The Long Beach Municipal Airport was located 4.5 miles northeast of Long Beach on the lee side of Signal Hill. It covered 400 acres, was rectangular in shape (3,000 x 6,100 feet), and had a graded surface. It was 240 feet above sea level. North is to the left in this image.

It had three oiled runways, 5,500 x 100 feet running east-west, 1,200 x 100 feet running north-south, and 2,200 x 100 feet running northeast-southwest. There were obstructions, consisting of pole lines to the north, south, west and northwest, a large tank to the south, and oil derricks to the southwest.

Below, an image from this book taken at ground level showing at left the large tank, known as a gasometer, and the oil derricks (those aren't trees on Signal Hill; they're derricks!). The Continental Air Mapping Co. hangar is at right center and the O'Donnell School of Aviation hangar is left of that. See links below. By the looks of the people milling around, there was some attraction at the airport this day. It could well have been the grand opening of the O'Donnell school, as Lloyd O'Donnell had a talent for turning his activities into the latest news. This view is to the south. Follow this link to see another image of the gasometer with a hangar in the foreground that is outside the range of the image below (probably to the left).

Long Beach from Ground Level, ca. 1928-29

Below, another image of the airport looking toward the southwest. This photograph, from Cornell University's Paleontological Research Institution, shows Signal Hill, just north of Long Beach, in 1930. The forest of wooden oil derricks, all drilled in the 1920's, is clearly visible. At the 1 o'clock position on the image you can see the gasometer visible in the image above, with the buildings lined up to the north of it. The clear area beyond and to the right of the row of buildings is the Long Beach Airport landing field. The last of these derricks were removed in the 1980s.

Signal Hill, 1930

Day markings at Long Beach consisted of the standard circle, "LONG BEACH" painted on the tank (above) to the south, and a directional arrow on the roof of Jefferson School. Night markings consisted of a 24" revolving beacon, with a green auxiliary code beacon flashing "LB" in code. Boundary, obstruction and flood lights were installed, as well as a lighted wind cone.

Available communications consisted of telephone and telegraph. Accomodations were good, with a restaurant on the field, and modern hotels in town. Taxi service was available.

Fuel, oil and hangars were available, as were repair facilities with licensed mechanics on call day or night. Hangar rates ran $5.00 per day, and $20-$100 per month.Below, courtesy of a site visitor, is a copy of the October 23,1930 Airway Bulletin, which depicts the details of Long Beach Municipal at that time.

Airways Bulletin, Long Beach Municipal, October 23, 1930 (Source: Site Visitor)

Below, the second page of the Bulletin with navigational and services details. Notice near the bottom of the page it says, “Register for noting arrival and departure of aircraft: yes.” This means there was a transient Register for Long Beach Municipal Airport.  If it still exists, and you know where it is, please let me KNOW.

Airways Bulletin, Long Beach Municipal, October 23, 1930 (Source: Site Visitor)

Century Pacific Airlines and Gilpin Air Line made four calls at Long Beach Municipal daily. The U.S. Naval Air Base and the U.S. Army Air Base were located at the field, as well as the hangar of the Continental Air Map company and the hangar belonging to Gladys O'Donnell and husband Lloyd. Click the following link for other aerial images of Long Beach Municipal exhibited in the Russell T. Gerow Photograph and Document Collection.

Register pilot Earl Daugherty and his aircraft were residents of the airport. Below, from the Bureau of Aeronautics Newsletter (BuAeroNews) is an article from August 8, 1928, which describes Daugherty attending an airfield dedication as a representative of the U.S. Naval Reserve.

BuAeroNews, August 8, 1928 (Source: Webmaster)

Below, from the BuAeroNews of October 31, 1928, a description of the early establishment of the Naval Reserve operation at the Long Beach airport.

BuAeroNews, October 31, 1928 (Source: Webmaster)

Just a couple of months later, the BuAeroNews reported on the death of Daugherty in an air crash. Please direct your browser to his page to learn the circumstances of the crash.

At the outset of WWII, Long Beach became an important military facility. Please direct your browser to the link for additional, post Golden-Age information.

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UPLOADED: 05/06/05 REVISED: 11/16/06, 03/26/08, 12/27/11, 12/19/14