New Smyrna Beach City Commission celebrates the 75th Anniversary of New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport.

Written by Anthony Bicy

Belden Communications News

Airport Advisory Board Chair Jim Dempsey joined the New Smyrna Beach City Commissioners during Tuesday's Commission meeting to read a proclamation celebrating 75 years of civilian flight operations at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport.

At the beginning of World War II, U.S. military forces were hunting for suitable airfields for military training. At the time, the New Smyrna Beach airport site was a grass strip in an orange grove that also served as the local golf course. The location served as an auxiliary field for advanced naval flight training operations known as Navy Outlying Field New Smyrna Beach. By 1945, the airfield was home to five barracks, a mess hall, pump house, armory, administration building, officer quarters, recreation center, and a radio tower.

On April 10, 1947, the field was officially deeded to the City of New Smyrna Beach after the War Assets Administration cleared out the surplus of government-owned property and materials.

The field was renamed in 2005 to New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport/Jack Bolt Field to honor retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel John “Jack” Bolt. Mr. Bolt, a long-time New Smyrna Beach resident, is one of only seven aviators to earn the designation of double "ace" for shooting down five or more enemy aircraft in both World War II and the Korean War. He remains the only Marine Corps jet-powered ace to this day.

The New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport continues to provide aviation services to Southeast Volusia County while generating $171.9 million in total annual economic activity for New Smyrna Beach and its surrounding communities.

Call the airport office at (386) 410-2680 to learn more about the airport, drone safety, flight services, noise abatement procedures, renting hangar space, and more!