Quote:
The Navy did the same thing at the former base in the north part of Chicago,( Glendale?) which again had a need for more space for gen av. Same in Denver.
That was NAS Glenview. The area around Glenview, postwar, became a bedroom community for Chicago and was rapidly built up with subdivisions in the '60s and '70s (including the one where I grew up). The 1100 acres of the base property had been in the sights of the city for a long time before the base closed as the last big unbuilt parcel in the area; I imagine general aviation wasn't part of the plan because of the close proximity of Palwaukee Airport about ten miles away and the fact that the area was considered pretty well-to-do and could afford to launch a big NIMBY campaign if it was suggested. Housing and retail were what the city wanted, and that's what they got. Maybe it would have been a different story if the base had lasted into the time of the housing downturn. Oddly, the base never had any display aircraft, but there's now a Stearman hanging in one of the stores in the shopping center and there's also a small museum in an industrial park just east of the property.
_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)