Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southeastern Massachusetts
© 2002, © 2009 by Paul Freeman. Revised 11/20/09.
Acushnet Airport (revised 11/12/09) - Fall River Municipal (revised 2/22/09)
Falmouth Airport / Coonamessett Airport (revised 11/20/09) - No Man's Land Navy Airfield (revised 11/12/09)
North Middleboro Airpark (revised 11/12/09) - (Original) Providence Airport (revised 3/16/08)
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Falmouth Airport / Coonamessett Airport, Hatchville, MA
41.64 North / 70.56 West (South of Boston, MA)
Falmouth Airport, as depicted on the 1943 USGS topo map (courtesy of Kevin Rutherford).
This general aviation airport was located adjacent to the south side of Camp Edwards (later to be Otis AFB).
The date of establishment of Falmouth Airport has not been determined.
The airport was evidently established by the Coonamessett Ranch Company,
which by 1933 had established a resort, including an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse, polo field, tennis courts, riding stable,
an airport on the north side of Coonamessett Road, and seaplanes on Coonamessett Pond.
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located was on the 1943 USGS topo map (courtesy of Kevin Rutherford).
It depicted Falmouth Airport as having 2 small buildings in the middle of an open clearing.
The 1945 Boston Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss) depicted Falmouth as an auxiliary airfield.
The earliest photo which has been located of the Falmouth Airport
was a 1950 aerial view (from the Falmouth GIS system, courtesy of Kevin Rutherford)
showed the field to have an open grass area with a circular airfield symbol in the center,
with the predominant runway appearing to be northeast/southwest.
A hangar & a few smaller buildings sat along the southeast side,
near which were 2 light single-engine aircraft.
At some point between 1945-53, it was evidently renamed Coonamessett Airport,
as that is how it was depicted on the 1953 USGS topo map.
It continued to depicted the field as 2 small buildings in the middle of an open clearing.
In 1958, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife bought 1,562 acres (including the Coonamessett Airport) for $77,500.
This land was eventually to become the core of the 2,000-acre Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area.
The last photo which has been located showing the Coonamessett Airport in use
was a 1960 aerial view (from the Falmouth GIS system, courtesy of Kevin Rutherford).
Compared to the 1950 photo, the primary runway had been extended further to the southwest,
but what appears to be a baseball stadium had been built adjacent to the south entrance of the airport.
A total of at least 9 light single-engine aircraft were visible on the ramp.
The Coonamessett Airport evidently continued in operation for a few years after the property sale,
as the 1965 Boston Sectional Chart depicted Coonamessett Airport, with a 3,700' unpaved runway.
The Coonamessett Airport might have been closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1965-68,
as a 1968 aerial view (from the Falmouth GIS system, courtesy of Kevin Rutherford) no longer showed any aircraft on the field,
and the hangar had been removed at some point between 1960-68.
The Coonamessett Airport was evidently closed by 1979,
as the clearing of the former runway area was still depicted on the 1979 USGS topo map,
but the property was no longer labeled.
The site of the former airport was labeled “Crane State Wildlife Management Area” on the 1994 USGS topo map.
The outlines of several grass runways were still apparent in the 1995 USGS aerial photo,
along with a rectangular foundation of a former building (hangar?).
Jeffrey Geibel reported in 2003, “Ironically, this site is now used for Cape Cod radio-controlled [model] airplane meets.”
A July 29, 2007 aerial view showed the recognizable outline of at least 2 former grass runways,
as well as a rectangular concrete foundation of at least one building just south of the runway intersection.
The site of the Coonamessett Airport is located north of the intersection of Route 151 & Ranch Road.
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Acushnet Airport, Acushnet, MA
41.68 North / 70.88 West (South of Boston, MA)
The Acushnet Airport, as depicted on the June 1959 Boston Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airport while open not located.
This short-lived little general aviation airport apparently lasted only 7 years or less.
According to Pam Nault, the Acushnet Airport was “built, owned, and operated” by her father-in-law, Raymond Nault.
“It was cleared from the middle of a woods, near a blue stone quarry.
He says he began clearing it about 1952.”
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the June 1959 Boston Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Acushnet as a public-use airfield, having a 1,700' unpaved runway.
According to Acushnet Airport owner Raymond Nault, “it was in operation until about 1958-59.”
The Acushnet Airport was no longer depicted at all on the 1965 Boston Sectional Chart,
or the 1969 & 1990 USGS topo maps.
As seen in a July 29, 2007 aerial photo, not a trace remains of the former Acushnet Airport at the site.
The site of the Acushnet Airport is located at the southern terminus of Wing Lane.
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(Original) Providence Airport, Seekonk, MA
41.78 North / 71.3 West (Southeast of Providence, RI)
The original Providence Airport,
as depicted on the 1929 Rand-McNally Air Trails Map of Massachusetts (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The original municipal airport for the town of Providence, Rhode Island
was actually located just over the state line in Massachusetts.
The date of construction of the original Providence Airport has not been determined.
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the 1929 Rand-McNally Air Trails Map of Massachusetts (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Providence as a commercial airport,
operated by "Providence - Fall River Air Trp., Inc.".
The field was said to be 2,000' x 1,500' in size.
The original Providence Airport was depicted as an irregularly-shaped outline
on the 1934 Navy Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
An aerial view looking north at Providence Airport,
from The Airport Directory Company's 1938 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The directory described Providence as a commercial airport, located 6.5 miles southeast of Providence.
It was said to consist of an irregularly shaped sod field, measuring 1,900' north/south x 1,500' east/west.
The aerial photo in the directory depicted a single hangar on the northwest corner of the field,
which was said to have "Providence Airport" painted on the roof.
A 1939 aerial photo depicted the Providence Airport as having an airport marker circle,
and several planes on the field (according to Chris Kennedy).
Providence Airport was still depicted as a commercial airport
on the 1944 Boston Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was described by the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
as having a 1,900' unpaved runway.
The 1951 USGS topo map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) labeled the site simply as "Airport".
No runways were depicted - the airport was simply depicted as an irregularly shaped outline,
with the single hangar & a few smaller buildings along the north side of the field.
A 1951 aerial photo (from the RIGIS at the University of Rhode Island, courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the Providence Airport as having 2 unpaved runways,
and 2 single-engine light planes were visible on the northwest side of the field.
Providence Airport was closed at some point between 1951-54,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the November 1954 Boston Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A 1963 aerial view showed that the site of the former airport remained clear, but abandoned.
The 1995 USGS aerial photo of the site from showed that it had been redeveloped at some point between 1963-95 as an industrial park,
with no recognizable trace remaining of the former airport.
As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial photo, not a trace remains of the former airport at the site.
The site of the original Providence Airport is located southwest
of the intersection of Route 6 & Industrial Way.
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No Man's Land Navy Airfield, No Man's Land Island, MA
41.25 North / 70.82 West (Southwest of Martha's Vineyard, MA)
The No Man's Land Airfield, as depicted on the May 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
No Man's Land is a small, uninhabited island located 3 miles southwest of the southwest tip of Martha's Vineyard.
A small former military airfield exists on the southwest shore of the island.
The No Man's Land airfield was evidently built between November 1942 - May 1944,
as it was not depicted on the November 1942 Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The Navy began using the island as a practice bombing range in 1943,
at which point the airfield was most likely constructed.
The earliest reference to the airfield which has been located
was on the May 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
which depicted it as an auxiliary airfield, labeled simply "(Navy)".
The 1945 Boston Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
labeled the airfield "No Mans Land (Navy)".
It is not known if the airfield merely served as a bombing target, or if it was actually used by Navy aircraft.
The No Man's Land airfield was apparently abandoned at some point between 1945-54,
as it was no longer depicted on the November 1954 Boston Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Also note the bomb target circle just northwest of the runway.
The Navy continued to use No Man's Land island for bombing practice until 1996.
It was also used for radar-scored bomb practice by B-52 bombers.
The Navy transferred the island to the US Fish & Wildlife Service in 1998,
for use as an unstaffed wildlife refuge.
As depicted on the 1989 USGS topo map,
the airfield consisted of a single 3,300' runway.
There are no indications of any buildings or other airfield facilities.
The 1989 topo map includes the notations:
"Military Reservation. Restricted Area. US Navy Air to Ground target.
Ordnance expenditure authorized 7 days a week."
By the time of the 1995 USGS aerial photo, the former airfield was hardly recognizable at all.
In a July 29, 2007 aerial view looking northwest along the path of the former runway, showing it to be barely recognizable.
See also:
http://www.efane.navfac.navy.mil/envirn/Nomans/default.htm
http://www.state.ma.us/dep/bwsc/files/RandR/NLI/nlitmap.htm
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North Middleboro Airpark (9B0), North Middleboro, MA
41.92 North / 70.98 West (South of Boston, MA)
North Middleboro, as depicted on the 1959 Boston Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This small former general aviation airfield was evidently constructed at some point between 1954-59,
as it was not yet depicted at all on the November 1954 Boston Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of North Middleboro which has been located
was on the 1959 Boston Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted North Middleboro as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted North Middleboro as having a single 2,600' unpaved Runway 11/29,
with several small buildings along the west end of the runway.
North Middleboro Airpark was described in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory
as having a 3,000' sod runway (9/27), and the operator was listed as C. Lewis.
The Aerodromes table on the reverse side of the 1965 Boston Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
listed the field as North Middleboro,
and described it as having a single 2,600' turf runway.
North Middleboro was depicted as having a 2,600' unpaved runway
on the 1968 Boston Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
At some point between 1968-77 the runway was apparently paved,
as the 1977 USGS topo map depicted “Middleboro Airport” as having a single paved runway.
The 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
described the field as having a single 2,850' asphalt Runway 12/30,
and included the note: "swimming pool at field".
North Middleboro Airpark was apparently closed at some point between 1982-1994,
as it was depicted simply as "Landing Strip" on the 1994 USGS topo map.
The 1995 USGS aerial photo depicted the western half of the runway as having been converted into Otis Pratt Lane,
and several houses had been built.
The eastern half of the runway remained relative undisturbed,
including a closed-runway "X" plainly visible.
A 2002 photo by Jonathan Westerling of the entrance sign to Otis Pratt Estates, the site of the former airport.
A 2002 photo by Jonathan Westerling looking east along the remaining length of the former runway at North Middleboro.
Jonathan reported that the western half of the former runway had been removed,
while the remainder of the former runway had been reused as a driveway for the 2 houses built towards its eastern end.
"It has been unaltered, and still has discernable yellow lines down the middle.
I wonder if the homeowners need to announce their intentions over Unicom when they leave their garage?"
A 2002 photo by Jonathan Westerling looking west along the remaining length of the former runway at North Middleboro.
A circa 2005 aerial photo looking north at the western end of the remaining runway at North Middleboro.
An April 10, 2008 aerial view looking northwest along the former North Middleboro runway.
Thanks to Peter Kodis for pointing out this airfield.
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Fall River Municipal Airport (FLR), Fall River, MA
41.75 North / 71.11 West (South of Boston, MA)
USGS topo map 1951.
Fall River Airport was apparently built at some point between 1946-51,
as it was not yet depicted at all on the January 1946 Hudson River World Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of Fall River Airport which has been located
was on the 1951 USGS topo map.
It depicted “Fall River Municipal Airport” as having 2 perpendicular paved runways,
with a ramp & an airway beacon at the southwest corner of the field.
The earliest chart depiction which has been located of Fall River Airport
was on the June 1953 Hudson River World Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The June 1959 Boston Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Fall River as having a 3,900' hard surface runway.
Fall River Airport was described in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory as having 2 paved runways,
and the operator listed as Naragansett Airways.
The Aerodromes table on the reverse side of the 1965 Boston Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described the field as having 2 runways, with the longest being a 3,950' bituminous concrete strip.
The 1968 Boston Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Fall River Airport,
as well as the Fall River NDB beacon, located just west of the airport.
The 1993 Jeppesen Airport directory depicted Fall River as having 2 paved runways: 3,948' Runway 6/24 & 1,600' Runway 15/33.
A parallel taxiway ran the length of Runway 6/24, and a paved ramp sat at the southwest end, with several hangars.
The operator was listed as Naragansett Aircraft.
In the 1995 USGS aerial photo (taken shortly before the field's closure),
Fall River appeared quite well used, as a total of 33 light aircraft were visible parked on the ramp.
According to Pete Kodis, the Fall River Airport was closed
because the city built a large landfill adjacent to the east side of the airfield.
The landfill got so high & the resultant population of seagulls got so thick
that the FAA deemed the airport unsafe for use.
The state decided to make the New Bedford Airport a regional airport,
and the Fall River Airport would become an industrial park.
It was closed at some point between 1995-98.
A December 30, 2001 aerial view showed 2 large commercial buildings
had been built over the western portion of the field,
with portions of the 2 runways still remaining intact on the eastern side, along with the VASI light system.
A Summer 2003 photo by Peter Kodis of the former airport beacon which remains standing at Fall River.
A Summer 2003 photo by Peter Kodis of the Runway 24 VASI approach-slope guidance lighting which remains at Fall River.
A 2003 photo by Peter Kodis of the remains of Runway 15, which now runs right into a massive landfill hill.
A Summer 2003 photo by Peter Kodis of the closed-runway "X" markings are still visible on the former Runway 24.
A 2003 photo by Peter Kodis looking north, the former Runway 6 still appears remarkably intact.
A circa 2006 aerial view looking east at the former Fall River airway beacon.
A more recent aerial photo appears to show that the beacon tower has since been removed.
A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo looking southwest at the remains of the 2 runways at Fall River.
A February 2009 aerial view by Dan Fields looking north at the remains of the 2 runways at Fall River.
Dan observed, “We were doing traffic watch flying in the area & this is what FLR looked like from 1,500' above ground level.”
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