Pensacola Regional Airport was born in the Great Depression. In 1933 Conner Hagler, owner of the San Carlos Hotel, and Harry Blanchard, a pilot originally from Virginia, purchased 504 acres of thick woodland along a dirt road called Skinner's Mill Road--now called 12th Avenue-- from Francis W. Taylor.  John H. Perry, editor of the Pensacola Journal, secured a $75,000 Federal grant to clear the woods and construct two grass runways. This project provided much-needed jobs for about 400 locals during the depression. The airport's official name is Hagler Field, although the name is seldom heard today.

The first commercial flight landed on 7 April, 1934--a 14 passenger, trimotor Stinson. In 1935 the city purchased the airport for $50,000, with Blanchard as airport manager, a job which he retained until 1962. The year 1936 saw the paving of two 3500' runways and the construction of a metal administration building, funded with Federal grants. National Airlines began regular service to the city on 1 November, 1938, using twin-engine Lockheed Electras. 

In 1942, Harry Blanchard joined the Army Air Corps, and his wife, Van Blanchard, took over as airport manager for the duration of the war.

The Navy leased the airport from the city from 1942 to 1945 and curtailed most commercial flights. But some flights continued, and Pensacola was the only municipal airport operating on the coast between New Orleans and Tallahassee. The Navy's operations building was located at the northeast corner of College and 12th Avenue, the site of today's National Guard Armory. During the war, the airport expanded to 1200 acres, and the original runways were lengthened to 5000'. Parallel taxiways and runway lighting were added as well. Sometime during the war two new paved runways were added (present runways 17-35 and 08-26). Remnants of the original runways are still visible today.

Eastern Airlines, in September, 1947, commenced service to Pensacola; on 4 April, 1952 the first terminal building of 12,000 square feet was dedicated. The $230,000 cost was shared by the FAA and the City. 

1956 saw the filming of parts of "Wings of Eagles" at PNS. John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, and director John Ford were here.

Technical improvements highlighted 1957. The ILS-17 approach was commissioned, while high intensity runway and sequenced approach lights were added. 

The FAA reported in October, 1963 that the Pensacola area had the highest density air traffic in the U.S., which included military, commercial carrier and general aviation activity. 

In 1964 the FAA operations building was opened, which then housed the control tower and the Pensacola FSS. At this time TRACON and its surveillance radar were located at NAS. A security fence was constructed around the airport perimeter in 1964 as well. I

The first commercial jet, an Eastern Airlines 727, landed in 1965, but the runways were of marginal length. However in November 1966 runway 17-35 was extended to 7000', and in 1968 runway 08-26 was lengthened to 6000'. The first X-ray machine for carry-on luggage was installed in June 1977. 

On 8 May, 1978 a National Airlines jet from Miami landed short in Escambia Bay while on a surveillance radar approach to runway 26, causing three deaths. October 1983 saw Delta Airlines commence regular service to PNS, using 88-passenger DC-9s. Piedmont Airlines began regular service in January, 1986. 

Today's modern terminal building was completed in July, 1990. The original control tower (still standing) was used until July, 1995, when the new tower was commissioned. The multi-level parking garage was opened in September, 1999.

This historical synopsis was prepared by Ned Mayo.

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