Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:he
Alabama, Birmingham area
© 2002, © 2007 by Paul Freeman. Revised 12/11/07.
Anniston AAF / Talladega Airport (revised 10/12/06) - Camp Hill Tallapoosa County - Coosa County Airport (revised 6/19/04)
Durham Airport / (Original) Bessemer Airport (revised 9/16/05) - Ft. McClellan AAF / Reilly AAF (revised 12/11/07)
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Ft. McClellan Army Airfield / Henry J. Reilly Army Airfield, Anniston, AL
33.75 North / 85.78 West (West of Atlanta, GA)
Reilly AAF, as depicted on the June 1941 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This former airfield was located on the grounds of Fort McClellan,
which previously conducted infantry & Military Police training,
The date of construction of Ft. McClellan's airfield has not been determined.
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airport Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
It described the Ft. McClellan Army Airfield as a 44 acre T-shaped field,
measuring 2,600' east/west by 1,800' north/south.
At some point between 1937-41, the airfield was renamed Henry J. Reilly AAF,
as that is how it was labeled on the June 1941 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Reilly AAF was evidently abandoned (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1941-43,
as it was not depicted on the March 1943 14M Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A 1944 map (courtesy of Rex Ricks) depicted Reilly Field as having 2 perpendicular runways.
Reilly AAF was not depicted on the 1944 or 1945 Birmingham Sectional Charts (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1947 USGS topo map (courtesy of the University of Alabama Map Library)
depicted “Reilly Airfield” as having two runways & a taxiway leading to a few small buildings on the north side of the field,
but it was also labeled “Abandoned”.
Reilly (Army) was described on the Aerodromes table of the August 1954 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as being "Inactive", with "no facilities."
It was depicted as having a 2,300' hard surface runway.
Reilly's runway was apparently somewhat lengthened at some point between 1954-61,
as the 1961 Great Smoky Mountains World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the field as having a 3,000' hard-surface runway.
Two paved runways were depicted for "Reilly AAF"
on the January 1962 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
but the remarks in the Aerodromes table said "North/South runway closed."
A 1961 Soil Conservation Service Photo,
courtesy of Thomas Kallsen of the University of Alabama Map Library.
Jeff Morgan recalled, “I lived at Fort McClellan from 1969-72.
As a child, I remember my father, an Army officer, taking me to the airfield many times
and seeing several UH-1 Hueys on a flight line.”
John Sabol recalled, “I was stationed at Ft. McClellan between the years 1970-73.
I was an Army Aviator & the operations officer of Reilly Army Airfield.
We had an aviation detachment of about 20 pilots, plus a maintenance group.
The aircraft we had were 4 or 5 UH-1 Hueys, and a T-41, U-6, and U-8 fixed-wing aircraft.
At the time, Ft. McClellan was the home of the Women’s Army Corps & the Army Chemical Corps.
We flew in support of both of the above. Great job at the time.
Additionally, Reilly frequently hosted training flights of the CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
They came from Ft. Benning to use our facilities.”
Reilly AAF was still listed as an active airfield in the 1971 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).
The status of the airfield had been downgraded to that of a heliport by 1980,
as "Reilly AHP" was depicted as "Heliport Only" on the April 1980 Atlanta Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Reilly was apparently closed (again) at some point between 1980-86,
as it was not listed among active airfields in the 1986 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).
Jeff Morgan recalled, “It was somewhat surprising to me, when in 1990-91, as a military police lieutenant,
I stumbled on to the airfield by accident & learned it had been inactive for sometime & was now a vehicle driving range.”
Fort McClellan was closed during the 1990s.
The property containing the airfield is now a National Guard installation.
Reilly AAF was depicted on late 1990s aeronautical charts as an abandoned airfield.
As seen in the 1998 USGS aerial photo,
the airfield consists of two paved runways (the largest is 3,700’ long) and a taxiway.
There isn’t any indication of any hangars or other airfield buildings.
According to retired Infantry Officer Gary Waters,
a serpentine driving course (used for Military Police driver training) has been overlaid on the primary runway.
A circa 1990s view looking east at Reilly Field by Gary Waters.
The mountain due east of the airfield is Choccolocco Mountain.
A circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo looking west along Reilly Field.
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33.57 North / 86.06 West (East of Birmingham, AL)
Anniston AAF, as depicted on the November 1944 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the Army Airfield while in use has not been located.
How many auto racing fans know that the Talladega Superspeedway
was built on the remains of an abandoned WW2-era Army Airfield?
Anniston Army Airfield was evidently established at some point between 1943-44,
as it was not yet depicted at all on the March 1943 14M Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to Anniston AAF which has been located
was on the March 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
It described Anniston AAF as having a 5,300' hard-surfaced runway.
The earliest depiction of Anniston AAF which has been located
was on the November 1944 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The airfield consisted of three 5,300' concrete runways, taxiways,
and a ramp & building complex on the northeast side of the field.
The role of Anniston AAF has not been determined.
Anniston AAF was still depicted as an active military airfield
on the 1945 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
At some point between 1945-47, Anniston was apparently closed by the military.
as it was labeled "Anniston Air Force Base (Inactive)" on a 1947 USGS topo map
(courtesy of Thomas Kallsen of the University of Alabama Map Library).
The former Anniston AFB was eventually reused as the Talladega Airport.
It was described on the Aerodromes table of the August 1954 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as a jointly operated (civil & Air Force) airfield.
The 1959 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Talladega Airport as having three 5,300' paved runways.
Taxiways led to a ramp on the north side of the field.
Only a single building was depicted.
Talladega Airport, as depicted on the 1961 Great Smoky Mountains World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Talladega Municipal Airport as having three 5,300' concrete runways,
and listed the operator as Vinson Flying Service.
The former Anniston AAF was selected as the site for a new auto racing track by NASCAR founder Bill France & Bill Ward,
and the track was opened in 1969.
It "was built to be the biggest, fastest, and most competitive speedway in the world."
The date of closure of the Talladega Municipal Airport has not been determined.
At an unknown date,
a new airport, the Talladega Municipal Airport, was built to the east of the Speedway & former military airfield.
A new 6,000' paved runway was constructed for the new airport -
it did not reuse any runways from the former military airfield.
The majority of the length of the three runways of the former military airfield
were still clearly recognizable in the 1997 aerial photo.
Most of the former military building area also still existed, northeast of the former airfield.
A 2006 aerial view by Robert Morris looking northeast at the Talladega Superspeedway,
with the former military airfield just behind it, and the current Talladega Regional Airport at the top.
Robert observed, “The old runways are used as roadways & RV/camper parking at the Talladega Superspeedway.”
The site of Talladega AAF is located
southeast of the intersection of Superspeedway Boulevard & Jackson Trace Road.
Thanks to Peter Kodis for pointing out this former airfield.
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Coosa County Airport (69A), Goodwater, AL
33.09 North / 86.06 West (North of Montgomery, AL)
A 1967 Soil Conservation Service Photo,
courtesy of Thomas Kallsen of the University of Alabama Map Library.
The date of construction of Coosa County Airport is unknown.
It was apparently built at some point prior to 1967.
It was depicted in the above 1967 Soil Conservation Service Photo,
in which it appeared to still be an unpaved runway.
Nothing at the site of the Coosa County Airport was depicted on the 1969 USGS topo map
(even though the above 1967 aerial photo showed that the airfield already existed by that point).
According to Jim Hamil (a native & son of a City Councilman of Goodwater),
"The runway was built in the 1960s with Federal grant monies.
Goodwater is sandwiched in between what was at that time 2 larger & growing cities (Sylacauga & Alexander City)
which both had limited small runways / airports that were unable to expand because of land issues.
Goodwater's growth had leveled off & started to show signs of remission.
The county applied for the grant monies hoping that a longer airstrip would move growth towards Goodwater,
especially since it would be the only airstrip in the rural area that would be able to handle jets."
"The strip had no bearings on Goodwater's growth & couldn't save the town.
During the 1970s, over half of the retail stores closed.
During the 1980s, Wal-Marts in Sylacauga & Alexander City killed all but 3 retail stores."
"Even though the strip was never used,
the city was held responsible for maintaining the runway lights, which was rather expensive.
Even when the strip was open & operational,
the gate portion of the fence around it was padlocked
(I remember climbing over it many times as a kid).
Also, I-65 (which connects Birmingham to Montgomery) didn't exist when the strip was built."
Coosa County Airport was depicted on the October 1975 Atlanta Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as having a single 4,600' paved runway.
The airfield was depicted (labeled simply "Landing Strip") on the 1981 USGS topo map.
Coosa County Airport was listed among active airfields in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),
which described the field as having a single 4,600' asphalt Runway 18/36.
According to Jim Hamil, "The Airport was actually closed to normal traffic circa 1988,
but remained available for daytime emergency landings of planes & small jets
because of its fairly long runway.
Any attempts to land were met with a deputy or Goodwater Policeman.
The reasons for closing the runway were primarily monetary and lack of use:
Resurfacing Costs - Costs & upkeep of the runway Lights
(which apparently were continually being destroyed by the city's mowers
and by hunters who didn't like them burning).
Security - The police would patrol occasionally,
but because of its remote and secluded location it needed a fulltime watchman.
Lack of use - No planes were kept on the premises.
Madix & other local plane owners used the Alexander City Airport (15 minutes driving time)
which had hangers, was a manned airport, and was actually easier to access by car.
The Goodwater / Coosa County Airport is literally in a remote, very rural area with a difficult drive.
Someone would occasionally land on the strip when it was open, but rarely."
In the 1997 USGS aerial photo, the airfield still consisted of a single 4,600' runway,
along with a small parking apron (possibly with a trailer) on the east side of the runway.
Coosa County Airport was completely closed at an unknown date, apparently between 1997-2002.
It was still labeled "County Airport" on the 1997 USGS topo map,
but it is depicted as an abandoned airfield on 2002 aeronautical charts.
Jim Hamil recalled, "I remember one of my friends trying to land on it
after they painted the big "X" [closed runway symbol] on the runway.
He was probably 19 or so at the time.
He was met by a Deputy who threatened to jail him & impound his plane!"
"After they closed it, the city began to use the area North of the runway
for the City Dump allowing the garbage & trash trucks to use the strip as a road
along with private & commercial vehicles who would bring trash to be dumped."
According to George Jones, this abandoned airport is used by Harley Davidson to test motorcycles.
The airport is located west of Route 11, two miles north-northwest of Goodwater.
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Durham Airport / (Original) Bessemer Airport, Bessemer, AL
33.37 North / 86.98 West (Southwest of Birmingham, AL)
"Durham" Airport, as depicted on the August 1954 Birmingham USAF Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This former airport was apparently built at some point between 1945-54,
as it was not yet depicted on the 1945 Birmingham Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
is on the August 1954 Birmingham USAF Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted "Durham" Airport as having a 2,300' unpaved runway.
A 1956 Soil Conservation Service aerial photo of the Durham/Bessemer Airport,
courtesy of Thomas Kallsen of the University of Alabama Map Library.
The photo depicted the field as having a single northeast/southwest runway,
with three small buildings (hangars?) along the northwest side.
A total of 5 light aircraft were visible on the field.
At some point between 1954-59, the field was apparently renamed "Bessemer Airport"
as that is how it was labeled on the 1959 USGS topo map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The August 1962 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the original Bessemer Airport as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
This 1967 Soil Conservation Service aerial photo of the original Bessemer Airport
(courtesy of Thomas Kallsen of the University of Alabama Map Library)
showed that a few more hangars had been added to the field, compared to the 1956 aerial photo.
A total of about a dozen light aircraft were visible on the field.
Bessemer Airport apparently gained a paved runway at some point between 1962-71,
as the 1971 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted the field as having a single 3,000' paved Runway 3/21.
A taxiway led to a total of six buildings (hangars?) along the northwest side of the runway.
The original Bessemer Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1971-76,
when it was replaced by a new airport to the southeast.
By the time of the August 1976 Word Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
the original airport was depicted as abandoned.
As seen in the 1998 USGS aerial photo, the site of the former airport had been redeveloped with several commercial buildings,
and not a trace appeared to remain of the original Bessemer Airport.
As seen in a circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo, not a trace appeared to remain of the original Bessemer Airport.
The site of the original Bessemer Airport is located northeast of the intersection of Grant Street & Airport Lane Southwest.
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Camp Hill Tallapoosa County Airport (62A), Camp Hill, AL
32.78 North / 85.66 West (Southwest of Atlanta, GA)
A 1960 Soil Conservation Service Photo,
courtesy of Thomas Kallsen of the University of Alabama Map Library.
The date of construction of this former county airport is unknown,
but it apparently only lasted about 30 years from construction to closure.
Camp Hill Airport was apparently built at some point prior to 1960.
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located is the above 1960 Soil Conservation Service Photo,
in which the field consisted of apparently not much more than a clearing,
oriented north-northwest/south-southeast.
However, Camp Hill Airport may have still be under construction in 1960,
as it was not listed among active airfields in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory
or the 1971 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest official reference to Camp Hill Airport which has been located is the 1972 USGS topo map.
The February 1976 Atlanta Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy
depicted Camp Hill Tallapoosa County Airport as having a single 2,800' paved runway.
Camp Hill Tallapoosa County Airport was described in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
as having a single 2,780' asphalt Runway 18/36,
along with the comment "Use at own risk", which is kind of unusual for a "County Airport".
Camp Hill Airport was still listed (although in the "Low Use" section) of the 1986 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).
Ted Dasher recalled, “Camp Hill... was definitely open as of 1989
as the Auburn University Skydiving Club used it occasionally during that year.”
Brian Bostick reported, “Camp Hill was definitely open as late as 1991.
I landed there on May 30, 1991, in a Cessna 172 and saw another aircraft parked there.
I was told at the time I landed that the airport was scheduled to be closed.
It was a short runway completely surrounded by a wall of tall trees on all sides.
Even in a Cessna 172, all those trees were enough to make any pilot sweat during landing or takeoff.”
Coosa County Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1991-98,
as it was not longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on 1998 World Aeronautical Charts.
According to Glen Boyd (manager of LaGrange-Callaway Airport),
"It was closed due to a lack of funds to keep it properly paved & safe.
I understand that it is now used for drag racing & the hangar is a city equipment barn."
In the 1998 USGS aerial photo, the runway still existed in fine shape, marked with a closed runway "X" symbol.
The alignment of the runway (directly north/south)
was quite different from that in the 1960 aerial photo.
Ted Dasher observed, “One thing the photo does not capture is the way in which this airport was literally cut out of a pine forest,
almost like a runway with walls on each side (and each end).”
The Camp Hill Airport is located on the west side of Route 89 at Airport Road,
one mile south of Camp Hill, AL.
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