It is named after José Cleto (1901-1960), a local entrepreneur, politician and film producer and director.

It is operated by the Municipality of União da Vitória under the supervision of Aeroportos do Paraná (SEIL).

Convinced by Kirk's demonstration, the Brazilian Government ordered the Army to open airfields in União da Vitória, Canoinhas and Rio Negro, to send aircraft to those cities, and to attack the rebels by dropping bombs.

As a result, Kirk decided to go himself to União da Vitória equipped with new aircraft and troops.

On March 1, 1915, during his second flight, the one in which he would start destroying villages and other settlements, he crashed in a forest 44 km from União da Vitória while attempting an emergency landing.