What year did O'Hare Airport first open?

O'Hare Airport first opened in 1944, primarily as a military facility known as Naval Air Station Elgin. The airport transitioned to civilian use and was renamed O'Hare International Airport in honor of Edward O'Hare, a World War II flying hero. The historical context of its opening is significant as it marked the beginning of an era for Chicago's aviation as it became a major transportation hub, facilitating air travel both domestically and internationally. This foundational year reflects not only the capabilities of wartime aviation transitioning to peacetime functions but also the growth of commercial air traffic in the subsequent decades.