Bettis Field was an airstrip in southeastern Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

 from 1924 that was named for U.S. Army Air Corps Lieutenant Cyrus Bettis following his fatal accident on Jack's Mountain near Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Bellefonte is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies about twelve miles northeast of State College and is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...

 in 1926.

History

Initially a grass strip in a meadow established by local investors Barr Peat, Clifford A. Ball and Bo Phelan, it was gradually improved. Changing hands several times, it was operated by the Pittsburgh-McKeesport Airport Corporation. Curtiss-Wright

Curtiss-Wright

The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....

 sold the field to Gus Becker, who operated the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics

The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, known to the industries it serves as PIA, is located at the Allegheny County Airport just south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. PIA offers Associate in Specialized Technology degrees in Aviation Maintenance Technology, Aviation Electronics Technology,...

, which trained engine and aircraft mechanics in downtown Pittsburgh classrooms. During World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 PIA operated under government contracts, delivering training for the military. By 1944 the airstrip was a 2500 feet (762 m) paved surface. Sold to Westinghouse

Westinghouse Electric (1886)

Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...

 in January 1949, the field was closed and redeveloped, becoming the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory

Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory

Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory is a U.S. Government-owned, contractor-operated research and development facility located in the Pittsburgh suburb of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. It solely focuses on the design and development of nuclear power for the U.S. Navy....

.

Airlines

• Cliff Ball Airlines was a contract carrier for the U.S. Mail between Pittsburgh and Cleveland from July 1, 1925.
• CBA became Pennsylvania Airlines
• Pennsylvania Airlines was merged into Pennsylvania Central Airlines

Further reading

• William F. Trimble, "High frontier: a history of aeronautics in Pennsylvania" University of Pittsburgh Press, 1982
• W. David Lewis and William F. Trimble, "The airway to everywhere: a history of All American Aviation, 1937-1953" University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988
• Brian Butko, Paul Roberts, William F. Trimble. "Pittsburgh history" Winter, 1993/94
• Tony Kambic. "Bettis: the field that brought airmail to Pittsburgh", Clairton, Pennsylvania: The Progress, July 1976
• Richard David Wissolik; David Wilmes et al. "A place in the sky: a pictorial and spoken history of the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and aviation in western Pennsylvania" Latrobe, Pennsylvania: The Saint Vincent College Center for Northern Appalachian Studies, 2001 ISBN 1885851170