Old Newspaper Articles

From: The Pratt Tribune "Homestead"

Taking time to stop and smell the roses has been somewhat of a lifetime hobby of Ora Utz of Pratt. Since early in the 1930s Ora has been known for her greenhouse and flower shop and her many talents which went into her work.

Memorial planned for Pratt's role during WWII

The Associated Press
October 21, 2002

Pratt — Before he flew the B-29 Superfortress that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan in August 1945, pilot Paul Tibbets took a practice run in Pratt and nearly clipped the top of the old Roberts Hotel.

By Quenten Hannawald
From Pratt Tribune Feb. 6, 1991

Building Pratt Army Air Field

In the late part of 1941 or early 1942, a British Operational Training unit was to be built on the recently purchased ground for the Municipal airport. It was to have two to three satellite fields. A rail spur was surveyed into the new city field. In May it was reported that the Fairview school was moved a mile west of its original site, as the area was to be one of the satellite fields. A little later the unit was canceled.

By Quenten Hannawald
From Pratt Tribune Feb. 13, 1991

As construction proceeded on the Pratt Army Air Field, Army personnel started appearing at the installation. At first it was the Army Engineer and his staff. Later Lt. Col. John P. Nelson was assigned as the first Commanding Officer of the Pratt Army Air Field. On February 2, 1943 a detachment of 12 men arrived for duty at the field. The men were quartered in town as the mess hall was being used by one of the contractors to feed his men.

By Quenten Hannawald February 20, 1991 Pratt Kansas Tribune

Personal Memories of the Army Air Base

I have been urged to give a story of my involvement at the Pratt Army Air Base during World War II. At the time, it seemed very confusing to even be out there. In a way we were involved and didn't realize.

By Carol Bronson

Pratt Tribune Apr. 27, 2001

An opportunity is available this weekend for those who remember when there was an Army Air Field instead of a municipal airport north of Pratt, with long-range heavy bombers instead of light civilian planes, as well as for those who are unaware of the community's importance in World War II.

Source: Pride August 26, 1959 (A Supplement to the Pratt Daily Tribune)
First B-29 Superfortress from Pratt
At 1 a.m. of a day late in March of 1944 a B-29 Superfortress took off from the Pratt Army Air base, bound for India, the first such plane to leave the United States for the Pacific theater of World War II.

Source: Pride August 26, 1959 (A Supplement to the Pratt Daily Tribune)

The big former B-29 training base here will be transferred to the city of Pratt today.