July 2018

316 317 COASTAL CAROLINA REGIONAL AIRPORT A TOPNOTCH FACILITY COASTAL CAROLINA REGIONAL AIRPORT C oastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN) is a public-use airport located three miles southeast of downtown New Bern, in Craven County, North Carolina. The 785- acre facility is a full-service airport that supports both commercial and general aviation. EWN has an interesting history as it was founded in 1931 before World War II. Many airports across the na- tion were founded during World War II where the local communities took those assets over from the government at the end of the war. It is inter- esting to note that there was enough foresight in this area to go ahead and start the development of an airport in Eastern North Carolina well be- fore the war years. Simmons-Nott came from North Carolina Senator Furnifold McLendel Simmons who was present at the 1931 dedication of the new facility that was to bear his name. During an air perfor- mance for the dedication, United States Marine Corps First Lieutenant Joel Nott was killed. Sen- ator Simmons required that 1stLt Nott’s named be added to the airport to pay homage for the fallen military officer. After the start of World War II, the Airport served as a Marine Corps Air Station for several years, before a permanent base was opened nearby and the facility reverted back to civilian control. The Simmons-Nott designation was retained initially, but eventually the name was changed to Craven County Regional Airport, and then, about 10 years ago, it was modified to Coastal Carolina Regional Airport to embrace AT A GLANCE COASTAL CAROLINA REGIONAL AIRPORT WHAT: A public-use airport WHERE: Three miles south of downtown New Bern, in Craven County, North Carolina WEBSITE: www.newbernairport.com