This airport, in the northwest corner
of Burbank, was built in 1930. By 1934 the airport had become
Los Angeles' primary airport known as Union Air Terminal. During
the1930's Lockheed Aircraft Company, adjacent to the field, evolved
into one the nation's largest aircraft manufacturers, and in
1940 Lockheed purchased the airport. It was then renamed Lockheed
Air Terminal and used to test and delivery Lockheed aircraft.
It also remained Los Angeles' primary civil airport and remained
the area's only civil airport throughout the war. During the
war Lockheed built P-38 fighters, Hudson and B-17 bombers. The
Royal Air Force's Air Technical Services Command and US Army
Air Forces Western Technical Training Command had operations
at the field. The airport and the Lockheed plant were extensively
camouflaged during the war. The main Lockheed plant and runways
were made to appear as grain fields and houses, and the parking
lot was covered over with netting to appear as alfalfa fields.
In addition, an extensive smoke screen system was installed to
hide the plant under smoke. See photographs below for examples
of this deception.
In 1947, when Mines Field was expanded
to become Los Angeles' primary airport, this facility became
a secondary airport. In 1975 the cities of Burbank, Glendale
and Pasadena bought the airport and renamed it Burbank Glendale-Pasadena
Airport. Lockheed contin ued in operation at the field for many
years.
Source: World War II Sites in
the United States: A Tour Guide and Directory by Richard E. Osbourne
California State Military
Department
