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At left is an image of the airport ca. 1933. Located three
miles west of the city of Patterson, LA, the airport is polygonal
and covers 90 acres with a sod surface. The entire field is
good sod, all available for use. It is 25 feet MSL. It has
the standard 100’ circle, and “PATTERSON”
painted on the hangar roof.
It has a 24” revolving beacon with a green code beacon
flashing “W”. It has bourndary lights, flood and
obstruction lights and ceiling and hangar flood lights. There
is a telephone on the field (number 74-W), as well as weather
reports.
There are modern hotels and restaurants in the city, with
taxi and bus service from the airport. Fuel, oil and storage
services are available, as are licensed mechanics day or night
(licensed repair station #44). Storage is $1.50 or $2.00 per
day, with special monthly rates. There is no landing or flood
light charge.
This airport has the reputation of being the best equipped
shop and factory in the south, offering welding, rebuilding,
repairing, a full stock of Pratt & Whitney, Wright and
Kinner parts, and custom-built racing planes.
Photo, right, from the Wedell-Williams Museum in Patterson,
LA. The Museum is adjacent to the old airport in a building
near the word "Patterson" in the photo above. The
aircraft (right) is the Wedell-Williams racer, "Miss
Patterson".
For biographical sketches of Harry Williams and Jimmie and
Walter Wedell, and a history of the Wedell-Williams Company
and its activities at the airport, follow this link.
Eastern Airlines purchased Wedell-Williams Air Service in
1937.
Left, an image I took 2/24/05 of the historic marker located
adjacent to the contemporary airport.
UPLOADED: 08/26/05 REVISED:
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