Prior to
World War II, the present airport site was home to both a golf course and a grass airstrip. In 1942, the site was taken over by the
U.S. Navy and the present paved runway complex constructed. Designated as
Navy Outlying Landing Field New Smyrna Beach, it operated as an auxiliary field to advanced naval flight training operations being conducted at nearby
Naval Air Station Daytona Beach,
Naval Air Station Sanford and
Naval Air Station DeLand. In 1947, NOLF New Smyrna Beach was decommissioned and the facility conveyed back to the City of New Smryna Beach for use as a civilian airport. As a Navy airfield, the facility originally incorporated four intersecting asphalt runways. Although all paved areas remain, only three of the runways remain operational today. Prior to 2004, the airport was an uncontrolled facility. In October 2004, a Level I contract control at the airport became operational, changing the airport's status to that of a controlled field. Today the airport serves the needs of charter airlines and general aviation activities, to include flight training and corporate air travel. In 2006, the City of New Smyrna Beach added the additional name to the airport of
Jack Bolt Field in honor of the late
Naval Aviator, Lieutenant Colonel John "Jack" Bolt, USMC. A former New Smyrna Beach resident, Bolt was both an
aerial ace and a recipient of the
Navy Cross. While flying the
F4U Corsair with
VMF-214, Bolt shot down six Japanese
Zero fighters during
World War II. During the
Korean War, while on an exchange assignment with the
U.S. Air Force's
39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron flying the
F-86 Sabrejet, Bolt also shot down six North Korean
MiG-15 jet fighters. A military aircraft propeller and a plaque commemorating Bolt's accomplishments was erected at the airport in 2006. ==Facilities and aircraft==