of the Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics
Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics
The Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics was a military training organization of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II...
, it was home to B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
and B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
bombers as part of the 99th Bombardment Squadron and P-40 Warhawk fighters as part of the 10th Fighter Squadron.
Known units assigned at Montbrook AAF were:
- 99th Bombardment Squadron, 5 February-14 November 1943 (B-25 Mitchell), (B-26 Marauder)
- 465th Bombardment Squadron, 19 November 1943-2 March 1944 (DB-7 (A-20) Havoc)
On 20 May 1944 the airfield was put on standby status and placed under the control of the 4318th Army Air Force Base Unit (Base Maintenance). It appears to have been closed by the end of 1944.
In 1974, the facility was deeded to the City of Williston. It serves as a basic utility airport in Levy County for the City of Archer
Archer, Florida
Archer is a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2006, the city had a population of 1,302.The city is named after James T. Archer.-Geography:Archer is located at...
, City of Bronson
Bronson, Florida
Bronson is a town in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 964 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Levy County.-Geography:Bronson is located at ....
, City of McIntosh
McIntosh, Florida
McIntosh is a town in Marion County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 453. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 486...
, City of Reddick
Reddick, Florida
Reddick is a town in Marion County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 571. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 618...
and the City of Williston. It is one of two airports in the county, serving alongside the George T. Lewis Airport
George T. Lewis Airport
George T. Lewis Airport is a county-owned public-use airport in Levy County, Florida, United States. It is located one nautical mile west of the central business district of Cedar Key...
in Cedar Key
Cedar Key, Florida
Cedar Key is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 790 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 958. The Cedar Keys are a cluster of islands close to the mainland. Most of the developed area of the city has been on...
.
A planned upgrade of the airport slowly started with annexation of land in 1988. In 1992, it was selected as a preferred location for a regional airport within 20 miles (32 km). A second, larger, runway was completed by 2002 and allowed for jet aircraft to use the facility. An Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS) was installed at the airport by the end of 2005. Future upgrades on the 2,000 acre (8 km²) site include additional hangars, a corporate hangar park and a new fixed base operator
Fixed base operator
A Fixed-base operator or commonly abbreviated FBO is a term developed in the United States after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926...
. As of 2006, the facility averaged only 44 flights per day.
Services available at the airport include painting, upholstery, turbine engine repair and helicopter sales. Within 5 miles (8 km) of the airport are the internationally known dive springs of Devil's Den and Blue Grotto.
Facilities and aircraft
Williston Municipal Airport covers an area of 1600 acres (647.5 ha) at an elevationElevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 76 feet (23 m) above mean sea level. It has two runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s:
5/23 is 6,668 by 100 feet (2,032 x 30 m) with a concrete surface;
14/32 is 4,399 by 100 feet (1,341 x 30 m) with an asphalt surface.
For the 12-month period ending February 3, 2009, the airport had 16,250 general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
aircraft operations, an average of 44 per day. At that time there were 52 aircraft based at this airport: 77% single-engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
, 17% multi-engine, 2% helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
and 4% ultralight.
See also
- Florida World War II Army Airfields
- Army Air Force School of Applied TacticsArmy Air Force School of Applied TacticsThe Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics was a military training organization of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II...
Other sources
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5
- Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
External links
- Williston Municipal Airport at City of Williston web site
- Aerial image as of 5 January 1999 from USGS The National Map