Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Northern Mississippi
© 2002, © 2006 by Paul Freeman. Revised 10/8/06.
Greenville Municipal (revised 6/13/06) - Greenwood Municipal Airport (revised 10/8/06)
River Aux AAF #2 / River AF Aux / River Airport (revised 9/13/06) - Vaughn Aux AAF #6 / Vaughn AF Aux / Vaughn Airport (revised 9/13/06)
Yazoo City Airport / Barrier Airport (revised 1/15/04)
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Greenwood Municipal Airport, Greenwood, MS
33.5 North / 90.2 West (South of Memphis, TN)
"Le Flore" Airport, as depicted on the July 1938 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Greenwood's original Municipal Airport was located adjacent to the southwest side of the town.
The date of construction of the airfield has not been determined.
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Greenwood Municipal Airport as being located "1/2 mile south of city limits",
and the field was said to have two sod runways: 2,960' & 2,800' long.
The July 1938 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
labeled the field as "Le Flore" Airport.
A circa-1940 aerial view looking north at Greenwood's hangar & ramp (courtesy of Allan Hammons).
A circa-1940 photo of the staff of Greenwood Flying Service,
which conducted flight instruction, crop dusting, and airplane sales (courtesy of Allan Hammons).
An aerial view looking northeast at the Le Flore County Municipal Airport
from The Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described the field as having 3 sod runways, with the longest being the 3,150' northwest/southeast strip.
A hangar was pictured at the southeast corner of the field.
Allan Hammons recalled, "Prior to World War II, a Civilian Pilot Training program was established
in conjunction with nearby Sunflower Junior College
to provide initial flight training for the military.
As war came, the Army selected a site six miles east of Geenwood Municipal Airport
for a Basic Flying School to be known as Greenwood Army Air Field.
During the construction of GAAF, the Army also constructed three 4,000' runways at Greenwood Municipal.
The airport was used as an auxiliary field by the Army."
A 1943 photo (courtesy of Allan Hammons) of Greenwood's main hangar & terminal building (reused as of 2004 by Abraham Trucking).
"The window on the right was the airport manager's office,
the center two windows were the terminal
and the area on the left was the Civil Aeronautic Administration's Greenwood Radio (Flight Service Station)."
The field was apparently renamed back to "Greenwood" by 1944,
as that is how it was listed in the April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
It also had been paved, as it was said to have a 4,000' hard-surface runway,
and Army flight operations were said to be conducted from the field.
The 1944 directory also listed the newly-constructed Greenwood AAF,
which had been constructed 5 miles to the east
(and would eventually replace the original Greenwood Airport years later).
"Greenwood" Airport, as depicted on the April 1945 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A 1947 photo (courtesy of Allan Hammons) looking southwest from the ramp toward Greenwood's terminal and a Chicago & Southern DC-3.
Allan Hammons recalled, "I learned to fly at the former Greenwood Municipal Airport.
The airport was served by Chicago & Southern with Lockheed Electras and later DC-3s.
In the 1950s, Delta acquired Chicago & Southern and the airport was served by Delta Convairs."
A 1952 photo (courtesy of Allan Hammons) showing the west doors of the municipal hangar, which was leased to Leflore Flying Service.
"The Cadillac belonged to the lineboy – [he was] independently wealthy."
Greenwood Municipal Airport, as depicted on the 1957 USGS topo map,
from the University of Alabama Map Library.
According to Chris Balducci, "A Greenwood native told me
he remembered seeing aircraft from the old Southern Airways use that airport."
"Greenwood Municipal" Airport, as depicted on the June 1964 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1967 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Greenwood Municipal as having three 4,000' asphalt runways: 9/27, 4/22, and 13/31.
The field was said to offer fuel, repairs, hangars, and charter.
The operators were Arrow Aviation, Emrich Flying Service (a Cessna dealer), and Leflore Flying Service.
Allan Hammons recalled, "The field was home to major agricultural operations by locally owned Leflore Flying Service & Delta Airlines.
More than 20 Stearmans were based there.
Two Fixed-Base Operators operated there in the mid 1960s: Archer Aviation & Emerich Aviation.
The last [airline] service for the field before closing was by Southern Airlines with DC-3s."
The original Greenwood Municipal Airport evidently closed at some point between 1967-71,
as it was not listed in the 1971 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).
In that directory, the former Greenwood AAF to the east was listed as Leflore Airport.
As seen in the 1996 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former Greenwood Municipal Airport has been covered by a number of larger buildings.
However, traces of two runways are still evident,
including the outline of almost the entire northwest/southeast runway.
Chris Balducci reported in 2004, "I've been to Greenwood many times.
It wasn't until last year that I discovered the old airport existed where the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park is now.
After several subsequent trips to Greenwood,
I found an old hangar that now houses the Abraham Trucking Company.
Otherwise, the developers of the industrial job did a 'good job' covering up the remnants of the old airport."
A 2006 photo by John Wienand of the 1940-vintage hangar which remains at the site of the former Greenwood Airport.
According to John, this was “the only airport building I could identify on site.
The entire area has been rebuilt & developed as an industrial park. There are several closed businesses out there.
The runways are gone, all traces. Only the big concrete ramp by the hanger exist today.
Abrahams Trucking has the site listed for sale.”
The site of the original Greenwood Municipal Airport is located west of the intersection of Route 49E & Route 175.
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Yazoo City Airport / Barrier Airport (M09), Yazoo City, MS
32.88 North / 90.41 West (North of New Orleans, LA)
Yazoo City Airport, as depicted on the February 1949 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This former general aviation airport was apparently built at some point between 1945-49,
as it was not depicted on the April 1945 Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the February 1949 Shreveport Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
which labeled it as "Yazoo City" Airport.
It was apparently renamed Barrier Airport at some point between 1949-60,
as that is how it was labeled in the 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the Barrier Airport as having a 3,000' paved Runway 17/35 & a 2,904' unpaved Runway 4/22,
along with two buildings (hangars?) on the south side of the field.
"Barrier Airfield" was depicted as having a single north/south runway & a few buildings on the east side of the field,
on the 1961 USGS topo map (from the University of Alabama Map Library).
The June 1961 Boston Mountains World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Barrier Airport as having a 3,000' hard-surface runway.
According to Gale Johnson recalled, “In the early 1960s, Delta Airlines was operating DC-6 & DC-7 aircraft
into and out of the Jackson MS Municipal Airport (Hawkins Field)
and it's location to the city of Jackson was about the same as Barrier Airport was to Yazoo City.
It was night time, and the pilots mistook Barrier for Hawkins & landed.
The aircraft was flown out after everything that could be removed to make it lighter was taken out.”
The 1976 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
listed the operator of Barrier Airport as the George Clanton Dusting Company.
The 1985 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Barrier Airport as having a single 3,660' paved Runway 17/35,
along with a closed grass runway extending northeast from the center of the field.
A taxiway led to a ramp on the east side of the runway,
around which were situated four buildings (hangars?).
According to David Richardson, “Barrier Field... was closed in the late 1980s.
The reason was to build a larger field outside of town that could accommodate small jets.
Yazoo City High School [had been built in 1978] several hundred yards away from the old field,
and there was no room to extend the runway.”
The closed Barrier Airport was still completely intact as of the 1996 USGS aerial photo,
although the paved runway was marked with closed runway "X" symbols.
Several hangars remained standing, and the airfield appeared to remain basically intact.
David Richardson reported in 2005, “The old field has now been transformed into a city park
that includes many facilities including a driving range.”
The site of Barrier Airport is located northwest of the intersection of Gordon Avenue & Hugh J McGraw Road.
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River Auxiliary Army Airfield #2 / River Air Force Auxiliary / River Airport, Aberdeen, MS
33.8 North / 88.32 West (West of Birmingham, AL)
“River AF”, as depicted on the August 1954 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
The date of construction of this airfield has not been determined.
It was reportedly established during WW2 as one of eight satellite airfields for Columbus AAF (12 miles southwest),
which conducted training in twin-engine bombers.
The River airfield may have been abandoned by the military after WW2,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the October 1945 Boston Mountains World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The former River airfield was evidently reactivated by the Air Force
under the jurisdiction of Craig AFB at some point between 1945-54,
as it was depicted as “River AF” on the August 1954 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was depicted as having a 2,300' unpaved runway.
The use of the River airfield by the Air Force in the 1950s reportedly lasted only a few months.
By the time of the February 1960 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
“River” was depicted as a civilian airfield, with a 2,300' unpaved runway.
The River Airport was still depicted in an identical fashion
on the June 1961 Boston Mountains World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the River Airport
was on the August 1963 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted River as having a 2,300' unpaved runway.
The River Airport was evidently abandoned (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1963-70,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the 1970 or 1980 USGS topo maps.
The outline of the runway was barely still perceptible in the 1996 USGS aerial photo.
Thanks to Steven McNicoll for information about this field.
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Vaughn Auxiliary Army Airfield #6 / Vaughn AF Aux / Vaughn Airport, Columbus, MS
33.38 North / 88.37 West (West of Birmingham, AL)
Vaughn Aux AAF #6, as depicted on the October 1945 Boston Mountains World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
The date of construction of this airfield has not been determined.
It evidently was established during WW2 as one of eight satellite airfields for Columbus AAF (13 miles north),
which conducted training in twin-engine bombers.
The earliest depiction of the Vaughn airfield which has been located
was on the October 1945 Boston Mountains World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted “Vaughn” as an auxiliary airfield.
The former Vaughn airfield was evidently reactivated by the Air Force
under the jurisdiction of Craig AFB at some point between 1945-54,
as it was depicted as “Vaughn AF” on the August 1954 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was depicted as having a 4,000' paved runway.
The use of the Vaughn airfield by the Air Force in the 1950s reportedly lasted only a few months.
By the time of the February 1960 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
“Vaughn” was depicted as a civilian airfield, with a single 4,000' paved northwest/southeast runway.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Vaughn as an active airport
was on the June 1961 Boston Mountains World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field as having a 4,000' paved runway.
The Vaughn Airport was evidently abandoned (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1961-63,
as it was depicted as “Aband airport” on the the August 1963 Birmingham Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The airfield was apparently reused for some period of time as a drag strip.
Michael Anthony recalled that he visited a drag strip at the site "in the 1960s to the late 1970s",
and he believes that it was privately owned during that period.
The 1980 USGS topo map depicted the "Vaughn Landing Field"
as having a single northwest/southeast runway.
The 1987 USGS topo map depicted the "Abandoned Landing Field"
as having a single northwest/southeast runway, with a parallel taxiway.
It also labeled the road to the south as "Dragstrip Road".
The airfield was labeled "Drag Strip" on late 1990s aeronautical charts.
As depicted on the 1992 USGS aerial photo,
the airfield consisted of a single paved 4,300' runway & a parallel taxiway.
There was no indication of any buildings at the site.
In the 2003 aerial photo, the remains of the runway & its parallel taxiway were still evident.
Signs of the dragstrip operation were recognizable on the northwest end of the former runway.
Thanks to Steven McNicoll for information about this field.
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Greenville Municipal Airport, Greenville, MS
33.39 North / 91 West (West of Birmingham, AL)
Greenville Airport, as depicted in the 1959 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The date of construction of this airfield has not been determined.
It was used during WW2 as one of five satellite airfields for Greenville AAF (6 miles northeast),
which conducted training as part of the 30,000 Pilot Training Program.
Starting at some point after WW2, it was reused as the Greenville Municipal Airport.
A 1952 aerial view looking north at Greenville Airport (courtesy of the Greenville AFB Museum, via Ron Plante).
The 1959 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Greenville Airport as having three paved runways, with the 4,000' Runways 13/31 & 4/22 being the longest.
Several buildings (hangars?) were depicted along the west side of the field.
Greenville Municipal was described in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory
as having three paved runways, and the operator listed as Valley Flying Service.
Greenville Municipal Airport apparently closed at some point between 1962-72,
as the larger Greenville AAF had been closed by the military & became the new Greenville Airport.
The 1972 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy) only listed the new airport,
and the site of the original Greenville Airport was depicted as an abandoned airfield
on the 1973 Memphis Sectional Chart (courtesy of Robert Brown).
As seen in the 1996 USGS aerial photo,
the former airport property has been reused as a municipal recreation complex,
as a track & several baseball diamonds had been built on the north side of the runways,
which were still largely intact.
A 2006 photo by Ron Plante looking east at the former main entrance of the airfield,
with the convention center in the background.
Ron Plante visited the site of the former airport in 2006.
He reported, “The old Municipal Airport is known as Washington County Park,
a recreational complex with baseball fields, livestock pens, and a drag strip.
Also there is the Washington County Convention Center, which is on the site of the old operations building.
All three runways are intact, although some are more gravel than asphalt. I did not see any hangars.”
A 2006 photo by Ron Plante of the drag strip which occupies the former Runway 4 approach end.
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