Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Illinois, Southern Chicago area
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 5/31/08.
Aero Club Airport / Ashburn Airport (revised 5/31/08) - Governor's Airpark / Wings Field / Haedtler Field (revised 5/31/08) - Harlem Airport (revised 5/31/08)
Hinsdale Airport (revised 4/12/07) - Howell Airport (1st location) (revised 5/31/08)
New Lenox Airport / Howell Airport (2nd location) (revised 5/31/08) - Stinson Airport (revised 5/31/08)
____________________________________________________
Hinsdale Airport, Hinsdale, IL
41.75 North / 87.94 West (West of Chicago Midway Airport, IL)
A 1939 aerial photo of Hinsdale Airport (from the Access Illinois Historical Aerial Photography collection, via Chris Kennedy).
This general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1937-39,
as it was not yet listed among active airfields in The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
The earliest depiction which has been located of the Hinsdale Airport
was a 1939 aerial photo (from the Access Illinois Historical Aerial Photography collection, via Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Hinsdale as having 2 grass runways, oriented north/south & northeast/southwest.
A set of buildings (hangars?) sat south of the runway intersection.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Hinsdale Airport
was on the May 1942 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Hinsdale as a commercial/municipal airfield.
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Hinsdale as having a 2,600' unpaved runway,
along with the remark, “Rolling ground, caution.”
The October 1944 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Richard Doehring)
depicted Hinsdale as a commercial/municipal airfield.
According to Bob Morrison, “In the late 1950s & early 1960s
Will St. Germain bought the airport & started a flight school there.
My father Lawrence 'Dutch' Morrison was one of the flight instructors there, and I grew up there as an airport brat.
My first real job was line boy.
In the 1960s the hangar that Midwest now occupies was built as a repair hangar for St. Germain.
At one time they were the largest Piper distributor in the region.
When my father became airport manager I would fly with him on lunch hours & that's how I got my ticket.
I built taxiways, hauled gravel & graded it for 2 whole summers.”
A 1961 aerial photo depicted as having 2 paved runways,
and 4 hangars, all of which had been added at some point between 1939-61.
Dozens of light aircraft were parked on the southeast side of the field.
A 1962 photo depicted the field in the same manner.
The June 1962 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of William Pagett)
depicted Hinsdale as having a single 2,600' paved runway.
Midwest Helicopter Airways started operations in Hinsdale in June 1968
as a FAR 133 certified external load company with one Sikorsky S-55 helicopter.
They presumably operated from Hinsdale Airport.
The 1969 Chicago Sectional Chart depicted Hinsdale Airport as having 2 paved runways,
with the longest being 3,200'.
The 3,200' Runway 4/22 was evidently added at some point between 1962-69.
The 1971 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Hinsdale Airport
as having 2 paved runways (3,200' Runway 4/22 & 2,450' Runway 10/28),
along with a closed north/south runway.
A number of hangars were clustered on the south & east sides of the field.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Hinsdale as an active airfield
was on the May 1971 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Hinsdale Airport as having 2 paved runways,
with the longest being 3,200'.
According to Bob Morrison, “In 1971 Will St. Germain [Hinsdale Airport owner]
came down with cancer from which he never recovered.
His wife Wilma wanted to sell the property as it was very valuable even back in those days.
So my father stayed & managed the airport until the sale was final & retired to Florida in 1973.
An awful lot of my boyhood memories involve that great old airport.”
David Bossert recalled, “I grew up in Hinsdale, and remember the airport well.
A childhood friend's father was a TWA pilot, who kept a Cessna at Hinsdale.
My first flight in a small plane was there.
I remember him pointing out that the runway elevation was highest in the center.
When you were at one end of the runway, you could not see the other end!”
An aerial view of Hinsdale Airport from the 1972 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Bill Pagett).
The directory depicted the field as having a single 3,200' blacktop Runway 4/22,
along with a closed east/west runway.
An extensive parking area on the southeast side of the field held dozens of aircraft.
The operators were listed as Widwest & Hinsdale Aviation, St. Germain Aviation Co., and Douglas Aircraft Service.
The airport manager was listed as Larry Staples.
According to Raymond Skoff, “If you look at the aerial view from the 1972 Airport Directory,
I heard (but have not verified) that the hangar on the east side of the airfield immediately west of the windsock
was originally a Taylorcraft distributorship.
I recall as a kid riding my bike over to this hangar & seeing a row of old Taylorcrafts parked along the fence line.
When the airfield shut down, my cousin & I snuck out to the hangar one evening & took the windsock.
I gave the windsock frame to a guy who operated an airport in Alaska,
and I've still got part of the Shell windsock in my garage.”
David continued, “About 1973, I saw the bulldozers & graders turning that wonderful place into a sea of dirt.
The only building left standing was in the south east corner of the field.
Its a medium sized hangar with office space, now owned by Midwest Helicopter.”
According to Raymond Skoff, “The hangar occupied by Midwest Helicopter Airways was originally a Piper hangar.
I believe Midwest took the hangar from Piper as the airfield was shut down.”
A 1974 aerial view showed the site after the airport had been closed.
The runways were still intact,
but all of the hangars had been removed, with the exception of one hangar on the east side.
In 1975, the Willowbrook Executive Plaza, a 105-acre industrial park, was built on the site of the former Hinsdale Airport.
It was depicted as an abandoned airfield on the November 1976 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
David Bossert recalled, “In 1977, I stuck my head in Midwest Helicopter, but they were too busy for a wide-eyed teen.
They had a Sikorsky S-55 & an S-58 (Army surplus) both white with a red stripe.
Sad it disappeared, but at least a fraction survived.”
The 1978 USGS topo map no longer depicted the former airport.
A 1988 aerial view showed that buildings & streets had covered the former Hinsdale Airport.
A 2002 USGS aerial photo of the site of the former Hinsdale Airport.
A close-up from the 2002 USGS aerial photo, showing a single S-58T helicopter at the Midwest Heliport,
which occupies a portion of the site of the former Hinsdale Airport,
along with the only remaining hangar.
An undated photo of Midwest Helicopter Airways' 3 S-58Ts.
As of 2005, the site of the former Hinsdale Airport apparently retains some aviation use,
as it is the site of the Midwest Heliport, a private facility which serves as the base of Midwest Helicopter Airways.
They operate a fleet of 3 Sikorsky S-58T heavy-lift helicopters.
A circa 2006 aerial view looking north at the hangar of Midwest Helicopter Airways,
with an MD-500 on the left side of the ramp & a S-58T on the right.
The site of Hinsdale Airport is located northeast of the intersection of Interstate 55 & South Madison Street.
Thanks to Benton Bullwinkel for pointing out this airport.
____________________________________________________
Aero Club Airport / Ashburn, Ashburn, IL
41.74 North / 87.74 West (West of Chicago Midway Airport, IL)
The Aero Club Airport, as depicted on the March 1937 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to Len Kmiecek, the Aero Club of Illinois was originally located at Cicero Field
at approximately at 22nd Avenue & Cicero Avenue from late 1911 until the end of 1913.
It closed in early 1914, and most users moved to newly opened (1914) Aero Club of Illinois, at 83rd Avenue & Cicero Avenue.
Len Kmiecek recalled, “Tommy [airport manager Gordon Thomas] told me that Ashburn was the first 'registered' airport in Illinois.”
The earliest official reference to the Aero Club Airport which has been located
was in The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described the Aero Club as a commercial airport, consisting of a 67 acre rectangular field.
The field was said to have 2 sod runways, with the longest being the 1,600' east/west strip.
A hangar was said to have "Aero Club of Illinois" painted on its side.
According to a history of the nearby "Old Barn",
Ashburn Airport was located just east of Cicero Avenue at 83rd street.
The airport was financially backed by "Pop" Dickinson, owner of Dickinson Feed Company.
Other names in early aviation history included "Pop" Keller, Lee Partridge and Matty Laird.
Another young man who used to hang around the old airport in order to learn more about flying… was Charles A. Lindbergh Jr.
A 1937 Chicago map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted the Aero Club Airport
as occupying a rectangular parcel of land on the northeast corner of South Cicero Avenue & West 83rd Street.
(southeast of the intersection of South Cicero Avenue & West 83rd Street).
One hangar was located on the west side, and one on the north side, but no aircraft were visible.
The Airport Directory Company's 1938 Airports Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
still listed the field under the name of "Aero Club".
According to Len Kmiecek, “The name Aero Club of Illinois was changed to Ashburn Airport in 1940.”
The Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described “Ashburne” as a commercial airport, consisting of a 67 acre rectangular field.
The field was said to have 2 sod runways, with the longest being the 1,600' east/west strip.
A hangar was said to have "Aero Club of Illinois" painted on its side.
Len Kmiecek recalled, “I learned to fly there starting in 1941.”
The October 1944 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Richard Doehring)
depicted Ashburn as a commercial/municipal airfield.
The Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described "Ashburn" as a "class s-1" airport, with 70 usable acres.
The field was said to be owned & operated by the Aero Club of IL,
and the manager was listed as Gordon Thomas.
The field was said to have 2 cinder runways (with the longest being the 1,600' east/west strip) and 2 hangars.
The June 1946 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Ashburn as a commercial or municipal airport.
On May 3, 1947 Navy pilot Donald Aldrich was killed when he tried to land his F4U-4 Corsair fighter at Ashburn Airport.
According to Len Kmiecek, “He tried landing on a newly installed cinder southwest runway
which was too soft for the weight of the Corsair.
The Airman's Information Manual at the time showed the field was closed to aircraft over 2,000 lbs.
Tommy (Gordon Thomas the manager) and I were the first ones to reach the Corsair
but the airplane had gone over on its back & the entire cockpit was below the cinders.”
Len Kmiecek recalled, “I ended up instructing at Ashburn until 1949.
The last logbook entry I show for Ashburn is dated 5/15/49.”
The last photo which has been located of Ashburn Airport was a 1951 aerial view,
taken only a year or 2 before the field closed.
The airport had 3 cinder runways (with the northeast/southwest strip having been added at some point between 1938-51).
A hangar was located on the west side, with another building on the north side,
and 6 light aircraft were visible on the west side.
According to Len Kmiecek, “I believe Ashburn closed in 1952 or 1953.”
Ashburn Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) by 1953,
as by July 1953 the Saint Bede The Venerable Church was celebrating Mass in the former Ashburn Airport hangar.
The airport was definitely closed by 1954,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the January 1954 Chicago Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A 1961 aerial view showed that the site of the former airport has been filled in with numerous residential streets.
No trace of the former airport appeared to remain in the 1999 USGS aerial photo.
The 2002 USGS aerial photo showed the site has been densely redeveloped, with no trace visible of the former Ashburn Airport.
The site of Ashburn Airport is located southeast of the intersection of South Cicero Avenue & West 83rd Street.
____________________________________________________
41.73 North / 87.8 West (West of Chicago Midway Airport, IL)
Harlem Airport, as depicted on the March 1937 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The date of construction of Harlem Airport has not been determined.
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Harlem as a commercial airport, measuring 140 acres in size.
The field was said to have 4 sod runways, with the longest being the 2,000' east/west strip.
Hangars & buildings were said to be located on the southwest side of the field.
A 1937 Chicago map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Harlem Airport
as occupying a square parcel of land on the southeast corner of South Harlem Avenue & West 87th Street.
A November 1938 aerial photo (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
A total of 8 single-engine aircraft were visible parked around the hangars.
The May 1942 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Harlem as a commercial/municipal airport.
The Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Harlem as a "class 1" airport, with 135 usable acres.
The field was said to be owned by Robert Wilson & operated by Robert Schumacher (of Schumacher Flying Service).
The manager was listed as Fred Schumacher.
The field was said to have 4 loam runways, with the longest being the 2,300' east/west strip,
and a total of 5 hangars.
A 1951 aerial view depicted the original set of 4 runways at Harlem at the northwest corner,
as well as at least another 4 unpaved runways which had been added at some point between 1938-51 on the southeast side.
A dozen light aircraft were visible parked around the hangars on the west side of the field.
The January 1954 Chicago Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Harlem Airport as having a 3,400' unpaved runway.
Harlem Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1954-56,
as its picture in the 1956 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) was overlaid with the word "closed".
The aerial photo in the directory was evidently taken several years prior to 1951 though,
as it depicted Harlem as having an amazing array of no less than 10 turf runways,
with the longest being the 3,400' north/south strip.
The operators were listed as Crea's Flying Service, Wilbur Bohl Flying Service,
and Fred Schumacher (who was also listed as the airport manager).
A few small buildings were depicted along the west side of the field,
along with a small (approximately 5) number of light aircraft.
A 1961 aerial view showed that a shopping center
had been built over the northwest corner of the site of the former airport,
with the remainder of the property having been filled in with residential streets.
Not a trace of the former airport appeared to remain.
The 2002 USGS aerial photo showed no trace remaining at the site of the former Harlem Airport.
The site of Harlem Airport is located southeast of the intersection South Harlem Avenue & West 87th Street.
____________________________________________________
Stinson Airport, La Grange, IL
41.79 North / 87.85 West (West of Chicago Midway Airport, IL)
Stinson Airport, as depicted on the March 1937 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The date of construction of Stinson Airport has not been determined.
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Stinson as a commercial airport, measuring 80 acres in size.
The field was said to have 2 sod runways, each 1,000' long, oriented north/south & east/west.
A November 1938 aerial photo (courtesy of Bruce Lathrop)
The May 1942 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Stinson as a commercial/municipal airport.
The Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Stinson as a "class 2" airport, with 110 usable acres.
The field was said to be owned & operated by Midwest Flying Service, Inc.,
and the manager was listed as James Bird.
The field was said to have a single 2,870' northeast/southwest crushed stone runway,
two shorter sod & cinder runways, and 5 hangars.
A 1951 aerial view depicted a total of 18 light aircraft parked on the southwest side of the field.
The January 1954 Chicago Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Stinson Airport as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.
The 1956 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Stinson as having 3 "turf & cinder" runways,
with the longest being the 2,400' northeast/southwest strip.
The operator was listed as LaGrange Aviation, Inc., and the manager was listed as Orland Mabee.
The aerial photo in the directory depicted a few small hangars at the southwest corner of the field,
around which were parked a total of approximately 30 light aircraft.
Stinson Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1956-60,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the June 1960 Chicago Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A 1962 aerial view showed that several roads had been built across the site of the airport.
Several of the hangars had been removed, but the western hangar (adjacent to the road) was still standing.
A 1972 aerial view showed that one former hangar still remained standing.
The majority of the airport property had been excavated as a quarry.
A 1974 aerial view showed that the last hangar had been removed at some point between 1972-74.,
eliminating the last trace of Stinson Airport.
The 2002 USGS aerial photo showed the quarry covering the site of the former Stinson Airport.
Michael Bloome reported in 2005, “I work directly across the street from where the airfield once stood.
Where Stinson once stood is a quarry several hundred feet deep.
In fact the quarry is so large & deep at this point in time that it has caused the permanent closing of Route 66
(or as it is known by its real name Joliet Road) due to repeated explosions.”
The site of Stinson Airport is located southeast of the intersection of East Avenue & East 55th Street.
____________________________________________________
Howell Airport (1st location), Blue Island, IL
41.65 North / 87.74 West (Southwest of Chicago, IL)
Howell Airport, as depicted on the October 1944 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Richard Doehring).
This is yet another former Chicago-area general aviation field which has been lost forever.
The Howell Airport in Blue Island was apparently built at some point between 1938-44,
as it was not yet depicted on a 1938 aerial photo,
nor listed among active airfields in The Airport Directory Company's 1938 Airports Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the October 1944 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Richard Doehring).
It depicted Howell as a commercial/municipal airport.
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Howell as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.
The 1946 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Howell as a commercial airport.
The earliest photo which has been located of Howell Airport was a 1951 aerial view.
It depicted the field as having 2 grass runways.
Two hangars were located on the southeast side, around which were parked 6 single-engine aircraft.
The 1958 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Howell as having 3 "turf & crushed rock" runways,
with the longest being the 2,600' east/west strip.
The operator & manager was listed as W. T. Howell.
The aerial photo in the directory depicted 2 hangars north of the northwest/southeast runway,
and another hangar at the southeast corner of the field.
Curtis Kovacs recalled, "I learned to fly at Howell 1958-60 with Willie Howell.
There was corn planted in the triangle of the runways & west of the north/south runway.
Willie's school used J-3s & TriPacers. Joliet Range was still active."
Virgil Gacke moved his business, Curley's Aero Repair, to Howell Airport in 1960.
He was described as an expert on Navions.
A 1961 aerial view showed that a 3rd hangar had been built on the northeast side at some point between 1958-61.
A 1962 aerial view showed the airport in an unchanged manner.
Howell Airport was described by the 1963 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
as having 3 gravel runways (3,400' 13/31, 2,400' 18/36, and 2,600' 9/27).
The operators were listed as Howell Flying Service & Suburban Flying Service.
Howell Airport, as depicted on the November 1971 Chicago Sectional Chart.
At some point between 1963-71, two of the runways at Howell had been paved,
including a new 3,710' Runway 18R/36L,
as depicted on a 1971 airport directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This brought Howell Airport to a total of 4 runways.
An aerial view of Howell Airport from the 1972 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Bill Pagett).
The directory depicted the field as having 2 macadam runways (with the longest being the 3,500' northwest/southeast strip),
as well as 2 turf runways.
Dozens of light aircraft were visible parked on the northwest & southeast sides of the field.
The operators were listed as Howell Flying Service & Suburban Flying Service,
and the airport manager was listed as W.T. Howell.
Brian Wohlgemuth recalled, “I spent the better part of my early childhood tooling around Howell Airport.
My dad was part owner of Suburban Flying Service back in the mid 1970s.
Runway 9/27 was a taxiway back in the 1970s...
I don't know if it was ever rated for runway use from as far back as I can remember.”
A 1974 aerial view depicted over 40 aircraft parked on the northeast & southeast sides of the field.
Brian Wohlgemuth recalled, “IWillie Howell was an interesting fellow.
When Willie died in the mid-1980s, his son sold the property to concentrate on his newer field in New Lenox, IL.”
[Unfortunately, the Howell Airport in New Lenox didn't last very long, as it closed in 2006.]
By 1986 Howell Airport was apparently on a downslide,
as a 1986 an airport directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
showed that the runway configuration had started to shrink.
Two former runways (18L/36R & 9/27) had since been downgraded to taxiways,
and what used to be the longest runway (18R/36R) had been shortened to 2,598'.
The longest runway at that point was Runway 13/31, which had also been shortened to 3,059'.
An NTSB accident report gave details of a Mooney landing accident at Howell in 1987.
The last photo which has been located of Howell Airport was a 1988 aerial view.
A closeup from the 1988 aerial view showing the hangars & planes on the southeast side of Howell Airport.
In 1988, it was reported that Howell Airport was for sale.
A developer appeared promising to build a power center on the site
if the Village of Crestwood would purchase & deliver the land.
Brian Wohlgemuth recalled, “The airport 'went out with a bang' back in the late 1980s (1989 I think)
with a final going-away party before the airport was converted into a shopping center.
I remember taking off from the 'newer' Runway 18/36 during the final party (in my last flight in a 172 with my stepdad).
Howell was a great field and I was saddened to watch the field
that formed a big part of my childhood turned into a Best Buy & Office Depot.
The movie theaters & the Portillo's Hot Dogs have pictures in their entryway of the early airport
and the various buildings & planes that flew in over the years.”
The exact date of closure of the original Howell Airport has not been determined.
The 1993 USGS topo map did not depict the former airport at all.
A 1998 aerial photo showed that commercial buildings had covered the site of the original Howell Airport,
with not a trace remaining of the former airport.
A circa 2001 aerial photo of the site of the former Howell Airport.
The site of Howell Airport is located northwest of the intersection of Cicero Avenue & Cal Sag Road.
____________________________________________________
New Lenox Airport / Howell Airport (2nd location) (1C2), New Lenox, IL
41.48 North / 87.92 West (Southwest of Chicago, IL)
New Lenox Airport, as depicted on the 1969 Chicago Sectional Chart.
No airfield was yet depicted at this location on a 1961 aerial view
nor on the June 1962 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of William Pagett).
The New Lenox Airport was licensed in 1968 (according to the painted legend along the front of its hangar).
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the 1969 Chicago Sectional Chart.
It depicted New Lenox as a public-use airport having a 3,600' unpaved runway.
The earliest photo which has been located of New Lenox / Howell Airport was a 1974 aerial view.
The field had evidently gained 2 paved runways at some point between 1969-74.
Three hangars were located on the north & west sides of the field,
and 3 single-engine aircraft were visible on the north side of the field.
The airport was evidently renamed Howell New Lenox Airport at some point between 1969-83,
as that is how it was labeled on the 1983 USGS topo map.
It had evidently been taken over by the son of Willie Howell,
founder of the original Howell Airport in nearby Blue Island.
A 1988 aerial view depicted Howell Airport in the same configuration as seen in 1974.
However there was not a single airplane visible on the entire field.
The 1998 USGS aerial photo depicted Howell Airport
as having a total of 5 hangars on the northwest corner of the field,
with 2 long T-hangars having been added at some point between 1988-98.
The field did not appear very well-used, though,
as only 2 aircraft were visible parked outside at the field.
In the 2002 USGS aerial photo, a total of 6 light single-engine aircraft were visible parked outside on the field.
The airport was otherwise identical in configuration to how it was depicted in the 1998 photo.
Jacob Rueth recalled, “I took about 20 hours of training there towards my private pilot's license in 2004-05,
and I left because of rumors that they were closing.”
In 2006, Howell New Lenox Airport's FAA Airport/Facility Directory data
described the field as having 2 asphalt runways: 2,877' Runway 13/31 & 2,362' Runway 5/23,
both of which were described as being “in fair condition, cracked with grass growing through.”
There were a total of 63 aircraft listed as being based on the field, including 4 multi-engine aircraft.
The field was said to conduct an average of 82 takeoffs or landings per day.
The 2006 Chicago Terminal Area Chart depicted Howell-New Lenox Airport
as having 2 paved runways, with the longest being 2,900'.
Jacob Rueth reported in 2006, “I flew in there in mid-July this year
and stopped to say hi to the people there & they were still open.”
A July 2006 aerial photo by Brian Cramer, looking north at the Howell New Lenox Airport,
taken only a few days before the field's closure.
A July 2006 aerial photo by Brian Cramer, taken on final approach for Howell's Runway 13.
A July 2006 photo by Renée Kwiat of her Beechcraft Debonair at of Howell New Lenox Airport.
According to Renée, “My husband & I flew from Page Field, Fort Myers, FL to Howell New Lenox.
I thought documenting the hangar, which was painted with the field elevation, field name and licensure date
with a nice static shot would be a memorable keepsake of a soon-to-be-destroyed general aviation field.”
According to Brian Cramer, “Howell Airport in New Lenox closed forever on August 1, 2006.
It will become mixed commercial & residential development.”
Jacob Rueth reported in 2006, “On August 5th I was on short final when I saw the yellow X above the numbers.
That & the place was abandoned.”
A sad 2007 aerial view showed that 3 of the hangars had been removed,
with only the 2 hangars on the north side of the field still standing.
The northern half of the 2 runways still remained,
but the southern half of the property had been covered by streets for a new housing development.
Howell New Lenox Airport is located on the southeast corner of West Laraway Road & Schmul Road.
____________________________________________________
Governor's Airpark / Wings Field / Haedtler Field, Chicago Heights, IL
41.47 North / 87.72 West (Southwest of Chicago, IL)
A 1951 aerial view of Governor's Airpark.
Governor's Airpark was apparently built at some point between 1946-51,
as it was not yet depicted on a 1939 aerial view,
nor listed among active airfields in the 1946 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The earliest photo which has been located of Governor's Airpark was a 1951 aerial view.
It depicted the field as having 2 grass runways,
with a few small hangars southeast of the runway intersection.
Four light planes were parked amongst the hangars,
and a 5th plane was visible on the east end of the runway.
The 1958 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of George Miner) depicted Governor's Airpark as having 2 turf runways.
It listed the operator as Midwest Aircraft Sales Corporation,
and listed the manager as Walter Thomas.
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of George Miner).
depicted Governor's Airpark as having a 2,650' Runway 18/36 & a 2,150' Runway 9/27.
Governor's Airpark, as depicted in the 1958 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of George Miner).
A 1961 aerial view depicted Governor's Airpark in basically the same manner as the 1951 photo,
but the number of planes visible on the field had increased to 7.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Governor's Airpark as having 2 turf runways: 2,650' 18/36 & 2,150' 9/27.
The operator was listed as Midwest Aircraft Sales Corporation.
At some point between 1962-63, the airfield was apparently renamed as "Wings Field",
as that is how it was depicted on the 1963 Chicago Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Wings Field apparently gained a paved runway at some point between 1963-69,
as the Aerodromes table on the 1969 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described it as having 2 runways, with the longest being a 2,000' asphalt strip.
Karen Johnson-Crowther recalled, "My father, Joseph Bacik,
owned a little private air field which I remember as Wings Field.
We lived in Chicago Heights & my dad sold the airport before he retired to Florida in 1972.
I remember one year many of the small hangars were destroyed by a storm
as well as a fire which burned down the main building.
My dad had a pilot's license which he lost after his heart attack which led to retirement.
He had a few partners in the airport, one of which if I recall correctly,
committed suicide by flying his plane over Lake Michigan until he ran out of fuel."
Apparently the airfield was closed at some point between 1969-71, after being sold by Joseph Bacik,
as it was not depicted at all on the May 1971 Chicago Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
or the November 1971 Chicago Sectional Chart.
The airfield was evidently reopened as 'Haedtler Field' at some point between 1971-74.
A 1974 aerial view depicted Haedtler Field as having an east/west paved runway
and a crosswind grass runway.
Six light aircraft were visible parked on the field.
Cherie Sieger reported, "Wings Field has special meaning to me.
My father, Jim Davis, was in the Civil Air Patrol when they were redoing the airfield
and then renamed it 'Haedtler Field' in the early 1970s.
He was very involved with this airfield & he was very proud of the work they were doing there.
We flew out of that airfield many times while my dad was associated with it.
There were 2 hangars there plus a building that had the office.
My sister & I used to play in the hangar."
According to Sam Lee, his brother flew out of Govenor's Airpark with the Civil Air Patrol in early 1970s.
Haedtler Field was described in the 1976 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as having a single 2,000' asphalt Runway 9/27.
It was said to be a private field, for "Civil Air Patrol use only."
Michael Rafferty recalled, “I was a cadet in Civil Air Patrol in the 1980s.
Circa 1984-86 we used to hold our weekly Squadron meetings at Headtler Field
in the hangar depicted in the 2006 aerial view.
The airport was still active, only used by Civil Air Patrol members for the most part.
I learned how to fly gliders (big old red & white 2-seat Schleicher that was about 25 years old,
towed up to 3,500' by a Vietnam vintage OV-1 Birddog) there,
and others in our squadron flew their 1st solos there in an orange & white Cessna 152.
Runway 18/36 was a grass runway.
If you look at the 2000 photo, there is a square clump of trees in the middle about 1/3 of the way down from the top.
Just to the right of that clump of trees was the northernmost edge of Runway 18/36,
while if you go down near the bottom of the picture, where the dark green spot in the tree line ends, is the end of the runway.
It was about 3,000' long, not exactly smooth & chock full of gopher holes.
There were those who 'maintained' the airport that undertook gopher removal missions at night with a 22 long & a bright flashlight.”
The last photo which has been located showing Headtler Field in operation was a 1988 aerial view.
A closeup from the 1988 aerial view showed that Haedtler Field did not appear very healthy,
as only 3 single-engine aircraft were visible on the field.
The 1990 USGS topo map labeled the field as "Haedtler Landing Strip",
and only depicted Runway 9/27.
However, the 1991 USGS topo map appears to have been using older data,
as it labeled the field once again as "Wings Field",
and depicted both runways 18/36 & 9/27.
Headtler Field was closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1988-98,
as a 1998 aerial view showed the airfield had been abandoned,
with all of the buildings except one having been removed,
and the runway considerably deteriorated.
In the circa 2000 aerial photo, the remains of the paved east/west runway was still quite recognizable.
There was no sign of the former grass Runway 18/36.
A single former hangar sat to the south of the Runway 27 approach end.
A 2002 photo by Sam Lee looking west along the extremely overgrown remains of Runway 27 at Governor's Airpark.
The painted runway number "27" could just barely be discerned among the weeds.
Sam reported that the property was for sale.
According to Cherie Sieger, as of 2002 the old hangar was being reused to store farm equipment for the corn field.
Cherie Sieger reported in 2003, "My father [former Haedtler Field pilot Jim Davis] passed away last September 22nd.
My sister & I took his ashes to the airfield (which was being utilized as a corn field) on October 12th -
very nice people that own the corn field let us go to the old runway and we drove to the middle of it.
She headed one way as if to 'take off' and scattered half of his ashes on the runway,'
I then proceeded to 'land' taking his remaining ashes in the other direction
(can you imagine two 40+ year olds running up & down the airstrip?).
We knew the moment we had to decide what to do with his ashes that this was the most fitting send off for him.
My step-mother (who was also involved with the field at the same time as my dad)
was very moved that we chose 'Haedtler Field' as the place to leave my dad for eternity."
A circa 2006 aerial view looking west at the former hangar which remains south of the runway.
A 2007 aerial view showed the sole hangar still remained on the site,
which was otherwise still clear & not yet redeveloped.
The airport is located southeast of the intersection of South Cicero Avenue & Route C12.
____________________________________________________