Shafter Airport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shafter Airport Minter Field
USGS 2006 orthophoto
IATA: MIT ICAO: KMIT FAA LID: MIT
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Minter Field Airport District
Serves	Shafter, California
Elevation AMSL	424 ft / 129 m
Coordinates	35°30′21″N 119°11′30″W / 35.50583°N 119.19167°W / 35.50583; -119.19167
Website	www.MinterField.com
Map
MIT Location in California
Runway
Runway Length Surface ft m 12/30 4,501 1,372 Asphalt 17/35 2,970 905 Concrete
Statistics (2011)
Aircraft operations 45,000 Based aircraft 114
Source: Federal Aviation Administration

Shafter Airport, also known as Minter Field, is a public airport in California. It is located about 4 miles east of Shafter. It is also about 14 miles northwest of Bakersfield.

This airport was very important during World War II. It was a main training center for pilots. Today, it is a public airport. It is used for general aviation, which means it handles private planes and smaller flights.

A Look Back: The History of Minter Field

Minter Army Air Base in 1945

The airport first opened in June 1941. Back then, it was called Lerdo Field. The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) sent airmen to start an airfield here. The name "Lerdo" came from a nearby highway.

At first, the airfield commander worked from Bakersfield College. Airmen stayed in temporary places while buildings were being built. A special supply center, the Minter Sub-Depot, was also set up.

In August 1941, the first training units arrived. The airport's job was to train pilots for bombers, attack planes, and other aircraft. By April 1942, many new buildings were being built. More and more cadets arrived, living in large tent cities.

Renaming the Airfield

In July 1942, the airfield was mostly finished. It was then renamed Minter Field Army Airfield. This new name honored First Lieutenant Hugh C. Minter. He was a World War I veteran. Lieutenant Minter died in a plane crash in 1932.

Minter Field was part of the United States Army Air Forces West Coast Training Center. It had several smaller airfields nearby that helped with training. Some of these included:

• Wasco Auxiliary Airfield (No.1)
• Pond Auxiliary Field (No. 2)
• Famoso Auxiliary Airfield (No.3)
• Dunlap Auxiliary Airfield (No.4)
• Semi-tropic Auxiliary Airfield (No.5)
• Poso Auxiliary Airfield (No.6)
• Lost Hills Auxiliary Airfield (No.7)

Planes Used for Training

The main plane used at Minter Field was the Vultee BT-13 Valiant. This plane was used for flight training. Other planes used for training included:

• The Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
• The AT-6 Texan advanced trainer
• The North American B-25 Mitchell (a twin-engine bomber)
• The Lockheed P-38 Lightning (a fighter plane)

After World War II ended in 1945, the military no longer needed the airfield. In March 1948, it was given to the local government for public use.

The Gossamer Condor Flight

A very special event happened at Minter Field. On August 23, 1977, a human-powered aircraft called the Gossamer Condor made history. Piloted by Bryan Allen, it won the first Kremer prize. It did this by flying a figure-eight course using only human power! A special marker, California Historic Landmark #923, is at the field to remember this amazing flight.

Airport Features and Aircraft

Shafter-Minter Field covers a large area of about 1,206 acres. It sits about 424 feet above sea level. The airport has two runways:

• Runway 12/30 is 4,501 feet long and 100 feet wide. It has an asphalt surface.
• Runway 17/35 is 2,970 feet long and 100 feet wide. It has a concrete surface.

In 2011, the airport had about 45,000 aircraft operations. This means planes took off or landed about 123 times each day. At that time, 114 aircraft were based at the airport. Most of these were single-engine planes. There were also some helicopters, ultralights, jets, and multi-engine planes.

See also

• California World War II Army Airfields
• 35th Flying Training Wing (World War II)
• List of airports in Kern County, California