Stout Field is located west of Holt Road, north and south of Minnesota Street in west Indianapolis. Established in 1926, the airport was a stop along a transcontinental air route from New York City to Los Angeles. The airport was officially named for Lt. Richard Harding Stout, a decorated veteran of World War I who had died in an airplane crash at Fort Benjamin Harrison.[2]
Curtiss Flying Service operated an air passenger service and flying school at Stout Field.[3] Curtiss' manager was Captain Harvey Weir Cook.[4] By 1928, the city realized expansion possibilities were limited and began plans for what is now Indianapolis International Airport two miles (3.2 km) to the west.[5] Captain Cook was among those who pushed for a larger municipal airport, which opened in 1931 as Indianapolis Municipal Airport. Curtiss and Transcontinental Air Transport moved their passenger service and school to the new airport.[2]
The Indiana State Police used the airfield following the war and purchased more land in order to build extensions to the runways.[4] The site proved inadequate for landing the new class of military jets and much of the land was sold in 1953.[3]
The site of the airport has now been mostly filled out by commercial and industrial development, though the unmistakable outline of an airfield can still be seen from satellite pictures.
