First Kentucky Army Aviation Support Facility

First AASF

This is the first Army Aviation Support Facility (hangar etc) of the Kentucky Army National Guard. The aircraft on the right appears to be a L-19 (or 0-1A) Bird Dog.

Thanks to Don Livingston at Air Transport, we know that this hanger is still in use today at the Capitol City Airport in Frankfort, KY as a state maintenance hanger. Photo courtesy CW4 (R) Harold Canon.

Thanks to Ron DeVore who has identified the cars parked to the left of the hangar. From left to right,- " partial view" is a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria Hardtop Coupe and the car closest to bldg. is a 1956 Chevrolet 2 dr. Bel Air Sedan.

Louisville’s Light Aviation Section moved to Frankfort, Kentucky into rental space in 1957. A new hangar was completed in 1959 at the Capital City Airport.  With the opening of the new hangar, aviation support was consolidated from Louisville and Lexington to Frankfort.  This first image shows the Army Aviation Support Facility under construction.

In April 1960, an L-20A was damaged during landing and the pilot reported that a gust of wind pushed one wing up pushing the other into the ground and into a tree. National Guard Bureau totaled the aircraft. But the Kentucky Guard pleaded its case and eventually was allowed to rebuild the aircraft.

On 15 June 1961 the L-20 / U-6 / DeHaviland Beaver rebuilt by the maintenance section passed its test flight with Major John Faulkenberry at the controls. After a thorough inspection of the craft by personnel of the New Cumberland Depot located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Aviation Section members received with a grin the report. “No adjustments required.”

Members of the Army Aviation Section who had a part in the rebuilding project which is normally performed only by Depot Maintenance were Major John I. Faulkenberry, MSGT Olan L. MCGregor, MSGT Kelly Barker, Jr., SFC William F. Berry, SFC Kelly B. McGary, SP5 William H. Canon, SP5 Robert W. Walters, SP4 Walter P. Mundy and SP4 Leonard H. Shouse.

The individual pride of all these members shows up on the instrument panel of the plane where you will find posted a card stating: “This Aircraft Built 22 Nov 1956 By DeHaviland Aircraft Corporation, Ontario, Canada. Rebuilt 15 Jun 1961 By KY ARNG Aviation Maintenance Shop Frankfort, Kentucky” “Handle With Care”.

In 1971 the Kentucky National Guard Army Aviation moved into its new home on Boone National Guard Center. The Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) is still in use today. The main block of the building was dedicated in 1974. The Original AASF was turned over to state government and is still in use today as an aviation maintenance hangar for state aircraft.

Army Aviation Section members pose in front of completed L-20 aircraft after first test flight. They are from left, Major Faulkenberry, MSGT Barker, SP4 Kirk, SFC Berry, SFC McGary, MSGT McGregor, SP4 Mundy, SP4 Shouse, SP5 Canon and SP5 Walters.