The Eddie Martin Airport
Artist
Scott FitzGerald
Date1974
MediumPrint
Dimensions8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm)
ClassificationsPrintmaking
Credit LineGift of Dan and Cathy Thomas
Object number2020.008
DescriptionThe history of aviation in Orange County dates back to the early days of the 1900s. Glenn L. Martin, one of aviation’s pioneers, with help from his mother built his first airplane in an abandoned church at Second and Main streets in Newport Beach. Glenn made history in 1912 for the longest overwater flight recorded at that time when he flew from Newport Beach to Catalina at the controls of a hydroplane.The first commercial airport in the county was built by a man also named Martin – Eddie Martin (unrelated to Glenn) and his brothers, Floyd and Johnny. The three brothers selected a site in 1921 at South Main Street and Newport Avenue for their field. And a “field” it was – as shown in our etching with a J-1 Standard plane in the foreground, there was no concrete or asphalt runways. Nevertheless, the airport was a successful venture, operating with the reliable old “Jenny” planes, Bleriots, and J-1 Standards. The airport was later relocated on a portion of the Irvine Ranch.
During World War II, the Eddie Martin Airport was put into active service by the U.S. Air Corps, where among its many wartime uses was that of headquarters for a squadron of the famed P-38 twin-engine fighter planes.
(August 1974)
Written by the artist, Scott Fitzgerald
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