Ontario CA Airport in 1956 ...

[Mark Allen M]

Situated in the southwest corner of San Bernardino County along the southern edge of the San Gabriel
Mountains, ONT originated in 1923 as a dirt landing strip east of its current location serving the agricultural
uses of the region. Throughout the years the airport has seen significant changes.

In 1929, the City of Ontario purchased additional land for the airport and it became known as Ontario
Municipal Airport.

In 1942, with the escalation of World War II, two concrete runways were constructed along with an
air traffic control tower and an instrument landing system.

In 1946, in recognition of the transpacific cargo flights originating from the airport, Ontario Municipal
Airport was renamed Ontario International Airport.

During the 1950s, Lockheed, Douglas and Northrop all had facilities at the airport throughout the
postwar economic boom.

In 1967, the Los Angeles City Department of Airports co-signed a joint powers agreement with the
City of Ontario and the airport became part of Los Angeles' regional airport system.

In 1985, the City of Los Angeles became the official title holder for the airport.

In 1998, service at the new terminal complex began.

In 1999, the new ground transportation center opened, including six on-airport car rental companies.

In 2006, the Runway 8L-26R reconstruction and lengthening project was completed.

Today, the airport is managed by the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). The airport is
currently served by a multitude of airlines, including several dedicated cargo airlines.

The Airport frequently sees activity from all sizes of aircraft ranging from small general aviation aircraft to 747-
400s.

[RyanShort1]

Are those VO-67 OP-2Es?

[OD/NG]

All this great history of Ontario airport and no mention of Ed Maloney and Planes of Fame being located there?

[quemerford]

I doubt PoF needs to be mentioned here since it's common knowledge.

I suspect there will be far fewer people who realise that Ontario supported these major overhaul operations at that time: most (if not all) of the test flights on the F-86 series aircraft done at Ontario were conducted by civilian contractor pilots (i.e not NAA, not USAF).

[DH82EH]

Hey Mark.
Thanks for posting another really interesting thread with so many cool pictures.
I really appreciate everything you bring to WIX.

Andy

[AG pilot]

Hey Mark.
Thanks for posting another really interesting thread with so many cool pictures.
I really appreciate everything you bring to WIX.

Andy

I will second that as well!

[JohnB]

I wonder what they were doing with the RC-121Ds?
One shows unit markings, so upgrades? I

And what about the B-50s...WBs?
They are probably too old to be new build, so upgrades or conversions?
The B-50 fleet saw a lot of conversions...TB, WB, KB, RB..

[quemerford]

I can't speak for the other types, but in the case of the F-86s (F-86A, E and H are visible), they are undergoing contract overhaul prior to transfer to the Air National Guard.

[Larry Kraus]

I wonder what they were doing with the RC-121Ds?
One shows unit markings, so upgrades? I

And what about the B-50s...WBs?
They are probably too old to be new build, so upgrades or conversions?
The B-50 fleet saw a lot of conversions...TB, WB, KB, RB..

According a table on conversions in the excellent Ginther book “Air Force Legends #215 Boeing B-50” 73 B-50Ds were converted to WB-50Ds at Ontario by Lockheed Air Services. In the text it states 75 conversions with first WB-50Ds arriving at AWS squadrons in November 1955.

From the same source, the KB-50s were converted by Hayes Aircraft Co in Birmingham, Alabama and the TB-50s were converted by Boeing at Boeing Field in Seattle.

IMG_3090 by tanker622001, on Flickr