When I came across this photo of the Goodyear blimp at Hughes Airport, I was struck by how little the design of the Goodyear blimp has changed over the years. This photo is circa 1940s but that blimp could be the current one. Those hills in the background are Baldwin Hills, which had oil derricks until the 1970s.
Kelly C says: “The little Ercoupe parked next to the Chevy did not go on sale until 1940. From a history site – “The two-seat ERCO Ercoupe 415 went on sale in 1940 but only 112 were delivered before World War II.””
A map showing the Hughes Airport (as in “Howard Hughes”)
David R says: “It was known as the Hughes Airport and was a private airport owned by Howard Hughes for the Hughes Aircraft Company (later becoming Hughes Helicopters). I watched the very first AH-64 Attack Helicopter perform aerial maneuvers over the runway when I worked there back in the 80s. It’s all now a planned community (Playa Vista) with some of the hangars having been converted into sound stages.”
Michael D says: “The airport that the blimp was photographed over is actually Culver City Airport (Baker Airport in Culver City and was bordered by Mesmer on the west, Jefferson on the south, Sepulveda/Sawtelle on the east. And I believe this photo is from 1948 or 1949. The airport was there from 1927 till 1950 when the Mayfair market and housing for Sunkist Park was built. This was not Hughes airport that is a bit more southwest with the Westchester bluffs on the south side.”
So Culver City Airport was immediately adjacent to Howard Hughes’ private airstrip, not far from Mines Field (today’s LAX) and also not far from Jack Northrup Field in Hawthorne.
A pilot had to be paying attention, lest he wind up landing on the wrong runway.
Not Hughes, but Culver City Airport as previously noted. My house currently sits on the property of the old airport behind Big Lots (Formerly Mayfair Market).
MIchael D. Is correct. The blimp shot is at the Culver City Municipal airport that was run by Pete Leaman after Margaret Perry in the mid 1930’s until it closed. The CC airport had its own blimp that used to give 20 minute tours over the city in 1949. This is a photo of Culver City, not the Hughes plant next door. I love your work! Thank you!
When I came across this photo of the Goodyear blimp at Hughes Airport, I was struck by how little the design of the Goodyear blimp has changed over the years. This photo is circa 1940s but that blimp could be the current one. Those hills in the background are Baldwin Hills, which had oil derricks until the 1970s.
So Culver City Airport was immediately adjacent to Howard Hughes’ private airstrip, not far from Mines Field (today’s LAX) and also not far from Jack Northrup Field in Hawthorne.
A pilot had to be paying attention, lest he wind up landing on the wrong runway.
If it helps date the pic, the plane next to the Chevy is a circa 1946 Ercoupe, so this pic is probably late 40s-early 50s… 🙂
Not Hughes, but Culver City Airport as previously noted. My house currently sits on the property of the old airport behind Big Lots (Formerly Mayfair Market).
Thanks, Matt. I’ve edited the block accordingly. It’s kind of amazing to think that you live on what used to be an airport!
MIchael D. Is correct. The blimp shot is at the Culver City Municipal airport that was run by Pete Leaman after Margaret Perry in the mid 1930’s until it closed. The CC airport had its own blimp that used to give 20 minute tours over the city in 1949. This is a photo of Culver City, not the Hughes plant next door. I love your work! Thank you!