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Groton-New London
Airport was established as the first State of Connecticut
airport in 1929. Originally called Trumbull Airport after
Governor Jonathan Trumbull, the airport was taken over by the
United States Navy during World War II. The Navy built the
runways before the state resumed ownership in 1949.
The Army Air Corps used the field as early as August 1941 for
P-40 interceptors, although the runways were still grass. In
1942, the Army constructed a base and hard-surfaced runways.
Through all of 1943, a total of 10 squadrons of P-47 fighter
groups trained at the field, and in 1944 released the base to
the Navy unconditionally.
The commissioning of Groton occurred on February 1, 1944, as
an auxiliary of Quonset Point. Initially, Groton hosted
various individual squadrons. Later, entire CAGs of three or
four squadrons formed up at the base. The CAGs attached here
during the war included CAG 83, 10, 92, 152, and 4, with their
F6Fs, F4Us, SB2Cs, and TBMs. CASU 28, on board in support of
the CAGs, operated one OS2U Kingfisher, one J4F Widgeon, 12
SNJs, and one NH Howard. The station had one airplane
assigned, a GH Howard. In March 1944, station personnel
consisted of 87 officers and 678 enlisted men with barracks
for 114 officers and 1,091 men. The peak number of aircraft
reached 114 in March of 1945. Groton had three concrete
runways: two of 4,000 feet and one of 5,000 ft. In July 1946,
the Navy returned the airport to the State of Connecticut. In
1980, the name of the airport changed to Groton-New London
Airport.
Today, the airport is one of two state-owned airports with
commercial air carrier service. The funds necessary to operate
Groton-New London Airport come from the Connecticut State
Transportation Fund. Likewise, revenue derived from the
airport is returned to the Transportation Fund.
The airport is integrated into the statewide transportation
plan, as well as the National Airport System Plan. There were
80,319 aircraft operations during 1999 at Groton-New London
Airport which included military, general aviation and
commercial flights. The airport has recently undergone
$2,000,000 in renovations. The passenger terminal has been
updated with new counter and seating areas and improved
lighting.
Groton-New London Airport serves the growing number of
business commuters and leisure travelers in the Southeastern
Connecticut region in the new millenium. We are proud of our
cooperative relationship with Mystic
& More, this region's convention and visitor's
bureau. The visitor's bureau has made a significant investment
in the airport with the addition of their information center
in the terminal. Community partnership is a priority for
Groton-New London airport.
Request
a Tour of the Groton New London Airport (pdf)
Airport Master Plan Update
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HOME • FLIGHTS • A SHORT FLIGHT THROUGH HISTORY
Catherine L. Young, Airport Manager
155 Tower Avenue • Groton, CT 06340 • (860) 445-8549 •
FAX: (860) 448-1851
or E-Mail: Airport Manager
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