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Welcome. Please keep in mind that this history compendium is a continual work in progress. Any information you might have to contribute would be greatly appreciated. If so, Please contact Airport Manager A ROSTER OF AIRPORT MANAGERS John Raissi (1967)  On January
1, 1967, John Raissi succeeded John Kelly as the second
manager of Trumbull Airport after the airport was
decommissioned
from military service. Raissi was 41. His appointment had been
announced at a meeting of the State Aeronautics Commission on
December 15, 1966.A native of Enfield, Raissi's aviation experience harkened back to World War II. The Army airforce was building military landing fields in Africa, China, Burma, and India for fighter planes and (later) bombers; Raissi oversaw construction. After the war, he rose in service, being named assistant manager at Bradley International Airport in 1946, a position he held for 20 years. While at Bradley, he started the Old War Assets Administration, which handled the takeover of the field from the military to state control. Raissi was the first Airport Foreman designated in the state of Connecticut, and at the time of his appointment to Trumbull (Groton-New London) Airport, he held the rating of Airport Manager II, the second-highest classification for airport managers under the State Personnel Department. (Photo Courtesy of The Hartford Times, December 15, 1966.) Leo J. Cordier (1975)  Monday,
July 14, 1975, was Leo Cordier's first day on the job. "It's like
running a city," he told the New London Day (July 15, 1975).
"There are identical responsibilities — security, maintenance,
fire protection. But I also have
airplanes
to contend with." The
56-year-old airport manager is a Putnam native, and at the time
of his appointment to Trumbull, Cordier was a resident of West
Hartford. Family plans included a move to the Groton area.Cordier had previously been the night manager for Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks for 27 years, and he conceded the differences between the Bradley and Trumbull airports. In 1975, Trumbull was the second-largest state-operated airport in Connecticut; 85,000 people were flying in and out of Groton annually. A bear on maintenance, Cordier said that his prime responsibility was to "keep it [the airport] open at all times," to keep the runways in pristine condition, and to only employ top-notch personnel. The man knew flying, and Cordier earned his stars during wartime service as a glider pilot who survived an incredible five missions. "Trumbull has a reputation of being one of the finest airports in New England," he told the New London Day, "and I hope to keep it that way." (Photo Courtesy of The Day, July 15, 1975.) George M. Rooher (1977) Ernest J. Little (Resigned, 1986) Richard E. Pealer (1986, Retired in 1994)  Richard Pealer has
borne the public flack over airport noise and other issues, but
it never daunted him during his eight-year position as airport
manager for Groton-New London Airport. He was 56 when he took
over the position in 1986, and his duties included runway
operations,
safety
hazard control, budgeting, employment, and
public relations. A resident of Windham, he shrugged off the
30-mile drive to Groton every day, and even during nighttime
snowstorms to oversee runway plowing. Some of the more notable
airport patrons during his tenure included Oliver North, Jimmy
Carter, George Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Sarah Ferguson.Pealer was born in Wilkes-Barre, New Jersey, the youngest of 11 children. Flying was in his blood at an early age, exhibited by his fondness for model planes and his excitement in watching planes take off and land at nearby airports. At the time of his tenure in Groton, he owned his own plane, a 1946 Tailercraft. In 1948, Pealer enlisted in the Navy, worked as a radar man, and toured on blimps and RC-121s. Around 1956, he retired with the rank of chief petty officer and was appointed civil air traffic controller for Otis Air Force Base (Cape Code), and in 1960 began his position as air traffic controller for Bradley International. Some health problems arose in 1976, forcing Pealer to leave Bradley for a state management position, overseeing Windham Airport (1978) and later Danielson (four years), and the Groton-New London facilities. With his appointment as airport manager at Groton-New London Airport came more-intense public-relations responsibilities, specifically in noise control. His philosophy? Try to keep everyone happy. It's a monumental task: Keep the residents of Groton appeased while maintaining viable commuter service in Southeastern Connecticut. (Photo Courtesy of The Day.) Gary Schmid (1994) Ohio native Gary Schmid came to know Southeastern Connecticut after seeing service aboard the Nautilus. With his appointment as airport manager at Groton-New London Airport came the problems of the late 1990s. Though traffic in the area had been waning, the newly opened Mohegan Casino was expected to be a boost to the region's economy and spur a greater need for flight service into and out of the Groton area. Catherine Young (1997 to Present)  As the current airport
manager of Groton-New London Airport, Catherine Young finds the
position challenging and an opportunity to apply a broad
understanding of airport environments through the use of her
skills in business and personnel management. She was singularly
instrumental in the research, design, and implementation of the
Landscape Renewal Program for the parking and terminal entrance
areas at the airport, as well as a leader in the partnership with
the (former) Southeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce to host
the first Annual Family Air Fest and Static Air Show. Over 3,000
people attended, with 40 military, GA, and experimental aircraft
on display. Catherine
Young's experience spans the gamut, from her work with The Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey as manager for Human
Resources Programs to her present position as Airport Manager,
Groton-New London Airport. Her position with the Port Authority
encompassed overseeing personnel programs for the Aviation
Director's Office, a healthy responsibility covering JFK
International, Newark International, LaGuardia, and NY
Heliports.
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| TABLE OF
CONTENTS Ancient, Ancient History (Pre-1800) -Colonialism -Manufacturing -The Birth of Connecticut's Aviation History Ancient History, But Great Beginnings (1800-1900) -Connecticut — Flexing Her Wings The Pre-WWII Years (1900-1940) -Flying Fever -Eclipsing and Science over Southeastern Connecticut -Connecticut and the Growth in Transportation The World At War (1940-1949) -Trumbull Field Serves As Coastal Base For The Armed Services -Connecticut's Helicopter Heritage -Commuter Clips and Transfer of Trumbull to Commercial Use -History of Trumbull Airport "No Down Payment" — The Boomer Years (1950-1965) -Connecticut's Helicopter Heritage Whirls Along -Bringing Trumbull Airport Up To Speed - Facility Improvements Middle Of The Road - The Update on Airport Upgrades (1965-1980) -Master Plans Underway -The 1970s - Not The Best Of Years On To the Millennium -Area Businesses Take Stock In Groton-New London Airport -Survival Systems, Inc. Opens Groton Facility Next To Airport -The State Of Connecticut Moves Forward For Site Renovations -"The Birds" Once Again Rain Down On The Airport -Post-September 11, 2001 OUR SINCERE THANKS We would like to express our sincere thanks to the following individuals/organizations who have helped to make this history compendium possible: The New London Day, The Hartford Courant, The Aero Club of New England, The Connecticut Historical Society, Carol W. Kimball, The Poquonnock Bridge Story, Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives, The News, Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives, The Norwich Bulletin. |
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HOME • FLIGHTS • A SHORT FLIGHT THROUGH HISTORY
Catherine L. Young, Airport Manager
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