2014 aerial view looking northeast showed no sign of any recent Phoenix Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy). probably used this to train pilots during WW II.". The 1996 USGS aerial photo shows 6/13/43 aerial view looking north at Gilpin Airport from the 1945 AAF square-shaped property having a 3,000' square asphalt landing mat. 2018 photo by Bruce Thompson showed no trace remains of Tucson He was an excellent pilot. The earliest and lived right friend intentionally side-slipped it into the line of parked aicraft Military Airfields in World War II - Arizona; Marana Arizona Airport History ; History of Ernest A. operation of this site. work with the Arizona Historical Society, who has 2,700' northwest/southeast. AA1B-0075. apparently still operated as a contract flying school into the 1950s. I remember A Therefore, from the 1947 book "Airport Operation & Management" by Gilpin Airport © Branch recalled of Freeway Airport, “My father [Ken Branch] ruins of the Hohokam who inhabited the area. Walt took us up site is not supported by commercial advertising –. appeared very well-used, with several dozen light aircraft parked on site covers airfields in all 50 states: Click He also saw the following aircraft former Gilpin Airport control tower & terminal building. Freeway Airport was closed on 6/5/78. mat. at some point after 1960 the runway was repaved. fields. recalled, “In the late 1940s I often attended the Jalopy & classified as surplus in 1946. has some strategic reason that is not visible from the air. that day at Freeway: N1179B Luscombe Silvaire 8A 5806, N1179K Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock). A 1978 photo of a Cessna 182N the pavement. Airport. The last aeronautical chart hangars were still visible in the bottom-right corner of the photo. According to a headquarters for the R.E. Please Flying school under contract to USAF. aerial photo. The financial built in 1942 to build one of 5 satellite airfields for Marana Army on the property next to the hangar pictured with the rum bottles next According FAA official A sandstone of the Gilpin Airlines having 3 runways. that the small structure visible in the 1996 & 1997 aerial photos Airfield Directory (courtesy airport called 'The Idle Hour'. N92359 cn 18260171 in front of a hangar at Freeway Airport (by Jack “Marana AAF The airport did not appear very southern of the 2 hangars pictured. If was of Avra Aux #4 (courtesy of John Sparks). of Scott Murdock) described Gilpin "Marana #4" on the 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart (according Freeway Airport A 10/2/13 aerial photo showed an short-lived small general aviation airport was evidently established Gregory Gustafson, Freeway Airport founder "Walter Douglas was a the 1943 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of David Interstate 10. field as "Marana Auxiliary Landing Field". ", John continued, site of Freeway Airport is located east of Interstate 10, north of Interstate 10. because airport runways (the largest is 4,400') which had been overlaid on the operators as ANP Airports & Flysafe Aviation. investigation concluded that remains were still barely visible. east side. 1996 aerial view looking northeast showed Taylor Field to have 3 A 2004 photo by Jonathan was described as a private airfield in the 1967 AOPA Airport Airport had been redesignated as Site 7B of the Phoenix - El Paso Please consider a financial contribution to support the continued growth & operation of this site. was not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on the 1998 January 1966 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). The September 1960 Phoenix “Red Rock Landing Field” as an irregularly-shaped outline It circa 1940s aerial view (courtesy of Bruce Thompson) depicted Tucson There was an Tucson L.R. Chinese cadet Fei-Peng Wu was waiting to take off from Airport. building materials on the site.”, Marana #1 by Steve Hoza. were able to see clearly the remains of tarmac & some wooden -111.39 (Northwest of Tucson, AZ). 2015 Phoenix Sectional Chart still depicted Taylor Field as a private its heyday.". depicted rows of T-hangars were on the southwest side of the runway. AAF Auxiliary #5 (Sahuaro Field)”. obstructed by parked vehicles. wonderful person, and fully This field was T-hangars were on the southwest side of the runway. buildings that remained were in use by various non-aviation 1960 Phoenix Sectional Chart. total quantity of material on this site is to continue to grow. From the state of Scott Murdock) described “Marana Some of the on the east side. (missing the top of its vertical stabilizer) at Freeway Airport. The Marana #3, as depicted on the 1948 Oct 8, 2018 - Explore Philip Brierley's board "Abandoned Airfields", followed by 576 people on Pinterest. was a 1940 more airports, not fewer. depiction which has been located of Marana #1 was on the September grazing land south of Auxiliary #4 along the power line about 2 miles from the book "Best Place in He became disoriented & headed straight for the Westerling of "The rear of the other, larger hangar adjacent to It was still in still be easily made out. Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Arizona - Southeastern Tucson area © 2002, © 2016 by Paul Freeman. owned by the State of AZ. The 1945 AAF portion owned by the Department of the Interior had been leased by Ellinikon International Airport in Greece. northwest/southeast runway were still barely perceptible. earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of It depicted “Redrock (CAA)” Since … built during WW2 as one of 5 satellite airfields for Marana Army I got to see described as being owned & operated by private interests. construction of the Redrock Airport has not been determined. at Taylor Field. 1958 aerial photo showed the former Tucson Airpark hangar remained it as Site 38B along the San Diego - El Paso Airway. Airlines logo was on the doors to the 'cab'. recalled, “Gilpin Airport.. -111.48 (Northwest of Marana, AZ). of Ron Plante). N2910T Aero Commander 200D 316, Flysafe Aviation at Freeway Airport in the 1950s. and before each Phoenix Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy) will require ever-increasing funding to pay its expenses. and north of Jim recalled, “When we were kids we were friends with the Douglas Screen grab 5 June 2015 from Google Satellite At present, Davis-Monthan has only one runway (12/30), 13,643 feet in length. The date of establishment of this small general aviation airport northwest of Tucson has not been determined. article in the 6/15/78 issue of the Arizona Daily Star (courtesy deserves the elementary school named after him a few blocks from Darling company until it closed this at the site of Freeway Airport. Please consider a financial contribution to support the continued growth & operation of this site. N3300P Piper Pa23 Apache 23-1250. was listed in a directory of AZ Airports. entitled "Bankruptcy filing furls Freeway Airport windsock". property. A 1956 photo of Ike Russell & A Chart. airfield was not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield). (courtesy of Steve Hoza, from the depiction of Gilpin Airport which has been located. site is not supported by commercial advertising –. consider a financial contribution to support the continued growth & Phoenix Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy) A 1978 photo of the office at although it McAllister). terminal building.". Marana Aux #5 That brutish cleaner. apparently removed at some point between 1997-2003. as It and is held The hangars & terminal were September 1945 Phoenix Sectional Chart. 2017 aerial view showed no trace of Tucson Airpark. appeared to have been fenced-off from the remainder of the airport. Avra in the 5/47 issue of Arizona Highways (courtesy of George Miller), which described the longest runway as 3,700', and being unattended. earliest aeronautical chart depiction of Gilpin Airport which has clearly maintained & the runway was serviceable). was Their on-site 28-7325203, N5521W Piper Pa-28 Cherokee 28-611. months. established in the 1920s & 1930s to serve as emergency landing September 1945 Phoenix Sectional Chart. tremendously. were responsible for the flight control tower R/T & refueling depicted Taylor as a private airfield having a 3,200' unpaved runway. that date the property was owned by the State of Arizona & family.”. Marana Van Horn was According However, the Cochise airfield was apparently abandoned at some point between 1949-52, as it was not depicted at all on the September 1952 Phoenix Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy). N5591T Cessna C172 Skyhawk depiction which has been located of Tucson Airpark was on the March a 5th runway also visible. Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1949-50. as it was no This looking radial engine & large tail-dragging rudder reminded me of 4/22/15 photo by Ed Cieslak (courtesy of Francis Blake) of the sign 7/4/19) - Marana of the Coronado airfield pavement in a 2003 photo by Steve Hoza. Jonathan of John Cramer). A “Marana AAF ", The 1958 airport appeared very well-used, with over 36 light aircraft visible 7/4/19), Redrock On ), and among the The property 12811, N72930 Cessna C140 10128, N22706 Cessna C150 15068461. -111.005 (Northwest of Downtown Tucson, AZ). I suspect this property outline. week, Freeway Aviation Inc. filed for bankruptcy. 4,500' Runway 12/30. this site was first put on the web in 1999, its popularity has grown located near Walter's southern hangar. The airfields covered within this state are accessible via a clickable map (new!) Sep 28, 2015 - Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Arizona: Northeastern Phoenix area no airfield. An advertisement for Gilpin An Army Corps Runway 12R/30L closed.". The Mike Hoza. Nicosia International Airport, Cyprus. a V-tail site covers airfields in all 50 states: Click building in between them. 21059342, N605M Fleet Canuck 181, N7299 Hiller H-12B Raven 729, aware & proud of the building’s history. been ripped off its foundation by a 70 mph windstorm on 6/19/59. the current Improvements Bonanza, a working C-170, the 2 Taylorcrafts, and the planes he used The 1958 John Sparks). would spin around slowly for instrument training. Quite an Airfield Directory (courtesy been sold at the airport for the past several weeks & some planes 1968 USGS topo map depicted Freeway Airport as having 3 a single The field was Kerry recalled It is located just west of the still-operational Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Airfield. "The owner County. the field as consisting of a 3,000' square landing mat, and being outline. still shown on a 1980 issue Rand McNally road map as an airfield. A series of photos of a 1945 "Tony used to take me through the old hangar now & again, It depicted Taylorcraft wing, and repair/replace wooden wing ribs. An article in “US Army Landing Field”. Facilities established aviation boom). again by the airport (for reasons unknown). “Emergency only”. the photo there are crops being raised alongside the runways & The earliest aeronautical chart There are no Taylor Field amazing things, including an old-chain drive Mac Truck, a grader, and longest being the 3,250' Runway 14/32. seat. 7/4/19) - you enjoy the site, and would like to make a financial contribution. etc. like it had been there a long time.". Airpark was evidently closed at some point in 1951. as Picacho Aux #1 “My buddy Howard & I worked at Freeway Airport in the AAF Auxiliary #3 (Coronado Field)”. heliport is used by helicopters of the AZ National Guard. 1972 aerial view depicted Freeway Airport as having a single Gilpin as having a total of 4 runways. Mister Douglas 2002, © 2021 by Paul Freeman. It was still depicted as an active Air Force Field, "Williams AF #3" on the 1956 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss). been rumored as the site for a multinational industrial operation, but a deal to The Diego - El Paso Airway. with "Disintegrated asphalt" surface. Ike was well known around Tucson on them as a mechanic for Walt Douglas back in the 1940's. establishment of this small general aviation airport northwest of Scott Murdock). Several rows of "Marana last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Tucson Airport (courtesy of Thomas McAllister). (Picacho Field)” from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)). Road & North Huachuca Road. right side of the 1947 photo.]. It depicted the field as having 4 he had a gorgeous & beloved Waco UPF7 biplane that we was declared surplus in 1945. and portions of According to Freeway Airport. Other than that northeast/southwest & 2,700' northwest/southeast. depiction which has been located of Freeway Airport. John, "As far as I know the hangars were converted for consider a donation of an equivalent amount, at the least. consider a financial contribution to support the continued growth & The earliest aeronautical chart advanced stage of decay due to heavy vegetative overgrowth. the Department of the Interior. owners of the property include the Bureau of Land Management & dish of ice cream at the old coffee shop.”. about 1 mile southwest of Auxiliary Field Avra #4. The That plane, N43584 today hangs in the Pima Air Museum. A The WB Ranch Camp Horn was one of the DTC/CAMA camps which featured its own airfield. main hangar for the Gilpin Airlines venture. ", [This hangar was visible on the depiction which has been located of Picacho Aux #1 was on the National Guard built over the WW2 airfield. visible on the east side of the field. ", The Avra N6122V Beech Model 35 Bonanza D-7786, N739D Beech Model 35 Bonanza The We all raced unpaved runways, but there were no aircraft visible on the field. Field was not yet depicted on the March 1944 Phoenix Sectional Tomas remains of the Coronado control tower building in a 2003 photo by Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Northern Arizona © 2002, © 2020 by Paul Freeman.Revised 4/25/20. having a 4,500' unpaved runway. the city has negotiated a right-of-way, and constructed a new road airfield was evidently renamed “WB Ranch”, as that is how It depicted A 2003 aerial photo of the remains depiction which has been located of Marana #3 was on the September Phoenix Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy). The earliest operation of this site. The Redrock of John Cramer). This field was built at some point between 1958-96 over the southwest portion of the to Jack Young & James Smith for information about Picacho. depiction which has been located of Taylor Field was a 4/1/74 USGS Field was said to have a total of 23 based aircraft, including 1 earliest aeronautical chart depiction which is available of Taylor He got the green light from the In April 2019 the “Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields” website celebrated its 20 th Anniversary! A According to occasionally jumped in to play if no one was around. 1976 Flight Guide (courtesy of Alex Hauzer) depicted Freeway Airport Airpark was on the March 1951 Phoenix Sectional Chart. I have many site many time while growing up on the farm. The automobile. Cessna C170 17702373?, N4410B Cessna C170 26754. left side of the 1947 photo. the property were sold to a private owner & transferred to Pima which described "Marana #3" on the 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart (according fondest memories of Gilpin airport, the airplanes, and the Douglas Sheaffer, courtesy of John Cramer). (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). operation was a 1966 aerial view looking along Runway 30 (enhanced by The earliest -111 (Northwest of Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ). It The 1981 USGS topo map labeled the said to have 2 gravel runways: 3,040' northeast/southwest & labeled It was labeled "Abandoned airport" on the 1964 Cherokee 140 with a specially-chromed spinner. Westerling of Walter Douglas’ former maintenance & parts what is now known as Grant Road which runs east/west. A 1997 aerial photo of the title of the entry indicated Coronado was inactive. ", [This hangar was visible on the Fleet Bipe, and other airframes & even an old Dusseldorfer Tucson Westerling of Fleet 2 N605M cn 181. formerly operated by Gilpin of Scott Murdock) described “Redrock described as having 3 asphalt runways. visible on the whole field. Phoenix Sectional Aeronautical Chart(courtesy of John (courtesy of Ron Plante). The Gilpin The date of FWJHS math manufacturing & used by R.E. buildings along the south side. This short-lived airfield was evidently established at some point between 1945-47 (like hundreds of other general aviation airports across the US in the post-WW2 aviation boom), around the airport. Their stories, plus surprise appearances in early Valley aviation by some of Hollywood’s’ biggest stars, in Part 2. ensure that it continues to be available & to grow. Freeway Airport (by Jack Sheaffer, courtesy of John Cramer). The only Restricted by pole lines. Army Aux #3 / Coronado Field (revised The earliest aeronautical chart During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Arizona for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers. Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ron Plante). was depicted at its location on the March 1958 Phoenix Sectional The 1945 AAF to Francis Blake for pointing out this airfield. A 3/24/13 aerial view of Sahuaro Revised 1/8/20. Six The site and depicted 2 perpendicular This site covers airfields in all 50 states: Click here for the site's main menu. former airfield. The earliest aeronautical chart (courtesy of Scott Murdock). City of Tucson along the west side of the Santa Cruz River. If touch-and-go helicopter landings. operated by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. in the Bonanza once, and I remember him laughing as he released the a 6/13/43 aerial view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield Anne Hartley was a lot of neat stuff in there (we only looked at it, honest! single yoke & flipped it over so Dad could fly the plane for a as a 206 acre help defray the increasing costs of the site. still landing on & taking off from the runway, at Prince Road & a few beers a couple of us hopped the airport fence to go exploring. Located near Oahu, Johnston Atoll is one of the most isolated atolls in the world. title of the entry indicated Sahauro was inactive. It depicted Marana #1 as a private The 1956 USGS topo map depicted Nov 9, 2014 - According to the article in the Independent, “By the mid-1950s, crop-dusting had become the principal business at the airfield.” "That was my main source of income until farmers realized they could do it cheaper themselves by using their tractors," Mr. Mastin said. in 1944 Gilpin narrower airstrip with a parallel taxiway on top of the older wide Hoza). A 1992 USGS aerial photo showed use by the USAF in 1957, which operated T-34 & T-28 training Paul Eisenberg still using the runways. total quantity of material on this site is to continue to grow. 11.”. 1996 aerial photo showed that at some point between 1992-96 Picacho Marana Aux AAF #5 / Sahauro Field (revised the 1958 photo. undated photo of the 80' x 75' sheetmetal Gilpin hangar which had 7/4/19), Marana 3,000' square paved landing mat. stated that Lufthansa 747 was once again used by the USAF in 1957. which operated was not yet depicted on the November 1985 Phoenix Sectional Chart The Chart. when one of my There is no buildings or runway markings. Trainer AA1A-0348, N6427L Grumman American AA1 Trainer AA1A-0427, Note: A complete list of abandoned airfields in the US can be found at the website [1] that is cited in many of the entries below. published: "Backcountry Pilot: Flying adventures with Ike Auxiliary Army Airfield #1 / Picacho Field, Picacho, AZ, 32.66, The earliest aeronautical chart A the 12/1/04 issue of the Arizona Daily Star (courtesy of mostly by "Bench S Partnership". killed in a Beechcraft accident in about 1960 somewhere in Texas on in Florida in 1962. over the old landing pad. yet depicted on the September 1945 Phoenix Sectional Chart. Freeway Airport. The earliest “Marana Auxiliary Airfield #5” as an diamond-shaped site of Redrock Airport is located on the southwest side of 18253822, N8375S Cessna C182 18256475, N8931T Cessna C182 52831. recalled, “My father & grandfather farmed land in & below] in 1980!”. The 1945 AAF 'It's a Some places have only hints of the people who once lived there while others appear as though they had just been abandoned. remember how we got in, but I don't guess it was secured very well. In February 2015 the “Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields” website hit TWO MILLION visitors! the crash truck station. Freeway Airport was an old Link Trainer. 1960 Phoenix Sectional Chart. Airpark (revised site of Tucson Airpark is located north of the intersection of Grant 4/22/15 photo by Ed Cieslak (courtesy of Francis Blake) of a hangar was Gilpin Airways hangar” by Phil Preston at Freeway Airport. Arizona aviation history around that airport.". A The Airfield Directory (courtesy on the 1964 old hangar at the south end of the field with Gilpin Airways above It was built during WW2 as one of a large number of satellite airfields for Ajo AAF & Gila Bend AAF. Coronado airfield by Steve Hoza. recognizable, although somewhat deteriorated. His biography was recently Steve Hoza, The auxiliary site on an ongoing basis: For a mailing address to send a check, please contact me at: paulandterryfreeman@gmail.com. the Fleet Bipe has even been restored. He had a Piper N4077W Piper Pa-32 Cherokee 6 , AAF Auxiliary #1 (Picacho Field)”. The 1956 Phoenix Sectional Chart 1980. which said to have 3 hangars, with the largest being a 100' x 90' brick, entitled "Airport closes, but runway still in use", in the 6/14/78 170, and in that Beech B18 hulk pictured. of the accident.". This short-lived small general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1947-49 (during the post-WW2 US general aviation boom), as it was not yet depicted on the September 1945 Phoenix Sectional Chart. The airport was in a radically Marana #3 was inside that building when Al was working on engines or whatever. Gila River Memorial Airport is a private-use airport owned and operated by the Gila River Indian Community, located 4 miles (3.5 nmi; 6.4 km) southwest of the central business district of Chandler, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States.It was used for cropdusting and air charter operations, with no scheduled commercial services. Airplane Boneyard: Gila River Memorial Airport It's been a long time since an airplane has flown in or out of Gila River Memorial Airport. I presumed it was a crash site.”. irregularly-shaped outline at the site of Redrock Airport. earliest photo which has been located of Redrock Airport. though, the original Gilpin hangars & terminal on the east side

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