Ruth Haines
Bradley International Airport, historically known as Bradley Field, is a public international airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Second Lieutenant Eugene M. Bradley, a 24-year-old pilot who died in a routine training exercise at the site in 1941, when it was an army air base.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Bradley International Airport |
| Location | Windsor Locks, Connecticut, United States |
| Named After | Second Lieutenant Eugene M. Bradley |
| Rank | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Age at Death | 24 |
| Role | Pilot |
| Year of Death | 1941 |
| Owner | Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) |
| Status | Second-largest airport in New England |
| Carriers | Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, and American |
| Military Use | Dual-use military facility with the U.S. Air Force |
| Airlift Wing | 103rd Airlift Wing (103 AW) of the Connecticut Air National Guard |
| Name Change | No plans to change as of 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
The airport is named after Second Lieutenant Eugene M. Bradley
Bradley International Airport is named after Second Lieutenant Eugene M. Bradley, a 24-year-old pilot who died in a training exercise in August 1941. The airport is located in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and is the largest airport in the state. It is also the second-largest airport in New England, after Boston's Logan International Airport.
The history of Bradley International Airport dates back to the early 1940s when it was constructed as a fighter base during World War II. In January 1941, Governor Robert Hurley proposed the acquisition of a 2,000-acre tract of land in Windsor Locks for the construction of a military airfield. The proposal was approved by the General Assembly, and the federal government leased the land to build the airfield and supporting facilities for a fighter interceptor base. The airfield was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in the summer of 1941.
The airfield was named after Second Lieutenant Eugene M. Bradley, who was a newlywed when he died in the training accident. The base served as a training ground for air combat units during the war and was also used for staging areas for overseas deployment. After the war, in 1945, the field was deactivated and returned to state ownership. Two years later, in 1947, Bradley Field became the home of the Connecticut Air National Guard.
The convenient location of Bradley Field between New York and Boston, along with the lack of coastal fog, made it an attractive site for developing a commercial airport. Plans for its conversion began in the late 1940s, and it opened for public use in 1946. Over the years, the airport has undergone expansions and improvements to accommodate increasing passenger and freight traffic. Today, Bradley International Airport is a bustling transportation hub, serving millions of passengers annually and offering nonstop services to numerous destinations across the United States and beyond.
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Bradley was a 24-year-old pilot who died in a training exercise
Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, is named after Second Lieutenant Eugene M. Bradley, a 24-year-old pilot who died in a training exercise. The airport, which is the largest in Connecticut, was historically known as Bradley Field. The site was originally an army air base, constructed on a 2,000-acre tract of land acquired by the state of Connecticut in 1941 to support the war effort.
Lieutenant Bradley was a newlywed when he died in a training exercise held on the base in August 1941. The young pilot's death prompted the naming of the airfield in his honour. The field served as a training base for air combat units during the war years, and it also became a staging area for overseas deployment. Towards the end of the war, the site was used as a camp for German prisoners of war.
In 1945, the field was deactivated and returned to state ownership. Two years later, in 1947, Bradley Field became the home of the Connecticut Air National Guard, which had previously operated out of Brainard Field in Hartford. The site was chosen for its strategic position midway between New York and Boston, as well as the lack of coastal fog, making it an attractive location for the development of a commercial airport. Plans for its conversion into a public airport began in the late 1940s.
Today, Bradley International Airport is a bustling transportation hub, serving over 6.75 million passengers in 2019. It is the second-largest airport in New England, after Boston's Logan International Airport. The airport is a dual-use military facility, housing the 103rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard.
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The site was originally an army air base
Bradley International Airport, historically known as Bradley Field, is a public international airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. It is the second-largest airport in New England and the largest airport in Connecticut. The airport is owned and operated by the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) and is the busiest commercial airport in the state.
During World War II, Bradley Field served as a training base for air combat units and a staging area for overseas deployment. It also served as a camp for German prisoners of war towards the end of the war. In 1945, the field was deactivated and returned to state ownership. Two years later, in 1947, Bradley Field became the home of the Connecticut Air National Guard, which had previously operated out of Brainard Field in Hartford.
Due to its strategic location midway between New York and Boston, as well as its lack of coastal fog, Bradley Field was identified as an attractive site for the development of a commercial airport. Plans for its conversion began in the late 1940s. The airport was opened for public use in 1946 and came under the jurisdiction of the Department of Aeronautics, which later became part of the unified Department of Transportation (DOT) in 1969.
Over the years, Bradley International Airport has undergone several expansions to accommodate increasing passenger and freight traffic. In 1965, the airport expanded its facilities by adding two passenger wings to the original terminal and lengthening runways to accommodate larger jet airplanes. In 1983, further developments were made, including the expansion of terminal facilities, parking, and hotel accommodations. The airport was designated an international airport in 1966, although overseas service was initially sporadic and limited.
Today, Bradley International Airport continues to be a significant transportation hub, with eight major airlines providing nonstop service to over 30 US cities, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. The airport has also attracted important aviation industries, such as the Kaman Corporation, which manufactured the world's first turbine-powered helicopter, successfully operated at Bradley Airport in 1951.
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Bradley International Airport is Connecticut's largest airport
The airport has a rich history, dating back to World War II when it was constructed by the federal government as a fighter base on land acquired by the State of Connecticut. After the war, the airport was deeded to the state and opened for public use in 1946. It became the home of the Connecticut Air National Guard in 1947. Bradley International Airport has played a significant role in aviation advancements, with Kaman Corporation successfully operating the world's first turbine-powered helicopter at the airport in 1951.
Over the years, Bradley International Airport has undergone several expansions to accommodate increasing passenger and freight traffic. The airport has also been recognised for its excellence, being ranked as the second-best airport in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler's Reader's Choice Awards in 2022.
The airport serves as a dual-use military facility with the U.S. Air Force and is home to the 103rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard. It offers flights to over 30 US cities, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. The four largest carriers at the airport are Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, and American.
While there have been discussions about changing the airport's name to increase its visibility, the Connecticut Airport Authority decided to retain the name Bradley International Airport as no significant benefits were found from renaming.
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The airport is owned and operated by the Connecticut Airport Authority
Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, is owned and operated by the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA). It is the largest airport in Connecticut and the second-largest airport in New England, after Boston's Logan International Airport. The airport is a public international airport and a dual-use military facility with the U.S. Air Force, housing the 103rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard.
The CAA was established as a quasi-public agency in 2011 to own, improve, and operate Bradley International Airport and five other state-owned general aviation airports in Connecticut. These include Danielson, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham airports. The CAA aims to provide excellent customer service and top-quality facilities for its passengers, attract new airlines, establish new routes, and support Connecticut's economic development.
Bradley Airport is named after Second Lieutenant Eugene M. Bradley, a 24-year-old pilot who died in a training exercise at the site in August 1941 when it was an army air base. The airport has a rich history, having served as a training base for air combat units and a staging area for overseas deployment during World War II. It also housed German prisoners of war towards the end of the war.
Over the years, Bradley International Airport has undergone several expansions to accommodate increasing passenger and freight traffic. The airport added two passenger wings and lengthened runways in 1965. Further expansions took place in 1983, and the airport operations were modernised in 2007. Today, Bradley International Airport serves over 6.75 million passengers annually and is a significant hub for airlines like Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, and American.
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Frequently asked questions
Bradley Airport is named after Second Lieutenant Eugene M. Bradley, a 24-year-old pilot who died in a routine training exercise held on the site in August 1941.
The airport was originally constructed as a fighter base in 1941 on land acquired by the State of Connecticut as part of the war effort. The site was then a military base, and Lt. Bradley died in a crash during a training exercise there.
Yes, in 2019, airport leaders announced their goals, which included considering changing the airport's name and expanding its service. However, in 2020, the Connecticut Airport Authority's board of directors decided to retain the name after a study found that there was no decisive benefit to changing it.
