Post War Aviation

As peace returned to the nation and Southwest Florida, the pace slowed. The streets now seemed empty with the thousands of soldiers gone. The skies were quiet.

National continued its regular passenger service as the only major airline here and in 1955, a new $25,000 terminal was opened at Page Field. Ed Wilson, founder of Fort Myers Airways at Page Field in 1953, remembers that in 1960, Lee County doubled the size of the terminal and, a scant five years later in 1965, again doubled its size.

On December 15, 1965, Fort Myers entered the jet age According to the "National Reporter," the airline introduced jet air transportation to the city of Fort Myers with the inauguration of daily Boeing 727 flights to and from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. The northbound jet also provided service to Boston. The plane, called "The City of Fort Myers," was on its inaugural flight.

It was a momentous occasion and National President L. B. Maytag, Jr. presented a plaque praising Fort Myers for its "community endeavor to promote progress through aviation." Accepting the plaque were Lee County Commission Chairman Julian Hudson, Fort Myers Mayor Paul Myers and Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce President Walter O. Sheppard.

As air traffic increased, the need for adequate fire protection at the airport became essential. In 1965, Bryant Baker, airport manager, also wore the hat as Fire Chief and was the first Fire Chief of the Airport Fire Department. Although several obsolete fire trucks had been parked at Page Park ( the residential community adjacent to Page Field), there was very limited fire fighting equipment at Page Field. The employees of the Airport were also given firefighting responsibilities as well as performing their primary job functions to provide staffing for the services. In 1965, the first new fire truck was purchased by the county and the department was formally organized.

In 1971, the County decided to establish its own fire department and George DeTar was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners as administrative director of Lee County Division of Protective Services. The Airport Fire Department was incorporated as a department of the County Fire Service Division. The need to add personnel to the firefighting crew prompted expansion of the department with professional firefighting personnel who were hired and trained in compliance with the new State standards at that time.

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