Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Central Kansas
© 2002, © 2009 by Paul Freeman. Revised 6/7/09.
Dodge City AAF / Ford County Airport (revised 10/24/07) - Hutchinson NAS / Yoder Commercial Airport / Sunflower Gliderport (revised 9/9/08)
Walker AAF / Victoria-Pratt Airfield (revised 6/7/09)
____________________________________________________
Hutchinson Naval Air Station / Yoder Commercial Airport /
Sunflower Gliderport (SN76), Yoder KS
37.93 North / 97.91 West (South of Hutchinson, KS)
A June 30, 1943 plan of the "US Naval Air Station Hutchinson, Kansas" (courtesy of Ron Plante).
The runways of NAS Hutchinson were depicted on the left half,
and 4 much smaller runways, labeled "graded & sodded runways", were depicted on the right half.
What was this other field?
Hutchinson was selected in 1942 as a site to provide primary training for the Naval Air Reserve.
Until the station was completed,
the Navy made temporary use of the town's municipal airport (located east of the town).
NAS Hutchinson was commissioned at the end of 1942.
The first training planes used were N2S-3s & N2S-4s,
which were later replaced by N2S-5s.
The earliest depiction which has been located of NAS Hutchinson
was a June 30, 1943 plan of the "US Naval Air Station Hutchinson, Kansas" (courtesy of Ron Plante).
The runways of NAS Hutchinson were depicted on the left half,
and 4 much smaller runways, labeled "graded & sodded runways", were depicted on the right half.
What was this other airfield?
No trace of this smaller airfield were visible in later photos.
Three Stearman trainers overfly the Hutchinson tower in 1943,
with the station's Piper hospital plane in the foreground (National Archives photo).
The station acquired another school training crews of PB-4Y Liberator bombers in 1944.
At its wartime peak, Hutchinson had a complement of over 5,000 personnel.
The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described NAS Hutchinson as having a 5,000' hard-surface runway.
During WW2, Hutchinson had three satellite airfields:
Hutchinson NOLF #1 (4 miles NE), Newton NOLF (3 miles N of Newton),
and Searcy NOLF (near Stillwater, OK).
Other sources indicate that Hutchinson had as many as 18 auxiliary fields at one point during WW2.
A 1945 aerial view of Hutchinson (National Archives photo).
An undated (WW2-era) photo by Bob Zimmerman of a Privateer being refueled at Hutchinson (courtesy of Steve Arthur).
"This double hangar was located south of the control tower & on the east side of the flight line & the doors faced to the south.
Today, the only remnants of the hangars are bits of foundation, rebar, and the steel tracks that the doors rode in."
"Hutchinson (Navy)", as depicted on the March 1945 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Hutchinson NAS was disestablished at the end of WW2.
At some point between 1945-49,
the former Hutchinson airfield was reused as a civilian airfield, named "Commercial" Airport,
as depicted on the March 1949 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was depicted as having a 7,000' hard surface runway.
The airfield was abandoned (once again) at some point within the next year,
as nothing at all was depicted at its location
on the October 1950 USAF Wichita Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
Cleland McBurney recalled, “The base was surveyed in 1951
by my father who was a Navy Civil Engineer Corps officer
and certified to the Navy Department that the facilities could be reopened with minimal repair.”
NAS Hutchinson was reactivated in 1952 for multiengine training, with P4Y2 Privateers.
A 1953-54 photo by Cleland McBurney “of one of our PB4Y2s on the wash rack on the south ramp” of Hutchinson.
Cleland McBurney recalled, “I was satationed there in PB4Y-2 training in 1953-54.
The main purpose of stationing the PB4Y-2 Privateer there
was for the purpose of the Navy's advanced training for multi-engine pilots.
The French Navy had a very few of their cadets & officers under the same training.
Several were good friends of mine.
The large wooden hangars were still used when I flew out of there,
and I recall standing personnel inspection in them in the winter out of the cold.
They were large enough to handle several PB4Y-2s at a time.
In addition of the Privateers, the Navy also had a training squadron of P2V-3 Neptunes.
In 1953-54 when I trained there, the Neptunes were the current patrol planes being used in the fleet,
and the Privateers were being phased out.
When I finished training there in February 28, 1954 I received my commission as ensign
and received my wings of gold as a Naval Aviator.”
NAS Hutchinson was depicted on the June 1954 USAF Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Tom Dailey recalled, "In the 1950s… training took place with PB4Y2 Privateers.
My Uncle William was stationed there during that time.
Bill often spoke of having to work on those Privateers in the winter wind, and freezing his hands as only a Kansas Winter can do.
Oil would turn into sludge, and as 'airy' as a PB4Y2 is (I know), they weren't very warm, either."
A 1954 picture of Dan Downing in front of a T-33 at an airshow at Hutchinson, with the control tower & an AT-6 in the background.
"I was 5 years old then & don't remember much, but I do remember the Blue Angels were there!
That's probably about the time the airplane bug bit me!"
According to William Gilliland, the Kansas National Guard's 117th Fighter Inceptor Squadron
flew F-80 Shooting Stars out of Hutchinson Naval Air Station in 1957.
William recalled, “The Navy moved out in 1958, and the base soon thereafter became Hutchinson Air National Guard Base.
Also in 1958, we made the transition to B-57 Canberras (of which, we would fly in various forms for the next 20 years),
with the mission of photo reconnaissance.”
A circa 1958-59 photo of a Martin B-57 Canberra
of the Kansas Air National Guard's 177th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (courtesy of William Gilliland) at Hutchinson.
William observed, “If you look closely enough, you’ll find part of the Hutchinson Naval Air Station printing on the tower,
and I can’t image the Air Guard leaving that there for long.”
A November 2, 1959 "Strategic Air Command, Wichita, Kansas, McConnell AFB, Base Layout Plan, Hutchinson A.S." (courtesy of Ron Plante).
Ron observed, “Presumably this reflects Air National Guard use.”
The miniature airfield depicted on the 1943 plan was no longer depicted at all.
A circa 1959-60 aerial view looking west at Hutchinson Air National Guard Base (courtesy of William Gilliland).
"Hutchinson ANG" was depicted in the 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as having a total of four 7,000' paved runways,
as well as numerous taxiways, the two large octagonal landing mats, a large ramp, and several hangars.
The airfield continued to be labeled "Hutchinson ANG"
on the May 1962 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) & the 1966 USGS topo map.
According to William Gilliland, “The Air National Guards’ 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
(becoming the 190th TRG upon expansion in 1962)
was the sole operator of the base until 1967, when we were transferred to Forbes Field in Topeka.
The base at Hutchinson was closed at that time.
The State of Kansas considered it for a possible prison site, but that fell through.”
The Hutchinson airfield was labeled "Hutchinson ANG (Closed)" on the June 1968 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
and the 1971 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Vince Granato).
At some point between 1971-74,
the former Hutchinson airfield was apparently reopened (once again) as civilian airfield, named "HABIT" Airport,
as that is how it was labeled on the May 1974 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to Dan Downing (who grew up in Hutchinson), H.A.B.I.T. was the Hutchinson Air Base Industrial Tract,
"where Hutchinson used the large hangar buildings to attract businesses such as Collins Industries,
Bella Vista Manufactured Homes, Eaton Metal Tanks, Pioneer Seeds, etc.
Many of the large wooden structures burned to the ground at various times in the late 1960s & 70s."
Tom Dailey recalled, "In 1974, I was at Hutch' for a weekend of SCCA racing.
Per my Uncle's descriptions... the wind NEVER quit, and the rain was pretty intense as well.
Having been in the US Navy as a Radioman, I'll not forget the smells, sights, and sounds of the old terminal building... late at night.
We slept in the crew-ready quarters and about 0300 I couldn't sleep...
got up and just sat out in the briefing area…
you could almost hear the clipboards being shuffled, the clink of parachute harnesses,
and the chatter of aircrews preparing for an early-morning navigation mission.
It was very eerie, indeed.
Most of the stenciled notices were still on the bulkheads (walls),
and that good old lead-based Navy grey paint was intact and in good shape.
It was a trip back in time."
In the 1995 USGS aerial photo, the 2 parallel Runways 17L/35R & 17R/35L appeared to remain in fine condition,
as well as the western halves of Runways 3/21 & 12/30.
By 1998, the Hutchinson airfield was being operated as a private glider airport, the "Sunflower Gliderport",
which is ironic, given the airfield's large size.
A 2002 aerial photo showed that the remaining pavement on the former Runways 3/21 & 12/30
had been removed at some point between 1995-2002.
Runway 17L/35R appeared to be the only runway to still be maintained.
The pavement of Runway 17R/35L remained intact, but in significantly worse condition.
Steve Arthur reported in 2003 that "Currently the base serves as an industrial park for Collins Industries
on the east side of the base (they make ambulances & school buses)
as well as the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center on the west side.
The runway is used for emergency vehicle training."
A 2003 photo by Terry Martin of the remains of a runway at Hutchinson.
A 2003 photo by Terry Martin of the former control tower & other buildings which remain standing at Hutchinson.
A 2003 photo by Terry Martin of the former control tower which remains standing at Hutchinson.
A 2003 photo by Terry Martin of the former control tower which remains standing at Hutchinson.
A 2003 photo by Terry Martin of the former control tower which remains standing at Hutchinson.
Terry Martin recalled, "My dad was stationed at NAS Hutchinson.
While visiting family last week [in 2003] that still lives in Hutchinson we visited the old air base.
What a site. The tower is still standing, but most of the windows are missing,
and the ceiling & floors are in bad shape.
The present owner told us it was OK to look around so we did."
Laura Laster reported in 2004 that "Sunflower Field" was described in a book called "Ghosts of the Air" by Martin Caidin.
J. Godwin reported in 2004, "Of the base itself most of the buildings have been razed
except for the link trainer, parachute packing, commissary, tower, and administration buildings.
The large hangar foundations are still there.
I found the steps that once led up to the pool building still in good shape.
An ambulance conversion business has built their factory right on top of the old foundation."
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Undated photo of Hutchinson AFS radars.
Adjacent to the Hutchinson airfield to the southeast was a property known as Hutchinson Air Force Station (P-47),
which was used in the 1950s as an early-warning radar installation.
According to Jonathan Westerling a February 15, 1972 document entitled
"Real Estate, Hutchinson Air Force Station (Z-47), Hutchinson Air National Guard Base, Military Reservation"
appears to show that “most of the Air Force Station facilities were in the former Naval Air Station cantonment area.”
The radar site is still in use today by the FAA.
____________________________________________________
Walker Army Airfield / Victoria-Pratt Airfield, Walker KS
38.94 North / 99.06 West (Northwest of Wichita, KS)
Walker AAF, as depicted on the February 1943 8M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A total of 1,888 acres of land were purchased from local owners & leased from the nearby Union Pacific Railroad
to constructed a satellite field to assist Smoky Hill AAF (in Salina, KS)
in the training of heavy bomber crews, primarily B-17s & B-24s.
Construction began on September 14, 1942.
Originally, the field had one hangar.
Three runways were constructed, each measuring 8,000' x 150', along with a 375' x 300' apron.
It was known for a time as Hays-Walker Airfield.
Walker was further expanded in 1943 to encompass a total of 1,888 acres,
to prepare for its new mission as one of 4 fields in Kansas intended to train B-29 bomber crews.
The earliest chart depiction of Walker AAF which has been located
was on the February 1943 8M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Four additional hangars were added in 1943,
bringing the base to its ultimate complement of 5 hangars.
The earliest photo which has been located of Walker AAF was a circa 1944 aerial view looking north along the ramp (courtesy of Keith Goetz),
showing large numbers of B-29s & 5 large hangars.
A circa 1944 aerial view looking southwest along the Walker AAF ramp (courtesy of Keith Goetz),
showing large numbers of B-29s, 5 large hangars, and the control tower.
A recreation of the WW2-era configuration of Walker AAF via Flight Simulator scenery created by Robert Pearson.
A recreation of the WW2-era configuration of Walker AAF via Flight Simulator scenery created by Robert Pearson.
The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Walker AAF as having a 6,800' hard-surface runway.
Walker AAF was still depicted as an active airfield
on the March 1945 Salina Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
In 1946 Walker was put on inactive status,
and was transferred to the District Engineers, Kansas City.
It was later known to the Air Force as Victoria Air Force Auxiliary Field,
although apparently no Air Force personnel were assigned there in the post-war period.
The hangars were used for grain storage & the runways for drag racing during the 1940s & 1950s.
From 1948-1952, crop-dusting planes were stored in the old Maintenance hangar.
It was labeled as "Victoria AF" on the March 1949 Salina Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
and the June 1954 USAF Salina Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
both of which depicted the field as having a 8,000' hard surface runway.
In December of 1958 the government held an auction to sell the many acres of the former airfield.
It was purchased by Don & Ida Pratt.
Two former Walker AAF hangars burned down in 1959.
By the time of the April 1965 USAF Salina Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
"Victoria-Pratt" was depicted as a private airfield.
All three runways were depicted on the chart,
but the Aerodromes table said that only one 8,000' concrete runway was used,
and the remarks said: "Private. North/South only runway open. Use caution."
The former Maintenance hangar burned down in 1967.
The Victoria-Pratt Airfield was apparently abandoned at some point between 1965-68,
as nothing was depicted at this location on the September 1968 Salina Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
It was depicted as an abandoned airfield
on the 1971 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Vince Granato).
In 1971, the Air Force leased the NE/SW runway for a study dealing with explosive cratering.
However, the current owner of the site has said the study had been done shortly after WW2.
The craters are still visible & vegetation & trees have voluntarily grown in the crater holes.
Keith Goetz confirmed, “The runways were bombed in the early 1970s.
We live less than 2 miles away & listened to the explosions every day when I was a freshman in high school.”
The 1981 USGS topo map depicted the “Victoria-Pratt Airport (Abandoned)”
as having 3 paved runways, taxiways, a ramp, and 3 hangars.
The Walker property was sold in 1991 to Wilfric Karlin for around $2 million.
In 1992 government personnel and property owner Wilfric Karlin performed a walkover.
It was determined there was still hazardous waste left behind from the Army,
with 0.30 & 0.50 caliber casings & bullets found on the former target range at the north end of the site.
The sewage treatment system in the southwest part of the field was still present although inoperable.
All pollution was cleaned up with government funds reserved for such operations after the walkover.
A 2001 photo by Steve Arthur of what was previously the main entrance gate of Walker AAF.
The grassy area in the middle of the photo is where the gate shack stood.
The base headquarters was located just beyond the water tower & to the right.
The road which leads into the base was designated "B" street.
A 2001 photo by Steve Arthur looking west at the front of Hangar "B".
"If you look close, you'll notice a speck in a blue shirt to the right side of door opening
and near the large sheet of metal, that speck is me.
To give you an indication as to how large these hangars are, I'm six foot two inches tall.
I was told that these hangars were capable of housing two B-29s.
Walker also had a maintenance hangar which was capable of housing four B-29s.
The maintenance hanger no longer stands due to a senseless act of arson.
Two other of Walker's hangars have met the same fate in recent years."
A 2001 photo by Steve Arthur of the interior of Hangar B.
The majority of the buildings on Walker were either of wood frame or poured concrete construction.
What little brick that was used, was of lower quality & was known as 'War Brick'.
When Walker & the other B-29 bases were constructed,
it was under the assumption that they would not be needed more than five years.
Fifty six years later most are still standing."
which was used to secure the sensitive Norden bombsights.
A 2002 aerial view looking north at Walker AAF.
A 2002 aerial view by Dan Wright looking southwest at the the ramp & remaining hangars at Walker AAF.
A 2002 aerial view by Dan Wright looking northwest at the craters on the NE/SW runway.
Walker is a very large airfield to be completely abandoned:
consisting of 3 runways (each approximately 8,800 ft long),
taxiways & a large paved ramp area, all still in very good condition
(except for the aforementioned test craters in the NE/SW runway).
Two original military hangars still stand alongside the ramp.
The site is presently used for agricultural purposes.
Walker resident Keith Goetz reported in 2008, “As of a few months ago,
they've started grinding up the runways & selling the aggregate for such things as driveways.
The hangars collapse a little more everyday, and it is a shame it was never preserved.”
A June 4, 2009 aerial view by John English looking northeast at the massive Walker runways, taken from a “mighty 152”.
A June 4, 2009 aerial view by John English looking southwest at the remains of 2 Walker hangars.
See also:
http://www.blauedrache.net/index.html
http://pts.russellks.net/waaf1.html
http://www.hnd.usace.army.mil/OEW/factshts/factshts/walkeraf.pdf
http://www.barton.cc.ks.us/b29/walker_army_air_field.htm
____________________________________________________
Dodge City Army Airfield / Ford County Airport, Dodge City, KS
37.81 North / 100.19 West (Northwest of Wichita, KS)
Aerial view of Dodge City AAF while under construction in 1943. Photo courtesy of Patrice Laverdet.
A series of photos of Dodge City AAF in 1943.
Dodge City AAF was located 6 miles northwest of the town of Dodge City.
The Army Airfield was built in 1942 for the 70,000 Pilot Training Program,
to train pilots & crews of medium bombers, primarily B-25s.
According to an Army Corps of Engineers report, the Dodge City AAF base encompassed a total of 2,560 acres.
Dodge City was also used during WW2 to train French aircrews.
This use is covered in a French-language web site.
The earliest chart depiction of Dodge City AAF which has been located
was on the February 1944 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Dodge City AAF as having a 6,500' hard-surface runway.
"Dodge City AAF" was still depicted as an active military airfield
on the March 1945 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The Army is reported to have departed Dodge City AAF in 1945.
However, it was still depicted as "Dodge City AFB"
on the March 1949 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was depicted as having a 6,500' hard-surface runway.
Dodge City Municipal Airport, as depicted in the 1949 KS Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
At some point within 1949 the field apparently transitioned to a civilian airport,
as it was listed as "Dodge City Municipal Airport (Ford County)"
in the 1949 KS Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was depicted as having four 6,500' bituminous runways
and a 5,250' long concrete ramp along the east side of the field.
Strangely, no hangars were depicted in the airfield diagram in the 1949 airport directory -
had they all been removed by this time?
The airport was not attended, and the manager was listed as William Meade.
"Ford County" was still depicted on the on the October 1950 USAF Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as having a 6,500' hard surface runway.
Within the next four years the airport apparently lost some of its runway length,
as the June 1954 USAF Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the field's longest runway as having gone down to 4,200'.
Dodge City Municipal Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1954-62,
as it was depicted as "Abandoned airport" on the May 1962 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The airfield & its buildings were subsequently reused for a variety of commercial purposes.
Chuck Regnier recalled, “From 197-76 I lived in Dodge City.
I was in the truck driving class which was located at the old airfield.
At that time there were 3 hangars, two unknown buildings & the old firehouse still standing.
We used the parking areas & taxiways in front of the hangars,
once in a while we would run up & down the southeast/northwest runway.
The others were in such poor condition that the trucks would have been severely damaged had we ventured out on them.
Also the guard shack at the old maingate was still standing. This disappeared in 1974.
In 1975 while employed as a firefighter for the Ford County Fire Department
we were dispatched to the airfield on a structural fire.
The old firehouse was on fire. It had been turned into a residence.
Some of the original wiring caught fire. The building was later demolished.”
The runways of the former Dodge City airfield were not depicted at all on the 1984 USGS topo map,
just the adjacent street grid.
As seen in the 1991 USGS aerial photo, 4 paved runways (the longest is 7,000') & taxiways still existed,
but were being progressively removed for farming.
A 1999 photo by Steffani Day of the some of the remaining erect structures at the former Dodge City AAF - brick chimneys.
Dodge City resident Steffani Day reported in 2003 that the brick chimneys pictured above
"(and a few old building foundations) are the only part of the facility that a passerby can get close to.
The hangar and, I assume, the runways have been gated by the current owner."
A 2004 aerial photo showed the remains of 4 paved runways & ramp areas.
A 2007 photo by Scott Murdock of a Dodge City hangar which remains stranding, heavily overgrown.
A 2007 photo by Scott Murdock of a the entrance to the Stanley Feed Yard, which occupies the site of Dodge City AAF.
Brick chimneys remain from the former airfield buildings.
____________________________________________________