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The Western Michigan University College of Aviation hosted the Centennial
Celebration. Pictured are the school’s students who provided a breakfast for
attendees. (Shopper News photo by Shelly Kehrle-Sulser)
Battle Creek Executive Airport Director Phil Kroll discusses the contributions
of the airport to the local economy with State Rep. Jim Haadsma while looking
over a WACO aircraft built at the airport. (Shopper News photo by Shelly Kehrle-Sulser)100 YEARS
Continued from Page 45
See CELEBRATE on 47ing, where the 394th Bombardment
Group trained before being dis-
patched to the European theater.
Two years after the end of the war,
the airport was designated as the
base for the 172nd fighter squadron,
until nine years later in 1956 when
the squadron was authorized to
expand to group level, reorganizing
the 110th Fighter Group who still
occupies the base to this.
Today, the Battle Creek Executive
Airport as a joint civil-military air-
port and operates more than 90,000
flights per year.
For the public, the airport serves
as the grounds for the annual Field
of Flight Air Show and
Balloon Festival.
Other tenants of the
airport include Duncan
Aviation, the Civil Air
Patrol and the Army
National Guard.
Also speaking at the
event were Battle Creek
Mayor Mark Behnke,
Assistant City Manager
Ted Dearing, Airport
Director Phil Kroll and
WMU College of Aviation
Dean Dr. Raymond
Thompson.
Behnke pointed out
that the airport got off
the ground after the late
W.K. Kellogg purchased
the land where the airport
now stands and deeded
the property to the City of
Battle Creek.
“In September of1924, the Battle Creek Chamber of
Commerce secured a five-year lease
at a farm to establish an aviation
field,” Behnke said. “W.K. Kellogg
generously, once again, funded the
purchase of land and financed the
airport improvement and equipment
over several years. W.K. was a true
visionary, recognizing the immense
potential an airport could bring to the
City of Battle Creek.”
Behnke added that people of the
community have continued to sup-
port the asset over the years.
“Probably the most significant
flight was one that Jim Hettinger
organized on March 7, 1998,” said
Behnke, “when British Airways flew
their jet from New York City to
Battle Creek and back to New York.
There were 60,000 people here in
Battle Creek that day and to see the
Concord land in Battle Creek, I’ll
never forget it as long as I live.”
Today, the airport has fulfilled
Kellogg’s legacy, he said.
“We have 1,300 acres to host ten-
ants who support a variety of avia-CROSSWORDPuzzles on page 23Word Search AnswersPuzzle Answers