FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — Congress has endorsed designating Fort Wayne's Smith Field as the site of a planned National Airmail Museum.
The U.S. Senate voted last week in favor of a Federal Aviation Administration bill that included the airmail museum. The House approved the legislation last month.
T he Journal Gazette reports bill prohibits the use of federal money for the project. Advocates hope to raise about $2.5 million to overhaul an aircraft hangar for the museum.
Museum advocate Bob Wearley says congressional backing is a big step and that attention will turn to building public support.
Commercial airmail service started at Smith Field in 1930 — then known as Paul Baer Municipal Airport. Both Baer and Art Smith were celebrated pilots from Fort Wayne who died in plane crashes while delivering mail.
