Aviation

Helena Municipal Airport

The WPA Air-Marking Project
Helped Early Fliers Know Where They Were

More about Louise Thaden

 

The 1936 Airport Terminal Building, Shown in 1938

The Helena Municipal Airport terminal (or "administration building", as it was called) in 1938. This is the south side, facing Poplar Ave. The terminal was built in 1936, funded primarily by federal WPA money.

These beautiful 1938 photos of the Helena Municipal Airport terminal were sent in by Charlie Beaton, who writes: "I grew up in Helena and my Dad moved there in 1938 as a radio operator for Northwest Airlines. Here are a few photos my Dad took of the original airport terminal in 1938." Many thanks to Charlie for sharing these images.



The north (runway) side of the Helena airport terminal, 1938. A 16'x16' glass-enclosed tower was added to the top in November of 1943. The building was demolished in April of 2006, but the tower was saved by Don and Barb Hulett, who moved it to their Lakeside home...


INDEPENDENT RECORD PHOTO BY JON EBELT



A Lockheed Electra at the Helena Airport, 1938.

 

 

Helena airport terminal interior, 1938. Note the Norhwest Airlines sign and counter.

 

 

Helena airport terminal, 1938. Second-floor control room

 

 


CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW

Northwest Airlines Douglas DC-3, 1938

 

 


CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW

Northwest Airlines Lockheed 14-H Super Electra, 1938



Eleanor Roosevelt - 1938

 


Helena Airport, 1940


COURTESY OF TOM KILMER



COURTESY OF TOM KILMER

Thanks, Tom, for sharing this great image.



Anna Lou and Harold Weggenman at the Airport, ca. 1946


COURTESY OF SHAWNA WEGGENMAN BAKE

 

 

Helena Girls Scouts in Airport Hangar, circa 1949


COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW

According to the seller of this photograph, these are Helena Girl Scouts on a field trip to the Helena Municipal Airport. The date is 1949-50. The following nineteen names are signed on the reverse of the photograph (seventeen girls are pictured): Dot Carlson, Nancy Wood, Dawn Wood, Louise Peterson, Karlene Miller, Gayette Fredregill, Pat Kindrick, Shirley Bausch, Mildred Painter, Sue Wiley, Beverley Easbey, Polly MacDonald, Sue Wiley, Marcia Chezick, Donna Pugh, Nancy Mason, Lilah Lee Hartzog, Helen Willard.



Helena Airport Terminal, 1951


COURTESY OF KATHRYN FEHLIG



Helena Airport Hangars and New Paving, 1951


COURTESY OF KATHRYN FEHLIGCLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW

 

 

Airport Paving, 1951


COURTESY OF KATHRYN FEHLIG

 


Hollywood Stars, 1952


FROM THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY "I'VE MET THEM ALL" BY WALTER H. MARSHALL - NOW OUT OF PRINT

Several motion picture stars made a publicty stop in Helena in June of 1952. Pictured on the tarmac of the Helena Municipal Airport, left to right, are: John Derek (5th from left); Robert Wagner (6th from left); Donna Reed (7th from left); Montana Governor John Bonner (9th from left). The others are Montana movie theater operators.



Western Airlines DC-6 at Helena, circa 1960


COURTESY OF P. CHRISTIAAN KLIEGER