Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Eastern Connecticut
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 4/10/08.
Doane Airport (revised 3/17/07) - Lakeside Airport (revised 4/10/08) - New London Waterford Airport (revised 4/10/08)
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41.35 North / 72.41 West (Southeast of Hartford, CT)
A 1934 aerial view of Doane Airport, taken by the Fairchild Aerial Survey Company (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Doane Airport was built in 1929-31 by Everett Doane for his son Bill, according to Richard Calarco.
“Young Bill was an experienced pilot who used the airport basically to provide flying lessons for student pilots -
also he would take passengers on sightseeing flights over the Valley Shore towns.”
The earliest directory reference to Doane Airport which has been located
was in the Pilot's Handbook Publishing Company's 1931 Pilots Handbook (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Doane as an auxiliary airfield, but did not give any other description of the field.
The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Doane as a commercial airport, consisting of an irregularly-shaped sod field measuring 1,250' x 900'.
The earliest depiction of Doane Airport which has been located
was a 1934 aerial view taken by the Fairchild Aerial Survey Company (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field as having hangars located on the south & west sides.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of Doane Airport which has been located
was on the 1934 U.S. Navy Aviation Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
An aerial view looking west at Doane Airport,
from the Airport Directory Company's 1938 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The directory described Doane as a commercial airport consisting of a 30 acre irregularly-shaped sod field, measuring 1,300' x 1,100'.
Richard Calarco reported, “An article in the local paper indicated that Howard Hughes use to land there
to visit Katherine Hepburn who had a family house at the beach area in Old Saybrook.”
The Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Doane Airport as a "class s-1" field, owned, operated, and managed by E.W. Doane.
The field was said to have 2 grass runways (1,800' northeast/southwest & 1,250' north/south)
a hangar, and an administration building.
The 1944 USGS topo map labeled the site of the "Essex Airport",
but did not depict any other details (no outline of the property or runways).
Richard Calarco recalled, “I learned to fly out of Doane's airport in 1954 when I was 16 years old.
In a J3 Cub & Cessna 120 with no radios.
The manager & my flight instructor was Everett Savard, a highly respected pilot in CT.
He leased the airport from Mr. Doane starting about 1951or 1952.
It had a short runway and we used the northeast/southwest runway most of the time
and in the spring & winter it was very soft & marginal.”
The last depiction of Doane as an active airport which has been located
was on the January 1955 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Doane as having a 1,900' unpaved runway.
Richard Calarco recalled, “The airport closed because they were going to develop the land but never did.”
Doane Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1955-58,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the January 1958 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A 1991 USGS aerial photo showed the majority of the site of the former Doane Airport to remain open & undeveloped.
As seen in a circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo, the majority of the site of the former Doane Airport remained open & undeveloped.
An original hangar remained on the western edge of the property.
Richard Calarco reported in 2005, “The old hangar is still there & the field is still there.
Every time I visit CT & Essex, I go by the site and look at it & tell my wife that is where I learned how to fly.
She gets tired of it but goes along with it for my sake.”
Richard Calraco reported later in 2005, “The airport just sold the 23 acres this year 2005,
to a local businessman for $725K.
This land has been vacant since the airport closed.”
However, Richard Calarco reported in December 2005,
“The good news is that the folks that bought the airport & hangar
are going to restore the old hangar & try to make it look like the old days
and park an old antique aircraft outside trying recreate the old atmosphere.
From what I have found out the present owners do not plan on selling the land for development in the near future.”
The site of Doane Airport is located north of the intersection of Route 153 & Westbrook Road.
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41.58 North / 71.91 West (Southeast of Hartford, CT)
"Pachaug" Airport, as depicted on the 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
According to Lorraine (Sinkewicz) Piurowski,
"My parents, William & Caroline Sinkewicz, bought the property around 1943 from the Latham family.
At that time, the property had been a farm."
The airfield was evidently established at some point between 1944-50,
as no airport at the location was depicted on the 1944 USGS topo map.
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe),
which depicted Pachaug Airport as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
Lorraine Piurowski recalled,
"In 1954, my father had the house moved to where it now stands,
a move of about 2,500' from the opposite end.
Soon after, he paved the runway.
He initially built a small concrete building that served as a gas station and his 'office'."
"I distinctly remember a time when, as a child, I accidentally through a rock through the side of my father's Piper Cub.
He had just finished putting new canvas on the body!
I also remember helping my father hold down planes in 1955 when a hurricane struck."
The airport was originally named "Pachaug" Airport.
That is how it was depicted on the 1956 CT Airport Directory (courtesy of Stephen Mahaley).
"Pachaug" Airport was depicted on the 1958 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Norman Freed) as having a 2,500' runway.
Lorraine Piurowski recalled,
"As the business grew, my father added a restaurant & a small flight school."
In the 1960's the airport was known for its 'breakfast flights'
when pilots would fly in to the restaurant on the property my mother ran for eggs & bacon or ham."
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Pachaug Airport
as having a single 2,500' turf Runway 9/27,
and listed the operator as William & Caroline Sinkewicz.
Pachaug Airport was still depicted as an active airfield
on the 1963 Boston Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
A 1965 aerial view of Pachaug Airport (from the CT State Library, via Chris Kennedy)
depicted the field as having a single east/west grass runway.
A single hangar was on the northwest side of the field,
and there was one light aircraft visible next to the hangar,
and 2 other light aircraft on the southwest side of the runway.
Pachaug Airport apparently went through a period of abandonment,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1965 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),
and was not depicted at all on the 1969 USGS topo map.
Lorraine Piurowski recalled,
"Later my father changed the name to Lakeside Airport."
That is how it was listed in the 1972 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).
Lorraine Piurowski recalled,
"My father lived his dream of flying, and that love, which began as a young man in his 20s,
remained with him until his death in 1983.
He was no longer able to fly or instruct following several heart attacks, bypass surgery and a stroke."
Lakeside Airport was still listed as an active airfield in the 1985 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).
Charles Friedman recalled in 2008, “Some 20 years ago or so, my airplane partner & I
used to fly our Beechcraft Bonanza from Hartford to John Sinkewicz at Lakeside Airport
for annual inspections & other maintenance.
John was always thorough & knowledgable about the aircraft.”
Lakeside Airport was depicted on the 1989 USGS topo map
as having a 2,500' paved east/west runway.
According to Lorraine Piurowski,
"The airport remained as a working airport until my mother's death in 1993.
My brother, John Sinkewicz, operated an aircraft maintenance & repair business until that time.
Not too long after my mother's death, my brother retired & closed the business."
The 1991 USGS aerial photo showed that the airfield appeared to be completely intact,
without any closed runway markings or other signs of abandonment.
A small paved ramp on the northwest side of the runway had a single building (a hangar or a house?),
while a smaller building on the southwest side also was connected to the runway.
The 1993 Jeppesen Airport Directory depicted Lakeside as having a single 2,520' paved Runway 11/29,
with several small buildings on the northwest & southwest sides of the runway.
The 1994 Jeppesen Airport Directory still listed Lakeside as an active airport.
It depicted the field as having a single 2,520' paved Runway 11/29,
with a ramp on the northwest side, and several small buildings on the northwest & southwest sides of the runway.
Lorraine Piurowski recalled, "Not too long after my mother's death [1993], my brother retired & closed the business."
In this circa 2000 aerial photo, the airfield still appeared to be completely intact.
Lakeside Airport was no longer listed among active airfields in the 2000 AOPA Airport Directory.
It was depicted as an abandoned airfield on the 2003 Sectional Aeronautical Chart.
Marc Dodge reported in 2003, "I went by there a few weeks ago
and saw that a storage building (rental units) has been built in the middle of the runway.
The hangar is still there though.
I understand that the Town of Griswold has expressed an interest
in purchasing the remainder of the property on the eastern end - for what I don't know."
Charles Friedman observed, “It was interesting for me to read about how it has since been turned into storage space for the masses.
An abandoned airfield turns into the holder of abandoned property - is this a parody of modern times?”
A circa 2006 aerial view shows the storage units built over the center of the former runway.
Lakeside Airport is located along the south side of Voluntown Road,
west of its intersection with Lathams Drive.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this airfield.
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New London Waterford Airport, New London, CT
41.36 North / 72.15 West (Southeast of Hartford, CT)
"Waterford Airport", as depicted on the 1949 USGS topo map.
This field is a former general aviation airport, located adjacent to the southern side of Interstate 95.
The date of construction of New London Waterford Airport is not known.
According to Dennis Boykin, “The field was first established sometime in the late 1930's,
and was always privately owned.”
However, Waterford Airport was not yet depicted on the 1945 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located was on the 1949 USGS topo map,
which labeled the site as "Waterford Airport", but did not depict any runways or other features.
The 1949 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
depicted New London Waterford Airport as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
New London Airport, as depicted on the 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
An aerial view looking north at New London Waterford Airport,
from the 1956 CT Airport Directory (courtesy of Stephen Mahaley).
The directory described New London Waterford Airport as having two 1,800' gravel runways,
oriented north/south & northwest/southeast.
However, the runways were soon to be paved,
as the remarks said "Hard surface runways being constructed."
A taxiway led to a ramp on the west side of the field with a hangar & other buildings.
The operator was listed as New London Flying Service,
and the manager was listed as Russell Corser.
Within the next year, the runways at New London Waterford Airport had been paved in asphalt,
as seen in the above 1957 government aerial survey photo (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling), which looks east at the field.
A total of 15 aircraft were visible parked outside in the 1957 photo.
New London Airport, as depicted on the 1958 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Norman Freed)
as having a 1,900' hard-surfaced runway.
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy
depicted New London Airport as having two paved runways: a 1,950' Runway 14/32 & a 1,825' Runway 17/35.
New London Waterford was listed among active airports in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
with two 1,900' paved runways, and the operator listed as New London Flying Service.
A 1965 aerial view of New London Waterford Airport (from the CT State Library, via Chris Kennedy).
Dennis Boykin recalled, “I took my first private aircraft flight (in a Piper Cherokee D) from Waterford Airport in 1967,
piloted by a friend's dad who flew cargo 747s for Flying Tiger lines.
At the time, it was an extremely active field, home to over 30 singles & twins,
numerous homebuilts, a Stearman or two, and one very old & abandoned Republic Seabee.
A charter service offered flights to Fisher's Island, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket on a regular basis.
There were two runways: 2,100' & 1,900'.
Departing to the north required following a notch in the hillside immediately on the north side of I-95.
It was a great field to fly out of, with some really wonderful people keeping aviation alive.”
Dennis continued, “There were 2 or 3 hangars, an operations building out by the fuel pumps,
and a house, which at one time was rented by one of my high school teachers.
I became somewhat of a hangar rat & actually had my high school yearbook picture taken in a Pietenpol.
The interesting start of the end was the construction of homes immediately south of the field by 5 partners,
4 of whom worked at Electric Boat in Groton.
They subdivided & sold lots on the east side of their property to fund the development.
Allegedly, 3 of the 5 owned planes or flew from the airport, thus the dirt road to the west of the property.
Here comes the irony: The residential development was built specifically because the airport was there.
And the airport eventually closed, specifically because the houses were built there.
In the late 1960s & early 1970s, those families transitioned out,
and the homes closest to the field were sold to people who didn't like the airport.
First, complaints to the airfield operator, which resulted in prioritizing takeoff to the north.
Then, petitions to stop night flights (which were pretty rare anyway).”
New London Waterford Airport, as depicted on the 1975 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy Mike Keefe).
According to Dennis Boykin, “By the 1980's, full scale zoning wars
were underway to stamp out those pesky little airplanes.”
Dennis continued, “I did a checkout (from Groton) in a Piper Tomahawk in 1984,
and sucked some ice/water through the carburetor on climbout after we stopped & bought gas there [Waterford].
It was a bit scary being right over the houses on the south end.
After landing, I heard the stories about the zoning issues.
The local homeowners got themselves appointed & elected to the proper positions.
Soon, the property was rezoned as prime commercial land, with the attendant increase in taxes.”
Dennis continued, “I rented a Warrior in the summer of 1986 to fly to Martha's Vineyard,
and things were pretty grim for the operator.
Taxes continued to increase, the aviation industry was in the throes of the litigation mess,
and generally it didn't look good.
I came back in a real scud-running mode,
and the lack of an ILS that close to the coast also hurt traffic.”
Dennis continued, “The property owner sued the Town of Waterford for changing his zoning without his consent.
He lost at the Connecticut Supreme Court,
which precipitated the eventual closure of the field because he couldn't afford to pay full commercial tax rate.
By 1988, the owner finally was forced to sell out,
caving into the pressure of the Town Fathers, who saw a great & wonderful light industrial park in their future.
The sad state of affairs, of course, is that the homeowners got their selfish wish,
and there is absolutely no noise at all coming from the property.
The first developer put up big signs, tore down the buildings, and nothing happened.
Absolutely nothing has been accomplished,
and the plans of the town to garner all this additional revenue have come to naught.”
As seen in the 1991 USGS aerial photo, the paved runways still remained intact at Waterford,
although marked with closed-runway “X” symbols.
All of the buildings/hangars had been removed, though, from the ramp on the west side of the property.
Waterford was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart.
A circa 2001-2005 aerial photo showed that the runway pavement had been removed at some point after 1991,
and a new road had been constructed over the northern portion of the former airport property.
Dennis Boykin reported in 2001, “The airport property is still vacant...
a monument to the failure of the local pilots in reacting to organized resistance.
To see the property, take the Crossroads exit off I-95 five miles west of New London,
and use the southern frontage road.
You can see the field (and the runways) as you drive past the weigh station eastbound.
It's more difficult to see westbound.”
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