History

Established in 1942 as Naples Army Airfield by the United States Army Air Forces

United States Army Air Forces

The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....

. Assigned initially to the Southeast Training Center (later Eastern Flying Training Command). Provided basic (level 1) flight training to flight cadets by Embry-Riddle Co; Fairchild PT-19

Fairchild PT-19

|-See also:-Bibliography:* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4....

s were the primary trainer used. Along with the flight training, was a sub-base to Buckingham Army Airfield

Buckingham Army Airfield

Buckingham Army Airfield is an inactive United States Air Force base, approximately 10 miles east of Fort Myers, Florida. It was active during World War II as a Army Air Forces Training Command airfield...

 for flexible gunnery training. Inactivated on 1 November 1945, being turned over to the War Assets Administration for conveyance to civil control as a public airport.

Provincetown-Boston Airlines

Provincetown-Boston Airlines

Provincetown-Boston Airline , or better known as PBA, was an airline that operated between 1949 and 1989. The airline operated a route network in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida, and at one time was the largest commuter airline in the United States before its purchase by People...

 began scheduled service to Miami International Airport

Miami International Airport

Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...

 in the 1950s, and managed the airport for several years until a municipal airport authority was created in 1969.

Although the airport served more than 100,000 passengers per year through 2000, geographic factors limited its capacity, and the opening of the much larger Southwest Florida International Airport

Southwest Florida International Airport

-Statistics:-Accidents and incidents:* November 28, 2007 - A single-engine fixed wing aircraft crashed about 9:20 a.m. one mile west of Runway 6. The crash killed the pilot...

 in nearby Fort Myers

Fort Myers, Florida

Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....

 drew medium-haul traffic away from Naples. Passenger numbers dipped when American Eagle

American Eagle Airlines

American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...

 ceased scheduled Miami service in 2001, and dipped even further following the September 11, 2001 attacks

September 11, 2001 attacks

The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...

 Scheduled airline service to Naples ended in 2003 when US Airways Express

US Airways Express

US Airways Express is an airline brand name, rather than a fully certified airline, and as such, the US Airways Express name is used by several individually owned airlines or airline holding companies which provide regional airline and commuter service for US Airways.Operations are conducted from...

 ceased service to Tampa International Airport

Tampa International Airport

Tampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority...

.

Accidents and incidents

• On 10 September 1985, a Douglas DC-3
  Douglas DC-3
  The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
  
   of Collier County Mosquito Control District crashed at East Naples whilst on approach to Naples Municipal Airport following an engine failure. The aircraft was on agricultural duties at the time.

See also

• Florida World War II Army Airfields

External links

• Naples Municipal Airport (official site)
• Yellow Air Taxi
• Naples Airlines, featuring vintage photos brochure from CFASPP (April 2005)