Established in 1926, Stout Field was one of 12 stops along an early transcontinental route from New York to Los Angeles. The site was alternately known as Cox Field, Mars Hill Airport, the National Flying Field, and the Indianapolis National Guard Airport. The airport was officially named for Richard H. Stout, a decorated veteran of World War I. Curtiss Flying Service operated an air passenger service and flying school on the site until 1931, when a new municipal airport was established. The U.S. Army Air Corps used Stout Field as a training base and conducted air transport operations from the site during World War II. The Indiana State Police used the airfield following the war and purchased more land in order to build extensions to the runways. The site proved inadequate for landing military jets, so much of the land was sold in 1953. The Indianapolis Municipal Airport began passenger airline service in 1931. The site was renamed Weir Cook Municipal Airport in 1944. H. Weir Cook was an Indiana-born fighter pilot who died in a plane crash in New Caledonia on 24 March 1943. The airport was renamed Indianapolis Municipal Airport in 1976.
From the description of Aircraft photographs [graphic], 1929-1959. (Indiana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 51059586
