Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Florida, Eglin area

Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Florida, Eglin area

Baldsiefen AF Aux #8 (revised 7/11/05) - Biancur AF Aux #6 (revised 7/10/05) - Epler AF Aux #7 (revised 11/14/05)

Peel AF Aux #4 (revised 1/17/07) - Piccolo AF Aux #5 (revised 7/11/05)

Pierce AF Aux #2 (revised 7/10/05) - Wagner AF Aux #1 (revised 7/9/05)

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Biancur Field / Eglin Air Force Aux #6 (FL34), Crestview, FL

30.63 North / 86.74 West (Northwest of Eglin AFB, FL)

The large number of satellite airfields associated with Eglin AAF,

as depicted on the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

Biancur Field is one of numerous satellite airfields built during WW2 for the use of Eglin AAF.

The date of construction of Biancur is unknown, but it was built prior to 1945.

The earliest reference to the field which has been located is the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

An April 16 1955 US Government aerial photo (from the University of FL online library, via Brian Rehwinkel) of Eglin Aux #6.

The original WW2-era airfield configuration had been expanded at some point between 1945-55,

as the primary runway had been lengthened to 8,000'.

A closeup of Eglin Aux #6 from the above April 16 1955 US Government aerial photo (from the University of FL online library, via Brian Rehwinkel),

showing what appears to be a B-24 parked on the northeast/southwest runway,

which was apparently closed by that point.

The large number of satellite airfields associated with Eglin AFB,

as depicted on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

The Chart described "Eglin AF #6" as having an 8,000' hard-surface runway.

As seen on the 1994 USGGS aerial photo, Biancur's primary runway, 18/36, is 8,000' long.

There are also two paved abandoned runways, taxiways, and a paved ramp.

Eglin AFB & its numerous surrounding auxiliary airfields.

As of 2002, Biancur is still an active airfield.

It is also known as Test Site B6.

Biancur was the site of a federal prison at one time.

Today it is the site of the Army 6th Ranger Training Battalion,

who refer to it as Camp Rudder.

It is identified on most base maps as Tab 6 & is located just north of area B-12.

A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial view looking north at Biancur Field.

http://www.eglin.af.mil/newcomers/history.htm

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Pierce Field / Eglin Air Force Aux #2 (FL35), Niceville, FL

30.58 North / 86.44 West (Northeast of Eglin AFB, FL)

An April 14 1955 US Government aerial photo of Eglin Aux #2 (from the University of FL online library, via Brian Rehwinkel).

Pierce Field is one of numerous satellite airfields built during WW2 for the use of Eglin AAF.

The date of construction of Pierce Field has not been determined.

One of the Eglin Auxiliary airfields was used by Jimmy Doolittle in 1942

as a practice site for the short takeoff runs needed for his B-25 bomber crews

to conduct their carrier-launched raid on Japan.

This field may have been Pierce Field (see details a few paragraphs below).

The earliest depiction of Pierce Field which has been located was on the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

At some point between 1945-55, Eglin Aux #2's original WW2-era airfield configuration of three runways

was augmented by a newly-built 8,000' paved Runway 18R/36R,

constructed in parallel to the original Runway 18/36, which became Runway 18L/36R.

The reason for this runway expansion has not been determined.

"Eglin AF #2 (Pierce)" was described on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)

as having an 8,000' hard-surface runway.

This field was the site of one of the Vietnamese Resettlement Camps in 1975.

Pierce Field was evidently closed at some point between 1964-76,

as that is how it was depicted on the January 1976 New Orleans Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Pierce Field was reopened at some point between 1976-2000.

A recent aerial photo looking northwest at Pierce Field.

As seen in a recent USGS aerial photo, the remains of four paved runways still exist.

The primary runway, 18/36, is 7,980' long.

Pierce was still listed in the Airport Facility Directory as an active airfield until 2000,

when it was listed as being closed.

Currently known as Eglin Test Site C3,

the installation currently serves as the Base Installation Security Systems Test Site.

It covers 757 acres of cleared area on the Eglin Test Range.

The site simulates a section of a base perimeter & a secure area within a base or installation.

A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo looking south at the numerous abandoned runways at Pierce Field.

A closeup from a circa 2003-2005 USGS aerial photo,

showing what appear to be 2 F-4 Phantoms on a closed runway at Pierce Field,

as well as a C-130 Hercules on the ramp.

Presumably, these are static airframes used for training, no longer flightworthy.

Mark Sublette reported in 2006, “The Hercules in the picture is C-130A 55-022 (182-3049) which was modified to NC-130A standard.

It was still in use with 46^th Test Wing, Eglin AFB until 2003 & I had photographed it at Duke Field (Eglin Aux #3) in 1999.

It was retired Oct 3, 2003 and has been sitting on Pierce Field, Eglin Aux #2 since at least August of 2004

when I first noted it there from the air while flying Delta commercial into Eglin AFB.”

Kevin Russo reported in 2005, “I've been down at Eglin AFB over the last few months.

According to the historic marker signs & the Eglin personnel I talked to,

the main preparations for [Jimmy Doolittle's] raid on Japan took place at C-3.”

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Wagner Field / Eglin Air Force Aux #1, Niceville, FL

30.67 North / 86.35 West (Northeast of Eglin AFB, FL)

The Eglin Aux #1 airfield as depicted on the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

Wagner Field is one of numerous satellite airfields built during WW2 for the use of Eglin AAF.

The date of construction of Wagner Field has not been determined.

One of the Eglin Auxiliary airfields was used by Jimmy Doolittle in 1942

as a practice site for the short takeoff runs needed for his B-25 bomber crews

to conduct their carrier-launched raid on Japan.

This field may have been Wagner Field (see details a few paragraphs below).

The earliest depiction of Wagner Field which has been located was on the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

It depicted “#1” as an auxiliary airfield.

A 1949 USDA aerial photo of Eglin Aux #1,

from the Digital Library Center / University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).

As seen in this photo, the WW2-era configuration of Wagner Field consisted of three 5,000' asphalt runways,

with a taxiway leading to a ramp area at the north end of the field.

There did not appear to be any hangars,

but a clearing north of the ramp had a large number of buildings (or remains of buildings).

At some point after the above 1949 photo was taken,

an area adjoining the southeast corner of the airfield was cleared,

and a metal launch structure was erected & used to conduct tests of German V-2 rockets.

Fred Edwards recalled, "I was stationed at Eglin from 1955-57.

We pulled duty at an abandoned field north of Niceville for a summer tour of Navy Air Cadets.

The buildings were all closed & sealed.

Our job was to open & clean them out. Hindsight is great you know.

The field was used by a 'Major James Doolittle' for his raid on Japan.

The landing strip area still showed signs used to approximate the deck of an aircraft carrier.

I have often wished we kept just a small percentage of what we threw away."

According to the recollections of Fred Edwards, this may have been Wagner Aux #1.

"I went back & examined all the photos of the Eglin area.

We are looking at almost 50 years since I was there,

but if I were to take an educated guess, I'd have to take Wagner Field, #1.

There were several single story barracks & offices.

We cleaned out the orderly room & found numerous orders, records and notes, some signed by Doolittle.

If we had only known."

At some point between 1949-64,

the north/south runway at Wagner Field was lengthened to 7,500',

as that is how "Eglin AF #1" was described on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

"Eglin AF #1" was still depicted as an active airfield

on the January 1976 New Orleans Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

As seen in the 1998 USGS aerial photo,

the remains of three paved runways still exist (the longest is 8,000' long).

According to Kevin Russo, “The cleared area [extending away from the airfield toward the southeast]

is the northwest tip of a bombing range called C-72.”

The metal launch structure used for post-WW2 tests of German V-2 rockets was still visible, at the top of this cleared area.

Wagner is still used today as a satellite airfield for Eglin Air Force Base,

particularly for airdrops of troops & equipment.

It is also known as Eglin Test Site C5.

A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo showed the Wagner airfield remaining in good shape,

with closed-runway “X” markings visible along the runways.

Kevin Russo reported in 2005, “I've been down at Eglin AFB over the last few months

supporting some Unmanned Aerial Vehicle test flights at the C-5 (Auxiliary Field #1) test site.

At C-5 there is only one building, a 3 story control tower, that looks like it could date back to the 1940's.

All the other structures are trailers & a hangar of modern construction.

The rusting metal launch ramp [used for post-WW2 V-2 rocket tests] is still there.

The range control guys told me that no one at Eglin wants to pay to tear the ramp down so there it sits rusting away.”

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Epler Field / Eglin Air Force Aux #7, Fort Walton Beach, FL

30.53 North / 86.8 West (West-Northwest of Eglin AFB, FL)

The Eglin Aux #7 airfield as depicted on the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

Epler Field is one of numerous satellite airfields built during WW2 for the use of Eglin AAF.

The date of construction of Epler is unknown, but it was built prior to 1945.

The earliest reference to the field which has been located is the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

A January 1949 aerial view of Eglin Aux #7.

US Government photo, courtesy of the FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel.

There may be one or two aircraft parked on the apron.

Note the number of barracks or administrative buildings, north of the airfield.

"Eglin AF #7" was still depicted as an active airfield

on the January 1976 New Orleans Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),

and described as having a 4,700' hard-surface runway.

As seen in the 1994 USGS aerial picture,

the airfield consists of three paved runways (the longest, 18/36, is 5,200' long).

Epler Field was officially closed as an airfield at some point between 1976-2000.

Although not publicly listed as an active airfield,

Epler is still an operating airfield that is used to support special operation activity within the Eglin complex.

It is also known as Test Area B-12.

A 2005 USGS aerial picture looking northeast at Epler Field.

A 2005 USGS aerial picture of the Epler Field ramp,

showing what appears to be 1 F-101 Voodoo & 2 F-4 Phantom fighters.

A 2005 USGS aerial picture of the northeast end of Epler Field's Runway 13,

showing what appears to be an F-101 Voodoo, an F-102 or F-106, and one other unidentified aircraft.

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Baldsiefen Field / Eglin Air Force Aux #8, Valparaiso, FL

30.54 North / 86.32 West (Northeast of Eglin AFB, FL)

A 1949 USDA aerial photo of Eglin Aux #8,

from the Digital Library Center / University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).

Baldsiefen Field is one of numerous satellite airfields built during WW2 for the use of Eglin AAF.

The date of construction of Baldsiefen is unknown, but it was built prior to 1945.

The earliest reference to the field which has been located is the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

In the above 1949 aerial photo of Eglin Aux #8,

it is not apparent if the field was still in use, as there were no aircraft visible on the field.

The airfield consisted of two 5,500' asphalt runways,

as well as two taxiways leading to a small ramp at the south end of the field.

There did not appear to be any buildings at the airfield.

Note the network of dispersal aircraft parking pads visible to the north of the northeast/southwest runway.

"Eglin AF #8" was evidently closed at some point before 1964,

as that is how it was labeled on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

It was described as having a 5,000' hard-surface runway.

As seen in the 1995 USGS aerial photo,

the two 5,500' paved runways still existed,

but both runways appeared to have been cratered along several portions,

so the field may have been used for target practice.

Note that no trace remains of the the network of dispersal aircraft parking pads

originally located to the north of the northeast/southwest runway.

Baldsiefen is located in an area of the Eglin base called Range 52.

It is currently used for training involving rough field landings & takeoffs,

cargo extractions, air assault landings & parachute drops.

A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo looking northeast at Baldsiefen Field,

showing the effect of numerous bomb hits on the former airfield.

A closeup from a circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo,

showing 4 aircraft (used as targets?) parked on the Baldsiefen Field ramp,

including an A-4 Skyhawk & an F-4 Phantom.

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Piccolo Field / Eglin Air Force Aux #5, Valparaiso, FL

30.59 North / 86.62 West (Northwest of Eglin AFB, FL)

An April 16 1955 US Government aerial photo (from the University of FL online library, via Brian Rehwinkel) of Eglin Aux #5.

Piccolo Field is one of numerous satellite airfields built during WW2 for the use of Eglin AAF.

The date of construction of Piccolo is unknown, but it was built prior to 1945.

The earliest reference to the field which has been located is the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

In the above 1955 aerial photo, it is not apparent if the airfield was still in use.

"Eglin AF #5" was evidently closed at some point between 1945-64,

as that is how it was labeled on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

It was described as having a 4,400' hard-surface runway.

William Staab recalled, “I retired from the Air Force but while I was in I was a Forward Air Controller

who traveled and worked airstrikes at some of those fields.

I spent an awful lot of time down there over the years training with AC-130 gunships.

It was always easier to travel to the airplane for training than trying to bring the airplane you.

Those guys are perpetually busy.

I remember one particular time a group of us were down there training with them

and it was either an early Saturday or Sunday morning.

We were working up at Aux 5 sitting off the end of the runway targeting everything in the area,

it was a simulated airfield take-down scenario.

The gunship was operating around 5,500’ above ground level

when out of nowhere a MC-130 Combat Talon came blasting underneath the gunship

and did an assault landing right in front of us.

Sure got our attention but then the Talon became a target of opportunity for us.

LOLOL sitting there on a closed airfield what a show.”

As seen in the 1995 USGS aerial photo, the remains of three runways (the longest is 4,400' long) still exist.

The runways are marked with closed "X" markings.

Piccolo Field currently serves as a microwave station.

It is also known as Eglin Test Site C4.

A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo of Piccolo Field.

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Peel Field / Eglin Air Force Aux #4, Valparaiso, FL

30.51 North / 86.59 West (West-Northwest of Eglin AFB, FL)

A March 9, 1955 US Government aerial view of Eglin Aux #4 (courtesy of the FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel).

"Even though this picture shows the field almost 10 years after WW2, all the buildings & runways seem to be intact."

Peel Field is one of numerous satellite airfields built during WW2 for the use of Eglin AAF.

The date of construction of Peel is unknown, but it was built prior to 1945.

The earliest depiction of the field which has been located

was on the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

A closeup of what appears to have been a single aircraft on the ramp,

from the March 9, 1955 US Government aerial view of Eglin Aux #4 (courtesy of the FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel).

"Eglin AF #4" was described on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)

as having an 4,300' hard-surface runway.

Peel Field was evidently closed at some point between 1964-76,

as that is how it was depicted on the January 1976 New Orleans Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Peel currently serves as the home for a variety of civil engineering & services mobility training programs.

As seen in the 1999 USGS aerial photo,

the remains of three runways (the longest is 4,400' long) & a large ramp area still exist.

A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo of Peel Field.

A close-up from a circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo,

showing the remains of an F-89D Scorpion & an A-4 Skyhawk at the southeast runway intersection of Peel Field.

A 2006 photo by Mark Sublette, looking west at the remains of an F-89D Scorpion (65-NO53-2584) & an A-4A Skyhawk on Peel Field.

Mark observed, “Field 4 appears to be the site where used target aircraft & armor

get dumped after being expended in weapons tests on the Eglin ranges.”

A 2006 photo by Mark Sublette of the remains of an F-89D Scorpion an A-4A Skyhawk on Peel Field.

Mark observed, “That is an early model A-4A Skyhawk, but I was unable to determine its Bureau of Aeronautics Number.”

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