Yesterday was the Cleveland IPMS chapter show in Kirtland, which is right down the road from Willoughby. Cook operated his airport from the end of WWII until he was recalled back in to service for Korea. Today, only the hangar and part of the ramp remains. The airport property is an industrial area with many warehouses and manufacturing businesses. Since I was so close and the weather was perfect I thought I'd do some then and now photos of the hangar, as best as I could. This airport was a big part of the post war races and I doubt many who drive by every day know the history of this area.
Jim
cook5 by jim harley, on Flickr
cook4 by jim harley, on Flickr
Cook3 by jim harley, on Flickr
Cook2 by jim harley, on Flickr
Cook1 by jim harley, on Flickr
cook8 by jim harley, on Flickr
Jim
cook5 by jim harley, on Flickrcook4 by jim harley, on FlickrCook3 by jim harley, on FlickrCook2 by jim harley, on FlickrCook1 by jim harley, on Flickrcook8 by jim harley, on Flickr
. Rumor has it that the center section of his FG1-D 'Lucky Gallon' is in the basement of Walter Soplata's house in Newbury. The 3 PBYs were acquired by Cook and his partner, which I think was Dick Becker, with the idea of starting charter flights to Alaska. The expense and the advent of the Korean war nixed that idea. It is also worthy to note that the Goodyear racer "Estralita" was lost at this airport with its new owner at the controls during the last airshow held at the field in 1950. Google search Abandoned and Little known airfields in northeast ohio. You can easily get lost in that website looking at old airport locations.
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