Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southwestern Georgia
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 7/6/08.
Babcock Aux AAF #5 (added 9/18/04) - Bemiss Aux AAF #3 (revised 6/23/08) - Commodore Decatur (revised 6/23/08)
Lake Park Aux AAF #2 (revised 8/27/04) - North Smithville Aux AAF #6 (added 11/8/04) - Reynoldsville Aux AAF #2 (revised 8/27/04)
Rocky Ford Aux AAF #1 (added 2/22/04) - Turner AAF / Turner AFB (revised 6/23/08) - Vada Aux AAF #4 (revised 7/6/08)
West Leesburg Aux AAF #3 / Lee County Airport (revised 11/7/04) - West Smithville Aux AAF #2 (added 11/9/04)
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Rocky Ford Auxiliary Army Airfield #1, Nankin, GA
30.67 North / 83.49 West (Northwest of Jacksonville, FL)
Rocky Ford Aux #1, as depicted on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This airfield was established during WW2 as one of four satellite fields for Moody AAF (a few miles northeast),
which was a training base for light bombers, and later acquired an advanced pilot training school.
Rocky Ford Aux #1 was evidently constructed at some point between 1942-43,
as it was not yet depicted on the April 1942 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted “Rocky Ford” as an auxiliary airfield.
According to Brian Rehwinkel, a circa 1947 War Assets Administration report
stated that the property for the Rocky Ford field consisted of 109 acres acquired at a cost of $5,892.
The field had a single 5,000' east/west runway, constructed of "light bituminous oil binder material".
The airfield improvements apparently consisted of only grading & a very light surfacing of the runway
for the purpose of establishing a "temporary auxiliary landing field."
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described "Rocky Ford Army Auxiliary #1" as having a 5,000' hard-surface runway,
and listed the field as being an "Auxiliary to Moody Field."
"Rocky Ford #1" was still depicted as an active airfield
on the 1945 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to Brian Rehwinkel, by the time of a circa 1947 War Assets Administration report,
the airfield had already deteriorated considerably.
In fact the report states, "...improvements are in extremely bad condition
and the surfacing has been completely absorbed by natural erosion."
A 1947 USDA aerial photo of Rocky Ford Aux #1,
from the Digital Library Center / University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
As can be seen in the photo,
the Rocky Ford airfield consisted of a single paved east/west runway,
which has a parallel taxiway on the north side.
There did not appear to have been any ramp, buildings, or other aviation facilities at the site.
In the words of Brian Rehwinkel, "Like so many of the other auxiliary fields in rural areas,
once the war ended, these fields had no value as airports & were abandoned.
By the time the photo was taken in 1947, it looks as though the field had been abandoned.
In the photo, there are roads crossing the airfield...
and the condition of the field suggests it has not been maintained."
The Rocky Ford airfield was presumably not ever reused as a civilian airport.
It was not depicted at all on the 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
or later aeronautical charts, or USGS topo maps.
As seen in the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
the site of Rocky Ford Aux #1 has been reused for agricultural purposes,
and the runway pavement has been removed long ago.
However, amazingly, even more than 50 years after this airfield has been abandoned,
the 'ghosted' trace of the outline of the single east/west runway can still be recognized in the middle of the fields.
The site of the Rocky Ford airfield is located northeast of the intersection of Route 114 & Wheeler Road.
Thanks to Brian Rehwinkel for locating this former airfield.
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Lake Park Auxiliary Army Airfield #2, Lake Park, GA
30.67 North / 83.19 West (Northwest of Jacksonville, FL)
An April 14, 1943 USDA aerial photograph of Lake Park Aux #2
(courtesy of GALILEO, University of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection, via Brian Rehwinkel).
This airfield was used during WW2 as one of four satellite fields for Moody AAF (a few miles northwest),
which was a training base for light bombers, and later acquired an advanced pilot training school.
The date of construction of Lake Park Aux #2 is unknown.
It was most likely not a pre-war airport, but was built by the military during WW2,
as no airfield at Lake Park was listed in The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the above April 14, 1943 USDA aerial photograph
(courtesy of GALILEO, University of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection, via Brian Rehwinkel).
It depicted the field as having two asphalt runways.
The Lake Park airfield was not yet depicted at all on the January 1944 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described "Lake Park Army Auxiliary #2" as having a 4,500' unpaved runway
(even though the 1943 aerial photo appeared to depict asphalt runways).
The remarks included, "Auxiliary to Moody Field."
The July 1944 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted "Lake Park #2" as an auxiliary airfield.
"Lake Park #2" was still depicted as an active airfield
on the 1945 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A 1947 USDA aerial photo of Lake Park Aux AAF,
from the Digital Library Center / University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
The runways at Lake Park were apparently paved at some point between 1944-47,
as the 1947 aerial photo depicted the field as having two paved runways,
oriented north/south & northeast/southwest.
The 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described "Lake Park AF" as having a 4,500' hard-surface runway.
It is not known if the Lake Park airfield was ever reused as a civilian airport.
It was evidently closed at some point between 1949-54,
as it was not depicted on the July 1954 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The airfield was no longer depicted at all on subsequent aeronautical charts,
or USGS topo maps from 1965, 1977, or 1981.
Gene Greneker recalled, "It was paved & at one time had a windsock with lights around the windsock.
My girlfriend and I took the windsock frame in 1961 when the sock frame fell down in a wind.
She lived nearby & was instructed to take it back several weeks later.
The Auxiliary field was just east of the cemetery just east of Ocean Pond,
a large lake south of the town of Lake Park.
If you know where to look, you can still see one end of the runway.
A trucking company or other industrial company is built on the site now."
In the 1993 USGS aerial photo,
a complex of buildings has covered the southeastern portion of the former airfield,
and ballfields have been built over the northern portion.
However, the ghosted outline of the northeast/southwest runway is still barely perceptible.
The site of the Lake Park airfield is located northwest of the intersection of Lake Park Road & Patterson Road.
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Bemiss Auxiliary Army Airfield #3, Bemiss, GA
30.95 North / 83.15 West (West of Savannah)
An April 14, 1943 USDA aerial photograph of Bemiss Aux AAF
(courtesy of GALILEO, University of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection, via Brian Rehwinkel).
This airfield was built during WW2 as one of four satellite fields for Moody AAF (located only two miles northwest),
which was a training base for light bombers, and later acquired an advanced pilot training school.
The date of construction of the Bemiss Auxiliary Airfield has not been determined.
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was the above April 14, 1943 USDA aerial photograph
(courtesy of GALILEO, University of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection, via Brian Rehwinkel).
It depicted Bemiss as having two paved runways, oriented north/south & east/west.
There did not appear to be a ramp or any buildings at the airfield.
The 1945 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted "Bemiss #3" as an auxiliary airfield.
A June 1946 Department of Commerce Airman's Guide (according to Chris Kennedy)
described “Bemiss Field #3 (Valdosta)” as “Closed. Not used as flying field”, as of November 13, 1945.
However, Bemiss may have been reopened by the military at some point between 1945-49,
as "Bemiss AF" was still depicted as an active military airfield
on the 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The February 1956 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted "Bemiss AF" as having a 5,000' hard-surface runway.
Bemiss was apparently abandoned at some point between 1956-64,
as it was depicted as “Abandoned airport” on the April 1964 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (coutesy of Chris Kennedy).
Stu Braud recalled, “We used Bemiss Field as a parachute training field while I was at Moody [1973-75)].
They used a pickup truck to tow parasails (really just old parachutes).
I saw a few broken legs while I was an instructor there.
One could still see, from the air, a few hard-to-distinguish remains in the nearby woods
of old trainers that supposedly crashed on 'Bloody Friday' sometime in the 1940s,
when a dozen or so students went down during bad weather at Bemiss & Moody.”
The former Bemis airfield was labeled "Landing Field (Abandoned)" on the 1971 USGS topo map.
The cleared area of the airfield was depicted, but unlabled, on the 1981 USGS topo map,
which also showed the property be within the Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area.
As seen in the 1993 USGS aerial photo,
the remains of Bemiss' two 5,000' paved runways still existed in quite good condition.
There did not appear to be any buildings remaining at the site.
A list of proposed construction projects in Georgia contained a year 2001 solicitation to
"Construct parasail training area - Bemiss Field, Moody AFB."
Bemiss Field has also been considered for use as a field training area
for the 820th Security Forces Group from Moody AFB,
and has been proposed as a drop zone for paratroop operations.
Matthew Smith recalled, “I went through pilot training in 2002 at Moody AFB in the T-6A.
We used the old Bemiss Field for parachute training, just as they had in the 1970s.
The field was still clearly evident during a T-38 ride I took over the area that year.
I'm not sure which base agency was responsible for it,
but the north/south runway at least was mown grass & maintained as a clear area.
I was told that in the 1990s when an A-10 squadron had been at the field [Moody AFB]
they had parked old Humvees and other vehicles in cleared areas and used them for target practice;
no evidence that any munitions had ever been dropped there was obvious to me, though.
With A-10s due to return to Moody in the next few years perhaps this field may find use as a target range again.”
The 2004 aerial photo showed that the remains of Bemiss' 2 runways remained in fine condition.
A circa 2006 aerial view looking northwest along Bemiss' former north/south runway.
The eastern portion of the former east/west runway has become considerably overgrown.
USAF HH-60G pilot Capt. Mandy Hutchison of the 41st Rescue Squadron reported in 2007,
“Bemiss IS in fact now a Drop Zone, used by the 820th SFG & the 38th Rescue Squadron PJs.
It is inside the boundaries of R-3008 (Grand Bay Range).
There are a handful of 'hover holes' in & around the field
(one to the southwest, and 2 to the northeast, between Bemiss & Grand Bay) used by my squadron (41 RQS).
One of the hover holes has an old Mohawk fuselage, though I don’t know if it crashed or was placed there.
Combat Survival Training refresher for the base is also conducted in this area.
I don’t think Bemiss was ever inside the actual Range
(as in, no targets down there; all the targets for bombing/strafing/etc are 1 mile north of Bemiss Field),
though it is part of the buffer impact area.”
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Turner AAF / Turner AFB, Albany, GA
31.62 North / 84.06 West (South of Atlanta, GA)
Turner AAF & four of its satellite airfields, as depicted on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Unusually, this is probably the only case of a huge former military airfield
(a former SAC B-52 bomber base, which are known for their huge runways)
being completely redeveloped into something other than a civil airport.
Turner Field was built in 1942 as an Army Air Corps training field.
It was initially operated as a school for navigators.
It later offered elementary & advanced training in twin-engine craft.
The precise airfield configuration of Turner AAF during WW2 is unknown,
but later photos appear to indicate that the WW2-era airfield had at least 4 paved runways.
Turner was also used during WW2 to train French aircrews.
This use is covered in a French-language web site.
During WW2, Turner had the following satellite airfields:
Leesburg Auxiliary #1 (8.5 miles NE of Leesburg),
West Smithville Auxiliary #2 (4.5 miles SW of Smithville),
West Leesburg Auxiliary #3 (2.5 miles SW of Leesburg),
North Smithville Auxiliary #6 (3.5 miles NE of Smithville),
Cordele Auxiliary #7 (1.5 miles NE of Cordele),
Vidalia-Lyons Auxiliary #8 (3 miles SE of Vidalia),
and Tifton Auxiliary #9 (2 miles SE of Tifton).
The earliest depiction of Turner AAF which has been located
was on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Turner was closed after WW2,
but then reopened in 1947 (shortly thereafter being renamed Turner AFB).
It became the home of the Strategic Air Command's 31st Fighter Wing,
resulting in extensive expansion of the runways & other facilities.
During the 1950s,
Turner was the first base to operate the F-84G fighter & RB-57D reconnaissance aircraft.
An undated (circa 1950s?) postcard of Turner AFB (courtesy of Rex Ricks).
In 1958, another major expansion was caused
by the arrival of a wing of B-52 bombers.
The airfield at Turner was greatly expanded, into a configuration that was typical of a SAC B-52 base:
a single 12,000' runway, with a parallel taxiway and a huge ramp area.
One of the most significant aspects of the SAC expansion at Turner was the installation
of a ring of Nike Hercules surface-to-air missiles,
which was a customary defensive shield for B-52 bases.
The Nikes were installed in two nearby off-base installations,
and were armed with nuclear warheads.
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Turner as having a single 12,000' paved Runway 4/22,
along with a parallel taxiway leading to a paved massive ramp.
The 3 other (much smaller) runways from the original WW2 airfield layout had apparently been abandoned.
Strangely, only a single hangar was depicted.
A hangar at Turner, circa 1960s.
An undated photo of the Turner AFB tower.
An F-102A of the FL Air National Guard,
pictured at the 1961 Armed Forces Day Airshow at Turner AFB. Photo by Jim Kinter.
An F-101B Voodoo at the 1961 Armed Forces Day Airshow at Turner AFB. Photo by Jim Kinter.
An F-104, F-105 & F-101 at the 1961 Armed Forces Day Airshow at Turner AFB. Photo by Jim Kinter.
Turner AFB, as depicted on the 1964 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The January 3, 1964 USDA aerial photograph of Turner AFB
(courtesy of GALILEO, University of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection)
depicted the massive single runway of the SAC base,
along with traces of at least 3 former runways from its WW2 era.
A massive ramp on the northwest side of the field held large numbers of B-52 bombers & other straight-wing transport aircraft.
A smaller ramp also existed on the south side of the field,
but it is not apparent whether this was a WW2-era facility that had been abandoned by this point.
Several large hangars lined the north edge of the main ramp,
while what appeared to be 4 fighter alert hangars sat just above the west end of the main runway.
A closeup of large numbers of B-52 bombers & other aircraft on Turner's ramp,
from the January 3, 1964 USDA aerial photograph
(courtesy of GALILEO, University of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection).
Turner was closed by the Air Force in 1967 & was turned over to the Navy.
It then became Albany Naval Air Station,
and housed units of the Navy & Marine Corps Reserve,
including CH-53 helicopters
and Mach 2 RA-5 Vigilantes which relocated from Sanford NAS, FL.
Stu Braud recalled, “We used Albany NAF (Turner AAF) as a T-37 emergency alternate field.
My instructor pilot and I landed there once during bad weather over Moody in 1973;
very little support available; fuel had to be trucked over from Moody.
Both T-37's & T-38's used Albany/Turner for GCA's (ground-controlled approaches, the old radar guided approach),
but, rarely touched down (one wing commander did allow touch-and-go's for a while).”
Turner was closed by the Navy in 1976.
At the time of its closure, the airfield consisted of a single runway (12,050' long),
taxiways, a large ramp area, and numerous hangars & buildings.
According to a resident of Albany at the time (Douglas Wright),
Turner was briefly reused for civil flying,
with the nearby Ayres aircraft manufacturing company using the field to train pilots for their crop-duster aircraft.
Following its closure,
the site was actively marketed for economic redevelopment by the local government.
They were rewarded by the selection in 1978 of
the Turner AFB site by the Miller Brewing Company,
which built an extensive brewery operation at the location,
almost completely obliterating any trace of the former huge airfield facilities.
This is extensively documented in their impressive web site.
The 1988 USGS topo map still depicted the runway, taxiways, ramps & hangars of the former Turner AFB,
but the new brewery building ws also depicted over the center of the former runway.
The 1993 USGS aerial photo of the Turner site, following its redevelopment.
The characteristic street layout of an AAF was still visible in the NE corner,
and the shape of the massive former runway was still discernible running from southwest to northeast,
with the brewery building right in the center.
A close-up from the 1993 USGS aerial photo,
showing what appear to be 3 remaining large hangars on the northeast side of the former Turner AFB ramp.
A close-up from the 1993 USGS aerial photo,
showing what appear to be 4 remaining former fighter alert hangars on the west side side of the former Turner AFB.
Keith Wood reported in 2005, “A large part of the base still exists.
The brewery took the site from the runways east, but most of the base is still intact,
including a lot of the signage & even guard & utility shacks around the perimeter.
Western concrete ramps are still there, and so is a lot of the leftover hardware.
The original perimeter chainlink fence is still up,
and there are still signs warning against photography without permission of the commander!”
Eric Patrick reported in 2006, “Miller Brewing does occupy most of the old site,
but the northwestern part of the base is occupied by the US Department of Labor with a site called Turner Job Corps.
There are many buildings still in existence today.
Having driven onto that site several times a week, it looks as if this was the residential side of the base when it was active.
The old housing units down the street from Turner Field still are being used by the Marines as 'off base' housing.”
A circa 2006 aerial view looking southwest along the former Turner runway,
showing what appears to be 2 remaining sections of runway pavement.
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West Smithville Auxiliary Army Airfield #2, Smithville, GA
31.89 North / 84.33 West (South of Atlanta, GA)
North Smithville Aux #6, shown in relation to its parent field (Turner AAF),
as depicted on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This field was one of 7 satellite airfields used during WW2 by Turner AAF,
which conducted training for navigators, and also offered elementary & advanced training in twin engine craft.
The date of construction of West Smithville Aux #2 has not been deteremined.
It was evidently built at some point between 1944-45,
as it was not listed in the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
The earliest depiction of West Smithville Aux #2 which has been located
was on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
which depicted "#2" as an auxiliary airfield.
West Smithville was apparently relinquished by the military at some point between 1945-49 and reused as a civilian airfield,
as the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted the field as "West Smithville",
and described the field as having a 4,500' hard-surface runway.
"(Emergency only) West Smithville" was depicted on the August 1954 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The Aerodromes table described it as a private field having a single 4,488' asphalt runway, and the remarks said "Owner lives at field."
The West Smithville airfield was not listed at all in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
and no airfield at all was depicted at this location on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
No airfield at West Smithville was depicted on the 1974 or 1987 USGS topo maps,
but the 1987 USGS topo map did still depict the outline of two former runways.
In the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
the faint outline of two former runways were still recognizable,
one running northwest/southeast (at the bottom of the photo), the other running northeast/southwest.
The site of West Smithville Aux #2 is located south of the intersection of Andrews Edwards Road & Airport Road,
appropriately enough.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for locating this airfield.
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West Leesburg Auxiliary Army Airfield #3 / Lee County Airport, Leesburg, GA
31.72 North / 84.21 West (South of Atlanta, GA)
West Leesburg Aux #3, shown in relation to its parent field (Turner AAF),
as depicted on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This field was one of 7 satellite airfields used during WW2 by Turner AAF,
which conducted training for navigators, and also offered elementary & advanced training in twin engine craft.
The date of construction of West Leesburg Aux #3 has not been deteremined.
It was evidently built at some point between 1944-45,
as it was not listed in the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
The earliest depiction of West Leesburg Aux #3 which has been located
was on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
which depicted "#3" as an auxiliary airfield.
At some point between 1945-49,
this airfield was relinquished by the military, and was reopened as "Lee County" Airport,
which is how it was depicted on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was described as having a 4,500' hard-surface runway.
Lee County Airport was still depicted on the August 1954 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The Aerodromes table described the field as having two runways, with the longest being a 4,500' "Dust pallative" strip (?),
but the remarks said, "Closed, hazardous."
The Lee County Airport no longer listed at all in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
and no airfield at all was depicted at this location on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
As seen the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former airport has what appears to be the remains of two former runways:
a 5,500' northwest/southeast strip along with what may have been a shorter crosswind runway.
The site of West Leesburg Aux #3 is located southeast of the intersection of Route 32 & James Pond Road.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this airfield.
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North Smithville Auxiliary Army Airfield #6, Smithville, GA
31.92 North / 84.19 West (South of Atlanta, GA)
North Smithville Aux #6, shown in relation to its parent field (Turner AAF),
as depicted on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This field was one of 7 satellite airfields used during WW2 by Turner AAF,
which conducted training for navigators, and also offered elementary & advanced training in twin engine craft.
The date of construction of North Smithville Aux #6 has not been deteremined.
It was evidently built at some point between 1944-45,
as it was not listed in the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
The earliest depiction of North Smithville Aux #6 which has been located
was on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
which depicted "#6" as an auxiliary airfield.
The 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) still depicted the field as "North Smithville #6 (Army)",
and described the field as having a 4,500' hard-surface runway.
The North Smithville Airfield was apparently relinquished by the military at some point between 1949-54,
as the August 1954 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the field as "Aux #6 North Smithville", although with the note, "Emergency only."
The Aerodromes table described it as a private field, with a single 4,500' "Dust pallative" north/south runway.
The remarks said, "Unattended, no public services, east/west strip closed, Emergency use only."
The North Smithville airfield was not listed at all in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
and no airfield at all was depicted at this location on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
North Smithville's former east/west runway was still depicted on the 1974 USGS topo map,
labeled simply as "landing strip".
Nothing at all was depicted at North Smithville on the 1987 USGS topo map.
In the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
North Smithville's former east/west runway was still quite recognizable.
However, for the former north/south runway, which of two features is the location of the former runway -
the north/south strip on the west or east side of the road.
What could be the remains of a parking apron appears to be adjacent to the north side of the "strip"
on the west side of the road.
The site of North Smithville Aux #6 is located north of the intersection of Route 377 & Airport Road,
appropriately enough.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for locating this airfield.
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Reynoldsville Auxiliary Army Airfield #2, Reynoldsville, GA
30.84 North / 84.78 West (North of Tallahassee, FL)
Reynoldsville was simply depicted as Auxiliary Field "#2" on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
Reynoldsville Auxiliary Army Airfield #2 was one of six satellite airfields used during WW2 by Bainbridge AAF,
a training field for the 50,000 Pilot Training Program.
The date of construction of Reynoldsville Aux #2 is unknown.
It was not yet depicted at all on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A March 13, 1948 USDA aerial photograph of Reyoldsville Aux #2
(courtesy of GALILEO, University of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection, via Brian Rehwinkel).
The photograph depicted the field as having two perpendicular asphalt runways,
each of which also had a parallel taxiway.
The field showed no sign of any current usage.
As was the case with many other WW2-era satellite airfields,
Reynoldsville Aux #2 was apparently abandoned immediately after the end of the war & never used again,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
Strangely, the airfield was still depicted (labeled "Bainbridge Air Base Landing Field") on the 1976 USGS topo map.
It depicted the airfield as consisting of a single 4,200' north/south runway.
In the above 1993 USGS aerial photo,
the outline of the north/south runway & its parallel taxiway was still plainly apparent,
along with the faint traces of the former east/west runway.
Brian Rehwinkel reported in 2004,
"I have visited that site in the past year
and there is nothing on the ground these days to suggest there was ever an airfield there."
The site of the airfield is located along the west side of Green Acres Road, south of Route 253.
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Vada Auxiliary Army Airfield #4, Vada, GA
31.09 North / 84.43 West (North of Tallahassee, FL)
“A4 Vada”, as depicted on the January 1943 “Map of Basic Flying School Auxiliary Fields - Bainbridge” (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
Vada Auxiliary Army Airfield #4 was one of 6 satellite airfields used during WW2 by Bainbridge AAF,
a training field for the 50,000 Pilot Training Program.
The date of construction of the Vada airfield has not been determined.
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the January 1943 “Map of Basic Flying School Auxiliary Fields - Bainbridge” (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
It depicted “A4 Vada” as having 2 runways: 4,000' north/south & 3,000’ east/west,
both of a “MCO Asphalt Dust Palliative” surface.
Brian observed, “This was apparently one of the materials used for the 'temporary' AAAF fields.
It would have been a very thin asphalt layer.”
The Vada airfield was not yet depicted at all on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest airfield directory listing of the Vada field which has been located
was in the April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer),
which described "Vada Aux #4, Army" as having a 3,000' hard-surface runway.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of the Vada field which has been located
was on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted “Vada #4” as an auxiliary airfield.
A March 12, 1947 USDA aerial photograph of Vada Aux #4
(courtesy of GALILEO, University of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection, via Brian Rehwinkel).
The photograph depicted the field as having two perpendicular asphalt runways,
each of which also had a parallel taxiway.
The field showed no sign of any current usage at the time.
As was the case with many other WW2-era satellite airfields,
Vada Aux #4 was apparently abandoned immediately after the end of the war & never used again,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),
on subsequent aeronautical charts
or on the 1965 USGS topo map.
As seen in the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former Vada airfield has been reused for agriculture,
and not a trace of the former Army Airfield appears to remain.
The site of Vada Aux #4 is located northwest of the intersection of County Line Road & Hopeful Park Road.
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Babcock Auxiliary Army Airfield #5, Boykin, GA
31.12 North / 84.62 West (North of Tallahassee, FL)
The Babcock airfield was simply depicted as “#5” on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
Babcock Auxiliary Army Airfield #5 was one of six satellite airfields used during WW2 by Bainbridge AAF,
a training field for the 50,000 Pilot Training Program.
The date of construction of the Babcock airfield has not been determined.
It was not yet depicted at all on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in the April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer),
which described "Babcock Aux #5, Army" as having a 3,000' hard-surface runway.
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A March 12, 1947 USDA aerial photograph of Babcock Aux #5
(courtesy of GALILEO, University of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection, via Brian Rehwinkel).
The photograph depicted the field as having two perpendicular asphalt runways,
each of which also had a parallel taxiway.
The runways at Boykin appeared to already be quite deteriorated, even in 1947,
and the field appeared to be abandoned.
As was the case with many other WW2-era satellite airfields,
Babcock Aux #5 was apparently abandoned immediately after the end of the war & never used again,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),
on subsequent aeronautical charts
or on the 1965 USGS topo map.
As seen in the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former Babcock airfield has been reused for agriculture,
and not a trace of the former Army Airfield appears to remain.
The site of Babcock Aux #5 is located east of the intersection of Avenue Road & Old Airport Road,
appropriately enough.
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Commodore Decatur Auxiliary Army Airfield #6 (20J), Bainbridge, GA
30.96 North / 84.34 West (North of Tallahassee, FL)
“Commodore Decatur #6”, as depicted on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This field was used during WW2 as one of six satellite airfields for Bainbridge AAF,
a training field for the 50,000 Pilot Training Program.
The date of construction of the Commodore Decatur airfield has not been determined.
It was not yet depicted at all on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in the April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer),
which described "Commodore Decatur Aux #6, Army" as having a 4,000' hard-surface runway.
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A March 12 1947 USDA aerial photograph of Commodore Decatur
(courtesy of GALILEO, University of GA Libraries, Georgia Aerial Photography Collection, via Brian Rehwinkel).
The airfield did not show any sign of remaining in use.
Decatur #6 was abandoned by the military at some point between 1945-60.
At some point between 1945-60, Commodore Decatur was reused as a municipal airport.
Commodore Decatur was depicted in the 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as having two 4,000' paved runways: 4/22 & 14/32, each of which had a parallel taxiway.
The field did not appear to have any hangars,
and it was described as unattended.
The August 1962 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Commodore Decatur Airport as having a 4,000' hard-surface runway.
Commodore Decatur was described in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory as having two paved runways.
The 1974 USGS topo map depicted the 2 runways & taxiways of Commodore Decatur Airport,
as well as a beacon north of the runway intersection.
Commodore Decatur was described in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
as having two 4,000' asphalt runways (4/22 & 14/32),
and the operator was listed as Harrell Aviation.
Commodore Decatur Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1982-95.
As of the 1995 USGS aerial photo,
the airfield still existed in very good condition.
Both runways still remained intact,
although several buildings for a cotton gin had been built on the end of Runway 4.
Commodore Decatur was still depicted as an abandoned airfield on 2002 aeronautical charts.
Brian RehwinkeI reported in 2004, "I visited that site last year and about half (the northern portion) of that airfield has been removed.
I suspect it won't be long before the rest of the runway(s) are removed."
Barry Van Kirk reported in 2004, "As for the Commodore Decatur Field,
it is abandoned, but used every year for a Bikefest.
MC Clubs from all over the southeast show up for a week & race on the strip & camp out.
The runway on the northwest is complete, with runway markers & lines still visible.
The runway end on the southwest is intact but fenced off,
and the last 100 yards used by the company [as shown in the 1995 USGS aerial photo].
The southeast runway end is only 20-30' long,
and ends in two roads that lead to State Route 84 & Bainbridge.
The southeast runway was cutoff halfway down it's length,
replaced by a 1/4 mile dirt & gravel extension that ends in two dirt roads.
This area is called the Commodore Decatur Industrial Park,
and is NOT used for air traffic.
An old-timer told me today that a crop duster with an engine problem
landed there about 2 years ago, and flew out again.
The runways still there are in good shape considering their age.
No cracks, potholes or washboard surfaces."
A circa 2006 aerial view looking southeast along Commodore Decatur's former Runway 14,
showing the relatively recent painted markings on the northwest end.
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