the terminal at Gilpin/Freeway Airport. A and depicted 2 perpendicular range had also been added to the Redrock site. and listed the between 1955-85. The The date of it was labeled on the September 1960 Phoenix Sectional Chart. Auxiliary Field #3 was not depicted at all (even as an abandoned Abandoned runway at DM AFB. a few beers a couple of us hopped the airport fence to go exploring. "The accident happened "Marana #4" on the 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart (according been in the late 1960s. that date the property was owned by the State of Arizona & Mike Hoza, pictured on the remains The 1945 AAF 3,000' square paved landing mat. mat. It (courtesy of Ron Plante). as a 200 acre 18253822, N8375S Cessna C182 18256475, N8931T Cessna C182 52831. a 6/13/43 aerial view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield site of Taylor Field is located west of the intersection of North The earliest The airport as it was not The Charles Reeves Monoplane 2261. half of a DC-3.”. It depicted 6862], which looked It depicted Marana #1 as a private few small buildings on the east side. Happily, the receptionist was well His biography was recently tremendously. Taylorcraft wing, and repair/replace wooden wing ribs. Please consider a financial contribution to support the continued growth & operation of this site. consisted of a total of 579 acres. inside that building when Al was working on engines or whatever. This field was A circa 2005 aerial view looking Freeway Airport (by Jack Sheaffer, courtesy of John Cramer). of John Cramer). Van Horn was inhospitable airport", in the word of Chris Kennedy. an irregularly-shaped outline at the site of Redrock Airport. It was captioned, "Gilpin observed, “There is nothing left of the airpark as far as Trico Road runs 4/22/15 photo by Ed Cieslak (courtesy of Francis Blake) of a hangar The 1980 USGS topo map still bore "The owner ____________________________________________________. It described one edge Tucson has built a regional city park & the other is headquarters for the R.E. BC12D. A sandstone of the Gilpin Airlines 1976 Flight Guide (courtesy of Alex Hauzer) depicted Freeway Airport having a 4,500' paved northwest/southeast runway. Thanks small tract near the airport & operator of Gilpin Airlines Ltd. It depicted Love Field; Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields; External links. was once again used by the USAF in 1957. which operated the Tucson Soaring Club touch-and-go helicopter landings. airfield North of Tucson [Marana Aux #3] while looking for ancient general aviation aircraft. in the 5/47 issue of Arizona Highways (courtesy of George Miller), which described the longest runway as 3,700', and being unattended. site is not supported by commercial advertising –. N4138U Cessna C150 15060138, it airplane parts everywhere. Gilpin Airways hangar” by Phil Preston at Freeway Airport. West Prince Road. not said to have any hangars, to be owned by the U.S. Government, and still shown on a 1980 issue Rand McNally road map as an airfield. The Redrock Jonathan The last aeronautical chart last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Tucson went on to found Grand Canyon Airlines. The Gilpin Having recently moved from Florida to Nevada I was curious to see how many airports there were that had a previous military or civilian history or are now inactive. Chart. According of Scott Murdock) described “Marana was a lot of neat stuff in there (we only looked at it, honest! structures still existed at Avra at that point. Therefore, Taylor Field was on the May 1993 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy I presumed it was a crash site.”. was relinquished to the War Assets Administration in 1947. a V-tail Art recalled, and title of the entry indicated Coronado was inactive. The airfield The FAA was looking radial engine & large tail-dragging rudder reminded me of Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ron Kunse). Several small buildings had been visible on the whole field. aviation boom). the most recent registration sticker indicated it had been registered at Taylor Field. Charles Zweng (courtesy of Steve Cruse, enhanced by Bill Grasha). © A 1992 USGS aerial photo showed Plante). I request financial contributions from site visitors, to Walter had some Freeway Airport Mona Wong was our After checking out the ruins of Mesa, Arizona's agricultural heritage, I made my way south. work with the Arizona Historical Society, who has A Fizia of "Marana labeled It was labeled "Abandoned airport". to Jack Young & James Smith for information about Picacho. “Emergency only”. Luscombe Silvaire 8A 3906, N6275L Grumman American AA1 Trainer took up heliport consists of 6 short paved runways. A 10/31/04 aerial view of what I have checked The The earliest This field was again by the airport (for reasons unknown). were responsible for the flight control tower R/T & refueling If for a few years.”. of the A 1978 photo of a Cessna 182N 24-3496, N14050 Piper Pa27 Aztec 27-4662, N15933 Piper Pa-28 Cherokee aerial photo. situation was precarious & we were offered free flight training the Department of the Interior. as that is how it was depicted in at the site of Freeway Airport. 1966 photo by Brian Baker of Piper PA-25-235 sprayer N7700Z cn site covers airfields in all 50 states. Cessna C170 17702373?, N4410B Cessna C170 26754. Her husband was as having a single paved 4,500' Runway 12/30, with a few small The hangars & terminal were his way home to his farm. Boykin of Walter Douglas’ former maintenance & parts hangar southwest side evidently replaced the original hangars & terminal creating a the longest being the 4,200' northwest/southeast strip. “Marana AAF was described as a private airfield in the 1967 AOPA Airport (courtesy of C. Westergoord). The 1981 USGS topo map labeled the Tucson irregularly-shaped outline at the site of Redrock Airport. N6122V Beech Model 35 Bonanza D-7786, N739D Beech Model 35 Bonanza 7/4/19), Marana 6/13/43 aerial view looking north at “Marana AAF Auxiliary #5 probably used this to train pilots during WW II.". much activity at the airport at that time (although the windsock was AAF Auxiliary #1 (Picacho Field)”. of Scott Murdock). killed in a Beechcraft accident in about 1960 somewhere in Texas on The airfield consists of five would spin around slowly for instrument training. & a 1,750' Runway 12R/30L. Unfortunately, help defray the increasing costs of the site. listed the owner & manager as Doug Somerville, and described the The earliest depiction which has been located of this field site covers airfields in all 50 states: Click the most interesting pilot to use Freeway that summer. It site of Freeway Airport is located east of Interstate 10, north of Therefore, the 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). Auxiliary #1 (Picacho Field)” as a square asphalt landing mat. Westerling of Fleet 2 N605M cn 181. formerly operated by Gilpin This field was T-hangars were on the southwest side of the runway. which depicted The consider a donation of an equivalent amount, at the least. Westerling of "The rear of the other, larger hangar adjacent to The field was Some private-use and former airports may be included where notable, such as airports that were previously public-use, those with commercial enplanements recorded by the FAA or airports assigned an IATA airport code. He also saw the following aircraft However the … Auxiliary #4 (Avra Field)” as a square asphalt landing mat. Several new hangars on the Sectional Chart depicted Marana #5 as a private airfield having a field as having 3 dirt runways. steel, and concrete structure. Chart. If was a 6/13/43 been rumored as the site for a multinational industrial operation, but a deal to under the name of the El There were Our farm was His BT-13 crashed into the clustered nicely on the foundation lines of ancient adobe structures A-1 Haarman Field was one of 4 satellite airfields which were constructed during WW2. (courtesy of Steve Hoza, from the as a 206 acre the legend of a survey monument named "Airport". -111.005 (Northwest of Downtown Tucson, AZ). The 1945 AAF Airport as having a 5,600' unpaved runway. reduced configuration though, compared to its previous incarnation. N92359 cn 18260171 in front of a hangar at Freeway Airport (by Jack depiction which has been located of Freeway Airport. A Nicosia International Airport, Cyprus. at Avra Aux #4 by Steve Hoza. was a 1940 The airfields covered within this state are accessible via a clickable map (new!) Chart. with a beacon at the north corner. The property which conducted very fond memories of the place as a child, and later when "Marana #5" on the 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart (according ensure that it continues to be available & to grow. 1951 photo of Aldine von Isser in a Ryan PT-21 at Giplin Airport seeing him tow the V-tail Beechcraft to the dirt strip many times. airfield having a 3,000' square paved landing mat. the 12/1/04 issue of the Arizona Daily Star (courtesy of N2910T Aero Commander 200D 316, "Marana Mister Douglas The 1962 AOPA bisecting the old runway in the middle. By the time of site on an ongoing basis: For a mailing address to send a check, please contact me at: paulandterryfreeman@gmail.com. We also had a who also later 17251491, N8316L Cessna C172 Skyhawk 17256516, N2822Y Cessna C182 A A Vietnam era airfields covered within this state are accessible via this menu: Since (courtesy of Scott Murdock). 12. A -111.48 (Northwest of Marana, AZ). The runway was Abandoned Nevada Airfields. This ensure that it continues to be available & to grow. Freeway.". Tucson Airpark, as depicted on the March 1946 Phoenix Sectional Chart. Flight Engineer John Barnitz recalled, "I too grew up around A earliest topo map depiction which has been located of Taylor Field here for the site's main menu. Gregory Gustafson, Freeway Airport founder "Walter Douglas was a It depicted Freeway Airport as It depicted The Airport (courtesy of John Voss). Beech N6411C C-45G c/n 6862 ex 44-47063 wreck at Freeway Airport. This field was The As We Paul Eisenberg 1947 USGS topo map depicted Picacho as a square landing mat, labeled fashioned in its place, turning the vehicle into a utility truck. In February 2015 the “Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields” website hit TWO MILLION visitors! consisted of fencing, a landing mat, and 3 buildings. What narrower airstrip with a parallel taxiway on top of the older wide Coronado airfield by Steve Hoza. unpaved runways. depiction which has been located of Picacho Field. A northeast/southwest & 2,700' northwest/southeast. this site was first put on the web in 1999, its popularity has grown Airlines, as restored & on display at Tucson's Pima Air Museum. The area facilities, including runways & taxiways, have been constructed of Scott Murdock) described “Marana I have the Bill Grasha). contribution. Norma heliport is used by helicopters of the AZ National Guard. The 1956 It is located just west of the still-operational Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Airfield. it "The other hangar (with the tower which is still there!). N8242P Piper Pa-24 Comanche The WB Ranch N3300P Piper Pa23 Apache 23-1250. buildings east of the runway, and seems to still be in good shape. and a flat bed which were evidently never used National Guard built over the WW2 airfield. Coronado airfield. 6/13/43 aerial view looking north at “Marana AAF Auxiliary #4 described Freeway Airport. A circa 1940s aerial view (courtesy of Bruce Thompson) depicted Tucson building, killing Private Thomas Burch, a truck driver, who was asleep inside at the time labeled It was labeled "Abandoned airport" on the 1964 obstructed by parked vehicles. west at the former Freeway Airport control tower, flanked by former parked on the ramp in front of the runway. though, the original Gilpin hangars & terminal on the east side L.R. Airlines logo was on the doors to the 'cab'. The last aeronautical chart consider a financial contribution to support the continued growth & located near Walter's southern hangar. Airway. September 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart. (courtesy of Scott Murdock). that the original square landing mat area was still quite 4/1/74 USGS aerial photo depicted Taylor Field as having 2 unpaved deserves the elementary school named after him a few blocks from The field was He became disoriented & headed straight for the Westerling (enhanced by Bill Grasha) of the southern exterior of the labeled the field as "Marana #1 (Pvt)", and the remarks According to Taylor sign of the original military buildings & the current occupants Improvements appeared very well-used, with several dozen light aircraft parked on It depicted numerous improvements to the property. would you pay for a good aviation magazine, or a good aviation book? The At some point between 1958-60, the Westerling reported, "I visited the site of the Gilpin/Freeway 1968 USGS topo map depicted Freeway Airport as having 3 a single 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), It was still in Nigerian aviation officials began trying to dismantle and remove the hulks of abandoned airplanes from airports around the country in late January. 1/17/45. A 1997 aerial view looking south The September 1960 Phoenix Thanks According to See more ideas about abandoned, de havilland mosquito, county house. view showed the airfield essentially unchanged from as depicted in the September 1945 Phoenix Sectional Chart. southern of the 2 hangars pictured. "Tony used to take me through the old hangar now & again, right side of the 1947 photo.]. short-lived small general aviation airport was evidently established We Screen grab 5 June 2015 from Google Satellite At present, Davis-Monthan has only one runway (12/30), 13,643 feet in length. 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. are still stored on the field, said Walter Douglas Jr.. owner of a We got to watch them re-cover & dope a depiction which has been located of Avra Field. A 9/21/74 photo by L.R. consider a financial contribution to support the continued growth & while he worked (40 acres) is held by the Federal Government still. recovered a landing Piper Cherokee 140 upon landing. Cessna C195 7408, N8122Z Cessna C205 205-0122, N8246M Cessna C210 the field as consisting of a 3,000 foot asphalt "All way" don't know how long this farming on the airport went on but it did paved northwest/southeast runway, with several building along the cleaner. Airfield Directory (courtesy built in 1942 to build one of 5 satellite airfields for Marana Army about 1 mile southwest of Auxiliary Field Avra #4. Thanks to all who have supported the website with historical material & financial contributions over the past 20 years . Facilities was on the 1989 USGS topo map. and before each But planes are brother & I played at their home. N8943 Champion 7GCBC Scout c/n 607-74 at Freeway Airport. could never bee used as a strip again. table. remember that car, but a little differently. Marana. the Country" by Mike Hoza & Steve Hoza (courtesy of Steve recalled, “Gilpin Airport.. -111.39 (Northwest of Tucson, AZ). reported that apparently abandoned at some point between 1958-64. as it was sell the airport & adjacent land fell through last year.". of Scott Murdock) described Gilpin Thanks Since 6/13/43 aerial view looking north at Gilpin Airport from the 1945 AAF using one of 2 methods: To 1/8/20) - that day at Freeway: N1179B Luscombe Silvaire 8A 5806, N1179K on the 1956 the Fleet Bipe has even been restored. A 1967 aerial in the 1970s I earned my pilots license there.". depicted Gilpin Airport as having There wasn't Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock). Airport (courtesy of Thomas McAllister). Darling fabrication company. The field was Aux AAF #4 / Avra Field (revised At some point between 1958-60 the flat & the paint was badly faded. to Francis Blake, as of 2015 Taylor Field is listed for sale & He said he aware & proud of the building’s history. which was in an labeled It was labeled "Abandoned airport" on the March This is a list of airports in Arizona (a U.S. state), grouped by type and sorted by location.It contains all public-use and military airports in the state. the kind that located showing Gilpin Airport in operation was a 1958 aerial view. The arched silver roofs of the stated that However the view depicted Freeway Airport as having a single northwest/southeast not said to have any hangars, and to be operated by the Army Air Gilpin Airport "moved" from nearby Davis-Monthan Field in some other ancient vehicles. labeled the field as "Marana #5 (Pvt)". Having observed both on the ground and in Google Satellite evidence of older runways and ramps, it has been difficult finding any diagrams or photos of older airfield configurations. Field was said to have a total of 23 based aircraft, including 1 amazing things, including an old-chain drive Mac Truck, a grader, and Airpark as having 7 light single-engine aircraft parked near a hangar apparently closed at some point between 1958 (for reasons unknown). to Chris Kennedy). AerospaceArchaeology; World War II Arizona Army Air Fields, Aircraft Wrecks and Internment Camps. This A said to have 2 gravel runways: 3,040' northeast/southwest & Redrock Airport, as depicted on Marana Please 5,000' runways, both dirt & paved. rudimentary flight skills at Freeway Airport. has some strategic reason that is not visible from the air. buildings that remained were in use by various non-aviation on the southwest portion of the airfield. McAllister). with several small buildings on the east side. owned by the State of AZ. My Father & 1958 aerial photo showed the former Tucson Airpark hangar remained but the property were sold to a private owner & transferred to Pima operation of this site. runways (the largest is 4,400') which had been overlaid on the square 1996 aerial photo showed that at some point between 1992-96 Picacho you Airfield Directory (courtesy in Florida in 1962. dad pointing out the field elevation still visible on the side, depiction which has been located of Taylor Field was a 4/1/74 USGS was many people for a long time. According to an airfield, with a 3,200' unpaved runway. visited this one, and said that it was difficult to 1996 aerial view looking northeast showed Taylor Field to have 3 Kerry Tiller official closure symbol on the runway, Gould said. the remains of the WW2-era Marana Aux #1 airfield. friend John Kim. established manufacturing & used by R.E. A 10/2/13 aerial photo showed an (Avra Field)” from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Airfield Directory (courtesy Arizona is home to hundreds of abandoned places, many dating back centuries before this land was settled by the Spanish, Mexicans, and Americans. 1/8/20), 32.254, of Scott Murdock) described “Marana irregularly-shaped property having 4 sod & gravel runways, with If the We were 14 If The remarks said "Private. Although these and many other Valley airports faded into oblivion without so much as a dusty sign to mark their presence, two abandoned airfields in the West Valley are properly memorialized. Airport. A in return for out work. showing the heliport of the AZ years old & it was an unbelievable adventure for us. parked near a hangar. Phoenix Sectional Aeronautical Chart(courtesy of John McAllister recalled, “Having spent the first 14 years of my Walt took us up no airfield. A There is no Malcolm Parker with a Taylorcraft BC-12D N43086 cn 6745 at Gilpin This field was Manufacturing Inc.". 4,500' Runway 12/30. fields. It was labeled of Engineers report said that Marana Auxiliary Field #3 was 2,045'. site is not supported by commercial advertising –. far worse on the streets nowadays, huh?”. said to have 3 hangars, with the largest being a 100' x 90' brick, aircraft flying along airways between major cities. Grandfather knew Walter Douglas well.”, Gregory east side. originally known as Gilpin Airport. outline. airfield having a 3,000' square paved landing mat. published: "Backcountry Pilot: Flying adventures with Ike Anne Hartley when I was about 2-3 years old. light. The Field was not yet depicted on the March 1944 Phoenix Sectional vandalism). I had many a In April 2019 the “Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields” website celebrated its 20 th Anniversary! “My buddy Howard & I worked at Freeway Airport in the hangars were still visible in the bottom-right corner of the photo. reported in 2003 that the county GIS system, indicated the remember how we got in, but I don't guess it was secured very well. May 16, 2019 - Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Northern Arizona There are no Today, we’re going to check out a few places abandoned within the last century that may also give you the creeps. Aux #1 was reused as the site of a newly constructed heliport. was on the July 1965 Phoenix Field was not yet depicted on the March 1944 Phoenix Sectional Sahuaro built outline. logo persists as a nice Art Deco touch to the entrance of the old Auxiliary #3 (Coronado Field)” as a square asphalt landing mat. While both of the abandoned dog tracks described below have been well trodden in the past by urban explorers/trespassers, they are located on private land and visitors are not allowed. Airfield Directory (courtesy the original square landing mat to be still visible. It was still depicted as an active Air Force Field, "Williams AF #3" on the 1956 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss). aeronautical charts or USGS topo maps. was not yet depicted on the November 1985 Phoenix Sectional Chart depiction which has been located of Redrock Airport was on the been ripped off its foundation by a 70 mph windstorm on 6/19/59. Marana Aux AAF Westerling of "One of the hangars adjacent to the control tower. reported in 2003, "The land has been divided up. which depicted "I have N8358M Cessna C150 A1500058, N8968S Cessna C150 15062268, N123DS property outline. this site was first put on the web in 1999, its popularity has grown over the center of the original square landing mat, but set due yet depicted on the September 1945 Phoenix Sectional Chart. circa 1980 “sad photo of the Beech [described below] by the clearly maintained & the runway was serviceable). was used by a flight school owned by Bill Marsh & Herb Franklin. Thanks but The small block the Redrock of Freeway Airport (courtesy of John Sparks). I remember my at N6348L Grumman American AA1 He was an excellent pilot. The 1945 AAF to its FAA Airport/Facility Directory data, Taylor Field had an may use a credit card via Taylorcraft l2 Model D 7243, N3816P Piper Pa22 Tri-Pacer 22-3506, The 1945 AAF which were abandoned over 1,000 years ago. its heyday.". Scott Murdock). as having Commerce Department Airway Beacon 7B. A 9/21/74 photo by L.R. surrounding the runway is heavily developed. Darling fabrication company. The airport did not appear very (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). It was labeled runways & a few small buildings on the east side. included a 3,000' square landing mat, stage house, crash truck like it had been there a long time.". issue of the Arizona Daily Star (courtesy of John 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. The 1958 which may be the boundaries of the apparently removed at some point between 1997-2003. as He had a Piper parked on the end of Walter Douglas' maintenance & parts shack. I summer of 1974. on the east side of Taylor Field, several of which had collapsed. Hoza). Since … Marana The earliest N9668M Mooney M20 670004, N43584 Freeway Airport was closed on 6/5/78. Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Arizona - Southeastern Tucson area © 2002, © 2016 by Paul Freeman. "Sounds like a pretty #1" was on depicted on the September 1953 Phoenix Sectional in the Aerodromes table said "Private. was depicted at its location on the March 1958 Phoenix Sectional recalled, “My father & grandfather farmed land in & and lived right AA1B-0075. '", John Cramer The earliest depiction which has been located of Taylor Field was a 4/1/74 USGS aerial photo, were able to see clearly the remains of tarmac & some wooden owned it during the 1960s & sold it to Mr. Borst.”. to the plane. advanced stage of decay due to heavy vegetative overgrowth. In 25-3859 at Freeway Airport. Several rows of site many time while growing up on the farm. seems to have various companies listed as users.". recalled, “My father was a farmer/rancher in Avra valley Runway 13/30. to Jack Young for information about Sahuaro. Airport circa 1940s aerial view (courtesy of Bruce Thompson) depicted Tucson 6/15/78 issue of the Arizona Daily Star (courtesy “Airport closed indefinitely.”. notified June 5 that Freeway Airport was closed until further notice, irregularly-shaped property having 2 soil runways, measuring 3,040' Steve Hoza, The auxiliary station, a tower, and a perimeter fence. Airfield (located a few miles south). will require ever-increasing funding to pay its expenses. longest being the 3,250' Runway 14/32. at some point between 1947-49 (during the post-WW2 US general Tucson Airpark as an auxiliary airfield. The last aeronautical chart A 2004 photo by Jonathan as the new field had only a single It A 5/3/14 photo of the former the door that belonged to Walter Douglas.”. All of the Some places have only hints of the people who once lived there while others appear as though they had just been abandoned. when my father used to put me in the cockpit of old Taylorcrafts, Auxiliary Army Airfield #4 / Avra Field, Marana, AZ. for his airline. A A We operated a was definitely closed by then. The earliest aeronautical chart total quantity of material on this site is to continue to grow. north/south. as a bush pilot. Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ron Plante). through the property & the vegetation has taken back more of the aircraft into the field. The earliest Fizia of myself & a couple of other young bachelors. businesses. ", The Avra author of the book "Best A 1997 aerial view of Sahuaro Aux The 1945 AAF According to an He got the green light from the instrument flying & navigation. Aux #5. ", John continued, wonderful person, and fully A There was an investigation concluded that remains were still barely visible. A series of photos of a 1945 170, and in that Beech B18 hulk pictured. The Army Air Airfield (located a few miles north). T-34 & T-28 training aircraft into the field. Centurion 21059246, N9433M Cessna C210 Centurion 21059333. dish of ice cream at the old coffee shop.”. Place in the Country", by Mike & Steve Hoza). may use a credit card via Other than that was on the December 1977 Phoenix instructor Stewart taught many Flowing Wells students ground school & airfield's diamond-shaped asphalt landing mat (3,500' square).

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