"Groton-New London Airport"

World War I (1914-1918) had stimulated Connecticut's industrial economy, especially in munitions, and the state remained prosperous until the Great Depression and economic hard times of the 1930s. World War II (1939-1945) restored the state's prosperity; Connecticut became a site for new military product development, such as Pratt and Whitney airplane engines, Hamilton Standard propellers, Cheney silk parachutes, and Electric Boat submarines. When the war ended, jobs were cut back, but military industry had been ingrained in the state, and the Cold War of the 1950-1960s spurred military production. Southeastern Connecticut became the first producer of nuclear-powered submarines and a major supplier of Sikorsky military helicopters. Subsequently, many major corporations, such as General Electric, American Brands, and Union Carbide, moved their headquarters to Connecticut, not to mention Pfizer's move to Groton in southeastern Connecticut and their recent expansion to the New London side of the Thames River.
Trumbull Field: Coastal Base for the Armed Services
The day after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, the 59th Pursuit Squadron, which included a 21-truck convoy, was ordered moved to Trumbull Field. At the time, Trumbull was an all-turf field with two 5,000-foot runways. Potato plants grew along the airstrips, and a midfield hanger serviced the P-40s that visited the field.
Connecticut's Helicopter Heritage
The state of Connecticut was an early player in the helicopter's development when, in 1907, inventor J. Newton Williams (Ansonia) built one of America's first helicopters. Testing was done at Hammondsport, New York, where it lifted a man six inches into the air. Igor I. Sikorsky built on this beginning, and after 30 years of research, succeeded in developing and testing the Western Hemisphere's first successful helicopter, the VS-300, on September 14, 1939, at Stratford, Connecticut. Much of America's helicopter industry was and is still located in Connecticut, such as Kaman Aircraft Corporation's unique helicopter rotor, developed during World War II, whose control was governed by a servo-flap. Large-scale production of Kaman helicopters began in 1950, and Kaman was a pioneer in gas-turbine helicopters, the world's first flight of which was on December 10, 1951.	The Sikorsky V-300 Helicopter. Photo courtesy of Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives, Website: www.sikorskyarchives.com
Commuter Clips and Transfer of Trumbull to Commercial Use Even though the world was moving toward commuter flight, the state of Connecticut was, during these years, in itself not lucrative enough for profitable and regular intrastate airline service, which began in 1926. Only three commercial airports were in place at Hartford, Bridgeport, and New Haven. Commuters found it easier and cheaper to travel from Boston to New York by bus, train, or auto. Most of Connecticut's airport patronage was in the way of chartered aircraft.
Did You Know 1908 — The first lollipop-making machine opens for business in New Haven, developed by George Smith. He named the candy after a popular racehorse. 1917 through 1945 — Approximately 67,000 Connecticut men served in WWI, and 210,000 in WWII. 1943 — The Connecticut General Assembly establishes the Inter-Racial Commission. The Commission is recognized as the nation's first statutory civil rights agency.
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