Address: 78980 State Highway 4
HECTOR AIRPORT HISTORY
(The following information was provided to the City of Hector by Curtis Sampson on January 6, 1980)
In 1939 and 1940, Hector laid claim to being the “most air minded city in the U.S.A.” Feature articles in National Aeronautics, the Minneapolis Star Journal, Hector Mirror and other publications supported this claim as the Star Journal reported in September 1940 that 40 percent of the men between 18 and 40 were either pilots or student fliers. An incredible 45 residents who did solo flying and another 100 residents taking instructions out of a population of 1,044.
It all started in 1927 when Glenn L. Clark, the 35 year old flying enthusiast took lessons at Word Chamberlain field near Minneapolis and personally rented a pasture that included the area east of the present Dairy Frost, which at that time was Glenn’s filling station, lunch counter and residence. I.R. Hable bought the first plan in February 1928, and American Eagle and it was delivered to the airport April 21, 1928. Glenn bought a bi-plan, a Standard, also known as the OX5 which kept him flying until July 7, 1932.
T-33A Aircraft displayed by the entrance to the Hector Airport
On that date, occurred the only fatal crash in Hector’s airport history. About 10 people had gathered to watch Glenn take his usual evening spin. Clarence Kirkpatrick was to be his passenger, but when he didn’t show up, Oscar Youngquist, the Standard Oil deal in Hector, stepped forward and went with Glenn.
Oscar had come to the airport to milk his cow which was tied up nearby in the pasture. The cow was never milked that night as shortly after take-off, Glenn heard a cable snap. After three spirals, the plane crashed into a field south of the Brookfield Court property and Youngquist was killed. Glenn miraculously survived but would not fly again until he bought a WACO 10 in 1936 and later would fly with his son, Jim.
1939 and 1940 were the big years with John Rice, Mary Jane Leasman, Allen Kirkpatrick, Doug and Carey Fahlberg, Mayor O.E. Smith, Alfred Ericson, and 16 year old Jim Clark among the names most frequently mentioned. World War II did not shut down the airport as it was frequently mentioned. World War II did not shut down the airport as it was guarded 24 hours per day, but flying activity was greatly reduced as many of the pilots joined the Air Force and served as instructors and pilots.
The Hard surfaced and lighted runway is 2,800 feet long and its direction is 120*/30*. The sod runway is 2,500 feet in length and is 220*/40*. The flying activity includes personal, recreational and business.
