Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
New York State: Buffalo area
© 2002, © 2011 by Paul Freeman. Revised 10/26/11.
Angola Airport (revised 11/27/09) - Consolidated Aircraft / Bell Airport (revised 2/27/05) - County Line Airport (revised 10/26/11)
Fredonia Airport / Van Buren Flying Club (revised 9/5/07) - Olean Airport (added 2/6/05)
Orchard Park Airport (revised 11/27/09) - Palmer Airport / Olcott-Newfane Airport (revised 11/27/09) - Proner Airport (revised 9/9/08)
Original Wellsville Municipal Airport / Crowner Airport (revised 2/21/10)
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Original Wellsville Municipal Airport / Crowner Airport, Wellsville, NY
42.12 North / 77.97 West (Southeast of Buffalo, NY)
A May 19, 1938 photo (courtesy of Oak Duke) of a group of men in front of an unidentified biplane at the original Wellsville Municipal Airport,
on the occasion of the first air mail flight to Buffalo.
William Piper reported, “According to local history books,
the Wellsville Municipal Airport was established prior to 1938,
as the first air mail flight occurred on May 19th of that year to Buffalo.”
The earliest depiction which has been located of the original location of the Wellsville Municipal Airport
was a May 19, 1938 photo (courtesy of Oak Duke) of a group of men in front of an unidentified biplane,
on the occasion of Wellsville's first air mail flight to Buffalo.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the airport at Wellsville
was on the August 1939 Albany Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field “Crowner”, a commercial/municipal airport.
It was also labeled as Crowner Airport on the 1948 USGS topo map.
The November 1956 Albany Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Crowner Airport as having a 2,300' unpaved runway.
At some point between 1956-64 the airfield was evidently renamed Wellsville Airport,
as that is how it was depicted on the July 1964 Albany Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The field was described as having a 3,800' unpaved runway.
William Piper recalled, “There was a single, paved runway extending northwest from Bolivar Road
and a smaller, southwest/northeast runway running parallel to the road.
Apparently, there were noise complaints & space limitations in the late 1960s due to building encroachment,
and a new site on a nearby hill was selected for the current Tarantine Field.
The new airport opened in November 1970, while the old Wellsville Municipal closed the next year after transitioning.”
The May 1971 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the new Wellsville Airport to the southwest,
and depicted the original field as an abandoned airfield.
Even though the airport had been abandoned for 6 years,
the 1976 USGS topo map still depicted Wellsville Municipal Airport.
It depicted the field as having 2 unpaved runways, with a few small buildings on the south & southeast sides.
William Piper recalled, “My dad grew up in Wellsville & remembers that the old airport sat vacant & abandoned for many years.
The younger kids would ride their bikes down the main runway, while the older teens regularly held drag races with suped-up fastbacks.
Beginning around 1980, the stretch of Bolivar Road (Route 417) south of the main runway was commercially developed with a McDonald's, K-Mart, etc.
This completely destroyed any trace of the smaller, southwest/northeast runway,
the ramp area, and the southern-most portion of the remaining main runway.”
A circa 2007 aerial view looking east at the remaining pavement of the northwest end of the runway.
An August 30, 2007 aerial view showed the remaining pavement of the northwest/southeast runway.
A July 2008 photo by William Piper looking northwest from behind the TSC building of the remains of the paved northwest/southeast runway.
William Piper reported in 2010, “Today, the existing strip mall is centered around a Tractor Supply Company store, located at 480 Bolivar Road.
There is also a small roadway named 'Airway Drive' on the former property.
The remaining runway is surprisingly intact, considering that the facility closed nearly 40 years ago.
There have been plans recently, however, to build a Wal-Mart superstore on top of the existing remains of the old airport.”
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County Line Airport, North Tonawanda, NY
43.04 North / 78.82 West (North of Buffalo, NY)
A 1945 advertisement promoting “Learn to Fly at the New County Line Airport” (courtesy of Mark Hess).
According to Mark Hess, “County Line Airport was officially opened in early April 1945 by George Graf.”
The earliest reference to County Line Airport which has been located was a 1945 advertisement
promoting “Learn to Fly at the New County Line Airport” (courtesy of Mark Hess).
The earliest depiction which has been located of County Line Airport
was on the 1948 USGS topo map (courtesy of Jonathan Hull).
It depicted County Line as having 2 runways, 3 taxiways,
and a single small building on the northwest side.
The earliest photo that has been located of County Line Airport
is a 1951 aerial photo (from the Erie County Public Works courtesy of Jonathan Hull).
It depicted the field as having 2 paved runways, 3 paved taxiways, and a paved ramp on the northwest side with a hangar
and 4 light single-engine planes.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of County Line Airport
was on the May 1957 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Hull).
It depicted County Line as having a 2,000' runway.
The Aerodromes table listed County Line as having 2 turf runways, 80 octane fuel, and minor repair service.
A circa 1950s photo (courtesy of Jonathan Hull) depicted an unidentified taildragger (Aeronca?) in a hangar at County Line Airport.
The hangar markings show that the airport was by Bernie Aptheker
and that it served as the Headquarters for the TAK Squadron of the Buffalo Group of the Civil Air Patrol.
A 1958 aerial view depicted 9 aircraft at County Line Airport.
A 1961 advertisement for a Piper Cherokee airplane display at County Line Airport's Star Aviation Corporation (courtesy of Mark Hess).
According to Mark Hess, “During 1965, there were 2 competing airports nearby that got government funding whereas County Line Airport was left out.
County Line Airport was unable to improve/extend it's runways to get more business to generate revenue.
As a result, it was sold to a real estate developer for housing sometime after 1965.”
Signs of County Line Airport's impending demise were perceptible in a 1966 aerial photo.
Only a single plane was visible on the ramp outside the hangar,
and areas off the departure ends of the West and Northeast runways had been cleared,
presumably for the housing developments which would shortly replace the little airport.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of County Line Airport
was on the July 1967 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Hull).
It depicted County Line as having a 2,300' runway.
The Aerodromes table described the field as having 2 turf runways, 80 octane fuel, and major repair service.
County Line Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1967-68,
as it was no longer depicted on the June 1968 Detroit Sectional Chart (according to Jonathan Hull).
A 1972 aerial view showed that a housing development had been built at some point between 1966-72 adjacent to the west side of the airport,
which otherwise appeared to remain intact.
A 1978 aerial photo showed the site of County Line Airport (from the University at Buffalo Map Libraries, courtesy of Jonathan Hull).
Jonathan observed, “The photo clearly showed the outline of the runways & an apparently intact hangar.
However, the encroachment from nearby development is also obvious.
Undoubtedly, this was a major cause for the demise of the airport.”
A circa 2007 aerial view looking south at the site of County Line Airport
shows the foundation of the hangar at bottom-right,
and the path of the northeast/southwest runway at top-left.
A June 2009 photo by Jonathan Hull “shows the view toward the departure end of the West runway.
The intersection of the crosswind runway can be seen in the distance.
A visit to the site by Jonathan Hull & Theodore Hull found that the area was recently cleared of brush
and graded, perhaps in anticipation of covering it with housing as was most likely the plan when the airport was closed more than 40 years ago.
However, traces of the airport can still be seen among the remains.”
A June 2009 photo by Jonathan Hull of “the hangar's concrete pad & the remains of indoor floor tiles at its southwest corner.
This was probably the airport office where Mr. Apthecker introduced aspiring pilots to the wonders of aviation.”
The site of County Line Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Tonawanda Creek Road & East Summerset Lane.
Thanks to Jonathan Hull for pointing out this airfield.
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Palmer Airport / Olcott-Newfane Airport (D80), Olcott, NY
43.32 North / 78.72 West (Northeast of Buffalo, NY)
Palmer Airport, as depicted on the 1948 USGS topo map.
According to its Airport/Facility Directory entry,
Palmer Airport was established in May of 1945.
The earliest depiction of this field which has been located was on the 1948 USGS topo map.
It depicted a single east/west unpaved runway, labeled simply as “Airport (Private)”.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of this field which has been located
was on the June 1949 Detroit Sectional Chart.
It depicted Palmer Airport as having a 1,900' unpaved runway.
The earliest photo which has been located of Palmer Airport was a 1958 aerial view.
It depicted the field as having 2 grass runways (including a very short northwest/southeast runway).
Two buildings were located just southeast of the east end of the east/west runway.
A 1966 aerial view showed that a 3rd runway had been added at some point between 1958-66.
One single-engine aircraft was visible parked next to the buildings at the southeast.
A circa 1966 photo (courtesy of Chris Wilson) “of my father's 172 outside the barn at the Olcott Newfane airport.
He kept his plane hangared there.
British Petroleum's chief pilot told me he learned to fly out of that airport in the 1970s.”
A 1966 aerial view by Chris Wilson looking southwest at Palmer Field.
Chris observed, “It shows the barn & the hangar next to the barn, along with some planes parked outside & it clearly shows the 2 grass runways.”
Jim Catalano recalled, “I used to fly into Palmer in the early 1970s.”
A 1972 aerial view depicted 2 light aircraft at Palmer.
The 1995 USGS topo map depicted Palmer Airport as having 3 unpaved runways,
and it showed the addition of 2 other buildings which had been added at some point between 1966-95.
A 1995 USGS aerial photo depicted Palmer as having 2 unpaved runways, with 4 buildings & 4 single-engine aircraft on the east side of the field.
There was still a faint trace of the 3rd runway (as had been depicted on the 1995 USGS topo map).
A circa 2006 aerial view looking west at the 3 hangars which remain standing at Palmer Airport, including a barn/hangar with a checkerboard roof.
There was no sign of the aircraft which had been visible on the field in the 1995 photo.
A June 5, 2006 aerial view looking southwest at Palmer Airport.
At some point between 1995-2008 the field was evidently renamed Olcott-Newfane Airport,
as that is how it was listed in the 2008 Airport/Facility Directory.
It described the field as having 2 runways: 2,500' turf Runway 9/27 & 2,408' turf/gravel Runway 6/24.
The field was owned & managed by Harold Hawley.
It listed 32 aircraft as being based at the field (24 single-engine, 8 ultralight),
and the field was said to conduct 23 takeoffs or landings / day.
However, the airport was also evidently closed at some point between 1995-2008,
as it listed the airport status as “Airport closed indefinitely.”
The last aeronautical chart depiction of this field which has been located
was on the September 2008 Detroit Sectional Chart.
It depicted Olcott Newfane Airport as having a 2,500' unpaved runway.
A photo of a runway from Palmer Airport's 2008 property sale advertisement.
A photo of an open-sided hangar from Palmer Airport's 2008 property sale advertisement.
The “former Palmer Airport” was advertised for sale by auction to be held 11/12/08.
The property was described as “Formerly an aircraft facility with hangar, fuel pumps, 2 airstrips & large gambrel-style barn.
Property consists of 56 acres with 623' of road frontage & is mostly overgrown with small brush & trees.
Airstrip has had some maintenance & is in fair condition.
Property will be offered at auction on Wednesday November 12, 2008.”
A photo of the barn with the checkerboard roof from Palmer Airport's 2008 property sale advertisement.
A photo of 2 fuel pumps from Palmer Airport's 2008 property sale advertisement.
Hopefully a pilot could purchase this nice little country airport
and return it to some beneficial aviation use before it deteriorates or is redeveloped.
However, unfortunately Chris Koch reported in 2011, “Palmer sold for $56,000 to a UPS driver who plans to make it a private campground.”
The site of Olcott Newfane Airport is located south of the intersection of Route 18 & West Creek Road.
Thanks to Jim Catalano for pointing out this airfield.
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Proner Airport, East Aurora, NY
42.8 North / 78.65 West (Southeast of Buffalo, NY)
Proner Airport, as depicted on the 1948 USGS topo map.
This general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1943-48,
as it was not yet depicted on Detroit Sectional Charts from 1943, 1948, or 1949.
The earliest depiction of this field which has been located
was on the 1948 USGS topo map.
It depicted “Proner Airport” as having a single 1,400' unpaved east/west runway,
with a single building on the northwest side of the field.
A 1951 aerial view of Proner Airport (from the Erie County Department of Public Works, courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
showed the field to have a single grass east/west runway, with a single hangar on the northwest side of the field.
A 1958 aerial view showed that the single hangar on the northwest side had been replaced by several large buildings & parking lots.
The November 1954 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Proner as having a 1,900' unpaved runway.
A 1966 aerial view depicted Proner Airport as having a single unpaved runway.
The 1995 USGS topo map depicted Proner Airport as having a single 2,800' east/west unpaved runway,
along with several buildings on the northwest side of the field.
However, the 1995 USGS aerial photo showed a very different story compared to the topo map from the same year:
the airport had been covered by buildings & parking lots,
with only the outline of the runway still barely recognizable.
A circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial view showed that the runway outline at Proner Airport was still barely recognizable.
The site of Proner Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Jamison Road & Seneca Street.
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Orchard Park Airport (34D) / Orchard Park Army Airfield, Orchard Park, NY
42.8 North / 78.74 West (South of Buffalo, NY)
Orchard Park Airport, as depicted on the 1948 USGS topo map.
This general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1946-47,
as it was not yet depicted on the July 1946 Detroit Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of this field which has been located
was on the December 1947 Detroit Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The 1948 USGS topo map depicted “Orchard Park Airport” as having a single 1,800' unpaved east/west runway,
with a single building on the north side of the field.
The June 1949 Detroit Sectional Chart
depicted Orchard Park Airport as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
A 1951 aerial view of Orchard Park Airport (from the Erie County Department of Public Works, courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
showed the field to have a single grass east/west runway.
What appeared to be a single light aircraft was visible parked on the north side of the field.
At some point between 1949-54, this little airfield was evidently taken over by the military,
as it was depicted as “Orchard Park (Army)” on the November 1954 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was still depicted as “Orchard Park AAF” on the May 1957 Detroit Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A 1958 aerial view showed 4 light aircraft parked on the north side of the field.
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted “Orchard Park AAF” as consisting of a 1,950' grass Runway 10/28,
on the north side of which was superimposed a 1,500' steel mat (to be used under wet field conditions).
According to Ronald Ciura, “In September 1962 the New York Army National Guard had moved out the L-19s
and the field was operated by DAB Aviation.
In May 1963 a fire destroyed the hangar & several aircraft.”
Orchard Park was not listed among civilian airfields in the 1963 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
On the July 1965 Detroit Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
Orchard Park was listed as a private (civilian) airfield.
A 1966 aerial view showed 3 light aircraft parked on the north side of the field.
A 1983 photo by Mike Zimmer of the operations shack of Orchard Park Airport,
with a pretty natural-metal Navion on the right.
Mike Zimmer recalled, “When on leave from Offutt AFB in the early 1980s,
I would get checked out on a C-172 from Orchard Park & take my dad for a ride.”
A 1983 photo by Mike Zimmer of several light single-engine aircraft in the tie-down area at Orchard Park Airport.
The 1982 AOPA Airports USA Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
described Orchard Park Airport as having a single 2,120' turf Runway 9/27.
The field was said to offer fuel, repairs, tiedowns, flight instruction, and plane rental.
The operator was listed as Quaker Flying Service, Inc.
The 1993 Jeppesen Airport Directory described Orchard Park Airport
as having a single 2,400' turf Runway 9/27.
The 1995 USGS topo map depicted Orchard Park Airport as having a single east/west unpaved runway,
and several buildings on the north side of the field.
Orchard Park Airport was still operational in 1995,
as the 1995 USGS aerial photo showed a total of 5 light single-engine aircraft visible parked on the field.
A circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial view showed that Orchard Park Airport had been closed at some point after 1995,
as no aircraft were visible any longer on the field.
A closeup from the circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial view showed that the former operations shack & hangar remained standing,
but the field was devoid of any aircraft.
Mike Zimmer reported in 2005, “Today I would estimate the western half of the field is now a shopping mall & apartment complex.
I know because my apartment building is part of that complex.”
A circa 2005 aerial view looking north at the former operations building, hangar, and ramp at the former Orchard Park Airport.
A November 5, 2006 USDA aerial view looking southwest at the remains of Orchard Park Airport.
The site of Orchard Park Airport is located at the southern terminus of Countryside Lane,
southeast of its intersection with Southwestern Boulevard.
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Fredonia Airpark / Van Buren Flying Club Airport, Fredonia, NY
42.44 North / 79.4 West (Southwest of Buffalo, NY)
Fredonia Airpark, as depicted on the December 1947 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1946-47,
as it was not yet depicted at all on the July 1946 Detroit Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of this field which has been located
was on the December 1947 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Fredonia as a commercial/municipal airport.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described “Fredonia Airpark”
as having two gravel runways: 2,550' Runway 9/27 & 1,925' Runway 18/36.
The field was said to offer fuel, hangars, tiedowns, and charter.
The operator was listed as Fredonia Airpark, Inc.
Mike Zimmer recalled, “The height of activity was during the late 1950s to mid 1960s.”
The 1965 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Fredonia Airport as having two turf runways: 2,550' Runway 9/27 & 1,875' Runway 18/36.
A cluster of small buildings was depicted to the northeast of the runway intersection.
The manager was listed as A.J. Wahl.
A circa 1966-69 aerial view by Len Zimmer of Fredonia Airport (courtesy of Mike Zimmer).
The field was depicted as having a single paved runway,
along with a former crosswind runway which was already marked as being closed.
Several small hangars were depicted, along with about 20 light single-engine aircraft,
A circa 1966-69 aerial view by Len Zimmer of the Fredonia Airport office building (courtesy of Mike Zimmer).
A circa 1966-69 photo by Len Zimmer of the Dunkirk-Fredonia Civil Air Patrol squadron's Aeronca (courtesy of Mike Zimmer).
Mike Zimmer recalled, “My dad flew his Luscombe 8E from this field
as well as the Dunkirk-Fredonia Civil Air Patrol squadron's Aeronca.
For several years, the Red Wing food company in Fredonia
based it's corporate airplane (a Cessna 310) at this strip.”
The May 1971 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Fredonia as a public-use airport having a 3,400' unpaved runway.
At some point between 1971-76, the field was evidently renamed the “Van Buren” Airport,
as that is how it was labeled on the December 1976 CF-18 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The runways had also been significantly lengthened,
the field being described as having a 4,600' unpaved runway.
However, the status of the field had also changed to a private field.
The 1982 AOPA Airports USA Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury) described the “Van Buren Flying Club” Airport
as having two gravel runways: 4,650' Runway 9/27 & 2,850' Runway 18/36.
The status of the field was described as “Private. Closed to public.”
The 1986 USGS topo map still depicted two runways, but they were labeled simply as “Landing Strips”,
which may indicate that the airport was already closed by that point.
Mike Zimmer recalled, “I drove by the area about 15 years ago [1990] with my Dad.
All buildings were gone & there was major shrub growth along the road.
You could still glimpse the remains of a strip through the trees.”
The 1990 USGS topo map still depicted a single runway, but it was labeled simply as “Landing Strip”.
In the 1994 USGS aerial photo the majority of the property of the former Fredonia Airport had been covered by a landfill.
However, at least one of the former airport buildings appeared to remain,
and the western portion of the outline of the former runway was still recognizable as well.
Mike Zimmer reported in 2005, “I drove by the airfield last week and it is now a landfill site.”
A circa 2006 aerial view looking north at a former hangar & a portion of the remaining runway pavement at the site of Fredonia Airport.
The site of Fredonia Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Route 5 & Van Buren Road.
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Angola Airport (D22), Angola, NY
42.66 North / 79 West (Southwest of Buffalo, NY)
Angola Airways Airport, as depicted on the 1971 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This small general aviation airport was evidently built at some point between 1958-66,
as it was not yet depicted on a 1958 aerial view.
The earliest depiction which has been located of Angola Airport was a 1966 aerial view,
which depicted a single north/south runway (it may still have been under construction at this point).
Angola Airport was not yet listed in the 1967 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was on the 1971 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
which depicted "Angola Airways" as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
The 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
described "Angola Airways" Airport as having a 3,200' asphalt Runway 1/19 & a 2,550' gravel Runway 9/27.
The 1986 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Angola Airways Airport
as having a 3,230' paved runway 1/19 & a 2,800 turf/gravel Runway 9/27,
as well as several small buildings on the southwest side of the Runway 1/19.
The 1993 Jeppesen Airport Directory depicted Angola Airport
as having a single 3,212' paved runway 1/19 & a 2,915 turf/gravel Runway 9/27,
as well as several small buildings on the southwest side of the Runway 1/19.
The operators were listed as Angola Aircraft Services & Premier Airways.
In the 1994 USGS aerial photo (taken while the field was still open),
a total of 5 light single-engine aircraft were visible on the field,
parked around a cluster of small buildings & hangars on the south end of the field.
The new ramp on the east side of the field was evidently under construction at this point.
Angola Airport was still listed in the 2001 AOPA Airport Directory.
The field was described as having a 3,212' asphalt Runway 1/19 & a 2,800' gravel Runway 9/27.
Dennis Sandow reported in 2003 that Angola had "a succession of owners who were more airplane lovers than businessmen.
I used to fly in there to visit my family nearby. Sometimes he had fuel, sometimes not.
If the office was closed, a sign on the door told you to call the owner at his (real) 9-5 job.
About 3-5 based aircraft, but no market."
According to the 2003 Annual Report of the NY Department of Transportation,
Angola Airport was one of two public use airports in NY which closed in 2002 (the other was Kamp).
"The operator of this airport declared bankruptcy & had a mortgage on the property;
the Town of Evans was not interested in purchasing the property with federal & state assistance."
According to Dennis Sandow, Angola Airport has "very awkward highway access & no sewers,
so it's not going to become a Wal-Mart or condos. Just abandoned."
A circa 2001-2005 aerial view looking north at the south end of Angola Airport's Runway 1/19
shows that the airport remained completely intact.
A closed-runway “X” symbol was visible on the runway,
and the hangars remained standing, on the southwest & east sides of the runway.
A July 28, 2007 aerial view looking northeast showed Angola Airport to remain largely intact.
Angola Airport is located northwest of the intersection of Evans Center Road & Southwestern Boulevard.
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42.17 North / 78.39 West (Southeast of Buffalo, NY)
Olean Airport, as depicted on the 1929 Rand-McNally Standard Map of NY with Air Trails (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The date of construction of this small general aviation airport has not been determined.
The earliest depiction of the Olean Airport which has been located
was on the 1929 Rand-McNally Standard Map of NY with Air Trails (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described the "Olean Airport" as a commercial airport, operated by D. Murphy.
The field was said to be 50 acres in size, and to have a 1,500' runway.
A 1930 photo by Archibald Schuyler of several biplanes at Hinsdale (courtesy of Scott Schuyler).
The earliest photographic depiction of the airport in Hinsdale which has been located
was in a series of 1930 photos by Archibald Schuyler (courtesy of Scott Shuyler).
They depicted the airport as a grass airfield with a single arch-roof hangar & a small office building, adjacent to a gas station.
Several biplanes were depicted on the field.
Scott Schuyler reported that his grandfather, Archibald Schuyler,
"owned an Alexander Eaglerock Long Wing (NC3032) & flew from Hinsdale."
A 1931 photo by Archibald Schuyler of planes lined up at Hinsdale (courtesy of Scott Schuyler).
with the airport office visible in the background.
A 1932 aerial photo by Archibald Schuyler of the airport at Hinsdale (courtesy of Scott Schuyler),
and what appears to be the shadow of the airplane from which the photo was taken (bottom right).
Scott Schuyler reported that the logbook of his grandfather (Archibald Schuyler) had entries for Hinsdale up to 1933.
The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described the "Olean Airport" in Hinsdale as a commercial airport.
The sod field was said to be 50 acres in size, measuring 1,800' x 1,000'.
A hangar was said to have "Olean Airport Hinsdale NY" painted on the roof.
The 1934 Department of Commerce Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described the Olean Airport in the same fashion.
The Olean Airport evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1934-37,
as it was no longer listed among active airfields in The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
or depicted on subsequent aeronautical charts.
As seen in the 1994 USGS aerial photo,
the site of Olean Airport no longer has any recognizable trace as a former airfield.
Interstate 86 has been built over the southern portion of the airfield site.
Scott Schuyler has annotated the 1994 USGS aerial photo,
showing the location of the former runway, hangar, and other elements of the former airport.
Scott Schuyler recalled from a visit to the site of Olean Airport in 2003, "The airport is currently a vacant field,
and partially used by the state to house snowplows & heavy equipment.
The house located next to the airport is still standing.
The gas station appeared to be standing in the USGS photo, but it is not there now.
All visible signs of the airfield are long gone."
The site of Olean Airport is located northwest of the intersection of Interstate 86 & Route 16.
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Consolidated Aircraft / Bell Airport, Tonawanda, NY
43 North / 78.9 West (North of Buffalo, NY)
"Consolidated Aircraft Airport", as depicted on a 1929 Department of Commerce Airway Bulletin (courtesy of Jonathan Hull).
This airport in the town of Tonawanda was the factory airfield for the Consolidated Aircraft Company,
and later served as an airfield for the Bell Aircraft Company.
According to Phil Warner, “I am in possession of document RL893 from the Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society.
This document states that Consolidated Airfield was built starting in 1928 (by Reuben Fleet, President)
per permits 2315 (7/31/28), 225 (6/4/29), 553 (4/16/30), and 2568 (5/27/37).”
The earliest depiction of this field which has been located
was on a 1929 Department of Commerce Airway Bulletin (courtesy of Jonathan Hull),
which depicted it under its original name of "Consolidated Aircraft Airport".
The Consolidated Aircraft Airport was depicted as having a single 1,500' cinder runway, oriented north/south,
which was located in a narrow plot of land in between Route 265 & the NY Central Railroad.
However, there were already apparently plans to expand the airfield,
as the airfield diagram also depicted an "L"-shaped 3,100' x 2,100' plot of land
on the opposite (western) side of the railroad,
which was labeled "Not available at the present time".
A single 80' x 60' metal hangar was located on the northeast side of the field,
and was marked "Consolidated Aircraft Airport".
Phil Warner reported that “The Consolidated Aircraft Field [was] where my father tested Fleet trainers.
He died as the result of a crash in 1936 while demonstrating Fleet trainers to the Mexican War Department.”
The Consolidated Aircraft Airport may have gone through a period of abandonment,
as no field at this location was listed among active airfields
in the Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
According to Phil Warner, the airfield “was acquired by Bell Aircraft in 1937,
and by private owner, Dick Benson in 1938.
I'm not sure why Bell sold to a private owner, but I'm pretty sure it was because the runway wasn't big enough for the warplanes being developed
(Bell's Chief Designer Bob Woods had designed the P-30 pursuit plane, and was working on the Airacuda).
I imagine Bell moved to their Niagara Falls location.”
However the airfield was still labeled as "Bell" Airport on the October 1943 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
Bell had substantial aircraft manufacturing operations at several locations in the Buffalo area during WW2,
which produced thousands of aircraft (including the Bell P-39, P-63, and P-59 fighters).
The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Bell Airport as having a 3,600' hard-surfaced runway.
According to Phil Warner, “My friend & I spent many years there,
and we were witness to a great explosion in the hangar near Military Road that signaled the 'death knell' of the airport in the mid 1940s.
Bob & I (Bob was about 13 & I was about 11) had helped put planes away in the hangar the evening of the explosion.
We returned to our homes which were about a mile from the airport.
Around bedtime the tremendous explosion occurred.
The cause was determined to be a spark from the centrally-located furnace which shot out
and landed on large cans of dope (paint) which were stored next to the furnace so they wouldn't freeze in the cold weather.”
In 1946, Bell's manufacturing operations in Buffalo were idled by a crippling strike,
which would eventually be one factor which would combine to doom the company's continued presence in the Buffalo area.
The most detailed depiction of Bell Airport which has been located
was on the 1948 USGS topo map.
It showed the airport as having a single paved northeast/southwest runway,
with the curious design of having what appeared to be three turn-around areas:
one at each runway end as well as one in the middle of the runway.
Note that this runway on the west side of the railroad tracks replaced the earlier north/south runway on the east side of the tracks.
The only building depicted at the airfield was a single small building,
adjacent to the northeast end of the runway.
The last chart depiction of the airport which has been located
was on the June 1949 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton),
which depicted "Tonawanda" as having a 3,000' hard-surface runway.
Although some sources indicate that Bell Airport was closed in 1952,
the aeronautical charts seem to indicate that the field was closed at some point within 1949,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the December 1949 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
or later charts.
A 1951 aerial photo of the Bell Airfield (from the Erie County Public Works, courtesy of Jonathan Hull).
The northeast/southwest runway on the west side of the railroad tracks was still visible,
but there was no remaining trace of the former north/south runway on the east side of the tracks.
There was no indication that the airfield was still active at that point.
By 1951, Bell announced that it was completely pulling out of Buffalo,
after receiving favorable offers from officials in TX (including assurances of a more favorable labor climate).
Bell eventually moved all of its operations to a new facility in Hurst, TX (in between Fort Worth & Dallas).
A 1966 aerial photo of the Bell Airfield (from the University at Buffalo Map Libraries, courtesy of Jonathan Hull).
Although the runway was still visible,
the middle of the airfield had been covered at some point between 1951-66 by several buildings.
As seen in the 1995 USGS aerial photo,
the site of Bell Airport had been bisected by Route 290,
and a large number of industrial buildings occupied most of the site.
There did not appear to be any remaining trace of the former airfield.
The site of Bell Airport is located northwest of the intersection of Route 265 & Esminger Road.
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As an aside, it is ironic to consider the continuing pattern displayed by the Bell company
of dislocating its aircraft manufacturing operations.
Some 30 years after pulling out of Buffalo & moving to Hurst, TX,
in the 1980s Bell announced that it was relocating all its civilian helicopter manufacturing from TX to Montreal, Canada.
This left the Hurst facility with a sharply decreased manufacturing role -
just Bell's dwindling military helicopter production lines.
By 2003, even this was taken away, too,
as Bell announced that its military production lines were being moved to a new facility it would build in Amarillo, TX,
replacing all the helicopter production lines at Hurst.
When will the American aircraft industry stop doing this?
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