Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southeastern Illinois
© 2002, © 2006 by Paul Freeman. Revised 9/27/06.
____________________________________________________
Homer Airport (0I7, HMJ), Homer, IL
40 North / 87.95 West (West of Indianapolis, IN)
Homer Airport, as depicted on the December 1976 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The date of construction of this small former general aviation airport is unknown.
It was apparently built at some point between 1971-72,
as it was not listed among active airfields in the 1971 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to Homer Airport which has been located
was in the 1972/73 Illinois Airport Directory (according to Bill Pagett).
Homer was listed as a Restricted Landing Area, having an east/west 2,200' runway.
The owner was listed as K.L. Wronke.
The 1974/75 Illinois Airport Directory (according to Bill Pagett) described Homer as a Basic Utility airport.
The airport description was otherwise unchanged from the previous directory.
The earliest depiction of Homer Airport which has been located
was on the December 1976 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Homer as having a 2,500' runway.
Old-time instructors in the area have told about taking students to "the old Homer Airport"
& getting stuck there on hot summer days.
Homer Airport was described in the 1976 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as having two turf runways: 2,500' Runway 9/27 & 1,100' Runway 18/36.
It was said to offer hangars, tiedowns, repairs, and charter.
The 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
described Homer as having two turf runways (9/27: 2,500' & 18/36: 1,200').
The 1992/93 Illinois Airport Directory (courtesy of Bill Pagett)
depicted Homer as having a single 2,000' unpaved Runway 9/27.
Several small hangars were located on the west & northwest sides of the field.
A parachute operation symbol was also depicted.
No aircraft were visible on the field, though.
Homer Airport drifted into disarray & closed in 1994 when the owner ran into legal problems.
It was no longer listed among active airfields in the 1994/95 Illinois Airport Directory (according to Bill Pagett).
As seen in the 1998 USGS aerial photo 1998 (taken after the field's closure),
in addition to the two grass runways, the airport had a few small hangars & other buildings.
The airport was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield)
on recent aeronautical charts or USGS topo maps.
Homer used to have an NDB on the field (Homer, identifier HMJ, frequency 281),
which is still listed as an active navigational aid & depicted on aeronautical charts as of 2004,
but reportedly the NDB hasn't operated in years.
Homer Airport is located on the east side of Route 49,
adjacent to the southeast side of the town of Homer.
Thanks to Mike O'Malley for pointing out & providing information about Homer.
____________________________________________________