Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southern Maryland
© 2002, © 2009 by Paul Freeman. Revised 6/22/09.
Annapolis NAF (revised 6/22/09) - Aqualand Airport (revised 10/24/08)
Deep Creek Airport (revised 8/18/08) - La Plata Airfield (revised 11/17/06)
Piney Point Airport (revised 10/24/08) - Shadyside Airport (revised 10/24/08)
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La Plata Airfield, La Plata, MD
38.54 North / 76.92 West (Southeast of Washington, DC)
The airfield in La Plata, as seen in the 1993 USGS aerial photo.
Not much is known about what appears to be a small private airfield, just east of La Plata.
The 1993 USGS aerial photo shows what appears to be a single 2,200' paved east/west runway,
with a small paved ramp on the south side of the middle of the runway, with a single small hangar.
No other details about this field are known, including its date of construction, name, purpose, etc.
No airfield is depicted in this location on recent USGS topo maps or aeronautical charts,
and no airfield was listed in this location in FAA records, as of 2005.
In a 2006 aerial photo, the runway at LaPlata appeared to be unpaved (compared to its appearance in the 1993 aerial photo).
Jim Kushner reported in 2006, “I actually saw an aircraft take off from the La Plata Airport.
It was a couple of years ago when I was driving down La Plata Road.
I was a little surprised to see a plane pop up over the trees from that location.
From the road it pretty much looks like a farm field surrounded by trees.
I'm also a pilot myself so I was intrigued by his clearance over the trees & other obstacles in the area.”
The La Plata Airfield is located on the south side of La Plata Road, at its intersection with Cool Springs Farm Place,
3 miles east of La Plata, MD.
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Piney Point Airport (MD96), Piney Point, MD
38.15 North / 76.52 West (Southwest of Patuxent River NAS, MD)
"Piney Point (Navy)", as depicted on the 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to Al Peters,
Piney Point was built during WW2 as one of at least two torpedo testing stations
in the area around Patuxent River NAS.
The WW2 military facilities at Piney Point included a paved airfield,
which was presumably used to support the torpedo testing operations.
The Piney Point airfield was apparently opened at some point between May & November of 1944,
as it was not depicted on the May 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the November 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
which labeled it as "Piney Point (Navy)".
"Piney Point (Navy)" was still depicted on the 1945 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
and the 1946 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
“Piney Point (Navy)” was depicted on the 1946 USGS topo map.
After the war the property was broken up and "given away for practically nothing", in Al's words.
The Steuart Petroleum Company obtained the portion with the airfield,
and constructed a number of petroleum storage tanks on either side of the runway.
Piney Point Airfield was depicted on the 1946 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
and the 1947 Washington Sectional Chart, with a 1,400' hard-surfaced runway.
It was depicted on the 1951 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe) with the same configuration,
but as a private airfield.
The January 1954 USAF Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Piney Point as a public-use airport,
but the remarks said "No services. Land at own risk."
Piney Point was still depicted as a public-use airport
on the January 1956 Washington Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
but the field's depiction had changed to that of a private field
on the August 1957 USAF Washington Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
However, the Piney Point airfield apparently went through a period of abandonment
starting at some point between 1957-60,
as it was labeled "Abandoned airport" on the 1960 & 1961 Washington Sectional Charts (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
and on the February 1962 Washington Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
Piney Point was depicted as a civilian airfield on the 1963 USGS topo map.
Piney Point was evidently reopened at some point between 1962-64,
as the 1964 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
depicted Piney Point as a public-use (not private) airfield,
and the Aerodromes table described it as consisting of a single 3,093' turf & macadam runway.
The 1967 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
depicted Piney Point in the same manner.
By the time of the 1972 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe),
Piney Point was once again depicted as a private airfield.
Piney Point Airport, as depicted on the 1975 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ed Drury).
Merton Meade recalled, “Dick Watkins flew for Stewart Petroleum at Piney Point.”
The 1988 USGS topo map depicted the “Piney Point Airport” as having a single runway,
with a single T-hangar along the west side.
USGS aerial photo 1993.
As of 2002, Steuart Petroleum continued to operate Piney Point Airport as a private airfield.
The airfield consisted of a single 4,100' asphalt Runway 15/33,
along with what appeared to be a single hangar,
in between the runway & the tanks on the west side of the airfield.
Paul Freeman visited the Piney Point Airfield in 2002, or at least attempted to.
The Steuart Petroleum property was gated along two entrance roads,
which prevented any viewing of the airfield.
The Piney Point Airfield was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 2002-2006,
as it was depicted as an abandoned airfield on the 2006 Washington Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A 2006 aerial view depicted the Piney Point Airport runway as remaining intact, although with several closed-runway “X” symbols painted on it.
The single T-hangar also remained intact along the west side.
The Piney Point Airport is located south of the intersection of Route 249 & Leahy Drive.
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Annapolis Naval Air Facility, Annapolis, MD
38.98 North / 76.46 West (Northeast of Washington, DC)
The Annapolis Navy "Seaplane Port",
as depicted on the 1929 "Rand McNally Standard Map of MD with Air Trails" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The US Navy's first naval aviation base was established in 1911 at Greenbury Point,
across the Severn River from the US Naval Academy.
This unit conducted training & experimentation with seaplanes,
until being transferred to Pensacola FL in 1914.
In 1925, a naval aviation program was reestablished at a dock at the Naval Academy,
intended to provide 25 hours of flight instruction to each Naval Academy Cadet.
The 1937 USGS topo map depicted the hangar of the Annapolis seaplane facility, but did not label it.
This program was expanded in 1937,
with a 16 acre site being constructed across the Severn River,
near the site of the original aviation camp.
The new facilities included a 900' x 600' concrete seaplane parking apron,
two ramps leading down into the river, hangars & other buildings.
The Annapolis Naval Air Facility,
as depicted on the 1942 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A WW2-era view of Annapolis NAF, with a PBM Mariner seaplane & several floatplanes parked on the ramp.
National Archives photo.
During WW2, in addition to continuing to conducting flight familiarization for midshipmen,
the Annapolis Naval Air Facility also flew emergency & utility flights,
and flights in support of the adjacent Naval Experiment Station.
An undated insignia for NAF Annapolis.
According to the book "Maryland Aloft" by Preston, Lanman, and Breilhan,
training at the Annapolis NAF "utilized the Combat Information Center aboard the Carrier Block Island,
towed to the facility in 1946 & later replaced by the USS APL-5."
An undated (circa 1940s?) photo of an N3N-3 "Yellow Peril" floatplane landing at Annapolis
(note the dome of the Naval Academy behind the nose).
Photo is by Howard Levy, courtesy of John Voss.
The 1946 USGS topo map labeled the property as “Annapolis Naval Air Facility”.
By the early 1950s, the station's complement of aircraft consisted of 5 large twin-engine PBM Mariner seaplanes,
19 smaller twin-engine JRF Goose seaplane, and 35 N3N "Yellow Peril" biplane floatplanes.
According to the book "Maryland Aloft",
"During the 1950s, the ability of the NAF's seaplanes to provide realistic, modern training was questioned;
however, attempts to acquire land for an airfield as a replacement were unsuccessful.
Instead, a decision was made to transfer the functions of the installation to a naval facility at Andrews AFB."
Gary Miller recalled, " My father (Capt. Floyd E. Miller) was the CO of the Naval Air Facility from 1958-60.
I remember soon after he took over the Air Facility he had maintenance do a check on the N3N-3s.
They found that they had severe corrosion.... he grounded the lot!
That was the beginning of the end for the Facility."
Annapolis was still listed as a seaplane facility on the 1960 Sectional Aeronautical Chart.
The Annapolis Naval Air Facility was the last American military user
of the N3N "Yellow Peril" floatplane until it closed in 1962.
This was also the last biplane in regular US military service.
According to the book "Maryland Aloft",
the Annapolis Naval Air Facility "officially closed on January 17, 1962.
The property was transferred to the Naval Academy to use for storage & supply,
and is now part of Naval Station Annapolis."
After the closure of the Annapolis NAF,
the flying operations of the Academy moved to Andrews AFB.
The Naval Academy Flying club presently operates from Lee Airport,
a small general aviation field a few miles southwest of the Academy.
A circa 2000 aerial view of the seaplane apron & hangar of the former Naval Air Facility Annapolis.
As seen in a circa 2007 aerial view looking west, the seaplane apron & hangar of the former Naval Air Facility still exist,
with numerous sailboats stored on the former apron.
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Shadyside Airport, Churchton, MD
38.82 North / 76.54 West (South of Annapolis, MD)
Shadyside Airport, as depicted on the 1946 USGS topo map.
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This small general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1944-46,
as it was not yet depicted on the November 1944 Washington Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of Shadyside Airport which has been located was on the 1946 USGS topo map.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of Shadyside Airport which has been located
was on the April 1947 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field as having a 1,500' unpaved runway.
Shadyside's runway had been slightly lengthened by 1956,
as the Aerodromes table on the January 1956 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described the field as having a single 2,050' turf runway,
and it also said "East/West strip under construction."
Shadyside Airport was apparently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point within the next year,
as it was no longer depicted on the August 1957 Washington Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
or the 1960 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
Shadyside Airport was evidently reopened at some point between 1960-65,
as it was depicted the September 1965 Washington Local Visual Navigation Chart.
It depicted the field as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
The 1975 Washington Terminal Area Chart (courtesy of Ed Drury)
depicted Shadyside as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
The 1988 USGS topo map depicted the Shadyside Airfield as having a single northeast/southwest runway.
Shadyside Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1975-91,
as it was no longer depicted on the 1991 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
In the 1994 USGS aerial photo,
the outlines of Shadyside's two runways were still quite apparent.
It is not known if any airfield buildings remain.
The Shadyside Airfield is located northeast of the intersection of Deale Churchton Road & Shady Side Road.
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Deep Creek Airport, Churchton, MD
38.81 North / 76.51 West (South of Annapolis, MD)
Deep Creek Airport, as depicted on the January 1956 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The date of construction of this small former general aviation airfield is unknown.
It was apparently opened at some point between 1949-50,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1949 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
The earliest reference to Deep Creek Airport which has been located
is the 1950 MD Airport Directory (courtesy of Stephen Mahaley).
Deep Creek Airport was described on the Aerodromes table
on the 1951 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
as having two runways, with the longest being a 3,000' unpaved strip.
Walter Neitzey was the owner & operator of Deep Creek Airport starting in the 1950s,
according to his obituary in the 3/18/06 Annapolis Capital (courtesy of Fred Sanford).
It described Deep Creek as a “full-service airport,
where he gave flight lessons.
He flew advertising banners over Washington Redskins home football games.”
Deep Creek Airport was described in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory
as having two sod runways (14/32: 3,000' & 4/22: 2,000'),
and the operator was listed as Walter Neitzey.
Deep Creek Airport, as depicted on the 1975 Washington Terminal Area Chart (courtesy of Ed Drury).
Richard Terry recalled, “I leaned to fly out of Deep Creek Airport in 1980-81.
Walter owned the airport at that time, but it was operated by Aircraftsman, Inc. which was Mark Spry & his son Steve.
Mark was a character. I never met a better pilot.
He was an ex-RAF mosquito pilot & operated the Rolls-Royce Engines facility in New York until he retired.
Various troubles drove him from New Jersey to MD and then to who knows where.
While we were there, the main runway was raised & extended with gravel. It was never paved.
There was also a glider operation there for several years.
There was also a guy giving seaplane ratings operating there at that time, using the waterway that paralleled the runway.”
In the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),
it was described as having a single 3,000' gravel Runway 16/34,
and listed the operator as Aircrasftmen Inc.
Diagram from the 1983 MD State Aeronautical Chart.
An October 28, 1983 aerial view by Kenneth Keeton looking west at the Deep Creek Airport
showed the field to have a single gravel north/south runway,
along with a grass former crosswind runway.
Several hangars & planes were visible on the north end of the field.
John Baker recalled that "I flew into Deep Creek Airport on 8/4/84 in the Champ.
On 11/28/86, I flew in again in my Stinson 108-3, N6197M."
Deep Creek was still listed among active airports
in the 1987 AOPA Airport Directory (according to the book "Maryland Aloft").
The operator was listed as Deep Creek Airport & Marina Inc.
The 1988 USGS topo map depicted “Deep Creek Airpark” as having 2 unpaved runways.
According to the book "Maryland Aloft",
Deep Creek Airport closed in 1988 (for reasons not specified).
It was no longer depicted as an airfield of any kind
on the 1991 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
A 1994 USGS aerial photo didn't show any aircraft at the field.
In this circa 2000 aerial photo, the airfield was still completely intact.
According to Amy Neitzey's 2003 obituary in the Annapolis Capital (courtesy of Al Peters),
Amy & her husband Walter owned Deep Creek Airport for 45 years.
According to local pilot Roger Bartholomee,
a developer bought the Deep Creek property & closed it,
but then was unable to obtain building permits, as the site consists of wetlands on the bay front.
Nothing has been done with the property as of 2002.
The airfield is located along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay,
at the end of Dent Road, south of Shady Side Road.
Thanks to Larry Schuler for pointing out this airfield.
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38.4 North / 76.95 West (Southeast of Washington, DC)
Aqua-Land Airport, as depicted on the 1963 USGS topo map.
This fly-in campground was located along the Maryland shore of the Potomac River,
across the Route 301 bridge from Dahlgren Navy Airfield.
Aqualand Airport was evidently built at some point between 1961-62,
as it was not depicted on the 1961 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
The earliest reference to Aqualand Airport which has been located was in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
which described the field as having a single 2,700' sod runway,
and listed the operator as Everett Noel.
The earliest depiction which has been located of the Aqualand Airport was on the 1963 USGS topo map.
The 1964 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described Aqualand as having a 2,700' unpaved runway.
An advertisement for the “Conner Brothers Aqualand” resort,
as published in a 1966 Ohio general aviation magazine (courtesy of Roger Anderson).
It touted the resort as being the “Las Vegas of the East”,
and featured such amenities as a children’s theme park called “Storyville USA”
and a fancy restaurant with 8 chefs and lounge open 24 hours daily, 7 days a week year round,
as well as the marina, campground, and airfield.
The Aqualand airfield had evidently been paved at some point between 1964-66,
as it was described as having a 3,000' hardtop lighted runway, with fuel.
Roger Anderson remarked, “I’ll bet it was a real swinging spot through the late 1960s before the gambling was stopped.
It must have been something of a destination to be advertised full page
in a regional publication intended for an area several hundred miles to the west.
I can imagine landing my Beech Staggerwing & taxing up for dinner in the Vegas Lounge,
then heading out on the Potomac on a 38’ Chris Craft Commander for the weekend.
I think I was born 40 years too late.”
A closeup looking northeast at the Aqualand airfield from the 1966 advertisement (courtesy of Roger Anderson).
Several light planes were visible on the southwest side of the runway.
The 1967 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
described Aqua-Land as having a single 2,800' paved runway.
A June 18, 1967 photo (by Kenneth Keeton) of a beautiful P-51D Mustang seen at Aqualand's Fathers' Day Airshow.
An October 1967 aerial view looking southeast at Aqualand Airport by Chris Kennedy.
Merton Meade recalled, “I remember some good airshows at Aqua Land.
The Taylorcraft group used to land there on Saturday and/or Sunday mornings,
taxi 3 or 4 aeroplanes across the wee bridge & park in the car park to the truck stop... and go in for breakfast.
The ships looked funny parked amongst the 18-wheelers!”
Dennis Phillips recalled, "I soloed in a Cessna 150 N6850G out of Aqualand in July of 1971.
Dick [Smith] was one of the owners.
Dick was a retired Air Force pilot & we hanger flew an imaginary Convair 880 many times.
Dick flew one in the Air Force.
One of Dick's partners was Col. Robert Hill, who taught me to fly.
Hill was an old B-47 pilot in his early career.
Col. Hill was stationed at Andrews and gave check rides of Military Reserve politicians such as Barry Goldwater (He said that was a trip!),
He also flew Saberliners for Air Force transportation flights.
He bought the Cesnna 150 for both pleasure & to use for teaching flying.
Col. Hill had been an Air Force beginning flight instructor at Reese AFB in Lubbock, TX.
The dealership also had a Cessna 172 demo-plane.
About 8-10 other planes were hangared or parked there.
I remember an Aeronca Champ, an Aerocommander, a Navion, and a couple of other planes."
"To get some extra lessons, I often worked the FBO office, pumped gas and ran the airport on Saturdays and Sundays.
Since it was a long ride back to Bowie I would sleep in the office with Unicom on.
We only had Unicom & no runway lights.
Aqualand was a great place to learn to fly because at that time it was out of all the traffic areas in D.C.
Also those red & white striped powerplant towers could be seen from miles away.
Plus the Potomac River & all the other rivers were great natural landmarks."
"My understanding was that before 1968 the airport was busy.
The State of Maryland had legal slot machines until Spiro Agnew was elected and closed up the slots.
I was told that the Marina by the water had many high states poker games.
When slots were outlawed the entire Highway 301 gambling industry folded up.
The Reno Diner at the end of the runway barely stayed open & the Marina was hard hit.
After a couple of times I realized that I could not have a greasy burger at the Reno
and then go up and put a Pitts special through the paces."
According to Mike Skov, "There was at one point (circa 1971-72)
a Cessna dealership there run by a gentleman named Dick Smith.
I believe that he had been a pilot for the 'Special Air Mission' at Andrews AFB,
those being the people who operate the Presidential aircraft.
I bought a Cessna there in 1972.
[Aquland Airport operator] Everett Noel was an FAA designated flight examiner at Manassas Airport
beginning in the late 1960s until at least 1977, perhaps longer."
Aqua-Land Clifton Airport, as depicted on the 1975 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ed Drury).
The 1981 DOD VFR Supplement (courtesy of John Clifford)
and the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
described Aqualand as having a single 3,165' paved Runway 9/27.
Mike Skov recalled, ""The last time I landed there [at Aqualand] was July 4, 1987.
The airport was still open but completely unattended.
At that time I thought the pavement was acceptable but a bit rough. I was in a 182RG."
Aqua Land was depicted on a 1987 Maryland State Aeronautical Chart
as having a single 3,165' paved Runway 9/27,
with a ramp & a small building on the south side of the strip.
The manager was listed as Henry Baumann.
Aqua Land Clifton was still depicted as a public-use airport on the 1987 Maryland State Aeronautical Chart.
The 1988 USGS topo map depicted the Aqua-Land Clifton Skypark as having a single east/west paved runway.
Aqua-Land was still depicted on the 1991 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe),
but its status had changed to a private airfield.
The end for Aqua-Land Airport apparently came at some point between 1991-93 (for reasons unknown),
as it was depicted as an abandoned airfield on the 1993 MD Aeronautical Chart.
In the 1993 USGS aerial photo, Aqualand was apparently already closed,
as an “X” was visible on the west end of the runway.
A 1999 aerial view by Paul Freeman looking southwest at Aqualand's runway,
taken from a Diamond Katana DA20C-1.
A 1999 aerial view by Paul Freeman looking east along Aqualand's runway,
taken from a Diamond Katana DA20C-1.
The asphalt runway appeared to still remain in very good condition.
According to the book "Maryland Aloft" by Preston, Lanman, and Breilhan,
a Charles County tourism web site indicated in 2002 that the adjacent Aqua-Land Marina was still in operation.
A 2002 USGS aerial photo looking northeast along the former Aqualand runway.
Greg Samonds reported in 2005, “The campsite located right next to the Aqualand runway is very densely populated,
mainly with permanent residents.
The condition has changed greatly since the 1999 aerial photo.
The pavement is in relatively good condition at either end but the middle is a completely different story.
The pavement here is completely broken up & not even visible in some places.
There are even small trees growing through it in places.
Large trees have grown to the very edge of the northern part of the runway
although the concrete remains in relatively good shape.
It amazes me that such large trees were able to grow in only 6 years.
The northern end of the runway has also been vandalized with graffiti.
While I was there I came across a group of local teenagers who had made a fire at the most northern point of the runway.
They said people frequently race dirt bikes down the runway
which would explain the 'start' & 'finish' lines that had been spray painted on the strip.”
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