Airport History


Smith Field is situated on 236 acres of land approximately 5 miles north of downtown Fort Wayne and less than two miles from Interstate 69. Smith Field is currently the primary reliever airport for the Fort Wayne International Airport.

Smith Field was the City of Fort Wayne’s first municipal Airport and was originally called Baer Field in honor of Paul Baer. Smith Field was developed on land secured by the Park Board for the airport in the vicinity of an existing private landing field. The airport was dedicated and began operations in June 1925.

Extensive Improvements were undertaken in 1930 to meet federal requirements including the construction of the main hangar, which is still in use today. In 1930, Fort Wayne was added to regular airmail services. The first airmail flight left Fort Wayne on December 8, 1930. Airmail service continued until 1933 when it was dropped and not re-instituted until 1937. In the early 1940's, Smith Field had scheduled airline service from TWA.

Just prior to the outbreak of World War II, the army purchased a site south of the city (presently Fort Wayne International Airport) for development of an airfield. Insisting the airport be named for a military figure, the Army chose to name it’s facility Baer Field.

The old Baer Field, the original municipal airport was then given the name it has today, Smith Field, in honor of the local aviation pioneer, Art Smith. Since that time Smith Field has served the general aviation needs of the surrounding area.