Coolidge, Arizona USA
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Coolidge Municipal Airport History 
The Coolidge Municipal Airport was originally constructed in the early
1940’s by the U.S. Department of the Army. Originally constructed
as an air transport command base, Coolidge Army Airfield served as an
auxiliary operating base for Williams Field during World War II. The
original airfield was constructed with three runways in a triangular
configuration. Of these three runways, two remain: Runway 17-35 and
Runway 5-23. Numerous support facilities were constructed, of which
a 120-foot by 80-foot hangar still remains. On January 19,1950 the
airfield was transferred to Pinal County since the airfield was no longer
needed by the U.S. Department of the Army. Pinal County owned and
operated the airport until 1959 when the City of Coolidge obtained
ownership of the airport. On March 2, 1959 the airport was officially
transferred from Pinal County ownership to the City of Coolidge.
From 1962 until July 1992, operations at the airport were dominated by
training activities of T-37 jet aircraft based at Williams Air Force
Base. The Air Force had a lease agreement with the City of Coolidge
for four parcels of land and joint use of the main runways and taxiways in
return for the continued maintenance and upkeep of the main runway and
taxiway. In addition, they constructed several facilities along the
runway and apron to support their operations. The Air Force lease
was terminated in July 1992 and training operations at the airport ceased
in June 1992. Williams Air Force Base was closed in late 1993.
We are looking for more information and photos of the Coolidge airport from the 1940s when it was an active military base. If you have any information or photos to share, please contact Jerry Gleim via email at jgleim@aol.com.