Watertown Regional Airport

Airport Information

and More!

The Watertown Regional Airport has been a member of our community long before the 1940's, in fact records indicate that the airport was up and running as early as October 10th, 1917. Since that time the airport has always strived to be a friendly neighbor and friend showing our community the joy of aviation and the economic prosperity that airports bring. The following is a timeline of events for the Watertown Regional Airport since October 10th, 1917. Some of this information was obtained using Jim Anez excellent History of aviation in South Dakota.

Oct 10, 1917	Air Show held
Aug 1919	Walter Cooke, a music store owner, purchased 2 planes and established first airfield near present location of stadium. Cooke and another pilot flew exhibitions and had, possibly, the first pilot training school in the Midwest. Night landings accomplished by "following the lights on Kemp Ave."
1926	Under the Air Commerce Act of 1926 the Secretary of Commerce was empowered to examine and rate airports. Top rating was A1A. in order to receive the top rating an airport was required to have a windsock, drainage, repair facilities, lights, 2500 feet in all directions and 24 hour service. [Nothing said about runways] [see 1930 & 10/14/33]
Jul 1, 1927	Department of Commerce took over responsibility for facilities developed and maintained by Post Office: 2612 miles of transcontinental airways, all lighted except the portion from Salt Lake City-San Francisco. Also acquired the Aeronautical Radio Service which Included 17 fully equipped radio Stations with 44 personnel, 68 emergency landing fields with caretakers, 21 emergency landing fields (automatic), 21 electric beacons with caretakers, 79 electric beacons (automatic), 405 acetylene gas rotating beacons (automatic), and 102 airway operating personnel
Sep 5, 1928	City postpones plans to purchase land for airport
Sep 6, 1928	George Ice announces plans to base Pionair Lines, Inc.. at Watertown using 2 Eagle Rock and 1 Curtiss Standard aircraft
Sep 21, 1928	City acquired land for airport. Quarter section 1 mile north of Kemp Ave. Plan to have 8 runways radiate on the cardinal & semicardinal points of compass from 100 foot circle at the exact center
	Land for airport was leased from Midland National Life Insurance Co. and sublet to Pionair Lines, Inc..
Sep 28, 1928	Mid-Planes and Transit Co. of Minneapolis announced that Universal Air Lines plans Fargo-Cleveland service
Oct 22, 1928	Runway construction complete. 8 runways 660x250 feet radiate from center circle. Hanger is under construction
	[same as above and]...Two hangers were built by end of the year
Dec 20, 1928	Advertisement for Pionair Lines, Inc..: LEARN TO FLY PHONE 2966 BOX 71 WATERTOWN, SDAK
Jan 28, 1929	Proposal by investors to organize Northwest Transport Company to operate airline and be a holding company for the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad. To be an Air-Rail operation, coast to coast
Feb 22, 1929	Pionair Lines merged with Rapid Air Lines. Rapid Air Lines took over the airport lease
Apr 1929	Governor WJ Bulow proclaimed April 29-May 4 "South Dakota Aviation Week" during which the Rapid City, Pierre, Huron and Watertown airports would be dedicated
Apr 27, 1929	Department of Commerce announces plans for a radio system for aviators to obtain weather information at any hour, day or night, from scheduled broadcasts. Aircraft with less than 6 passengers will be required to have receive only, 6, or more, passenger aircraft must also have transmitter. There are presently 52 companies flying 40,000 regularly scheduled miles a day. 15,000 of these are at night
May 2, 1929	Watertown airport dedicated. First mail plane departed at 8:30am to Huron for connection to Rapid City. Army pilots from Ft Riley, Kansas say "best in state"
	George Ice, chief pilot of Pionair Lines was airport manager. 5000 people turned out for barbecue, air show and dance. 29 planes took part in ceremonies.
May 5, 1929	First intercity air race in South Dakota (Watertown-Sioux Falls) was won by Lee Parrish of Redfield in Travelair with a 52 minute time. Second was Harry Welmer of Sioux Falls in a Fairchild. Third was Oscar Winchell of Watertown in a Monocoupe
Jul 25, 1929	WL Glover, 2nd assistant Postmaster General said studies were underway on a proposed air mail route Omaha-Sioux Falls-Watertown-Fargo-Grand Forks-Winnipeg
Sep 19, 1929	Map of Watertown airport Included in 7/19/29 National Airway Bulletin issued by Department of Commerce Aeronautic Division. Chamber of Commerce, as sponsor of the airport, has prepared a pamphlet listing gas, oil, mechanic's services and hanger space as available
Oct 1929	William Mehlan is Pionair Lines, Inc.. manager in Watertown
	Star air mail route from Watertown-Milbank begins operation. Pionair Lines using enclosed 4 place Cessna for service
Oct 19, 1929	Pionair Lines Cessna [see 10/1/29] burns in Iowa after engine catches fire in flight
Dec 5, 1929	James Bruns passed the flight examination to obtain a pilot's license [see 4/21/30]
Dec 17, 1929	Pionair Lines conducting night flights over city in Eagle Rock plane. Using "strong" landing lights to land on unlighted field
1930	Members of the Independent Scheduled Air Transport Operator's Association were Hanford TriState Airlines of Sioux City and Rapid Air Transport of Omaha
	Only 2 airports (Denver, Colorado and Pontiac, Michigan) surveyed under the Air Commerce Act of 1926 [see 1926] had received a top rating of A1A [see 10/14/33]
Mar 1, 1930	Pionair Lines pilot Roy Leggett on mail run Watertown-Milbank is forced down near Troy while flying Eagle Rock open cockpit plane in storm. [departed in what sounded like severe icing conditions][see 9/2/33]
Mar 4, 1930	Ralph Hubbard, formerly of Watertown, Sales Manager for Aviation Management, Inc.. of Omaha, operator of Pionair Lines, Inc.. is in Watertown. He is making arrangements for 3/5/30 Chamber of Commerce meeting at which Walter F Halley, president of Aviation Management, will be guest to promote expansion of aviation in Watertown.
Mar 5, 1930	Donald Halley outlined plans for expansion and development of airport and extension of his company's route from Watertown-Rapid City-Cheyenne and development of a route from Winnipeg-Omaha. Ralph Hubbard is to remain in Watertown for the next 6 months to assist William McCall in expansion projects at the airport Also at the meeting were William McCall - Pionair Lines, Inc.. manager in Watertown, Sid Burke - Pionair pilot/instructor at Watertown, LC Pierce and Ted Ashford - Aviation Management Inc.. pilots from Omaha.
Mar 22, 1930	Pionair Lines, Inc.. added a Ryan Brougham 5 place monoplane with a 225 HP air-cooled engine. Aircraft is equipped with latest type of instruments: compass, air speed indicator, altimeter and turn & bank indicator
Mar 24, 1930	A letter mailed in Omaha on 3/21 at 8:30pm arrived in Watertown at 2:15pm [17.75 hours]. Route was by train from Omaha-Minneapolis-Milbank and by air from Milbank-Watertown
Apr 21, 1930	First major accident at Watertown takes the lives of James Bruns, private pilot and mechanic for Pionair Lines, and 19 year old Selmer Halvorson of Bradley. They crashed 3 miles west of Watertown on south side of Highway 212 [see 12/5/29]
Apr 22, 1930	Officials of Rapid Air Lines and Pionair Lines meet in Watertown: Walter Halley of Omaha (president), John Miller of Rapid City (manager of branch there) and JS Gehan of Sioux Falls (chief pilot)
Apr 23, 1930	Department of Commerce inspector from Chicago is unable to determine cause of 4/21/30 crash [sounded like stall-spin]
May 17, 1930	Article about aviation in Watertown says: "Ralph Hubbard, representative of the Pionair and Rapid Air Lines and other Halley interests in Watertown...."
May 17, 1930	Minneapolis Journal reports that Minneapolis Civic and Commerce Association is seeking approval of a Watertown-Rapid City air mail route
May 22, 1930	First annual "Into the Air Days" are scheduled 5/31 & 6/1
Jun 3, 1930	Into the Air Days were canceled both 5/31 and 6/1 due to windy weather
Jun 19, 1930	The Watertown-Milbank mail contract was won by an individual who plans to use an automobile
Jun 27, 1930	Weather Bureau announced plans to have hourly weather reports gathered by teletype for 13,000 miles of airways beginning around July 1st. Remaining 5,000 miles would have information gathered by telephone or telegraph less frequently
Jul 28, 1930	Article about aviation in Watertown says: "...Watertown branch of Rapid Air Lines..."
Jul 29, 1930	New runways completed. Runways 150 feet wide [no info on length] still radiate in 8 directions with the center circle marked by a 6 foot wide white line. Airport can accommodate planes taking off or landing at speeds up to 60 mph.
Aug 8, 1930	Article about busy day at the airport "...8 aircraft"
Sep 18, 1930	Paul Miller, a student pilot at Watertown since Oct 29 passed check ride in Sioux Falls
Oct 3, 1930	WJ McKenzie, a Washington DC airport specialist, inspected airport and gave advice for improvements. Also present for the inspection were Ralph Hubbard, manager of Pionair Lines and Walter Halley, of Omaha, President of Rapid Air Lines, of which Pionair is part
Oct 27, 1930	A wasp powered Bellanca 6 passenger plane, one of the largest planes ever in Watertown, was at the airport over the weekend with pheasant hunters
Dec 30, 1931	Boeing Air Transport announced plans for airline service to Watertown using Boeing 40-B-4 planes. Ralph Hubbard, airport manager, to be in charge of passenger business.
Jan 1, 1932	Airport statistics: 656 municipal airports, 675 commercial airports, 364 Dept. of Commerce intermediate fields, 310 marked auxiliary fields, 52 Army fields, 13 Navy fields, 4 state fields, 1 government field. 610 airports are equipped for night flying.
Jan 11, 1932	3 routes are proposed from Minneapolis-Spokane: Watertown-Aberdeen-Miles City-Billings-Butte-Missoula, Fargo-Devils Lake-Minot-Havre-Great Falls-Helena, Fargo-Jamestown-Bismarck-Glendive-Billings-Butte-Missoula.
Jan 12, 1932	Boeing Air Transport setting up station in Watertown. Due to weather they had to take train from Omaha.
Jan 16, 1932	United Airlines...had to take over the unprofitable route from Omaha to Watertown, South Dakota. At the time of this extension the Watertown route was being flown by three small lines...
	Boeing air Transport of United Airlines begins service. [map] [This issue has a major article with map and pictures] Based on the map the air mail routes in the region were Minneapolis-Fargo-Grand Forks-Pembina-Winnipeg, Minneapolis-Fargo-Valley City-Jamestown-Bismarck-Mandan, Des Moines-Omaha-Lincoln-North Platte-Cheyenne-Rock Springs-Salt Lake, Omaha-Sioux City-Sioux Falls-Watertown, Salt Lake-Ogden-Pocatello-Butte-Helena-Great Falls.
Mar 26, 1932	Ralph Hubbard announced that Hanford TriState of Sioux City would begin Sioux City-Minneapolis service on 4/1/32
Jun 22, 1932	Advertisement for United Airlines: Serving 137 cities. Fares as follows: Sioux Falls $5.82, Sioux City $10.14, Omaha $15.54, Chicago $41.52, Denver $51.89, Detroit $55.08, Cleveland $57.43 (train from Chicago), Salt Lake City $69.78, Los Angeles $108.96, San Francisco $111.30, Portland $113.32. Tickets: United Airlines or Hubbard Motor Car Company.
1933	Department of Commerce Aeronautics branch changed name to Bureau of Air Commerce and reorganized to 7 regional offices in Newark, Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Worth, Kansas City, Los Angeles and Seattle.
Mar 24, 1933	Ralph Hubbard forms the Watertown Airway Corporation to operate the airport.
Apr 12, 1933	United Airlines Monomail (single engine, 8 place, metal, 70+ foot wing span) visits city. To be used on Omaha-Watertown run when needed.
	Ralph Hubbard, airport manager, mentioned airport improvements: Runways graded and big red barn moved.
Jul 10, 1933	United Airlines officials visit Watertown in new twin engine Boeing 10 passenger plane.
	Latest airport improvements: Runways graded and marked with wide bordering strips of gravel.
Jul 11, 1933	Department of Commerce report has the Omaha-Watertown air mail route on a list of routes to be eliminated.
Jul 18, 1933	Eugene Vidal, native of South Dakota, named Department of Commerce Assistant Director of Aeronautics in charge of imposition of regulations. [see 7/1/36]
Aug 30, 1933	Airport inspected by Department of Commerce
Sep 2, 1933	United pilots get pay raise: Base pay of $1,600 the first year up to a maximum of $4,000 plus flight pay. Expenses paid when away, insurance and 2 week paid vacation. Hourly flight pay: $4.00 for aircraft under 125mph, $4.20 under 140mph, $4.40 under 154mph, $4.80 under 176mph. Additional $2.00 at night. Copilots paid $195-$235 per month.
Sep 2, 1933	Roy Leggett of Omaha, former Rapid Air Lines pilot in Watertown, was killed in accident at air race in Chicago. [see 3/1/30]
Sep 25, 1933	United Airlines planning to use 6 passenger plane in Omaha-Watertown service [see 4/12/33]
Oct 14, 1933	Department of Commerce assigned Watertown airport a rating of "D3X": D identifies equipment and mechanical facilities, 3 indicates size of airport, X indicates the field is not lighted. The only other airport in South Dakota with a rating is Sioux Falls. [see 1926 & 1930]
Nov 27, 1933	Chamber of Commerce looking into possibilities of using CWA (Civil Works Administration) funds to build a hanger at the airport.
Dec 20, 1933	City Council approves contract with Watertown Airport, Inc.. as required to secure CWA funds. [CWA probably required that airports be operated as a municipal facility in order to receive funds]
	CWA approves $28,850 for 100x100 foot brick hanger, 18 feet high with steel roof and door. Funds also to "dustproof" the NW-SE and E-W runways with gravel and tarvia. Other runways would also be upgraded. First airport project approved in South Dakota
Dec 29, 1933	Geodetic survey of Watertown area begins
1934	Rapid Air Lines bid for mail contract from Winnipeg-New Orleans, but contract was given to United Air Transport. This was part of the scandal that led to cancellation of all mail contracts and the Army flying the mail. [see 2/29/34 & 4/13/34]
Jan 15, 1934	Construction of stone hanger commenced [approximate date]
Jan 24, 1934	WW Howes [Huron native] appointed 1st Assistant Postmaster General
Jan 27, 1934	Contracts awarded for materials for construction of hanger. Side walls about 4 feet above the ground
Jan 29, 1934	Group meeting in Minot trying to get an air mail route established Watertown-Minot-Great Falls
Jan 31, 1934	Stone hanger progressing. Expect lumber for project to be shipped within a week
Feb 9, 1934	United Airlines announces they expect to continue flying into Watertown as a passenger service only
Feb 9, 1934	All air mail contracts canceled.
Feb 9, 1934	Ralph McKinnon, director of Civil Works Administration for South Dakota, announced plans to establish airways and build airports every 50 miles along the airways. The only sanctioned airways in South Dakota are Sioux Falls-Minneapolis and Watertown-Sioux City. Proposed airways are: Huron-Pierre, Pierre-Mobridge-Bismarck, Rapid City-Belle Fourche-Sheridan, Rapid City-Hot Springs-Edgemont-Cheyenne, Sioux City-Yankton-Mitchell-Huron-Aberdeen, Sioux Falls-Mitchell-Pierre-Philip-Rapid City, Watertown-Aberdeen-Mobridge-Lemmon-Miles City, Watertown-Minneapolis, Watertown-Fargo, Watertown-Huron. Existing airports near the routes are: Beresford; Brookings, Forest City, Garretson, Highmore, LaPlant, Madison, Milbank, Redfield, Volga and Webster. Proposed airports are: Artesian, Buffalo, Bowdle, Cannistota, Clark, Crocker, Dupree, Emery, Estelline, Faulkton, Flandreau, Gann Valley, Gary, Gettysburg, Ipswitch, Isabel, McIntosh, McLaughlin, Midland, Sisseton, Stephan, Summit, Victor, Wasta, Wessington, White River and Wi
Mar 5, 1934	United Airlines terminated service due to air mail route cancellation [see 2/9/34]
Mar 15, 1934	3 weeks work remains on hanger construction
Mar 17, 1934	Ralph McKinnon inspects hanger
Mar 19, 1934	Army assumes responsibility for flying air mail
Mar 24, 1934	Hanger walls nearly complete. North and west walls complete. 5 wooden trusses to support roof, each weighing 5 tons, are being prepared
1934	Black-McKeller Act of 1934 split up airlines and manufacturers. Boeing took over manufacturing west of Mississippi, United Aircraft took east of Mississippi and United Airlines became independent and the largest air transport company in the country
Mar 26, 1934	Temporary air mail bill passed by Congress
Mar 28, 1934	Bids for private air mail contracts called for
Apr 4, 1934	Martin Severson, of Denver, a traffic survey man for Hanford Airlines is in Watertown meeting with Ralph Hubbard
Apr 6, 1934	Trusses are in place on hanger. Doors to be put up in the next few days. Plans being considered for construction of a smaller adjacent structure to serve as an office
Apr 11, 1934	CWA airport projects in South Dakota: Watertown $28,227, Lawrence County $27,472, Huron $22,398, Belle Fourche $18,243, Yankton $17,404, Mitchell $16,619, Rapid City $15,700, Brookings $13,762, Hot Springs $13,347, Sioux Falls $12,250, Edgemont $11,100, Redfield $7,979, Fairburn $7,782, Mobridge $7,534, Edmunds County $5,500, Lemmon $5,000, Garretson $3,875, Pierre $1,897, Wagner $1,784
Apr 12, 1934	Statistics: 77 planes in South Dakota (58 licensed), 88 pilots (39 with transport ratings, 7 limited commercial, 38 private and 4 solo)
Apr 13, 1934	United Airlines Omaha-Watertown route is subject of Hanford Airlines testimony at Airmail Hearings. Hanford and Rapid Air Lines assisting each other.
Apr 20, 1934	Roof is on hanger
Sep 1, 1934	Statistics reported by Bureau of Air Commerce: 58 planes inspected in South Dakota. 93 pilots licensed in South Dakota
Sep 13, 1934	Watertown trying to get Sioux Falls-Minneapolis air mail route changed to Sioux Falls-Watertown-Minneapolis. Postal officials say it would add too much distance to the route
Sep 17, 1934	Donald Hess, formerly of Watertown, Maynard Stone and Joe Depper killed in a plane crash at Ft. Pierre. Pilot, Stone, was 21 year old high school senior with student permit flying an unlicensed 2 place Curtiss Robin [see 1/15/34]
Sep 20, 1934	Formation of Watertown Air Service, Inc.. announced. Clyde Ice, George Jackson and Glen Davy applied for the charter. Capitalized at $25,000. They have purchased a 6 passenger Travelair
	Watertown Air Service Company formed to provide service Rapid City-Pierre-Huron-Watertown-Minneapolis after United terminated service
1935	Hanford begins service in Watertown on Huron-Minneapolis route
	Horizontal Control Data for airport station refers to stone hanger, a proposed addition, a fence and a road
May 1935	First flight of Watertown Airways took place with Clyde Ice at the controls of a Travelair 6 place transport. Route was Spearfish-Pierre-Huron-Watertown-Minneapolis [see Feb 1936]
Nov 18, 1935	City of Watertown gets deed to airport property from Midland National Life Insurance Co. and grants 30 year lease to Watertown Airport, Inc.. so WPA will approve funding for administration building. [see 1/26-2/6/40 and 8/25/42]
Dec 7, 1935	Airport property deed transfer recorded
Feb 1936	Watertown Airways abandoned attempt to establish Spearfish-Minneapolis route [see May 1935]
Jul 1, 1936	Bureau of Air Commerce director is Eugene Vidal [see 7/18/33]
1937	Promoters Carrol Lockhart (banker), Ralph Hubbard, Clyde Ice and 3 others bought a used Travelair 6000, 9 passenger plane and decided to establish an air mail route from Black Hills-St. Paul. Clyde flew 6 days a week, both directions every day, for 6 months and barnstormed around Rapid City on Sundays. He only missed part of one trip when he lost an engine, landed at Pierre and took the train to St. Paul with the mail. They had to fly the route for 4 months or more to "establish" the route so the government would bid it. Route was Spearfish-Rapid City-Philip-Pierre-Huron-[Watertown]-Willmar-Mankato-Minneapolis/St. Paul. Contract ended up being awarded to Inland Airlines Spearfish-Huron and Hanford Airlines Huron-Sioux City-St. Paul [Date probably wrong - this probably began in 1935 {see 9/20/34 and May 1935 Watertown items} and ended about Feb 1936 {see Feb 1936 Watertown and 1937 Pierre items}]
1937	Inland Airways came to Pierre [date probably wrong...Inland Airways probably began service about Feb 1936 {see 9/20/34, May 1935, Feb 1936 and 1937 Watertown items}] and Wyoming Air Service began service in Apr 1938 {see 5/27/37 Huron, 3/23/38 Washington, 3/24/38, Apr 1938 Huron and Apr 1938 Pierre items}]
1937	Rapid City was an all sod airport according to the 1937 edition of the Airport Directory Company's "Airports" directory
Mar 11, 1938	Omaha-Minneapolis route would Include Sioux Falls-Mitchell-Huron-Watertown
Mar 17, 1938	Article refers to 4 hour trip Watertown-Chicago via Milwaukee on Hanford Airlines and Northwest Airways [apparently Watertown-Minneapolis was on Hanford and the remainder was on Northwest]
Mar 23, 1938	Hearings were being held in Washington on placing all Federal Air Regulations in new agency. Need seen to change legislation to provide for development of better airports. Testimony by William Denning of Wyoming Air Service that his company had received authorization for route from Cheyenne-Huron in summer of 1937, but had been unable to begin service, mainly due to landing field difficulties [see 8/19/40]
Apr 28, 1938	Bureau of Air Commerce establishes private flying section. Civil airway width reduced from 50 to 20 miles. Requirement established to maintain 500 foot altitude above terrain. There are 17,681 registered private pilots, 1,064 air transport pilots and 37,860 student pilots
May 1, 1938	Bureau of Air Commerce forms 7 regional divisions. Harold Neely supervisor for ND, MN,WI,IL,MI,IN,OH and KY. Leonard Jurden supervisor for SD, NE, IA, MO, KS and CO. RD Bedinger supervisor for MT, WY, ID, OR, WA and AK
May 14, 1938	Numerous articles/editorials about aviation leading up to and through Air Mail Week
1940	Mid-Continent purchases Hanford Airlines and begins service
	Mid-Continent was only Hanford TriState Lines dolled up with new equipment as a feeder line running out of Tulsa in two branches to the Twin Cities and Minot, North Dakota
Jan 23, 1940	Specifications filed for field lighting. NW-SE runway to be extended 400 feet as CAA would not approve lights unless runway was longer
Jan 26, 1940	City of Watertown seeking modification of 30 year lease to Watertown Airport, Inc.. [see 11/18/35]
Jan 27, 1940	First contract for a lighted runway signed
Feb 1940	CAA station opened
Feb 6, 1940	Bids for runway lighting to be opened 2/26. Mid-Continent scheduled to start night operations 3/1/40
Feb 21, 1940	Mid-Continent's new flight schedule to be Minneapolis-Watertown-Huron-Bismarck. It will be night schedule later. The other route through Watertown is Minneapolis-Watertown-Kansas City
Feb 27, 1940	Contract for runway lights awarded. Delivery in 2 weeks
Mar 13, 1940	CAA weather station open 10 hours per day. Installation of teletype, radios and weather observation equipment was completed some time ago. Station staff: Vernon E Hufman (Chief), Norman F Robertson and Joseph Lavadiere. Low frequency ranges Minneapolis-Willmar-Watertown are in use, but not certified. Ranges from Huron-Bismarck must also be certified
Mar 19, 1940	WPA report on past 5 years indicates that new airports had been built in Newell, Mitchell, Pierre, Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Improvements had been accomplished at Aberdeen, Huron, Hot Springs, Spearfish and Watertown
Mar 24, 1940	CAA station operates 8am-midnight. Teletype system went on line at 8am 3/24/40. Additional personnel have arrived. Hufman moved to Alaska. Staff: CW McIntosh (Chief), Norman F Robertson, Joseph Lavadiere, Paul J Faur and Rolla Fay
Apr 1, 1940	CAA begins taking official weather observations at airport
Apr 16, 1940	Weather observing office in city moves last of equipment to the airport. CAA station is now 24 hours. A ceiling light is to be installed 100 feet north of the station
Aug 16, 1940	Ceiling light installed. [Read and Initial boxes have initials of first 5 employees and 2 others]
Dec 7, 1941	Mid-Continent Airlines ... continued flights through Watertown during WWII
Apr 11, 1942	Representative Mundt suggested to Army that auxiliary bases be established at Aberdeen, Chamberlain, Huron, Madison, Mitchell and Watertown
Jul 20, 1942	Watertown approved as location for satellite bomber air base to be affiliated with Sioux City Air Base
Aug 12, 1942	Contracts awarded for paving runways at Watertown Air Base
Aug 20, 1942	Government takes control of airport. Air Base construction began
	Watertown base was intended to be used by several squadrons of B17 Flying Fortresses
Aug 21, 1942	Roads to and through airport/air base are closed
Aug 25, 1942	Dispute between city Army and Watertown Air Service [Ralph Hubbard] regarding airport lease and use of airport [see 11/15/35 and 1/25/40]
Sep 1942	Hubbard moves operation to a field 8 miles north of Watertown [3 miles north of Rauville]
Sep 6, 1942	Stone administration building destroyed in order to build runway 12-30
	CAA official observation point moved to Air Base administration building [approximately location of terminal building]
Sep 25, 1942	Construction of Watertown Air Base 45% complete
Oct 22, 1942	Base commander and staff arrive
Nov 4, 1942	Mayor of Watertown asks for donations of furnishings for buildings at Air Base
Nov 19, 1942	Article about the "...weather station..." at the Air Base
Nov 21, 1942	Most Air Base construction complete. Open house held. [some photographs in paper]
1943	Horizontal Control Data recovery data for airport remarks that station and one reference mark were destroyed when the Air Base was built
Apr 15, 1944	Air Base transferred from 2nd Army Air Force to Proving Ground Command
Jul 19, 1945	City and Watertown Airport, Inc.. have contract dated 7/1/45 for lease of Army hanger for 10 years and an additional building plot for 25 years if and when the Army returns base to the city. Hubbard has been operation on smaller field north of Watertown through war and has 9 aircraft
Jul 22, 1945	Government returned airport to the city on 99 year lease. [this doesn't match information in newspaper accounts ... see 1/15-17/46]
Aug 1, 1945	Mid-continent to expand service on 8/10/45 to 3 flights per day. Route is Minneapolis-Watertown-Huron-Sioux Falls-Sioux City-Omaha-Kansas City. Arrivals from Minneapolis at noon a DC3, and 5:28pm a Lodestar. Arrival from Huron at 5:41pm a DC3
Aug 2, 1945	Open house at Air Base. On display were 3 B29s, 3 B26s, 2 C45s, 1 B25, 1 P47 and 1 P51
Aug 29, 1945	Mid-continent is looking into shipping fresh sea food into Watertown from New Orleans
Sep 4, 1945	Captain Tom Weber, Flight Surgeon, drowns in Lake Kampeska. He parachuted into the lake to test water survival gear, got tangled and rescue boat couldn't reach him in time.
Sep 17, 1945	25 planes from Eglin AFB, Florida flew into Watertown to escape hurricane. On the field were 2 B32s, 8 B29s, 10 B17s, 4 B24s and 1 B25
Sep 20, 1945	Mid-continent and American Airlines talking merger, but need CAB approval [see 1/4/46]
Oct 15, 1945	Army announces plans to keep Rapid City, Casper and Kearney Air Bases open
Oct 29, 1945	Major in charge of Air Base to be discharged. Base now under command of a Lieutenant
Nov 1945	Flight operations July 1944-November 1945: 1300 flight operations, 900 transient aircraft, 900 local flights
Nov 15, 1945	Ralph Hubbard is chairman of South Dakota Aeronautics Commission. At a meeting in Pierre the Army announced plans to sell Air Bases and equipment with the agreement that they be maintained and available to the military
Nov 25, 1945	Dale V Dahl, Aviation Radioman 2nd Class, of 732 4th Ave. discharged 11/17/45. He'd enlisted 10/27/41. [Later worked at Watertown FSS]
Jan 3, 1946	Navy pilot landed Hellcat and said "here's the plane for the high school"... speculation was that plane was intended for Ortonville, MN
Jan 4, 1946	American and Mid-continent still trying for merger. CAB hearing to be 1/21/46 [see 9/20/45]
Jan 5, 1946	Only 35 men still at Air Base. They are assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida and should leave about 1/15/46. The Army weather station closed ... CAA station to remain. City is pursuing plans to use base housing for returning veterans [see 1/7/46 & 1/14/46]
Jan 5, 1946	44 Air Bases which cost $5 million, or more, each, plus 200 smaller airports are to be declared surplus. Included are: Sioux Falls, SD $10,061,000, Pueblo , CO $9,799,000, Alliance, NE $8,892,000, Colorado Springs, CO $8,338,000, Sioux City, IA $8,291,000, La Junta, CO $6,903,000, Grand Island, NE $5,434,000, Scribner, NE $5231,000, Scotts Bluff, NE $5,024,000
Jan 7, 1946	Army approves plan to use base housing [see 1/5/46 & 1/14/46]
Jan 14, 1946	16 apartments to be ready soon [see 1/5/46 and 1/7/46]
Jan 15, 1946	Army gives city a 5 year lease for airport
Jan 16, 1946	Air Base officially declared surplus and closed. Several weeks will be needed to finish winding up shutdown then the base will operate under the Corps of Engineers until the maintenance agreement with the city expires
Jan 17, 1946	DW Pennertz, President of North Central Airways, Inc.. announced that the CAB is considering a proposal for passenger and mail feeder routes in South Dakota. Stops would be Mobridge, Selby, Onida, Pierre, Kennebec, Chamberlain, Kimball, Mitchell, Salem, Alexandria, Sioux Falls, Madison, Brookings, Watertown and Milbank. A Fargo to Minneapolis route would Include Aberdeen and Britton
Feb 8, 1946	Aircraft at city airport north of town damaged by wind storm...some blown a half mile form the airport
Feb 20, 1946	City announces that it is to take control of the Air Base at midnight on 2/24/46
Feb 27, 1946	City Council met and formally accepted airport transfer. City took lighting previous Saturday. Took over all equipment, although it still belongs to the Army. They expect to take early action on lease with Kampeska Flying Service
	Ralph Frothinger is to return to Watertown [from Air Transport Command] to operate Kampeska Flying Service which was Incorporated in his absence in fall of 1945. He will be owner and operator offering flying school, charter, and shops for service and overhaul. Will be dealer for Luscombe and Ercoupe, 2 place and 4 place models
Mar 2, 1946	CAB examiner recommended: 1) Inland Airlines route #35 be extended permanently from Huron to Minneapolis, subject to provision that no flight originate east of Rapid City. 2) Inland Airlines be temporarily authorized to serve Brookings, Rochester, and Mankato on the Huron-Minneapolis extension. 3) Mid-continent Airlines be temporarily authorized to add Mitchell and Yankton to their Huron-Omaha route
	Mid-continent is planning to add Huron-Minot and additional stops if allowed to merge with American Airlines [see 9/14/45 & 1/14/46]
Mar 6, 1946	Watertown Air Service completed move to airport with 12 planes. Ray Wiles in charge of operations. Ralph Hubbard president and manager
Mar 12, 1946	CAA radio operator, Wayland Williams, 28, arrested while on duty for theft of radio equipment from Army Tower. Sheriff was looking for light fixtures reported stolen by CAA officials and found light fixtures, approximately $5,000 worth of radios, and removable aircraft seats
	Ralph Lang started as pilot instructor for Kampeska Air Service
Sep 1950	Kampeska Flying Service quits operation
Dec 7, 1950	Weighing rain gauge installed
Aug 1952	Mid-continent merged with Braniff
Aug 14, 1952	Federal grant received to build new administration building to replace the building destroyed when Air Base was constructed
Aug 1953	New administration building completed
Nov 1953	Braniff began service Omaha-Fargo with stop in Watertown
Nov 28, 1953	CAA wiring completed in new administration building
Mar 31, 1954	CAA operations relocated to new administration building
Mar 1957	[In March 1957]...the CAB handed North Central a fat award: A new route from Grand Forks to Omaha via Fargo, Watertown, Brookings, Sioux Falls, Sioux City and Norfolk. This added 8 cities, 3 new states and 579 miles to the system
Apr 15, 1957	F240C wind instruments installed
Jun 1, 1957	North Central Airlines begins service
Dec 1, 1958	TACAN commissioned [printout] [date WRONG ... see 12/10/58]
Dec 10, 1958	TACAN commissioned
Dec 19, 1960	REIL installed runway 17
Jun 29, 1962	Watertown Flying Club has 27 members and 2 aircraft. Club began in 1954. President Jerry Cook, Secretary/Treasurer Dale Dahl [FSS Specialist]
Jul 1962	Yellow Page listing: Burmood Air Service
Jul 10, 1962	Louie Potter retirement dinner. Received 30 year pin. 57 attended. Dick Myers acted as master of ceremonies
Jul 24, 1962	Roger Pederson is chairman of Chamber of Commerce aviation committee
Jul 24, 1962	North Central Airlines to drop Brookings from stops on north-south route. Flights to continue into Watertown
Jul 7, 1963	Estimated 120 knot winds blew roof off terminal building. Wind instruments and antenna blew down at 110 knots. Ed Bauer on duty. [photo]
Jul 26, 1963	OE Markle, of Glasgow, Montana, was enroute from Sleepy Eye, Minnesota to Glasgow when he encountered thunderstorms near Watertown about 7pm. Unsure of his position he called Watertown FSS. Ed Bauer used VOR and landmark orientation to assist aircraft which landed safely at Watertown. (Bauer lived in Kranzburg)
Jan 19, 1965	FBOs at this time were Boyer Brothers and Lowinske Aviation
Jun 5, 1965	Western Airlines discontinued service to Huron
Apr 1967	Work begun to remodel and expand terminal building
Jun 1, 1967	DF commissioned [date questionable]
Feb 1, 1968	North Central begins scheduled jet service into Watertown
Feb 8, 1968	Terminal building remodeled and expanded
Feb 25, 1968	Open house for remodeled and expanded terminal building. There are 7 FSS specialists and 2 technicians at the facility
May 19, 1969	Ceiling light modified
1970	Lake City Aviation (formerly Hubbard Aviation) discontinued business
1972	Alden facsimile installed at FSS
Mar 10, 1972	FSS staff is: Chief, 6 specialists, AF unit chief and 1 ET
Mar 29, 1973	ILS commissioned
Jun 22, 1973	MALSR commissioned
Dec 12, 1973	VASI installed on runways 12, 30 and 17
Apr 16, 1974	REIL 30 installed
Jun 14, 1975	Kerr-Magee Saberliner crashed during takeoff runway 17. Ingested sea gulls. [Ken Baenan on duty]
Oct 12, 1975	Alden 9721C facsimile installed
May 10, 1977	BUEC installed
Sep 1, 1978	Wind sensors relocated from roof to enter of field
May 24, 1979	REIL 12 installed
Jul 8, 1980	Remote Reading Hygrothermometer installed
Jun 1984	leased Service A equipment installed
Jul 26, 1984	Second generation VORTAC commissioned
Aug 9, 1984	Service A converted to Leased Service A Equipment
Dec 15, 1985	Republic Airlines discontinued service and replaced by Republic Express
Mar 1986	Service B converted to Leased Service A & B (LABS) equipment
Oct 1, 1986	Mesaba Airlines began service, replacing Republic Express following the merger of Republic Airlines and Northwest Airlines. After merger Northwest "assigned" the Dakotas to Mesaba and Michigan to Republic Express
Jan 7, 1988	Article on weather observations. Jim Anez in photo reading thermometers
Jul 1988	Princeton AFSS assumed control of Madison, Minnesota RCO
Jan 3, 1989	Article on weather. Tim Baker in photo looking at weather maps
Aug 12, 1994	Watertown FSS decommissioned at 10pm
Dec 31, 1996	The Watertown Municipal Airport reaches more than 10,000 enplaned passengers. Giving the airport around $500,000 in additional Airport Improvement Plan dollars.
Dec 31, 1997	The Watertown Municipal Airport comes close to breaking 10,000 enplaned passengers; however, due to the circumstances the federal government allows watertown an additional $500,000 in AIP monies.
June, 2000	The Watertown Municipal Airport hires KLG to design and construct a new T-Hangar area. Different spots are considered. The hangars will be built to the north of the current hangar area.
Sep 11, 2001	3,000 people die in the largest terrorist attack on US soil. The World Trade Center towers A and B are destroyed as is part of the Pentagon. One of the aircraft used in the attack crashs in PA by the braviory of the captive passengers.
April 24, 2002	The newly formed Transporation Security Administration starts federal baggage screening at airports nation wide.
Jan 12, 2004	Erick A. Dahl becomes Airport Manager
June 16, 2004	The Codington County Search Dive Rescue Organization constructs a new facility at the airport to assit with Water Rescue at the airport.
Jan 1, 2005	The Federal Aviation Administration furture consoliated the flight service stations under one contract with Lockhead Martin Corperation. This leaves the nearest Flight Service Station in Princeton, MN.
Jan 1, 2006	The Watertown Municipal Airport is renamed to the Watertown Regional Airport.
April 3, 2007	The runway and taxiway construction project starts. Runways will be narrowed to 100' wide and a new taxiway built paralel to runway 17/35
August 15, 2007	LPV GPS approach procedures are added to runway 12, 30, and 17.
Oct 25, 2007	Runway Construcion project is completed.
Nov 1, 2007	New fence line project is started. current six foot fence will be removed and new 10 foot fence will be installed.
May 1, 2008	Designs start coming in for the proposed airport terminal expansion.
August 1, 2009	Designs for a new and improved Fuel Farm are developed. This project will consolidate all fueling into a central area.
August 17, 2009	Work starts on the Passenger Terminal Expansion Project