Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Northeastern North Carolina
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 10/1/08.
Elizabeth City Municipal (1st location) (revised 10/27/07) - Elizabeth City Municipal (2nd location) (revised 10/27/07)
Harvey Point NAAS (revised 10/25/07) - Weeksville NAS (revised 10/1/08)
____________________________________________________
Weeksville NAS, Weeksville, NC
36.23 North / 76.13 West (Southeast of Elizabeth City, NC)
"Weeksville (Navy)", as depicted on the September 1943 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Weeksville was built in 1941 on a 765 acre site as a Navy antisubmarine blimp base
(similar to Tustin CA & Moffet Field CA).
No airfield was yet depicted at Weeksville on the August 1942 14M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
When it was commissioned in 1942,
Weeksville was only the second Navy blimp base on the east coast,
Lakehurst NAS being the only other.
The first antisubmarine blimp patrol from Weeksville was conducted in 1942 by squadron ZP-14.
Operations were usually conducted with 8 K-ship blimps.
At times a single blimp was detached to Patuxent River NAS.
The earliest depiction of the Weeksville airfield which has been located
was on the September 1943 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A WW2-era view of Weeksville. National Archives photo.
Four K-class airships moored at Weeksville during WW2.
An undated photo of a Navy blimp inside a Weeksville hangar.
A navy blimp being moored, 1944.
A Navy blimp being pulled out of Hangar 2.
During Weeksville's WW2 heyday,
the facility consisted of 2 huge blimp hangars,
wooden Airdock #2 (900 feet long, NW side of base)
& steel Airdock #1 (1,058 feet long, S side of base),
each capable of housing six blimps simultaneously!
The hangars sat adjoining a 2,000' diameter blimp mooring pad,
which also had six smaller blimp mooring circles.
A 3,700' runway extended across the blimp mat,
and was used for aircraft weighing less than 5,000 pounds.
Weeksville also had a seaplane ramp which led into the adjacent Pasquatauk River.
This was used as a transit facility for seaplanes,
primarily PBY Catalinas going to Britain.
In 1944 the station had a total of 886 officers & enlisted personnel.
"Weeksville (Navy)", as depicted on the April 1945 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
With the end of WW2, Weeksville was reduced to a Naval Auxiliary Air Station in 1945.
From 1945-1948, it was used for storage of surplus fixed-wing aircraft,
eventually housing a maximum of 576 aircraft in 1946.
The last Navy blimp departed Weeksville in 1946.
Aerial view of Weeksville, 1953, looking NE. Hangar 2 is on left, Hangar 1 is on right.
In 1947, however, it became an operational blimp base again, with the arrival of 4 blimps.
During the Korean War, Weeksville was used for extensive ASW blimp operations,
hosting a fixed-wing Carrier Air Group, and hosting ASW helicopter squadrons.
Nick England recalled, "I lived in Elizabeth City as a kid from 1955-65
and had lots of buddies whose fathers were in the Navy at Weeksville NAS.
I remember playing marbles one time when this big shadow came over us -
a blimp had come overhead without us noticing!"
Weeksville was finally disestablished by the military in 1957,
and sold to private interests.
A 1961 photo of the NASA Echo satellite being inflated inside the Weeksville hangar.
The Weeksville airfield was labeled "Elizabeth City (Navy)" on the 1965 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The Aerodromes table described the airfield as consisting of 2 asphalt runways,
with the longest being 3,200'.
The airfield status was listed as "Closed".
In 1966, the decommissioned Weeksville facility was sold to Westinghouse,
for use in their blimp operations.
The 1987 USGS topo map did not label the Weeksville facility at all,
but it depicted the 2 blimp hangars, other buildings, and railroad lines.
The outline of several of the smaller blimp mooring pads were depicted,
but not the 2 runways.
In 1989 Westinghouse transferred its blimp operations to TCOM,
which subsequently built commercial airships at Weeksville which have operated as "Bud One", "Fuji", and "Met Life".
USGS photo 1993, before Hangar 2 burned down.
Note the seaplane ramp at the northeast corner,
the circular blimp mooring circle in the grass at right-center,
and the circular blimp mooring circles at the bottom of the photo.
Remnants of the 2 runways were also still recognizable.
A circa 1994-95 view of the Airship Industries Sentinel 1000 in front of one of the Weeksville blimp hangars.
The Sentinel 1000 was at the time the world's largest airship – measuring 222' in length, with a gas volume of 353,146 cubic feet.
It was developed by Airship Industries as an intermediate-sized ship
for gaining experience for their planned Sentinel 5000 airship (which never ended up being built).
The Sentinel 1000's gondola was borrowed from an existing Skyship 600,
along with the powerplant of twin Porsche 300 hp engines.
The tailfin arrangement was changed to an "X" configuration (which had been used previously in airships in the 1950s & 60s),
which enabled the larger airship to have ample clearance on takeoff when the ship is pitched up.
TCOM's use of the Weeksville facility was marred on 8/3/95,
when the wooden Airdock #2 burned down in a spectacular fire,
during reconstruction of the hangar door supports.
Inside the hangar were 2 Airship Industries Skyship blimps & the sole prototype of the Sentinel 1000 (the world's largest airship at the time).
All 3 blimps were destroyed,
effectively putting an end to the Sentinel 1000 program.
A 1995-99 aerial view looking north at the remains of Airdock #2.
An 8/99 aerial photo looking northwest, taken by Paul Freeman from a Diamond Katana DA20C-1.
Note concrete towers at top left, all that remains of wooden Hangar 2.
The steel-construction Airdock #1 remains standing.
Remains are still visible of huge circular blimp mooring field,
two runways (13/31 & 2/20), numerous circular blimp mooring positions
& a seaplane launching ramp at Northeast corner of field.
A beautiful 2002 picture by Brian Hawley of the interior of the clamshell doors of the Weeksville blimp hangar.
For a sense of scale, note the man in front of the door at the bottom-center.
A 2002 photo by Brian Hawley of the rail-mounted motors which open the massive doors of the Weeksville blimp hangar.
Brian reported he “was lucky enough to get a guided tour of the facility.
It was amazing. The inside of the steel hangar was spectacular.
The doors were massive.
They used so much power according to our guide that back before they were powered on-site with generators
only one could be opened at a time."
A 2002 photo by Brian Hawley of the the interior of the Weeksville blimp hangar shows the huge size of the building to good effect:
Note how the tractor trailer appears to be the size of a toy.
The blimp in the background operated as the Spirit of Atlanta during the 1996 Olympic Games.
A 2006 aerial view shows that a new street had been built at some point between 1999-2006 on the east side of the former airfield,
but the majority of the Weeksville airfield remained the same.
A June 1, 2007 photo by Robert Lee, looking east at the remaining Weeksville blimp hangar, Airdock #1.
Note what appear to be control tower cabs on top of both ends of the hangar.
A January 2008 photo by Lawrence Schmitz looking south at the remaining Weeksville blimp hangar, Airdock #1.
Lawrence Schmitz reported, “I visited the Weeksville blimp base today, January 12, 2008.
The remaining hangar is still there in good condition,
and looks to have been coated with weather-proofing sometime in the last 10 years.
The [south] doors are sealed, but the [north] doors look to be still functional.
The whole area has grown up with weeds & there seems to be a lot of support equipment through the whole area.”
A January 2008 photo by Lawrence Schmitz looking northwest at the remains of Weeksville blimp hangar Airdock #2.
____________________________________________________
Elizabeth City Municipal Airport (1st location), Elizabeth City, NC
36.26 North / 76.19 West (Southwest of Norfolk, VA)
The original location of the Elizabeth City Municipal Airport,
as depicted on a 1935 Regional Aeronautical Chart.
Photo of the airport while open has not been located.
The original location of the Elizabeth City Municipal Airport was southeast of the town,
on the opposite side of the road from the eventual location of the present-day Elizabeth City CGAS / Municipal Airport.
The date of construction of the original Elizabeth City Municipal Airport is unknown.
It was apparently built prior to 1935,
as it was depicted in its original location on the 1935 Regional Aeronautical Chart.
Elizabeth City Airport was described in The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
as being located 2.5 miles southeast of the town,
on the west side of the Weeksville Highway.
It was described as having 2 landing strips in an "L" shape,
with the longest being 2,700' northeast/southwest strip.
The original location of the Elizabeth City Municipal Airport,
as depicted on the July 1941 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Elizabeth City Municipal Airport was still depicted in its original location
on the August 1942 14M Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
However, at some point between 1942-43,
Elizabeth City Airport apparently was relocated a few miles west to its second location (southwest of the town of Elizabeth City),
as that is where it was depicted on the September 1943 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The relocation of the civilian airport was most likely due to wartime security concerns,
as well as the increased traffic at the Elizabeth City CGAS on the opposite side of the road.
Nothing was depicted at the site of the Elizabeth City Airport
on the 1985 or 1987 USGS topo maps.
As seen in the 1993 USGS aerial photo of the site,
not a trace of the former airport appeared to remain at the site.
As seen in a 2006 aerial photo, not a trace of the original Elizabeth City Airport remains perceptible.
Note the present-day Elizabeth City Coast Guard Air Station / Municipal Airport across the road to the northeast.
The site of the first location of the Elizabeth City Municipal Airport is located
south of the intersection of Route 34 & Pitts Chapel Road,
just across Route 34 from the present-day Elizabeth City Coast Guard Air Station / Municipal Airport.
____________________________________________________
Elizabeth City Municipal Airport (2nd location), Elizabeth City, NC
36.25 North / 76.26 West (Southwest of Norfolk, VA)
The 2nd location of the Elizabeth City Municipal Airport,
as depicted on the September 1943 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
At some point between 1942-43,
the Elizabeth City Airport apparently was relocated southwest of the town, from its original location.
The earliest depiction of the field at this location which has been located
was on the September 1943 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Elizabeth City Airport as having a 3,800' unpaved runway.
From 1957-68, a Air Force Gap Filler Air Defense Radar installation (P-56C / M-117B)
was operational on the property of the Elizabeth City Municipal Airport (thanks to Thomas Page for pointing this out).
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Elizabeth City Municipal Airport
as having three 4,000' turf runways: 18/36, 4/22 & 14/32.
The operator was listed as Coastal Aviation, Inc.
The Aerodromes table on the 1965 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described the airfield as consisting of 3 turf runways,
with the longest being 4,400'.
A circa 1968 photo of 2 planes inside a hangar at the Elizabeth City Airport (courtesy of Thomas Page).
A circa 1968 photo of the Air Force gap-filler radar installation adjacent to the Elizabeth City Airport (courtesy of Thomas Page).
A 1971 airfield directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Elizabeth City Municipal as having 3 unpaved runways,
with the longest being the 4,400' Runway 4/22.
Elizabeth City Municipal Airport was still depicted on the 1973 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe),
and described as having a 4,400' unpaved runway.
The Elizabeth City Municipal Airport was apparently closed at this location at some point between 1973-75,
as no airfield was depicted here on the 1975 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ed Drury).
The much larger Elizabeth City Coast Guard Air Station (a few miles to the east)
opened itself up to civilian operations,
and the new Elizabeth City Municipal Airport was established along the south side of the Coast Guard airfield.
The former Elizabeth City Municipal Airport was not depicted at on the 1985 & 1987 USGS topo maps.
In the 1993 USGS aerial photo of the site,
the outline of the 3 former runways was still clearly recognizable.
No former airfield buildings appeared to remain standing.
However, one building from the former Air Force Gap Filler Air Defense Radar installation was still visible,
southeast of the runway intersection, on the west side of the road.
As seen in a 2006 aerial photo, at some point between 1993-2006 the site of the former airport was covered by a residential development.
However, the alignment of Runway 4/22 was still plainly evident,
and the northwestern end of Runway 11/29 remained intact.
The site of the former Elizabeth City Municipal Airport is located
southwest of the intersection of Body Road & Simpson Ditch Road.
____________________________________________________
Harvey Point Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Harvey Point, NC
36.1 North / 76.33 West (South of Elizabeth City, NC)
"Harvey Pt (Navy)", as depicted on the September 1943 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Harvey Point was built in 1942 as a Navy seaplane training base.
No aviation facility was yet depicted at Harvey Point
on the August 1942 14M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the Harvey Point base which has been located
was on the September 1943 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted "Harvey Pt (Navy)" as a seaplane base.
Three Martin PBM Marlin seaplanes inside a Harvey Point hangar during WW2 (National Archives photo).
PBM squadron VPB-215 was commissioned at Harvey Point in late 1943,
and patrol squadron VPB-27 was commissioned there in June 1944.
Harvey Point NAAS reached its peak complement in 1944, housing over 1,900 men.
A WW2-era aerial view looking west at the Harvey Point seaplane base (National Archives photo).
During WW2, the base did not have any runways.
Its aviation facilities were strictly intended to support seaplanes, and consisted of 2 large hangars,
a concrete parking area with 2 seaplane ramps leading into the water,
and an amazing number of concrete seaplane parking revetments extending out from the hangars in a "tree" arrangement.
"Harvey Pt (Navy)" was depicted as a seaplane base with a control tower
on the April 1945 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The station was disestablished by the Navy in 1946.
In 1958, the Navy chose the abandoned Harvey Point site
to serve as the location for a dedicated base for the new P6M Seamaster jet seaplane.
Construction began at Harvey Point to create support facilities for the new seaplane.
At that point, employment on the base totaled
approximately 2,700 military & civilian workers.
In 1963, cancellation of the Seamaster aircraft caused Harvey Point
to be once again "disestablished" - but is highly probable that this
rapid buildup & "disestablishment" may have been a cover story
to conceal the CIA's takeover of the base.
On the 1965 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
and the 1972 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe),
no aviation facility was depicted at the site, only "buildings".
Harvey Point eventually became one of the CIA's 2 field operative training sites (the other is at Camp Peary, VA).
Harvey Point is used by CIA's Directorate of Operations for personnel training in explosives,
paramilitary combat, and other clandestine warfare techniques.
The Point is where "hardcore" paramilitary ops are worked on.
When the facility was taken over by the CIA, the 2 hangars were removed,
and a paved 5,000' runway was constructed over the area formerly occupied
by the hangars & the eastern parking revetments.
On the 1985 USGS topo map, a single runway was depicted, labeled as “Landing Strip”,
and the property was labeled as the “Harvey Point Defense Testing Activity”.
In the 1993 USGS aerial photo, the paved 5,000' runway was clearly evident,
as well as the WW2-era parking revetments west of the runway.
Note the 4-engined transport (DC-7?) parked along the west side of the runway.
An 8/99 aerial photo looking southwest, taken by Paul Freeman from a Diamond Katana DA20C-1.
As seen on a recent Washington Sectional Chart,
the airspace over this facility is covered by a Restricted Area (R-5301).
Note that there is a mention of "buildings" on the chart, but no depiction at all of a runway.
This is very unusual for a sectional chart, as military airfields are always depicted
(even the CIA's field at Camp Peary, VA, which is clearly depicted & labeled).
The Sectional Chart shows that clearance to pass through R-5301
must be obtained by contacting "GIANT KILLER" - sounds serious, huh?
A 2006 aerial view shows the single paved Runway 3/21 to have been recently painted.
The large 4-engine aircraft visible on the west side of the runway in the 1993 photo was no longer visible.
See also: http://www.ufomind.com/misc/1998/apr/d01-004.shtml
____________________________________________________
