ATL POSTCARDS AND AERIAL PHOTOS FROM THE 1960s
These first three postcard views were obviously taken the same day and judging from the aircraft types and the paint schemes, it was most likely 1965. Notice that every single Delta gate is full; the need for more space was a constant issue at the 1961 terminal. The Pan Am DC-8 (the one with the light blue globe logo on the tail, top center) seen at concourse F was used on single-plane interchange flights with Delta. Delta crews would fly New Orleans - Atlanta - Washington Dulles and Pan Am crews would take over and continue on to Philadelphia, London and Paris. Just beyond the Pan Am aircraft is the area of the 1932 terminal which had recently been demolished to make space for jets using concourse F. Interestingly, the 1931 E.A.T. terminal was still standing, nearly hidden to the left of the Southern Airways hangar at top center.
The view below shows concourses B and C in the foreground with an Eastern DC-7 (front) and Piedmont FH-227 at the gates. The Eastern aircraft is wearing the blue and white "hockey-stick" paint scheme introduced in early 1965.
The view below shows concourses B and C in the foreground with an Eastern DC-7 (front) and Piedmont FH-227 at the gates. The Eastern aircraft is wearing the blue and white "hockey-stick" paint scheme introduced in early 1965.
This fantastic view of the 1961 terminal and surrounding area faces south with Virginia Avenue in the foreground. At far left is the cargo and general aviation area. At right center is the spectacular airport Gulf station and at bottom right is the Air Host Inn, also a fine example of 1960's "Googie" architecture. Directly above the control is the airport fire station. This also shows the central location of the terminal between the diagonal runways then in use.
Here's a similar view dated June 11, 1964 showing almost the entire airport. The interchange with I-85, still under construction, is in the foreground. The Delta "Jet Base" is seen at upper left. Click HERE to see a larger version. The detail is incredible. Courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photographic Archives. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library.
Slightly closer view, also from June 11, 1964. A second parallel east-west runway was under construction near the top of the photo. It looks like the area had been graded but not yet paved. At right, numerous construction vehicles can be seen on I-85 which opened later that year. Click HERE for the detail-packed large version.
Here's a view of the nearly completed second parallel runway which was dedicated in early December 1964. The Maple Street subdivision between the runways on the west side of the airport, at left, is the site of the current passenger terminal.
Another
great postcard view of the airport showing the crowded conditions at the terminal in 1968. Lots of construction projects here: the ramps have been expanded around the ends of each concourse and space-age rotundas are being built at the ends of concourses E and F.
Aerial photo of Atlanta Municipal Airport taken December 6, 1968 shows the extension of the northern parallel runway and the addition of rotundas to the ends of concourses E and F. The rotundas allowed Delta to nearly double their number of gates. You can see more photos of the space-age additions on the next page.
A closer look at the terminal from the photo above.
