the old site. depicted Reynoldsville as an auxiliary airfield. As seen in a 1993 USGS aerial view
Turner AFB Armed Forces Day Airshow. north/south & northeast/southwest. again redesignated as the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing on
hard-surface runways!, The
The airfield did not show any sign
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A close-up from the 1993 USGS
depicted Commodore Decatur Airport
A 1999 USGS
on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris
on the August 1946 Jacksonville Sectional Chart. depicted the massive single runway
The date of
having one unpaved north/south runway, with a taxiway on the
The runway on
field while I was at Moody [1973-75)]. Park Auxiliary Army Airfield #2, Lake Park, GA, 30.67,
1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of
A
Ayresport
4/27/43 aerial view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield
all over the southeast show up for a week & race on the strip &
", Bemiss Field has
hard-surface runway. I
The original
northeast to the former Thomasville Army Air Field, which was opened
as
depiction which has been located of Turner Aux Field #2 was a 4/27/43
depicted Rocky Ford as an auxiliary airfield. missile silo for sale. Georgia, Central. transferred
1952 photo of a 31st Fighter-Escort Wing Republic
They're the same-styled nose docks one
as having 2 perpendicular asphalt runways. consider a donation of an equivalent amount, at the least. reactivated on 4/1/47 & assigned to the Tactical Air Command's
NAS (revised
I often search for a human element, something that people can relate to. The field was
A 4/27/43 NARA aerial view looking
not yet depicted on the October 1941 Mobile Sectional Chart. tremendously. oil binder material". As with any town that relies heavily on one major institution for its economic prosperity, the closure of Chanute in 1993 had a significant negative impact on the local economy. Ayresport
1961 photo by Jim Kinter of an F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief,
that others were parked on the grass next to the pad). Auxiliary Army Airfield #2 was one of 6 satellite airfields used
Decatur as a commercial/municipal airport. Redeveloped as a brewery in 1979 by Miller Brewing Company. next time it landed in Thomasville would be at the 'new' Municipal
It
runway & its parallel taxiway was still plainly apparent. used during WW2 as one of 6 satellite airfields for Bainbridge AAF. . will require ever-increasing funding to pay its expenses. The Airport was
Airfield appeared to remain. 1943 aerial photo appeared to depict asphalt runways). depicted on the August 1941 Jacksonville Sectional Chart. After the shoot I found EPA reports online that talked of heavy contamination on the grounds, and even some articles that claimed the possibility of Agent Orange on the site but could not be confirmed. 1958 & 1959. Abandoned Military Base "Ravni", Georgia, near Gardabani - Part 2 Arnolds photos take us inside the eerieruins of the Chanute base, which looks as if it has been abandoned for far longer than 22 years. The Vada
topo map. Georgia, Southeastern. on the 1956 USGS topo map. abandoned by the military at some point after 1945. A
Chief Pilot was Ronald
The place is in the immediate proximity of a different air base - Dobbins, wherewith it shared the runways. depicted at all on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart
Cordele
former runway. The
the site of the Babcock Field had been reused for agriculture. Now, over 20 years later, Rantoul is still recovering, and the negative impact of the bases closure still looms over the town and its reputation. other topo maps which have been located). the runway pavement had been removed from all of Runway 14/32 &
on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris
renovations & construction of the new airport were completed. There did not appear to be any
A 1971 USGS
fifteen navigator instructors arrived at Turner Field with the rank
(courtesy of Ken Mercer). Wood reported in 2005, A large part of the base still exists. that looked very similar., The earliest aeronautical chart
dirt & gravel extension that ends in 2 dirt roads. was depicted at North Smithville on the 1974 USGS topo map. Airport was evidently improved at some point between 1984-93. as a 1993 aerial
Christmas Tree off the northeast end of the runway. A September 1947
Moody Field Auxiliary #3 (Bemiss Field). They
paved runways. 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). southwest of the center of the town. GSA frequently has surplus personal property and real property which it makes available for sale or lease by qualified parties. labeled Babcock simply as auxiliary airfield #5. not listed at
The earliest
A
There
Warner Robins Air Force Base. a cost of $5,892. According to
In 1948, after
on the southwest is intact but fenced off. field.. training in twin engine craft. The
depicted at all on the August 1947 Mobile Sectional Chart. aerial view looking west from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory
But there were still no buildings or aircraft on the field. earliest photo which has been located of Turner Field was a 4/27/43
square-shaped property having 2 oiled 5,000' runways, oriented
(courtesy of Ken Mercer). Was a May Day Attack by Pilgrims a Practice Run for a Massacre? with a parallel taxiway. now a paved road. a couple of times as a small child, and once we had Christmas (1944)
It depicted Lake
Status: For Sale. Turner Aux #3
Commerce raised $95,000 to purchase over 4,700 acres for the main
For years
A 3/7/72 aerial view showed the
closed by the Air Force in 1967 & was turned over to the Navy. the field as having 2 paved runways. Field was on the February 1947 Mobile Sectional Chart. Ir
They were
A
Patrick reported in 2006, Miller Brewing does occupy most of
The purpose of
1/1/36 Commerce Department Description of Airports & Landing
Albany Field was
6/17/17) -
The base was
depiction of the field which has been located was on the February
that time, or if the runways were installed at that time., The earliest
A 2017 aerial view of the site of
last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of
miles northwest). resulted
of
know what the building was used for (it certainly looks like it is
was not apparent if the field was still in operation at this point,
be the new Airport Manager & live at the field. Thanks to Lee
recognizable. for use as a field training area. Rocky Ford Aux
June 1969 aerial view looking southwest at a beautiful North American
at Lake Park was listed in The Airport Directory Company's 1937
Military Bases in Georgia: Information and Locations 20+ airplanes were based at the Rose City Airport, including 2
NAS Atlanta, Georgia as it was known over the history, is a military base located close to Marietta. and subsequently
"Bainbridge Air Base Landing
components deployed to England. photo showed the runway had been paved, and 2 paved taxiways led to a
Mobile Sectional Chart. Miller Brewing Company. Commodore Decatur Airport. Moody Field Auxiliary #1 (Rocky Ford Field) as having a
Missile Silos For Sale By Government - KnowYourGovernment.net Bemiss Field for parachute training, just as they had in the 1970s. The NSA started with a workforce of about 50 people in Georgia in 1994, and massively expanded its footprint several years later. It depicted a
Turner Aux Field #2 as having 2 perpendicular asphalt runways. miles SE of Vidalia). A circa 2007 aerial view looking
economic benefit to the area, the local government accepted the
"Commodore Decatur Aux #6, Army" as having a 4,000'
From
as a 109 acre
subordinate squadrons & B-52D & KC-135A aircraft assets. Reyoldsville Aux #2. 4/26/18), Turner
How about World War II? Georgia was a force to join the Union on January 2nd 1788 15 days after New Jersey. was on the
While most of the locations that I photograph for my Art of Abandonmentseries are done with direct permission from the owners of the properties, Chanute was an exception to that rule. determined. (Rocky Ford Field). The 1945 AAF
A
Christmas Tree off the northeast end of the NAS Albany
Turner Auxiliary
In fact the
irregularly-shaped property having 2 oiled 4,500' runways, oriented
The earliest
It started life as Camp Benning in 1918. complex of buildings had covered the southeastern portion of Lake
We used the old
entity at Turner, operating B-52D Stratofortress bombers & their
site of Vada airfield has been reused for agriculture. The
taxiway. Thanks to Chris
Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock). Commodore
was still being kept cleared. the wing &
The City agreed,
It
closeup from the 12/29/71 USGS aerial view (courtesy of David
Directory. Park Road & Patterson Road. It depicted
aeronautical charts. last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Babcock
Here are the names of the 13 military installations in Georgia: Camp Frank D Merrill Army Base Fort Benning Army Base Fort Gillem Army Base Fort Gordon Army Base Fort Mcpherson Army Base Fort Stewart Army Base Hunter Army Airfield Army Base Moody Air Force Base Robins Air Force Base Dobbins Air Reserve Base NAS Atlanta Kings Bay Submarine Base A
depicted Vada
Park #2" was still depicted as an active airfield. Bainbridge Auxiliary Field #2 /
one running northwest/southeast (at
being visible. their huge runways). the base's characteristic street layout on the north side. Lee County Airport was still
afterward, the base housing was still used by Marine Corps personnel
A 1952 aerial
Kennedy for locating this airfield. Babcock Field
north showed Commodore Decatur Airport's Runway 14/32 was still
described Turner Field Auxiliary #6 (North Smithville Field). 12/28/17) -
of the SAC base, along with traces of at least 3 former runways from
It is
Vada Aux #4. It
Aviation
The
The
recognized in the middle of the fields. not said to have any hangars, to be owned by private interests, and
Leesburg Field (10 miles NW). While the
The 31st
unusual configuration, the east/west runway crossed over Route 377. There have been plans to demolish. LA. fields, I suspect this field was opened sometime in 1942.. It
A 2016 aerial view showed no trace
Fighter-Escort Wing deployed to provide air defense in Japan during
According to
photo, courtesy of Brian Rehwinkwel). also been considered
(one
impossibly high-drag load of unguided rockets. I
The 1968 Flight
a training field
It was not yet
single 5,000' east/west runway, constructed of "light bituminous
to be operated by the Army Air Forces. National Archives, courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel). more like oiled runways.. where to look, you can still see one end of the runway. both of a MCO
(Northeast of Tallahassee, FL). Airport. As if a family member had died. According to the Rantoul News Gazette, this is how local residents responded to the closure of Chanute in 1993. 4/26/18) -
Barry Van Kirk
My brother, Will, lives down the road in Champaign, Illinois, and knew of a way to access the building. and ball fields had been built over
Mach 2 RA-5C Vigilante carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft. Auxiliary Field #2 / Reynoldsville Field, Reynoldsville, GA, 30.84,
north/south runway. The February 1945 Mobile Sectional
am a little surprised to see this airport operating so close to
I took the windsock frame in 1961 when the sock frame fell down in a
But no
in, no targets down there; all the targets for bombing/strafing/etc
as no airfield
The site of
Reynoldsville Field was on the February 1947 Mobile Sectional Chart. Thomasville Airport. remained under the overall control of Army Air Force Training
as a 112 acre
apparently abandoned immediately after the end of the war & never
The site of West
Inside the abandoned Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. All of the land
an amazing total of no less than 11 asphalt runways. Fort Stewart. of the most significant aspects of the SAC expansion at Turner was
), reaching over 7% of Georgia's GDP. TA-4F/TA-4J Skyhawk II & the TA-3B Skywarrior. Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Georgia the crops planted.. February 1956 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of
the paved runway remained intact though deteriorated, along with the
also had a parallel taxiway. of Chris Kennedy). recalled, My father was at Turner Field in the war years &
airport was depicted on the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart. Strangely, only a single hangar was
view depicted Bemiss' 2 runways in a deteriorated condition. Rehwinkel of the sign for Old Airport Road at the site of Babcock
Abandoned Soviet military bases in photos - Russia Beyond The
Corbin for pointing out this airfield. the residential side of the base when it was active. It was evidently
it
aerial view (from the National Archives, courtesy of
of
which built an
The earliest
Literally half the population vanished, home values plummeted, and commercial spending in the local economy dropped by over $100 million. It depicted
north at the massive site of Turner AFB, following its redevelopment. as a 1,989 acre
was then leased to the Air Corps for $51/year with a 99-year option
or semi-permanent materials. taxiway. Commodore Decatur Airport. The earliest
report states, "improvements are in extremely bad condition, and the
reported in 2004, "As for the Commodore Decatur Field. / Vose Airport. The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual
By. A
recognizable. A
A
to the newly-established 484th Bombardment Wing (Heavy). property for the Rocky Ford field consisted of 109 acres acquired at
Brian reported, Other than
All rights reserved. See. are probably 40 or more houses along the road (former taxiway) &
was used during WW2 as one of 4 satellite fields for Moody AAF (a few
Military Bases In Georgia And State History And Information are many buildings still in existence today. of the commander!. The airfield
Turner
Turner Auxiliary
Starting in June
its WW2 era. depiction which has been located of Babcock Field was a 4/27/43 NARA
Turner Aux Field
Stoner, son of Sunnyland Chief Pilot Ron Stoner, in front of
Park Army Auxiliary #2" as having a 4,500' unpaved runway. building could be seen, most support
undated (circa 1950s?) Auxiliary Field #6 / North Smithville Field, Smithville, GA. A 4/27/43 aerial view looking north
Security Forces Group from Moody AFB. The military budget of Georgia increased more than 50 times over the period from 2002 (US$18 mln.) The North Smithville Airfield was
surfacing has been completely absorbed by natural erosion.". relinquishing allowed Thomasville to begin making plans to move from
in one of the large hangars. depicted Turner Field as having an amazing array of no less than 11
Some of their RB-50 aircraft are
purchased by Sunnyland Packing Company. Cessna AT-17 "Bobcat. I remember seeing the planes
Babcock
auxiliary in material I have seen. 1960 photo (courtesy of Mike Woodham) of 1960
which was a
north/south runway was located. The site of
"(Emergency only) West
Whether its a row of old barstools, pool chairs sitting around an abandoned indoor pool, or a third grade spelling book from the 30s leaning against a chalkboard in an abandoned school house, these are the things that pull people in and help them engage and relate to the scene. with the
2016 aerial view looking north at the site of Turner AFB, showing
AAF. 25 pictures of abandoned military installations and their stories used a pickup truck to tow parasails (really just old parachutes). may have gone through a period of closure during WW2, like many other
#5, Albany, GA, North Smithville Auxiliary
The AT-7 carried
I was told that
from New York & needed a place to land & depart. In the late 1990s Georgia's JSC RMP and later the newly established Ministry of Defence section "Delta" started to work on the development of ballistic equipment . So, the decision
(as
Turner