Drew Field Municipal Airport

Drew Field Municipal Airport
Name	Drew Field Municipal Airport
Type	Public (former)
City-served	Tampa, Florida
Location	Tampa, Florida
Opened	1928
Closed	1947
Elevation-f	20

Drew Field Municipal Airport was an early 20th-century airport serving Tampa, Florida and the surrounding Hillsborough County, Florida area. Originally established in the late 1920s, the airfield transitioned through civilian aviation, Army Air Forces use during World War II, and postwar municipal functions before being redeveloped into urban uses. The site played roles connected to regional transportation, United States Army Air Forces training, and the evolving aviation network of Florida in the interwar and wartime decades.

History

Drew Field Municipal Airport opened in 1928 near Downtown Tampa and was named for George Drew (note: not to be conflated with other public figures named Drew). The airport became part of Tampa’s early aviation infrastructure alongside Tampa International Airport’s later development and competed regionally with fields like Peter O. Knight Airport and St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport. During the 1930s, the field hosted civil air shows, barnstormers associated with figures such as Charles Lindbergh, and carriers including early operators from National Air Transport and Eastern Air Lines' predecessors. Municipal investment and connections to Hillsborough County institutions expanded runways and hangar capacity prior to federal acquisition.

Facilities and Aircraft

By the late 1930s, Drew Field featured multiple grass and paved runways, hangars, control facilities, and support structures influenced by designs promoted by the Office of the Supervising Architect and federal aviation standards of the Civil Aeronautics Authority. Aircraft commonly operating at the field included mail and passenger types such as the Ford Trimotor, Curtiss Robin, and later military trainers like the North American T-6 Texan. Maintenance and fueling services were provided by local fixed-base operators with connections to firms like Pan American Airways for regional logistics. Nearby rail links to Seaboard Air Line Railroad and waterfront access to Port Tampa Bay facilitated multimodal transfers.

Military Use and World War II

In 1941 the field was requisitioned by the United States Army Air Forces and redesignated as a base for training and operational support; it was integrated into Air Transport Command and later into the Army Air Forces Training Command structure. The base supported units such as the 69th Bombardment Squadron and hosted aircraft including the B-17 Flying Fortress for crew training and the P-40 Warhawk for pursuit instruction. Drew Field’s expansion mirrored nationwide mobilization under programs like the Arnold Scheme and collaborated with nearby military installations including MacDill Field and Camp Blanding. The site's runways and facilities were used for parachute schools, medical evacuation staging in coordination with Veterans Administration services, and periodic visits by high-profile commanders from commands like Eighth Air Force.

Airlines and Destinations

Prior to military takeover, scheduled services routed through Drew Field included mail and passenger stops on coastal and intrastate routes connecting to cities such as Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa’s regional partners. Airlines tied to the field’s history encompass early branches of American Airlines, Eastern Air Lines, and regional carriers that preceded contemporary operators like Air Florida and Pan Am. Postwar civil aviation realignments shifted many scheduled flights to newer facilities, particularly with the rise of Tampa International Airport and expanded services by carriers operating aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3 and Convair 240.

Accidents and Incidents

Throughout its operational life the airfield experienced several notable events, including emergency landings by aircraft such as the Stinson Reliant and incidents investigated by investigators aligned with the Civil Aeronautics Board. Wartime operations saw aircraft mishaps during training sorties involving types like the Douglas A-20 Havoc; these were subject to military boards of inquiry tied to United States Army aviation accident protocols. Civilian-era occurrences included minor ground collisions near hangars and weather-related incidents attributed to Florida Keys-influenced thunderstorms; notable aviators and airline personnel from organizations such as Eastern Air Lines and National Airlines were sometimes involved in investigations.

Redevelopment and Current Status

After World War II, Drew Field was returned to municipal control and eventually superseded by modern airports, facilitating redevelopment into what became parts of MacDill Air Force Base adjacency, municipal parks, residential tracts, and commercial districts integrated with Tampa Bay urban planning. Portions of the former field were repurposed for institutions including schools affiliated with Hillsborough County Public Schools and civic facilities near Ybor City. Historic hangar footprints influenced industrial conversions linked to companies like Beatrice Foods and local aviation museums preserving artifacts connected to the field’s legacy. Present-day landmarks and streets retain toponyms reflecting early aviation heritage and the broader narrative of Tampa’s 20th-century growth.

Category:Defunct airports in Florida Category:History of Tampa, Florida Category:Former United States Army Air Forces airfields in Florida