HISTORY OF AIRLINE SERVICE AT IMESON AIRPORT JACKSONVILLE, FL
Part 5: The final years of Imeson 1967-1968
By 1967, Imeson Airport was handling over 600,000 passengers a year and was served by five major airlines: Delta, United, Eastern, National, and Northeast along with regional airline Southern Airways and several commuter carriers. The major airlines were rapidly retiring older propeller planes in favor of jets which required longer runways and larger terminal facilities. The new jets had also triggered numerous lawsuits against the airport and airlines, with litigants claiming the deafening noise was making the area unlivable. The surrounding neighborhoods, industrial sites, water, railroad and highways made further expansion at Imeson unfeasible. The city decided it would cost less to build a new airport from scratch than to expand Imeson, and construction on Jacksonville International Airport, 7 miles to the north, began in 1965. In the meantime, Imeson Airport managed to keep up with the increasing traffic and larger planes.
Despite its limitations, the airport was able to handle the largest airliners of time. These first three photos were taken during the ribbon cutting ceremony for Delta's inauguration of DC-8-61 service to Jacksonville on April 30, 1967. The 195-passenger, 187 feet long "stretch 8" (or "Super DC-8" as Delta advertised it) was the world's largest airliner until the introduction of the 747 three years later. A Piper Cub was parked next to it to give a sense of scale. Photos from the Jacksonville International Airport Facebook page.
Despite its limitations, the airport was able to handle the largest airliners of time. These first three photos were taken during the ribbon cutting ceremony for Delta's inauguration of DC-8-61 service to Jacksonville on April 30, 1967. The 195-passenger, 187 feet long "stretch 8" (or "Super DC-8" as Delta advertised it) was the world's largest airliner until the introduction of the 747 three years later. A Piper Cub was parked next to it to give a sense of scale. Photos from the Jacksonville International Airport Facebook page.
Ribbon cutting for the first flight of the "World's Largest Jet Liner" from Jacksonville.
April 30, 1967 Jacksonville International Airport Facebook page
Delta DC-8-61 N822E at Imeson in July 1967 courtesy of Bob Garrard.
Southern Airways replaced their DC-3s with Martin 404s in the mid 1960s and continued to fly between Jacksonville and Atlanta via Valdosta, Moultrie, Albany and Columbus, Georgia. One of the covered walkways that extended onto the Imeson ramp can be seen in the background. Photo taken by Bob Garrard in July 1967.
National Airlines DC-8-21 N6573C in the original paint job parked at the end of one of the covered walkways in July 1967. Taken by Bob Garrard. Thank you Bob!
Passenger Shirley Padgett preparing to board a National Airlines DC-8 painted in the new "Sun King" colors. The Laurie Yonge Flying Service hangar is in the distance.
The next six photos are courtesy of Jim O'Brien and are from November 11, 1967, 11 months before the airport closed. The first three were taken from National Airlines Lockheed L-188A Electra N5017K operating flight 296 inbound from Miami, West Palm Beach, Orlando and Daytona. This first photo was taken while on the downwind leg for runway 9 just south of the Trout River where it joins the St. Johns river, looking up runway 5.
Jim O'Brien wrote, "Short final - while blurry, you can see 3 Southern Martin 404s and a National Electra at the terminal (Flight 293 to Tallahassee - Panama City - Pensacola - Mobile - New Orleans).
"Over the fence on runway 9, another view of the terminal area."
Three Southern Martin 404s parked waiting for the Georgia Bulldogs football team to go back to Athens, GA after the big GA - FLA football game, November 11, 1967. Photo courtesy of Jim O'Brien.
The same aircraft viewed from the terminal, facing northeast.
Jim O'Brien continues: "National Electra N5002K landing on runway 9, which I was to board back to Miami later via Daytona, Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers." Thanks again to Jim for allowing me to post these great photos!
Here are some of the commuter airlines that served Imeson Airport in its final years. Florida Air Lines flew from Jacksonville to Tampa via Gainesville and Ocala. Coastal Airlines flew nonstop to Orlando, Tallahassee and Daytona with continuing service to Melbourne, West Palm Beach and the Bahamas. Shawnee operated an average of 5 flights a day at Imeson, split between Daytona and Orlando with direct service to West Palm Beach, Lakeland, Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale. Coastal timetable courtesey of Don Henchel. Shawnee timetable courtesy of Björn Larsson.
A billboard in the crowded Imeson parking lot announcing the upcoming opening of Jacksonville International Airport in 1968. In earlier photos, this parking area was a circular island landscaped with shrubs and flowers. Jacksonville International Airport Facebook page
June 21, 1968 Jeppesen approach chart Courtesy of John Hewson.
More than 600,000 passengers were boarded at Imeson in its final year of operation and Eastern Air Lines still maintained a slight lead over National at this point.
A fantastic aerial view of Imeson Airport from 1968 shows the geographic and manmade features that prevented further expansion of the field. The new Jacksonville International Airport can be seen at top left. Photo courtesy of Jeff Stull.
Imeson's passenger terminal officially closed at 12:01AM on October 27, 1968 and operations were transferred to Jacksonville International Airport. Jacksonville International Airport Facebook page
This photo was apparently taken shortly after the airport closed; the ticket counters of Northeast and United are bare, the lobby is deserted, the phones have been removed from the booths at far right, and yet a sole gentleman appears to be watching a football game on the channel 4 TV. The lights would soon be permanently turned off. Photo source: Jacksonville International Airport Facebook page.