Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Texas, Southwestern Fort Worth Area
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 5/17/08.
Barron Field (revised 10/27/03) - Benbrook Field (revised 2/4/06) - Luck Field (revised 5/17/08
Singleton Field / Russell Field (revised 5/17/08) - TCU Airfield (revised 12/31/07)
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32.67 North / 97.4 West (Southwest of Downtown Fort Worth, TX)
TCU Airfield, as depicted on the March 1947 Dallas Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This short-lived former airfield was operated by Texas Christian University (located a few miles to the northeast).
TCU Airfield was apparently established at some point between 1944-47,
as it was not listed among active airfields in the April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
The earliest depiction of TCU Airfield which has been located
was on the March 1947 Dallas Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1948 USAF Target Complex Chart (courtesy of David Brooks)
depicted the "TCU Airfield" as an irregularly-shaped area, bounded by the railroad tracks on the southeast side.
No runways or buildings were depicted at the field.
David Brooks reported that the field "appears to have supported an Air Force ROTC unit
where flight training took place for students in the ROTC at TCU."
Ganey Bradfield reported, “I live directly across the railroad track from the obtuse angle in the southeast airport boundary.
I have lived at this location since 1951.
I have flown off the TCU airport many times (with the CAP).”
An undated advertisement for flight training at TCU Airport (courtesy of Tom Williams).
Al Pugsley recalled, “I took my 1st flight lesson at TCU Airport on March 6, 1955 in an Aeronca 7CCM, N4707E.”
Ganey Bradfield recalled, “I remember flying off the airport in the late 1950s.
The entrance road to the airport crossed the track pretty much where Wedgemont Circle North intersected Granbury Road.”
The TCU Airfield was apparently closed by 1957,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1957 DFW Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The location & layout of the former TCU Airport, superimposed by Ganey Bradfield on a 1963 TX Highway Department map.
Ganey Bradfield recalled, “In 1963, the Westwood Addition to Fort Worth had been developed.
It was developed on the TCU Airport property.”
There was no trace remaining evident of the former TCU Airport on a 1970 aerial photo.
As seen in the 2001 USGS aerial photo, not a trace remains of the former TCU Airport.
The site of TCU Airfield is located northwest of the intersection of Wedgemont Circle North & Granbury Road.
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Singleton Field / Russell Field, Everman, TX
32.65 North / 97.31 West (South of Fort Worth, TX)
Singleton Field, as depicted on the February 1942 Dallas Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This former general aviation airport was evidently opened at some point between 1937-42,
as it was not listed among active airfields in the Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
The earliest depiction of Singleton Field which has been located
was on the February 1942 Dallas Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Singleton Field as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.
According to Vernon Russell, “My dad, Buck Russell, owned & renamed Russell Field in 1944 or 1945.”
It was labeled as “Russell Airfield” on the March 1947 Dallas Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1948 USAF Target Complex Chart (courtesy of David Brooks) depicted Russell as having an irregular outline,
but it did not depict any runways or buildings.
Al Pugsley recalled, “I flew off Russell Field on March 24, 1956.
I received my private, commercial & instructors ratings there
and a friend & I started a flying school there.
I worked for C.O. Thompson pumping gas & mowing the field.
The north end of the dirt north/south runway was hollowed out
by the prop wash from so many planes taking off to the south into the prevailing winds.”
Bill Sievers recalled of Russell Field,
"In the 1950's & into the 1960's it was a very active general-aviation airport."
The September 1957 Dallas Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Russell Field as having a 3,100' unpaved runway.
Gerry Gieger recalled, "I do remember the Goodyear Blimp stopping at Russell field whenever it was in this area."
Ganey Bradfield recalled, “Russell Field... I have flown off it several times.
The BIG thing about it was a cliff on the north end that did a number on unsuspecting pilots landing to the south.
That cliff created a pretty good down draft that, if you weren't aware of it,
would drop you down pretty low on final approach.
One could tell if the landing pilot was unfamiliar with that feature -
he would always have to add power to get to the end of the runway.”
The 1963 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse)
depicted Russell Field as having 2 turf runways: 3,100' Runway 17/35 & 1,900' Runway 4/22.
Each runway had a parallel taxiway,
which led to a group of six hangars & an office at the southwest corner of the field.
The manager of the field was listed as O.C. Thompson,
and the operators were listed as Aero Tex Maintenance, Foster Flying Service,
Fulton Flying Service, Texair Flyers Inc., and Williams Flying Service.
A 1964 aerial view by Ken Morris, looking northeast at Russell Field's hangars, taken from 'Hap's' Taylorcraft.
Ken recalled, “Bill Carr & I were his instructor & charter pilots.”
Russell Field, as depicted on the 1965 DFW Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
A circa 1964-69 photo by Ken Morris of Russell Field's control tower & hangars.
A circa 1964-69 photo by Ken Morris of Russell Field's control tower,
which appeared to be decayed by that point, with broken windows.
Ken Morris recalled, “My 1st flying job was flying for 'Hap' Foster at Russell Field.
C.O. Williams was the check pilot that gave me my commercial license.
'Old Man' Thompson, as he was known, (manager of Russell Field)
as a good friend & a great old man rich in aviation history.”
Jim McCurdy recalled, “Hap Van Foster was the primary flight instructor at Russell Field
when I did my solo flight in 1966.
He later crash landed on the Continental Divide in Colorado during a bad snow storm.
As I recall, the crash broke one of his legs.
He was not killed in the crash, but died from exposure to the elements the next day.
They said he made a great landing considering the weather & the terrain,
and would have survived easily except for the freezing weather.”
Russell Field was described as having a 3,100' unpaved runway
in the 1967 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Brad Stanford).
A 1969 photo by Ken Morris of a Beechcraft Stagerwing in front of the Russell Field terminal building.
Jeff Burns recalled, "When I was growing up [late 1960s & early 1970s]
my Dad would often take us to Russell Field to watch airplanes.
Back then when the Goodyear Blimp would visit the Fort Worth area & stay overnight,
they would usually moor the blimp at Russell Field.
The entrance to Russell Field used to be south of where Alta Mesa Boulevard is now.
The hangars were just to the south of the present day Holiday Inn.
Alcon Laboratories original building was to the north [of present day Alta Mesa]
next to the I-35W service road.
The two ¼ circle office towers visible in the photograph
are roughly in line with the old flight path approaching the runway.
The airport did not extend into the subdivision to the northeast.
The subdivision was existing before Russell Field closed.
I also think that the runway extended further south by the time the airport closed
[compared to what was depicted from the 1963 airport directory above].
I remember from watching the planes taxiing etc,
that my impression was that the big red wind tee that was in front of the little control tower building
seemed to be more in the middle [north/south wise] of the field rather than so far south."
A 1970 aerial view depicted Russell Field as having 2 unpaved runways,
with evidence of a 3rd grass runway.
Several hangars were located on the southwest side of the field,
but it did not appear very healthy, as only a single airplane was visible on the field.
George Horn recalled, “My 1st assignment with S & S (which also operated S & S Patrol Field) was at Russell Field.
I moved there & based a plane there for S&S in 1972.
I flew Gulf Oil pipeline patrols out of there for over a year.
At the time old Col. Williams was still around, pretty frail,
he was usually rocking on the front porch of the old wooden terminal.
A Mr. Foster actually ran the airport & he had a single-pilot 135 operation using an old Cessna 310 for freight mostly.
Mr. Foster was good to me & gave me a key to his shop & allowed me to use his tools & shop whenever I wanted.
In late 1973 I believe it was, I offered old Col Williams a ride in my company Cessna 140
and much to my surprise he took me up on the offer.
I had to help him into the little airplane he was so frail.
I recall he insisted on keeping his cane in his lap.
All I did was take off, and fly one circuit & while on downwind I noticed he had a big grin
and he leaned over & said to me 'Well, I guess you better put me back down.'
I believe it was the old flight instructor's last airplane ride, as he died shortly thereafter.”
George Horn continued, “In the last month or so of 1973 I relocated to the home base, S&S Patrol Field near League City
as I had hired Ron Lane to replace me as the Fort Worth area pilot.
It was shortly afterwards that I learned Mr. Foster had been killed flying freight (explosives for the government).
I believe he hit a mountain somewhere.
Just before I'd moved Mr. Foster had agreed to sell me a Grumman Wigeon with Rangers which sat in one of the shade hangars.
It's engines were in crates, and the wings were also removed & crated & stored alongside as was the interior.
The price we'd agreed upon was $500.
He told me there was no hurry to pay him, as he knew I'd have to scrape to come up with it on patrol pilot's salary.
I intended it to be a long term reconstruction project,
and when I learned of his death, I returned to visit Mrs. Foster to pay her & pick up the logbooks.
I was too late.
I was told the shade hangars had been bulldozed into a hole, complete with the airplane & crates of misc. spare parts.
It's all under concrete now.
I believe the death of Mr. Foster was the final blow for Russell Field, as he was the last operator there.”
Russell Field was still depicted as an active airport on the 1974 Rand-McNally DFW road map.
Russell Field was no longer depicted on the 1978 DFW Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ray Brindle).
Jeff Burns recalled, "I heard stories that the Miller brewery [to the south] bought the field to expand their facilities.
It seemed that shortly after Russell Field closed,
the Miller Brewery built a building either on, or immediately off of the south end of the runway.
Later the Holiday Inn came in, then Alcon expanded [several different times] & finally Alta Mesa was cut through."
Bill Sievers recalled, "When I visited Fort Worth in 1987,
I stayed at the Holiday Inn in that general location which is just about where the airport was.
I looked around for any evidence of it which might have remained, but couldn't find any."
By the time of a 1990 aerial photo,
a hotel & other buildings occupied the site of Russell Field,
and not a trace of the airfield appeared to remain.
The location of Russell Field, as seen in a 2001 USGS aerial photo.
An October 2004 photo by Tim Tyler "looking south over the rear of the Holiday Inn Fort Worth South parking lot,
onto the Alcon Corporation property used for parking truck trailers,
and then beyond that is the large Miller Beer brewery & distribution center.
The highway visible [on the right] is Interstate 35."
In October 2004, Tim Tyler stayed in the Holiday Inn which occupies part of the site of the former Russell Field.
"Unfortunately, I didn't notice any signatures whatsoever of the site having once been an airfield."
The site of Russell Field is located east of the intersection of Interstate 35 & Altamesa Boulevard.
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32.68 North / 97.46 West (Southwest of Fort Worth, TX)
An undated aerial view of the control tower, flying field, and hangars at Benbrook Field. (from the Benbrook TX Public Library, via Corky Baird).
The Royal Canadian Flying Corps established this airfield in 1917,
as one of 3 fields in the Fort Worth area where it trained pilots for WW1
(the other 2 fields were Hicks Field & Barron Field).
This airfield was initially known as Taliaferro #2,
and was also known as Carruthers Field.
A 1918 overhead view of Benbrook Field (from the Benbrook TX Public Library, via Corky Baird).
An undated aerial view of the hangars of Benbrook Field (from the Benbrook TX Public Library, via Corky Baird).
An undated photo of a group in front of a biplane & hangar at Benbrook Field (from the Benbrook TX Public Library, via Corky Baird).
An undated aerial view of a formation of biplanes from Benbrook Field (from the Benbrook TX Public Library, via Corky Baird).
The RCFC used the field through 1918.
One particular Canadian aviator, Captain Vernon Castle,
was already world renown as the famed dance team of Vernon & Irene Castle.
Regrettably, he was killed in a plane crash at Benbrook during training exercises.
Some witnesses, including William Fuller,
believed that he deliberately crashed in order to avoid hitting another plane, and saved their lives.
His burial was witnessed by thousands of mourners,
who sadly watched the flagged draped casket pass in downtown Fort Worth.
Even today, there is a street in Benbrook named in his honor.
As seen in the above 1918 aerial photo,
Benbrook Field consisted of a grass landing area alongside of which were arrayed an amazing total of 16 hangars.
The dimensions & orientation of the landing area are unknown.
A complex of other buildings was located on the opposite side of the hangars.
After the beginning of World War I,
it was renamed Benbrook Field by the United States Army.
Benbrook was used during WW1 as an aerial gunnery school for American & Canadian students
and was afterward deactivated.
By 1932, Benbrook Field was no longer depicted at all on the Dallas Sectional Chart.
By the time of a 1970 aerial photo, the site of Benbrook Field had been mostly redeveloped with housing.
As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial view, the site of Benbrook Field has been mostly redeveloped with housing.
A closeup of the 2002 USGS aerial view (courtesy of Tim Murphy) shows what appears to be remains of foundations of hangars
on the eastern edge of the site of Benbrook Field.
A 2003 photo by Scott Murdock of the memorial to the fliers of Benbrook Field.
According to Bill Sievers, "Essentially one corner of the field was where
Cozby North Street & John Reagan Streets join in Benbrook.
If you look beside one of the houses there, I believe on John Reagan Street,
you can see a large concrete apron which the owner uses a patio.
I was told this was where one of the hangar buildings was located.
About a mile south of there, near one of the neighborhood's water tanks,
there is a memorial plaque which describes the airfield."
David Martin reported in 2004, "I live about 200-300 yards west of the eastern edge of what was the field.
There are some of what appears to be remaining concrete slab areas
in a very few back yards along Cosby North Street here. I have seen them.
Homeowners in that area say that they have been told those are remnants of the old airfield.
There is also in a very small undeveloped area just north of Cosby North Street & south of Mercedes Street
a thing which I guess is a possible cistern from the field.
There is one remaining building in a field west of US 377 South
(although as a police officer here in Benbrook I can not say people should go out there as it is trespassing).
I have been out to that building several times as we have used it for tactical training.
It is what I believe is a munitions building
and seems to be of the same construction as the one remaining building at Barron Field.
The walls of both buildings are extremely thick."
"The memorial at Benbrook Field is for the famous dancer Vernon Castle [who died in a crash at Benbrook].
The memorial had fallen into disarray but was restored by local Eagle Boy Scout Jarrod Martin
as his service project a few years ago.
It was roughly 1998 or 1999 when he did this.
Martin's dad told me that his son had carefully researched the accident
and the memorial is said to be within 50 feet of the actual crash site.”
See also: The Handbook of TX Online.
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32.62 North / 97.31 West (South of Fort Worth, TX)
A 1918 aerial view of Barron Field (courtesy of Bill Leary)
showing an amazing lineup of no less than 17 hangars.
An undated view of a biplane over Barron Field (courtesy of Bill Leary).
Barron Field was one of 3 fields in the Fort Worth area which were used by the
Royal Canadian Flying Corps to conduct flight training during the First World War
(the other 2 fields were Hicks Field & Benbrook Field).
This airfield was also known as Taliaferro #3.
According to The Handbook of TX Online,
construction on Barron Field began in September 1917.
According to Bill Leary (author of the book Flyers of Barron Field),
the U.S. took over took over Barron Field in April 1918.
"The airdrome was behind the hangars.
There were no landing strips; they just circled an observation tower where the instructors watched."
According to an accident report (courtesy of Robert Carter),
Flying Cadet Franklin Fairchild was killed in a February 23, 1918 crash of his airplane at "Taliaferro Field #2, Everman".
According to Scott Murdock, Barron Field was used as a temporary storage depot in 1920.
The field was closed about 1921 & reverted to farm land.
By 1932, Barron Field was no longer depicted at all on the Dallas Sectional Chart.
A 1970 aerial view showed no trace of the former Barron Field - just a farm field.
As seen in a circa 2000 aerial view
several modern buildings had been built around the periphery of the Barron Field site.
A 2003 photo by Scott Murdock of the historical marker & sole remaining building at Barron Field.
According to Bill Sievers, "There is still an old building with a historical marker
which explains what activities were engaged in at that airfield during WW1.
This site is located right in the middle of a corn field as I remember,
and if it wasn't for the old building & historical marker,
one would never know there was once a flying field there."
Benbrook resident David Martin reported in 2004,
"The remaining building at Barron Field was maintained for years by my mom's garden club
and we strongly believe it was the munitions building for that field.
The walls of both buildings [at Barron Field & Benbrook Field] are extremely thick.
My mom's garden club donated the building to the Everman school district a few years ago
and the district was talking about making it into a small museum for their students.
I don't know where that project stands or if the district followed through or not."
The site of Barron Field is located east of the intersection of Barron Way (appropriately enough) & Forum Way.
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Luck Field (F71), Garden Acres, TX
32.6 North / 97.32 West (South of Fort Worth, TX)
Luck Field, as depicted on the July 1963 DFW Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Ken Morris).
The date of construction of this former general aviation field is unknown.
It was apparently built at some point between 1957-63,
as it was not depicted on the September 1957 Dallas Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of Luck Field which has been located
was on the July 1963 DFW Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Ken Morris).
It depicted Luck as having a 3,500' hard-surface runway.
According to former Luck Field pilot Roger Mullins, “The airport was built by a Mr. Luck (founder of Luck Optical)
and he had a beautiful home on the field.
Mr. Bill Knight ran the flight school & repair shop there.
Mr. Knight had a partner in a few planes. His name was Mr. Guftafson.
He was a retired Air Force pilot who had flown B-52s in Vietnam.”
The 1963 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse)
depicted Luck Field as having a single 3,350' asphalt Runway 16/34,
as well as 2 turf runways: 3,400' Runway 17/35 & 2,650' Runway 8/26.
A total of 4 hangars were clustered northeast of the runway.
The field apparently also had some military use,
as one building is labeled "Army Reserve Hangar & Office".
The manager was listed as Dr. L.H. Luck.
The earliest photo that has been located of Luck Field was a 1970 aerial view.
It depicted the field as having 1 paved northwest/southeast runway & 1 unpaved north/south runway.
The previous east/west runway appeared to have been abandoned.
A total of 7 aircraft were visible around the hangars on the northeast side of the field.
By the time of the 1970 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Ray Brindle),
the runways at Luck Field had started to shrink.
The paved Runway 16/34 was shortened to 3,000', turf Runway 17/35 was also shortened to 3,000',
and the former turf Runway 8/26 had been closed.
The 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
described the runway configuration of Luck Field in basically the same manner.
In the diagram of Luck Field in the 1985 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse),
the number of hangars had increased to eight.
The manager was listed as Leskie Luck,
and the operator was listed as Executive Aviation Inc., which provided flight instruction.
Roger Mullins recalled of Luck Field, “I soloed there in 1992 & earned my private license also in 1992.
My instructor's name was Tony Mensink,
a chap from Holland that came to the U.S. to learn to fly, build time, and whose goal was to fly for KLM.
[The airport's founder's] widow still lived in the house when I started flying there in 1992.”
In the 1995 USGS aerial photo,
Luck Field was still operating, and it appeared as if the primary runway had recently been repaved.
However, Forth Worth area private pilot Rich Wolf reported that
"Luck Field closed within a few years after Leske Luck (its owner) died."
According to Roger Mullins, “Luck was closed in the mid- to late 1990s.
The airport was bought by a developer from Dallas & was turned into an industrial park.”
The increasing value of the property most likely played a large role in the closure of Luck Field.
It was also probably due to its proximity to other airports,
as there were a total of 3 general aviation airports located within a distance of only five miles:
Sycamore Strip to the north, Luck Field, and Oak Grove (later to become Spinks) to the south.
Unfortunately, it appeared that the local area couldn't support 3 fields in such close proximity,
particularly once the local government replaced Oak Grove Airport with the new Spinks Airport.
A sad sight for anyone who values general aviation airports:
the 2001 USGS aerial photo showed that Luck Field had already been almost completely removed,
with a new housing development being built over it.
Remnants of a portion of the south end of the runway were still visible.
An August 2002 aerial view by Paul Freeman looking southeast at the site of the former Luck Field.
Thanks to Charlie McClure for the flight.
An August 2002 photo by Paul Freeman of the remains of a ramp
which formerly surrounded the southern set of hangars at the former Luck Field.
An August 2002 photo by Paul Freeman of what used to be the entrance to Luck Field, with the former airport owner's home on the right.
Paul Freeman visited the site of Luck Field in 2002, and flew over it as well.
To the casual observer, there was no indication that an airport once stood at the site.
The former airport owner's home was the only airport building remaining on the site -
all of the hangars had been removed.
A development of new homes had been built along the western portion of the airport property,
with a wall surrounding the development that roughly paralleled the former runway.
Garden Acres Drive had been extended, and crossed over the location of the former runway.
The remains of the ramp which used to surround the southern set of hangars was still present.
The site of Luck Field is located west of the intersection of Interstate 35 & Garden Acres Drive.
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