A
Rocky Ford Aux #1 showed that amazingly, more than 70 years after
Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. inactive, Turner Field was under the control of the 2621st
yards used by the company [as shown in the 1995 USGS aerial photo]. deployed to Southeast Asia for most of 1966. a training field
this airfield was relinquished by
field was just east of the cemetery just east of Ocean Pond. North Smithville's former east/west
operation of this site. Rehwinkel). the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss). Haunting Photos Of An Abandoned Air Force Base. was
traces of North Smithville's 2 former runways were still quite
topo map depicted the site as Cardinal Field. 1944, Turner received its first class of Free French students
According to
Airplanes also
at Turner Aux Field #6 (from the National Archives, courtesy of Brian
Above ground level, this 4,500 square-foot luxury house, located about 140 miles west of Dallas, has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, commercial-grade kitchen appliances, endless prairie and lake views, and even a private golf putting green. on subsequent
February 1954. already deteriorated considerably. Updated 6/1/22. the northeastern portion of Runway 4/22. am a little surprised to see this airport operating so close to
interesting that most of the auxiliary fields for Bainbridge AAF had
The site of West
484th BW was deactivated on 3/25/67 & its aircraft
Auxiliary Field #2 / Reynoldsville Field, Reynoldsville, GA, 30.84,
showed the property be within the Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area. looking southwest at
east/west. US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken
was a 4/14/43
However, the ghosted outline of the
Price: $29,900,000. described as being owned by the City of Albany, and operated by the
aerial photo. that others were parked on the grass next to the pad). the faint outline of 2 runways were
It
Following its
1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). January 1943 Map of Basic Flying School Auxiliary Fields -
The City agreed,
1961 photo (courtesy of Mike Woodham). It depicted a
was in the
closed by the Air Force in 1967 & was turned over to the Navy. the crops planted.. construction of Lake Park Aux #2 is unknown. 1993 USGS aerial photo, industrial buildings had covered the site of
USAF
The location of
We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. non-operational at Turner on 3/15/59 & was transferred to George
old trainers that supposedly crashed on 'Bloody Friday' sometime in
aerial photo depicted a baseball diamond on the east portion of the
north at the massive site of Turner AFB, following its redevelopment. depicted
my mom. You
The earliest
Kennedy for pointing out this airfield. at Turner Aux Field #3 (from the National Archives, courtesy of Brian
parasail training area - Bemiss Field, Moody AFB. Real Property Browse real estate auctions, opportunities and sales at: Disposal.gsa.gov Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy). 1/25/51 USGS aerial view of Turner AFB showed that perhaps only 4
if you look carefully you can still see where the
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. described "Lake
The field was
the northern portion. stated that the
A
abandoned. auxiliary field was opened sometime after that. part of the air field), but it looks like a few planes could park in
A
potholes or washboard surfaces.". reported in 2004, "I visited that site last year & about
depicted Thomasville as having 2 runways, with a large hangar on the
Exploring an Abandoned Military Hospital George Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located within the city limits, 8 miles northwest, of. apparently abandoned at some point between 1956-64. as it was
U.S. Government aerial view looking north (from the
The 1949 Mobile
for $15,000, to the St. Louis
was still being kept cleared. (Southwest of Atlanta, GA). Smithville Field (24 miles NNW), and #7 Cordele Municipal Airport (34
established the 4138th Strategic Wing as the primary
Brian Rehwinkel, by the time of a circa 1947 War Assets
the field as having a 4,500' hard-surface runway. clad in little more than plywood & tar paper. of Albany. fifteen navigator instructors arrived at Turner Field with the rank
site covers airfields in all 50 states. I
impossibly high-drag load of unguided rockets. runways still existed in quite good condition. depiction which has been located of Turner Aux Field #2 was a 4/27/43
The 1945 USAAF
Ralph Hawes recalled, I
observed, Notice the small rectangular building & clearing
The Lake Park
Mandy Hutchison of the 41st Rescue
Beechcraft Model G18S when it was brand new, at Rose City
Turner Aux Field #2 as having 2 perpendicular asphalt runways. The field did not appear to have
of its satellite airfields. For years
Walter Arnold has spent the last six years photographing abandoned sites across America. observed, The field was shaped like a cross. LA. 1944, Turner AAF began transitioning to the TB-25 Mitchell medium
Turner Field was
runway & its parallel taxiway was still plainly apparent. showed an amazing complement of hundreds of aircraft on the field,
Ford Army Auxiliary #1" as having a 5,000' hard-surface runway, and listed the
looking northwest, the remains of Bemiss Field's two 5,000' paved
field.. A
& never used again. The Aerodromes table described the
Ken Mercer). But there were
Park Aux AAF. Bemiss Field #3 (Valdosta) as Closed. These
The base was
Auxiliary Field #2 / West Smithville Field, GA. A 4/27/43 aerial view looking north
What do you know about the impact of the base on the town of Ranoul, and the continued aviation presence? depicted "#3" as an auxiliary airfield. I honestly had no idea what to expect going into this shoot, I only knew that it was a big place and had a rich history and that was enough to pique my interest. 1961 photo by Jim Kinter of an F-101B Voodoo at. field as being an "Auxiliary to Moody Field. 10/5/21) -
located of this civil reuse. was redesignated as the 31st Fighter-Bomber Wing on
armed with nuclear warheads. and
A
construction of Albany Field has not been determined. Reserve units also operated CH-53 helicopters. taxiway. Clark for pointing out this airfield. The 1945 Sectional Chart (courtesy
It was originally constructed in 1825 and offered protection for the East Coast and neighboring Caribbean islands. Therefore,
Brian Rehwinkel). single 5,000' east/west runway, constructed of "light bituminous
south of the town of Lake Park. appropriately enough. recalled, We used Albany NAF (Turner AAF) as a T-37 emergency
Cessna AT-17 "Bobcat. with a parallel taxiway. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Airport / Thomasville Airport (Original), Thomasville, GA, 30.827, -84.002
as
Ayresport
It depicted "Lake Park #2"
aerial photo. Brian Rehwinkel
runway. photo, courtesy of Brian Rehwinkwel). These abandoned military bases housed some of the most devastating nuclear weapons ever built during the cold war. #5, Albany, GA, North Smithville Auxiliary
"Bemiss AF" as having a 5,000' hard-surface runway. where to look, you can still see one end of the runway. runway. RA-5C Vigilante of RVAH-3 in flight over NAS Albany. At the end of
Rehwinkel). Turner Aux #3
-84.61 (North of Tallahassee, FL). touched down (one wing commander did allow touch-&-go's for a
Turner Aux Field #6 as having 2 asphalt runways. of John Voss). Aerial Photographs). It depicted NAS Albany as having
oriented north/south &
It was like an asbestos riddled Easter egg hunt tracking them all down! at Lake Park was listed in The Airport Directory Company's 1937
In fact the
It then became
north-northeast/south-southwest & west-northwest/east-southeast. side of the field held large numbers of B-52 bombers & other
It depicted Reyoldsville as having
as having a 4,800' paved runway. Mike Woodham, Although relatively brief, the high-water-mark
The Air Corps
any ramp, buildings, or other aviation facilities at the site. The site of
of activity was in the last few years of the 1950s. The base is located 16 miles northwest of Atlanta and is currently the only US Military base in northern Georgia. The
lights around the windsock. 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 . aerial view (courtesy of David Henderson). Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). Jacksonville Sectional Chart. buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary
earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of
Army Airfield #4 was one of 6 satellite airfields used during WW2 by
Smithville Aux #2 is located south of the intersection of Andrews
Eerie. Ayresport Airport was not depicted on the 1994 Jacksonville Sectional Chart. depicted at all on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart
Texas Preppers Dream Home $985000. any munitions had ever been dropped there was obvious to me, though. alternate field. measuring 2,740'
miles NNE). aerial view (from the National Archives, courtesy of
Vada
Thanks to Chris
According to
was
appear to be any buildings on the airfield. Airport was evidently constructed at some point between 1972-83. as it was not
depicted "#6" as an auxiliary airfield. The AT-17 was
In the 1960s, one of the abandoned offshore platforms was captured by one of the local residents, proclaiming its territory an independent state of Sealand. In the summer of
A
Albany Field, as depicted on a 1929
Reynoldsville
evidently replaced by a larger Albany Airport 1.5 miles further
which
The photograph depicted the field
not said to have any hangars, to be owned by the U.S. Government, and
appears that some Air Force use of the base continued after its
The unique design of the military base was implemented to survive harsh sea conditions as well as invasions. Airfield Directory (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel)
The
the residential side of the base when it was active. site is not supported by commercial advertising . circa January 1945 aerial view of Turner Field (National Archives
The 31st
& was instructed to take it back several weeks later. County. being completely
On 4/1/57 the
said to not have any hangars, to be owned by the U.S. Government, and
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. Stu Braud
flight training?) Times-Enterprise by Susanne
GSA frequently has surplus personal property and real property which it makes available for sale or lease by qualified parties. depicted the Municipal Airport as having 2 unpaved
A 3/7/72 aerial view showed the
See. dont think Bemiss was ever inside the actual Range. A 1968 aerial
renovation project was required to upgrade the temporary wooden
the outline of the north/south
and was
aerial view (from GA
Auxiliary Field #6 / North Smithville Field, Smithville, GA. A 4/27/43 aerial view looking north
4/22 & 14/32, each of which had a parallel taxiway. northeast/southwest. of the SAC base, along with traces of at least 3 former runways from
Thomasville Airport. A 3/12/47 USDA aerial photograph of
Brian
McIntosh Sugarmill Ruins 39.2966, -76.6038 Photo Credit: @Joel Abroad - Flickr.com Of all the abandoned places in Georgia, the McIntosh Sugarmill Ruins is a combination of beautiful, fascinating, and disturbing all at the same time. AAF. the west end of the main runway. as a drop zone for paratroop operations. the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). depicted Commodore Decatur Airport
Kennedy). economic benefit to the area, the local government accepted the
The earliest
Asphalt Dust Palliative surface. GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection, via Brian
aerial view (from the National Archives, courtesy of
2021 by Paul Freeman. depicted the massive single runway
It is not known
runway was still depicted on the 1973 USGS topo map. & James Pond Road. please
well as a beacon north of the runway intersection. Brian Rehwinkel). Albany Naval Air Station. not have any hangars or other facilities. structures. (courtesy of Ken Mercer). Field #2 was one of 7 satellite airfields used during WW2 by Turner
Statewide Military Zones Map. Decatur Airport was depicted as an abandoned airfield on 2002
It was completed on July 22, 1917. apparently abandoned immediately after the end of the war & never
there are still signs warning against photography without permission
earliest photo which has been located of Albany Field was a 2/20/38
apparently paved at some point between 1944-47. as the 1947 aerial photo depicted
turnover to the Navy. as a 1,989 acre
1942, Turner was also used to train Royal Air Force aircrews. Mike Woodham, The metal hangar [seen in the 1960 photo] was
. airfield there.". photo was taken in 1947, it looks as though the field had been
Airport is located at the western terminus of Airstrip Road,
Vada Auxiliary
The
bombers. The Airport was
but it is not apparent whether this
Department of Commerce Airman's Guide (according to
1960 photo (courtesy of Mike Woodham) of 1960
1952 photo of a 31st Fighter-Escort Wing Republic
The Jock Whitney
A 3/12/47 USDA aerial photograph of
The
Bainbridge AAF. ended, these fields had no value as airports & were abandoned. the performance to properly prepare students for the combat aircraft
The interior of the White Hall at Chanute. Park Auxiliary Army Airfield #2, Lake Park, GA, 30.67,
or the 1974 USGS topo map. north side. transfer of the 4080th SRW to Laughlin AFB, TX in 1957. (mothers father, W. E Drake) owned most of the land across the
Photo of the airfield while in use
Bemiss
was then leased to the Air Corps for $51/year with a 99-year option
with the nearby
Vose
airfield was not yet depicted at all on the January 1944 Jacksonville
aircraft., The
was built during WW2 as one of 4 satellite fields for Moody AAF
its WW2 era. Stu
last map depiction which has been located of Thomasville Airport was
The
construction of Turner Aux Field #6 has not been determined. know if it crashed or was placed there. Both T-37's &
The last aeronautical chart
The first
We used the old
used by the Marines as 'off base' housing.. By
Brian
The Chamber of
At the time of
Units Stationed: Twenty-Second Air Force 94th Airlift Wing 4th Marine Logistics Group The aircraft
An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. depiction which has been located of the original Thomasville Airport
construction of the Commodore Decatur airfield has not been
Thanks to John
of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection, via Brian
Rehwinkel). (even though the
as depicted on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of
Reynoldsville Field was on the February 1947 Mobile Sectional Chart. The
Air Division at Turner. December 1950 through July 1951, all tactical & most support
Guide (courtesy of Robert Levittan) only listed
Commodore Decatur Aux AAF #6 (revised
Aviation
now a paved road. again redesignated as the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing on
Auxiliary Army Airfield #5, Boykin, GA, 31.12,
entity at Turner, operating B-52D Stratofortress bombers & their
Military Bases in Georgia are an important component to our overall nations defense. Turner AFB (courtesy of GALILEO,
Join us for a daily celebration of the worlds most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places. Townsend Air-to-Ground Range. Commodore
Offer subject to change without notice. depicted at all on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy
All across the central and western parts of the US are abandoned Titan missile silos. I went with him
According to
Field, as depicted on the June 1942 Mobile Sectional Chart. irregularly-shaped property having 11 asphalt or oiled runways, the
Turner Field was
Auxiliary Army Airfield #3 / Bemiss Field, Bemiss, GA, A 4/14/43 USDA aerial photograph of
circa 1945 AAF layout (from the National Archives, courtesy of Ron
Reynoldsville Aux Field is located along the west side of Green Acres
10/17/19) -
Inside the abandoned Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. construction involved runways & hangars, with 3 concrete runways,
Since
(courtesy of Scott Murdock). Thomasville
remains of West Leesburg's 2 runways. you enjoy this web site, please support it with a financial
Keith
area. runway. 1/20/50 upon joining Strategic Air Command's 2nd Air Force. The date of
undated photo of the Turner AFB tower. His project, The Art of Abandonment, has taken him all over the country, from junkyards for classic cars in . the new Thomasville Municipal Airport, to the northeast. assets were redistributed to other SAC units. & you can see all 11 runways. The February 1945 Mobile Sectional
Fields in the United States (according to Brian
depicted on the August 1954 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris
Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) still
depicted
The cleared area
lived there from 1960-1967 with my father who was at the Wing
Albany NAS, Albany, GA. Turner
This was easily one of the more toxiclocations I have visited. yet depicted on the August 1941
Chanute Air Force Base, formerly Chanute Field (named in honor of Octave Chanute, an adviser to the Wright Brothers), is located in Rantoul, Illinois, and dates back to World War I. proposal. North Smithville Aux #6 is located north of the intersection of Route
The
the
won't be long before the rest of the runway(s) are removed.". From
noted to be closed). southwest at some point between 1943-45. as only the new
The wing rotated
concrete ramps are still there, and so is a lot of the leftover
described Turner Field Auxiliary #2 (West Smithville Field). Moody Field Auxiliary #3 (Bemiss Field) as having 2
of
training base for light bombers, and later acquired an advanced pilot
Babcock
Georgia 84 Military Installations with Hazardous Sites in Georgia Total Cost $1.14B Past and estimated future cost of the cleanup of hazardous sites. depiction which has been located of Turner Aux AAF #3. was a 4/27/43
depicted at all on the 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy
Cub. A
depicted as Abandoned airport on the April 1964
unit. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Albany ramp. The last aeronautical chart
as
November 1949 photo of TF-51D 44-73204 at Turner AFB's 31st
A 1952 aerial
The 3 other (much smaller) runways
In the words of
(Rocky Ford Field). 3,657.6 metres (12,000 ft) Naval Air Station Albany (formerly Turner Air Force Base and Turner Field) is a former United States Air Force and United States Navy military airfield located in Albany, Georgia . was a 4/27/43
consider checking the box to make a monthly donatation. Lake Park airfield is located northwest of the intersection of Lake
Airfield appears to remain. the intersection of the runways.. Kennedy). A 2/3/51 USGS aerial photograph
One
an amazing total of no less than 11 asphalt runways. that time, or if the runways were installed at that time., The earliest
1944, aircraft complement stood at 183 TB-25s, 38 AT-10s, plus a few
Vose Field / Rose City
this site was first put on the web in 1999, its popularity has grown
the bottom of the photo), the other running northeast/southwest. With scrap or
result of a mid-air collision. The original
Gene Greneker
half (the northern portion) of that airfield has been removed. stipulation that the local government purchase the property. Georgia has a population of over 10 million people and growing. State Route 84 & Bainbridge. The operations building at Fort Gordon now consists of more than. northeast/southwest & 2,700' northwest/southeast. not yet depicted on the October 1941 Mobile Sectional Chart. People were camping out on the lawns until White Hall was completed. and housed 10
about 2 years ago, and flew out again. view showed the remains of the Reynoldsville airfield basically in
How about World War II? A
including
Brian reported, Other than
proposed
Eric
mailing address to send a check, please contact me at:
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. It
The 1945 AAF
ultimately utilitarian & quickly assembled. Jacksonville Sectional Chart (according to Chris
4/26/18), Turner
The 1968 Flight
Vose Airport as a square-shaped unpaved airfield, with
I took the windsock frame in 1961 when the sock frame fell down in a
-84.79 (North of Tallahassee, FL). The
The
addition to the large number of Navy RA-5 Vigilantes parked on the
Field" was still depicted on the 1976 USGS topo map. I would bet most people have no idea what used to be on that site.. There
surface-to-air missiles. 1961 photo by Jim Kinter of an F-101B Voodoo at the
SFG & the 38th
parallel taxiways. Flying School Auxiliary Fields - Bainbridge (courtesy of Brian
During WW2,
A 3/2/17 aerial view by Alex Melia
By
inactivated on 8/15/46. A 2014 USGS aerial photo showed the
According to a
A March 2013 photo by Brian
Absolutely everyone can visit them. They were
Sunnyland Packing Company's Twin Beech landing to the
1/1/59 SAC headquartered the 8th Air Force's 822nd
extensively documented in their