Mason City Municipal Airport resolution to create a new airport and purchased 312 acres several miles west of the city. The new Mason City Municipal Airport saw its first official landing a few years later on March 29, 1945. The airport consisted of two paved runways, associated taxiways, and a small ramp area. A remodeled farmhouse was used as the first commercial terminal during the airport dedication on June 22, 1946. Musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, along with pilot Roger Peterson, died in a plane crash after taking off from the Mason City Municipal Airport in the early
Everyday (Buddy Holly song) his album "Gunfight at Carnegie Hall" in 1974. Elliott Murphy recorded this song for a French tribute, "Every Day Is a Holly Day", in 1989. In 1990, the British guitarist Peter White recorded it for the album "Reveillez-Vous". Fiona Apple recorded a cover version for the Buddy Holly tribute album "Rave On Buddy Holly" in 2011. Patrick Stump contributed a cover version to the Buddy Holly tribute album "" in 2011. The song is also on the 2012 Japanese CD "Levi Dexter & Gretsch Brothers", featuring Rockabilly Hall of Fame inductee Levi Dexter. In 2016, the Canadian singer-songwriter Jordan Paul