Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:g th

Northern Louisiana

© 2002, © 2007 by Paul Freeman. Revised 5/16/07.



Hodges Airfield (revised 7/5/04) - Lucien Airport (revised 5/13/07) - Pollock AAF / Pollock Municipal (revised 7/5/04)

Ruston Municipal (revised 5/16/07) - Shreveport Airport (added 6/10/06)

Stovall Airport / Shreveport Airpark (revised 5/8/06) - Texaco Airport / Riverside Airport (added 6/10/06)

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Lucien Airport, Shreveport, LA

32.39 North / 93.74 West (Northwest of Baton Rouge, LA)

Lucien Airport, as depicted on the February 1949 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



This general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1946-48,

as it was not yet depicted on the September 1946 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The earliest reference which has been located to Lucien Airport

was in the Civil Aeronautics Administration's August 1948 Airman's Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).

It described Lucien as having 2 unpaved runways, with the longest being 3,100'.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Lucien Airport

was on the February 1949 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Lucien as a commercial/municipal airport.



According to Robin Elston, “Lucien was originally owned by Jim Clark.

He sold ownership at some point to Ray Harvey.”



A 1967 photo looking northwest at Robin Elston at age 11 after a flight with his dad in Cessna 150 N6720G at Lucien Airport,

with the hangar visible in the background.

Robin recalled, “I have fond memories of my childhood flying with my dad in his Aeronca Chief

and my uncle's Ercoupe out of Lucien.”



The FAA's January 1972 Airman's Guide (according to Chris Kennedy)

described Lucien as having a single unpaved 3,000' Runway 17/35.



Lucien Airport was still depicted as a public-use airport in 1976 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).



The status of Lucien Airport evidently changed to a private field at some point within the next year,

as that is how it was depicted on the May 1977 Memphis Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).



The 1982 AOPA Airports USA Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)

described Lucien as having a 1,925' blacktop runway (with an additional 625' of turf).



A 1990 photo by Robin Elston looking east from the northwest corner of the hangar at the aircraft salvage yard.

According to Robin, “Ray Harvey was an aircraft salvage dealer as well as an A&P

building a beautiful C172 (N738KM) out of this mess.”



Robin Elston recalled, “An anecdote about Ray's airplanes:

I wish I had a picture of his other work in progress, a C152 built from several planes, it looked it!

I suppose N738KM looked similarly before it's paint job.

The 152 was bare aluminum, red, maybe a yellow door, tail numbers in black electrical tape (N666LS).

He asked if I minded the number saying one of the young female students wouldn't fly it.

I figured the Lord's going to take me when my time is up regardless of the tail number.

I took it around the pattern intending to depart, however landing when the alternator light came on.

As I taxied back to the hangar he walked out asking 'What's the matter?'

Explaining the light, he reached through the window, flipped the master off, back on and whacked the panel with his palm.

The light went out & he said you're good to go.

The flight went without further incident except for a minor hiccup from the engine

as I departed Runway 35 toward some 70 foot pine trees.”



A May 1992 aerial view by Robin Elston,

looking back north “at Lucien after departure from Runway 17 in Cessna 172 N738KM to wander around Northern Louisiana.”



A 1992 photo by Robin Elston looking northwest at the Lucien hangar (the same perspective as the 1967 photo).



A 1992 photo by Robin Elston of Ray Harvey & Al Elston.

Robin observed, “Here's the Cessna & it's builder in the hat on the left (Ray Harvey) and my dad on the right in jeans (Al Elston).

After I preflighted we took a leisurely flight around north Louisiana,

I have not before or since flown a 172 with such glass smooth controls & perfect trim,

I suspect that Ray is among a dwindling number of old school craftsmen that can do such things.”



A tornado hit Lucien Airport in 1996, resulting in the removal of all of the hangars except for the 2 largest,

and the destruction of the Cessna 172 N738KM & Cessna 152 N666LS that Ray Harvey had rebuilt.



A March 2002 USGS aerial view of Lucien Airport,

with 2 intact planes still visible on the field (along with the scrap pile).

Note the decided lack of buildings compared to the 1992 photo (due to damage from a 1996 tornado).



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Lucien Airport as an active airfield

was on the April 2004 Memphis Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Lucien as a private field having a single 1,900' paved runway.



A July 2004 aerial view by Carl Hennigan, taken “shortly before Lucien closed looking southeast.

A few of the salvaged aircraft remain on the north side of the main hangar.”



Lucien Airport was evidently closed at some point between 2004-2006.



A June 2006 photo by Robin Elston looking northwest at the Lucien hangar.

Robin observed, “Note the new sheetmetal & lack of other structures, the result of the tornado in 1996.

It was clearly abandoned. Sad to see it make the transition to a memory.”



A June 2006 photo by Robin Elston looking north along the remains of Lucien's Runway 35.

Robin reported, “Obviously the property gets mowed.

In my drive to the other end I couldn't get off the ground, I guess Chevys don't do that.”



A May 2007 aerial view by Carl Hennigan looking east at Lucien Airport.

Note that in comparison to the 2004 aerial photo, there is only 1 hangar remaining.



Lucien Airport was no longer depicted on aeronautical charts

nor listed among the FAA Airport/Facility Directory as of 2007.



The site of Lucien Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Wallace Lake Road & East Flourney Lucas Road.

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Texaco Airport / Riverside Airport, Shreveport, LA

32.48 North / 93.7 West (Northwest of Baton Rouge, LA)

A June 1, 1930 aerial view looking northwest at Texaco Airport (courtesy of Carl Hennigan).

The Texaco oil storage tanks were visible behind the airfield.



According to Carl Hennigan, “In 1930 the Texaco Airfield was opened on the southern side of Shreveport.

Its name was derived from its close proximity to the Texaco oil storage facility.”



A close-up from the June 1, 1930 aerial view looking northwest at Texaco Airport (courtesy of Carl Hennigan),

showing several hangars (one painted “Land Here” on the roof),

with several planes in front of the field.



According to Carl Hennigan, “Airmail flights were inaugurated from this airfield in October of 1930,

but its commercial use would eventually lose out to the city's newer & larger Shreveport Municipal Airport

(also called the Shreveport Downtown Airport).”



The 1931 Civil Aeronautics Administration Airfield Directory (courtesy of David Brooks)

described Texaco as a commercial airport consisting of an iregularly-shaped 200 acre sandy loam field,

measuring 3,670'' x 3,230'.

The field was said to have facilities for servicing aircraft, day only.



The Texaco Airport may have been gone through a period of closure during WW2

(like many other small civilian airports due to wartime restrictions),

as no airfield was depicted at this location on the 1944 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Carl Hennigan),

nor was any airfield at this location listed among active airfields

in the Haire Publishing Company's 1946 Airfield Directory (courtesy of David Brooks).



A circa 1940s aerial view of the Texaco Airport (courtesy of Carl Hennigan).

Several planes were visible on the field.

At this point the Texaco oil storage tanks north of the airfield had been removed, leaving the circular pattens on the ground

(which dates the photo to post-WW2).



The former Texaco Airport was evidently reopened at some point between 1946-48 as the “Riverside” Airport,

as that is how it was listed in the Haire Publishing Company's 1948 Airport Directory (courtesy of David Brooks).

The field was said to have 2 unpaved runways: 2,000' north/south & 1,800' east/west.

Riverside was described as a commercial field,

offering a hangar, fuel, repairs, and training.

The manager was listed as K.R. Bailey.



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Riverside Airport

was on the February 1949 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Riverside as a commercial/municipal airport.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Riverside Airport

was on the 1952 Shreveport Sectional Chart (according to David Brooks).



The last directory listing which has been located of Riverside Airport

was in the 1953 Aviation Week Airport Directory (courtesy of David Brooks).

It described Riverside as a commercial field,

having 2 unpaved runways: 2,300' north/south & 1,700' east/west.

The field was said to offer fuel, repairs, and training.

The manager was listed as H.A. Dickerson.



Riverside Airport evidently closed at some point after 1953.



This aerial view of the former Texaco Airport property (courtesy of Carl Hennigan) was labeled as “1946”,

but it was evidently taken at some point after 1953,

as it shows the Shreveport Barksdale Highway being constructed through the center of the former airport,

with the Red River Bridge under construction.



There was no remaining trace of the former Texaco Airport still perceptible in the 1998 USGS aerial photo.

 

As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial photo, the site of the former Texaco Airport does not bear any recognizable trace of the airfield.



The site of Texaco Airport is located south of the intersection of Shreveport Barksdale Highway & Knight Street.

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Stovall Airport / Shreveport Airpark, Shreveport, LA

32.45 North / 93.78 West (Northwest of Baton Rouge, LA)

An undated (circa 1930s?) aerial view looking northeast at Stovall Airport (courtesy of Carl Hennigan),

with Mansfield Road visible along the top-right.



According to Carl Hennigan, “Stovall Airport was one of the earliest airports to operate in the Shreveport area.

It was built around 1924.

Stovall Airport may have originally been called Steere Field when it was built in 1924.”



An undated aerial photo of Stovall Airport (courtesy of Carl Hennigan)

depicted the field as having two runways, two rows of T-hangars, and a larger hangar.



A closeup of the hangars at Stovall Airport from an undated (circa 1930s?) aerial view (courtesy of Carl Hennigan),

showing a dozen light aircraft.



For reasons unknown, Stovall Airport was not listed or depicted at all in The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory,

the 1934 Shreveport Sectional Chart, The Airport Directory Company's 1938 Airport Directory,

the 1938 & 1941 Shreveport Sectional Charts, The Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airport Directory,

or the 1942 & March 1943 Shreveport Sectional Charts (according to Chris Kennedy).



The earliest chart depiction which has been located of Stovall Airport

was on the 1944 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Carl Hennigan).

It depicted Stoval as a commercial/municipal field.



The Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

described Stovall Field as a “class 2” facility,

owned by Ralph Brandon & operated by Clifton Stovall.

The field was said to consist of 4 sod strips,

with the longest being the 2,700' northeast/southwest strip.

The field was also said to have 2 hangars, and to offer charter, training, repairs, and fuel.



According to Carl Hennigan, “Stovall Airport... served private aircraft & crop dusters well into the 1940s.”



The Haire Publishing Company's 1946 Airport Directory (courtesy of David Brooks)

described Stovall Field as a “class 2” airfield, owned by George McMurray & operated by Clifton Stovall.

The field was said to consist of a 72-acre irregularly-shaped parcel,

having 4 all-way sod strips, with the longest being the 2,600' northeast/southwest strip.

Stovall was described as having 2 hangars, and offering repairs, fuel, training, and charter.



At some point in 1946 the airport was evidently renamed Shreveport Airpark,

as that is how it was labeled on the September 1946 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



According to Carl Hennigan, “Some pilots use to call it the Sunset Acres Airport”

[as Sunset Acres was the name of the local neighborhood].



The Haire Publishing Company's 1948 Airport Directory (courtesy of David Brooks)

described Shreveport Airpark as having 3 unpaved runways, with the longest being the 5,000' north/south strip.

It was said to be a privately-owned airfield,

offering hangars, fuel, repairs, training, charter, and sales.

The manager was listed as Kirby Shaw.



The last chart depiction which has been located of Shreveport Airpark

was on the February 1949 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



Shreveport Airpark was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1949-50,

as it was no longer listed among active airfields in the December 1950 USAF Pilot's Handbook,

nor depicted on the September 1954 Shreveport Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).



There was no remaining trace of the former Stovall Airport still perceptible in the 1998 USGS aerial photo.

 

As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial photo, the site of the former Stovall Airport does not bear any recognizable trace of the airfield.



The site of Stovall Airport is located southwest of the intersection of Hollywood Avenue & Mansfield Road.

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(Original) Shreveport Airport, Shreveport, LA

32.47 North / 93.83 West (Northwest of Baton Rouge, LA)

An undated (circa 1929) aerial view looking east at Shreveport Airport (courtesy of Carl Hennigan).



According to Carl Hennigan, “Opening in 1928 was the Shreveport Airport.

It was located about five miles west of the city & was operated by the Shreveport Airways Company Inc.

The Shreveport Airport was also called the Shreveport-Greenwood Airport,

as it's northern boundary was formed by Greenwood Road.”



An undated (circa 1929) aerial photo of Shreveport Airport (courtesy of Carl Hennigan)

depicted the field as having a square grass landing area with a single hangar on the northeast corner.



An undated (circa 1929) photo looking northwest at the hangar at Shreveport Airport (courtesy of Carl Hennigan),

showing a monoplane & several biplanes.



According to Carl Hennigan, the tenure of the original Shreveport Airport was rather short-lived,

due to the opening of the Shreveport Municipal Airport on an adjacent plot of land to the south.



The original Shereport Airport was evidently closed by 1934,

as it was not depicted at all on the 1934 or 1942 Shreveport Sectional Charts.



There was no remaining trace of the original Shreveport Airport still perceptible in the 1998 USGS aerial photo.

 

As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial photo, the site of the original Shreveport Airport does not bear any recognizable trace of the airfield.



The site of Shreveport Airport is located south of the intersection of Greenwood Road & Monkhouse Drive.

The present-day Shreveport Regional Airport is located just on the other side of Interstate 20 to the south.

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Hodges Airfield, Hornbeck, LA

31.38 North / 93.39 West (Northwest of Baton Rouge, LA)

Hodges Airfield, as depicted on the September 1967 Beaumont Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.

 

The date of construction of this former private airfield is unknown.

 

The earliest reference to the airfield which has been located is the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,

which described Hodges as having a single 2,400' asphalt Runway 18/36,

along with the remarks: "Caution: Private airstrip, emergency use only.

Do not use E-W sod strip."

The operator was listed as Hodges Gardens,

which is still is still in operation, described as the largest privately owned botanical gardens in the US.

 

Hodges was depicted as a private airfield on the September 1967 Beaumont Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The Aerodromes table described the field as having two runways,

with the longest being a 2,400' asphalt strip.

 

The date of closure of the airfield is unknown.

It was still labeled "Hodges" Airfield on the 1973 USGS topo map,

but was labeled simply "Landing Strips" on the 1985 & 1996 USGS topo maps

(which typically indicates that the airfield was no longer operational by that point).

It was depicted as an abandoned airfield on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart.

 

In the 1998 USGS aerial photo, the cleared area of the two runways was still intact,

and the pavement of the former Runway 18/36 remained intact as well,

with the closed runway "X" markings still plainly visible.

 

The Hodges Airfield is located southwest of the intersection of Hodges Loop & Plainview Road.

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Pollock Army Airfield / Pollock Municipal Airport (L66), Pollock, LA

31.48 North / 92.46 West (Southeast of Shreveport, LA)

Pollock Army Airfield, as depicted on the January 1945 Beaumont Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

 

According to Joe Benson, this field was originally built during WW2 as Pollock Army Airfield,

a satellite airfield for nearby Alexandria Army Airfield (later renamed England AFB).

It has the classic layout of a WW2-era American military airfield,

with three paved runways forming a triangle.



The date of construction of Pollock AAF has not been determined.

The earliest depiction of the field which has been located

was on the January 1945 Beaumont Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Pollock AAF as having a control tower.

 

At some point between 1945-49, the Pollock airfield was relinquished by the military and was reused as a civil airport.

Pollock was depicted as a civil airport on the January 1949 Beaumont Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It was described as having a 4,500' hard-surface runway.



The 1953 Aviation Week Airport Directory (courtesy of David Brooks)

    described “Pollock Airfield” as a municipal field

    having three paved 4,500' runways.

    The manager was listed as Richard Walker.



The Aerodromes table on the September 1967 Beaumont Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

described Pollock Municipal Airport as having three runways (with the longest being a 4,500' asphalt strip).

The remarks said "Extensive military operations."

 

Pollock Municipal Airport was described in the 1972 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy)

as having a 4,500' paved Runway 13/31, as well as two other runways which were depicted as closed.

The notes said, "Unattended. Military operations."

 

In the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),

Pollock Municipal Airport was described as having a single 4,500' Runway 13/31.

 

As can be seen in the 1994 USGS aerial photo,

in addition to its sole remaining maintained runway,

Pollock still had two abandoned runways, which had some kind of automobile tracks laid out on them.

The field also had taxiways, a ramp & two small hangars.

 

Pollock Municipal Airport was closed in 2000 for reasons unknown.

At the time of its closure, only one runway was still maintained (18/36, 4,500' long),

and the Airport Facility Directory listed its condition as being "very poor".

At the time of its closure, it was home to only a dozen light private aircraft,

 

However, Walter Briggs reported in 2003 that Pollock Municipal "is alive once more, and is maintained.

It is now used primarily by the Justice Department for the federal prison nearby."

 

Pollock Municipal Airport is located northeast of the intersection of Airbase Road & Stay Road.

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Ruston Municipal Airport (RSN), Ruston, LA

32.51 North / 92.63 West (East of Shreveport, LA)

Ruston Municipal Airport, as depicted on the September 1946 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



According to Savery "Sam" G. Stuckey, “The Ruston Municipal Airport came into being

mostly due to my father's (Savery L. Stuckey) diligence & enthusiasm.

The airport originally was a cow pasture designated

as a Civilian Aeronautics Administration emergency airfield along U.S. Skyway One.

The property was fenced with fence posts painted black & yellow.

The beacon light was part of the U.S. Skyway One visual identifiers.

The Town of Ruston purchased 44 acres of land in 1930.”



According to Savery L. Stuckey, “I guess it was in the 1930s that Barnstormers began to fly into Ruston.

One of them was Reggie Robins flying a tri-motored Ford airplane which could carry 14 passengers at a time.

An instructor, named Norman 'Pop' Wise, started coming into Ruston in a Piper Cub in the 1930s.

He was also a barnstormer.”



According to Sam Stuckey, “I have no information on when the Ruston property

was actually designated as a CAA emergency airfield,

but I have childhood memories of those black & yellow fence posts from about 1938 when I was age 4.”



Sam Stuckey continued, “The Town of Ruston purchased an additional 15 acres... in 1945.

In October 1945, my dad received his instructor rating.”



However, inexplicably, the Ruston Municipal Airport was not yet depicted at all

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



According to Savery L. Stuckey, “In December 1945 I went to the Mayor

and asked him if he would lease me the land the City had purchased so I could start an airport,

for $1 a year if I would start a flight school & work toward building an airport.

He did lease it to me for 10 years, with option to renew. I renewed the lease 2 times.

All that time I operated a Flight School until 1968.

I think I taught around 1,000 people to fly.”

According to Sam Stuckey, “The first paved runway was 1,500' long & was completed in 1946,

thanks to the donated equipment & expertise of the T. L. James Company, home-based in Ruston.

Mr. G. W. 'Bill' James & his brother Floyd James were two of my dad's first students,

and the obvious benefits of aviation in their heavy construction business added motivation to get a good runway established quickly.”



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of Ruston Municipal Airport which has been located

was on the 1949 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Ruston as a municipal airport.



A 1946 aerial view (courtesy of Sam Stuckey) looking northwest at the north end of Ruston Municipal Airport.

Visible was the 1st hangar (which could hold 9-10 small aircraft), the administration building, a small paved ramp,

and portions of the paved Runway 16/34 & turf Runways 9/27 & 3/21.

The administration building had been erected using mostly scrap materials

and included a small office, 2 restrooms, a lounge area, and a small covered porch.



A circa 1947-48 aerial view (courtesy of Sam Stuckey) looking north along Ruston's Runway 34.

The T.L. James Company hangar (which housed their company aircraft) is visible adjacent to the original hangar.



According to Sam Stuckey, “Both photos show some of the 2 turf runways

that were used occasionally when winds did not cooperate:

a 9/27 runway along the north property line was about 1,000' long,

and another turf runway aligned approximately 3/21 was about the same length.

Neither of these turf runways were used very often,

but yours truly spent a lot of Farmall Cub tractor time keeping them tidy.”



Sam Stuckey continued, “In the late 1940s & throughout the 1950s the Ruston Airport was quite busy -

on many days there would be 6 or 7 birds in the traffic pattern at the same time.

The flight program was approved for veterans using the G.I. Bill for college,

and ultimately led to the establishment of the LA Tech Professional Aviation Program.”



Sam Stuckey continued, “Sometime around 1952-54 an additional 2,000' of paved runway was added onto the south end,

making the paved part 3,466' long.

A beacon light & runway strip lights were added in the 1950s.”



The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Ruston Municipal as having a single 3,500' paved runway.



According to Sam Stuckey, “My dad served as the City's airport manager & as the Fixed Base Operator until 1968.

He sold his assets to a group known as Lincoln Services Inc., which was a section of the T. L. James Company.

This was done in 1968.”



A new terminal building was constructed at Ruston in 1969,

according to Sam Stuckey.



Sam Stuckey continued, “After the sale Dad continued to work at the airport for Lincoln Services, Inc. until 1970.

My mom died in February 1970, and he officially 'retired' shortly after her death.”



Sam Stuckey continued, “Sometime in the 1970s the name was changed to Ruston Flying Service.

Another 500' [to the length of the paved runway] were added sometime in the 1970s.

Also added in the 1970s was a larger T. L. James Company hangar, located south of the beacon light.”



The 1972 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy) described Ruston

as having a 3,466' paved Runway 16/34 and an 1,140' turf Runway 8/26.

 

According to Sam Stuckey, “In the 1970s the City organized the Ruston Airport Authority,

a 5-member board, to look after growing airport needs.

The Mayor & the Airport Authority asked my dad to be the City's airport manager again in 1979.”



A 1980 airport directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse) of Ruston Municipal

showed that Runway 14/34 had reached what would be its ultimate length of 4,000',

with a parallel taxiway along the east side.

A total of 3 hangars were depicted on paved ramps

along the western, northwestern, and northeastern sides of the runway.



The 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)

described Ruston as having a single 4,000' asphalt Runway 16/34,

and listed the operator as Ruston Flying Service.



According to Sam Stuckey, “VASI lights were added in the 1980s.”



A circa 1980s photo (courtesy of Sam Stuckey) of the Ruston terminal building.



According to Sam Stuckey, his father served as the Airport manager “until his death in 1987 from a stroke at age 82.”

In its later years, Rston Airport was used primarily by Louisiana Tech University's Department of Professional Aviation

and a few local businesses.



A 1994 aerial view by Carl Hennigan looking south at Ruston Airport,

showing at least 9 light aircraft parked on the field.



According to Sam Stuckey, “The need for a new airport was driven by the existing airport location (essentially in town)

and the inability to acquire additional real estate to extend the runway any further.

My dad had some input into the new airport layout, but did not live to see it become a reality.

When the new airport was dedicated in 1995,

the airport authority & the mayor wanted the name to be the Ruston Regional Airport

and would not allow my dad's name to be part of it.

However, there were some good friends in Ruston who finally convinced the City & Airport Authority

to dedicate the terminal building at the new airport with my dad's name, and that was accomplished in 2005.

One of the 2 low-frequency radio beacons serving the new airport is the Stuckey beacon.”



The last aeronautical chart depiction of Ruston as an active airport which has been located

was on the 1995 Memphis Sectional Chart (courtesy of David Brooks).

It depicted Ruston Municipal (RSN) as having a single 4,000' paved runway.

Note that it also depicted the newer Regional Airport (3L5) to the east, which eventually replaced the original field.



Ruston Municipal Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1995-98,

as the 1998 USGS aerial photo showed the runway marked with closed “X” symbols.

 

The field is currently used by the Ruston Police Department for vehicle chase training,

and what was once the main operations building now houses a church.

 

It was still depicted as an abandoned airfield on 2002 & 2005 Sectional Charts.



A circa 2002-2005 aerial view looking north at the former hangar at Ruston,

as well as the north end of former Runway 16/34.

 

Thanks to Tim Traylor, USAF, for information about Ruston.

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