World War II Database

1.  David Stubblebine says:
14 Mar 2025 03:52:16 PM

This map shows several interesting features of the former Mines Field. All five original hangar structures are shown (Hangars No. 2 and 3 are shown as a single structure marked “Beacon”). The large complex in the southeast corner is the North American Aviation aircraft factory. The complex south of that to the lower edge of the image is the Douglas Aircraft factory. The large building on the south side of Imperial Highway west of the Douglas plant is the Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation aircraft factory. The buildings along the curved roadway north of the runways are the new terminals for the passenger carriers that began service here in 1946. The dotted line that crosses the west ends of the runways is the original western boundary of Mines Field and the original roadbed for Sepulveda Blvd; Sepulveda Blvd is shown here detoured around the ends of the extended runways (marked “6 Lane” on this excerpt; in 1953, work was completed to restore Sepulveda Blvd to its original straight path by means of a tunnel under the runways). The area marked “Airport Expansion Area” is indeed where the Los Angeles International Airport expanded over the following years, along with a smaller area to the north not shown on this excerpt; the airport property today covers about 5.5 square miles while the original Mines Field property was exactly one square mile.