Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Texas - Laredo area
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 12/5/08.
Eagle Pass AAF / Laughlin AF Aux #1 / Maverick County (revised 10/4/08)
Eagle Pass Aux AAF #1 (added 9/25/05) - Eagle Pass Aux AAF #3 / Bardnard Ranch / Chittim Ranch (revised 9/24/05)
Eagle Pass Municipal (revised 11/16/03) - Laredo AF Aux #2 (revised 10/4/08) - Laredo Municipal (revised 9/25/05) - Laughlin AF Aux #1
Link Ranch (revised 6/23/08) - Val Verde County Airport (revised 12/5/08) - Winn Exploration (revised 10/4/08)
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Laredo Air Force Auxiliary Airfield #2, Aguilares, TX
27.46 North / 99.23 West (East of Laredo, TX)
“Laredo Aux”, as depicted on the 1977 USGS topo map.
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
According to "Air Force Bases" (USAF Historical Division, courtesy of Steven McNicoll),
this airfield was activated in 1953 as Ike Hirsch Auxiliary Airfield, a satellite field for Laredo AFB.
A pilot recalled recalled, “I graduated from Laredo February 1, 1954.
At that time we flew T-28A & T-33 aircraft.
I instructed at Laredo in both aircraft from summer 1954 until June 1957.
We used the field [Laredo Aux #2] primarily for touch & go landings & simulated flameout patterns.
Sometimes with & sometimes without mobile control. I was mobile controller there several times.
We used a mobile tower mounted on a truck frame which was a top-heavy monster to drive back & forth to the field.
It contained radios & flare chutes into which you could fix the flare guns.
It sometimes got a bit hairy with T-33s flying simulated flameouts & no-flap approaches.
A good friend & roommate died in a mid-air collision there.”
According to Col. Carl Gough Jr., USAFR
(who was a student & T-37 Instructor Pilot at Laredo AFB from 1970 until the base closed in 1973),
Auxiliary Field #2 was used by T-37 trainers practicing VFR patterns,
and was known as "Bar Fly".
Every student pilot that attended pilot training at Laredo AFB soloed out in the T-37 at Bar Fly.
The instructor would shut down the right engine,
exit the aircraft & watch while the student started the right engine.
After restarting the engine the student would call for take off
and the instructor would walk across the runway & observe from the mobile unit.
After 4 or 5 landings the student would clear the runway
and pick up the instructor for the return to Laredo AFB.
The 2 small teardrop-looking areas on the west side of the runway
were the locations of the mobile units for controlling traffic.
An instructor & 2 students would drive from Laredo AFB
and spend about 6 hours in the mobile unit directing traffic & grading landings.
The airfield was inactivated by the Air Force in 1973.
The airfield as it was built by the Air Force consisted of a single paved 10,400' runway,
a parallel taxiway & a ramp.
The earliest depiction which has been located of Laredo Aux #2 was on the 1977 USGS topo map,
which depicted the field as having a single paved northwest/southeast runway, labeled as "Laredo Aux (Closed)".
The 1980 & 1983 USGS topo maps labeled the property as "Test Facility".
As seen in the 1995 USGS aerial photo,
several new buildings or other construction had been placed over the center of the runway & the taxiway,
apparently in the facility's new role as a "Test Facility".
It is not known exactly what the current use of the facility is.
A 2003 photo by Scott Murdock of the entrance sign at the former Laredo Aux #2 Airfield.
The entrance road was gated, with a sign saying "Restricted Area. Test vehicles in operation.
Permission to enter must be obtained before proceeding into the proving ground."
However, the sign fails give any indication about from whom permission must be obtained.
A 2005 aerial view looking south at the Laredo Aux #2 runway shows it to remain in fine condition.
Marvin Whiteley reported in 2007, “This runway is under private control & is used at times for cropdusters.
My nephew is the manager of this 25,000 acres, running cattle & deer hunters (as of 2005), his name is D.J. Fruge.
Michelen tire ran a testing facility at this location for some time in the past.”
Evan Hodgden reported, “The sign at the Laredo AFB Aux Bar-fly is exactly [as of June 2007] the same as depicted in the 2003 picture.
Lots of the students simply referred to Bar-fly as Barf, as in 'We'll also be going to Barf today.'”
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Link Ranch Airfield, Laredo, TX
27.43 North / 99.47 West (Southwest of San Antonio, TX)
The airfield layout of Link Ranch, as depicted in the 1963 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This airfield was evidently built at some point between 1954-62,
as it was not depicted on the August 1954 Corpus Christi Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to the Link Ranch Airfield which has been located was the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
which described the field as having a single 2,100' asphalt Runway 13/31,
and listed the operator as G.F. Link.
The 1963 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse)
depicted 2 t-hangars east of the runway.
The February 1964 Corpus Christi Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the Link Ranch airfield as having a 2,100' hard-surface runway.
The airport was apparently still in use in 1969,
as a cropduster Cessna 188 was destroyed that year after suffering an engine failure upon takeoff at the Link Ranch,
according to an NTSB report.
Of that crash, George Frank Link III (grandson of the Link Ranch Airfield founder) recalled,
"I was born in 1969 so I missed the event but spent many years crawling on & around the wreckage
after my grandfather hauled it to his dump located behind his house.
N317UP was George Link Sr.'s last airplane (a Skylane);
he owned up until he lost his medical.
N417UP was a British Islander we used for La Posada Airways
which back in the day used to haul ritzy folk from hotel to hotel back when money flowed a little easier.
My dad George Link Jr. was the pilot of that bird.
His co-pilot's name was Skip Reed."
The Link Ranch airfield closed at an unknown date, between 1969-82,
as it was not listed among active airfields in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory.
In the 1995 USGS aerial photo, the primary runway still remained intact,
with closed runway "X" markings still recognizable.
A crosswind runway of approximately 1,000' had apparently been added at some point, as well.
At some point between 1995-2004, the northern end of the former Link Ranch Airfield was covered by what else – a new housing development,
as seen in the 2002 USGS aerial photo.
The majority of the pavement of the 2 runways remained intact.
The hangar on the northeast side of the field had also been removed.
A circa 2006 aerial view looking south at the remains of the 2 runways,
as well as the foundation of the hangar.
The Link Ranch Airfield is located on the east side of Route 83, 5 miles south of Laredo.
It is only one mile from the Mexican border.
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Laredo Municipal Airport, Del Mar, TX
27.61 North / 99.52 West (North of Laredo, TX)
Laredo Municipal Airport, as depicted on the August 1954 Corpus Christi Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This former municipal airport was apparently built at some point between 1949-54,
as it was not depicted on the 1949 Corpus Christi Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to Laredo Municipal Airport which has been located
was on the August 1954 Corpus Christi Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field as having a 3,000' hard-surface runway.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Laredo Municipal Airport as having a single 3,300' asphalt runway (13/31),
and listed the operator as the City of Laredo.
The 1963 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse) showed that the field had a US Customs office,
and a private heliport & hangar sat northwest of the runway.
Evan Hodgden recalled, “I went to Laredo AFB Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 72-07 from April 1971 - March 1972.
The Laredo Municipal Airport was the site of T-41 training for Laredo AFB,
pre-T37 training (the T-41 flying closed in 1973).”
Due to its location less than 2 miles northeast of the Mexican border,
in the 1960s & 1970s the old Laredo Airport was often the scene of
flights to & from Mexico carrying goods which were not necessarily legal to be imported or exported.
This included liquor, gold, narcotics, illegal aliens, mercury, lime oil, guns, consumer electronics, etc.
The much larger Laredo AFB (a few miles southeast) closed in 1973,
at which point it became the new Laredo International Airport.
Laredo Airport was still depicted on the 1977 & 1980 USGS topographical maps.
The 1980 USGS topo map showed that the runway at Laredo Municipal had been lengthened to 7,700'.
It also had a parallel taxiway, a ramp, and several hangars west of the southern end of the runway.
Laredo Municipal Airport apparently closed at some point between 1980-83,
as it was labeled "Abandoned Landing Strip" on the 1983 USGS topo map.
At some point between 1983-87, the former Laredo Municipal Airport was evidently reopened as a private airfield,
as the 1987 CH-23 World Aeronautical Chart (according to David Brooks)
depicted a "Killam & Hurd" private airfield at the same location.
The private "Killam & Hurd" airfield was depicted on the 1991 CH-23 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of David Brooks)
as having a single 7,200' paved runway.
The use of the site as a private airfield had apparently come to an end at some point between 1991-95,
as the 1995 USGS aerial photo showed that the site had been redeveloped as an industrial park,
with numerous buildings being erected over the former runway.
Several thousand feet of runway pavement still existed both north & south of Killam Industrial Boulevard in the 1995 photo.
As seen in the 2004 USGS aerial photo, the area around the site of the former Laredo Municipal Airport has become even more developed,
but the remains of the former runway are still very much recognizable.
The site of the former airport is located east of Mines Road,
at Killam Industrial Boulevard (which was built over the midpoint of the former runway).
Thanks to Todd Greenberg for pointing out this airfield.
See also:
http://www.aerobourne.com/11laredo.htm
http://www.aerobourne.com/12speckl.htm
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Eagle Pass Army Airfield / Laughlin AF Aux #1 / Maverick County Airport (5T9),
Eagle Pass, TX
28.86 North / 100.51 West (South-Southeast of Laughlin AFB, TX)
Eagle Pass AAF, as depicted on the 1943 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This field was activated in 1942 as an Army Air Force advanced single engine flying school.
The earliest depiction of Eagle Pass AAF which has been located
was on the 1943 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Eagle Pass AAF was converted to a basic flying school in 1944.
During WW2, Eagle Pass AAF had 3 auxiliary fields:
Eagle Pass Aux #1 (17 miles NNW of Eagle Pass AAF),
Pinto Aux #2 (35 miles NNW of Eagle Pass AAF), of which no trace has been located,
and Eagle Pass Aux #3 (9.5 miles ESE of Eagle Pass AAF ).
The cover of a yearbook of Eagle Pass AAF's Class 44-C
(courtesy of James Crump, whose father James Crump graduated from Eagle Pass in 1944 & went to fly fighters in the European theater).
AT-6 trainers heading out from Eagle Pass AAF, from a 1944 Eagle Pass AAF yearbook (courtesy of James Crump).
A low-level formation fly-by of AT-6 Texans at Eagle Pass AAF's, from a 1944 Eagle Pass AAF yearbook (courtesy of James Crump).
A photo of Eagle Pass AAF's control tower from a 1944 Eagle Pass AAF yearbook (courtesy of James Crump).
A review of cadets in front of a hangar at Eagle Pass AAF's, from a 1944 Eagle Pass AAF yearbook (courtesy of James Crump).
An unusual photo from a 1944 Eagle Pass AAF yearbook (courtesy of James Crump) -
what appears to be an American P-40 Warhawk which has been painted in German colors & used as a target.
A Curtis P-40 at Eagle Pass AAF in 1944 (courtesy of Steve Cruse).
The July 1945 Edwards Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Eagle Pass AAF as well as its 3 auxiliary airfields.
It was still depicted as "Eagle Pass AF"
on the 1954 Edward's Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1957 Del Rio Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted "Eagle Pass AF" as having a 7,500' hard-surface runway.
At some point between 1957-61, the airfield had apparently been relinquished by the Air Force,
reused as a civilian airport, and then closed, as it was labeled "Maverick County (Closed)"
on the January 1961 Edward's Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The runway length had also been reduced, as it was listed as having a 5,700' hard-surface runway.
Charles Ray recalled that the "The south hangar… was a Dickies Manufacturing location in the early 1960s."
A 1962 aerial photo by Charles Ray looking east at Eagle Pass AAF.
Eagle Pass was reopened under the name of "Laughlin AF Aux #1" in 1962 for touch & go landings
by T-37 training aircraft based at Laughlin AFB.
Denver Robinson recalled, “I was a student in Class 70-06 at Laughlin, graduating in April 1969.
The air field at Eagle Pass... indeed its call sign was 'Poorboy'
and I did many sweaty palm touch & go's there.
I'll never forget my first flight in a T-37,
we took off from toward the south (Runway 14R) at Laughlin
and by the time I caught my breath from the AWESOME thrust takeoff
(until then the most powerful thing I'd ever been in was the T-41
I'd just 'mastered' out at the civil airport, just north of Del Rio proper).”
Denver continued, “We took off, stayed VFR (not difficult in May in West Texas)
and soon set up for a straight in approach at 'Poorboy'...
I remember (compared to the T-41) I thought we were awfully low during the entire approach...
and it kinda frightened me (of course, at that time I had maybe 80 hours of flying time, TOTAL...
and all of it in Cessna 150s & 172s.
Back in 1969 the Runway Supervisory Unit was operated by 1 instructor pilot & 1 student...
that student had to be 'checked out' in T-37 RSU operations at the home base (Laughlin, of course)
and then on your unlucky day you were scheduled for a tour at Poorboy.”
Denver continued, “Instructor & you would take off & go direct to a full stop landing at Poorboy,
then spend 4 or more miserable hours in the barely cooled, small greenhouse they called an RSU...
watching to make sure the gear was down & locked
(there was a blinking red light inside the nose which indicated the gear was locked)
and hoping something besides a normal, boring touch & go was the next thing to happen.
When the punishment was over you'd close the field
(by making a radio call, and calling back to home-drome & telling them it was closed)
get back into the beast that brought you & take off.
Maybe there was a student training mission on the way home
(as if you really wanted to do a spin and/or touch & go after your tour in the Texas sun).”
Denver continued, “After graduation from UPT I was assigned as a T-38 instructor pilot back to Laughlin.
Poorboy existed through all my time at Laughlin (February 1969 – December 1973).
I don't know when they started sending 2 IPs to Poorboy,
but it could well have been while I was there.
I remember we had SEVERAL fatal accidents during that time frame...
and lots of steps were taken to try to solve the 'crash problem'.”
Denver continued, “At the end of one of my tours as the student spotter at Poorboy,
the Instructor Pilot led me over to a hangar were we could get a cold Coke.
I was amazed to see that the building was in use... it was FULL of Mexican women sewing blue jeans.
I remember it was NOT air conditioned, it WAS noisy & hot.
I wondered where all those ladies came from as Eagle Pass wasn't much more than a wide spot in the road.”
"Laughlin AFB Aux #1", as depicted on the 1966 Edwards Plateau WAC Chart (courtesy of Robert Brown).
The listed runway configuration had been lengthened to an 8,300' hard-surface runway.
The 1985 Del Rio Sectional Chart (courtesy of Steve Cruse)
depicted the field as "Laughlin AFB Aux #1".
According to Tim Swenson (Laughlin AFB Class 89-06),
Eagle Pass was known as "Wizzard".
How Wizzard operated is this: early in the morning,
two instructor pilots would fly a T-37 down to Wizzard & man the Runway Supervisory Unit (RSU),
which served as a control tower for Wizzard.
As the last schedule plane departed Wizzard,
they would announce "Wizzard is closed" & then depart themselves.
There were marks on the ground near tiedowns for T-38s.
It appears the planes may have been parked there for some duration at one time.
One training class painted a big Gumby on the northern approach end of the runway, as a class stunt.
The instructors told the students to shoot for Gumby when they make their approaches.
The T-37 practice areas were just northeast of Wizzard,
so it was very common to do both some area work & practice pattern work at Wizzard.
Lawrence Garrison recalled, “I was the Wing Commanding Officer at Laughlin AFB in 1975-77.
We used Eagle Pass for the T-37 touch & go landing practice.
In 1976 I was summoned by the County Judge of Maverick County to meet him in his office.
Though I did not have to, I complied.
He kept me in his outer office for about an hour among a number of people who were waiting to see him.
I figured I was a show piece for his importance having an Air Force Colonel waiting with the crowd.
I endured it & when I entered his office he was a bit aggressive
wanting more Air Force investment & to move the civilian airport from downtown Eagle Pass out to the auxiliary.
By the agreement, we controlled the flying at the airstrip.
I refused & he then stated he would get Federal money & build an airstrip just to the west,
less than a half mile from our practice runway.
I told him, do that & I will wait until you are finished with your strip
and then I will halt flying from Laughlin & stop the subsidy for using the airstrip.
Not waiting for an answer I then left his office.
They did not build the airport while I was there.
The downtown airport in those days was a mess with terrible approaches
and I understood his wanting it moved [from an economic point of view not airport safety].
I was glad to see the Air Force stop using the airstrip later.”
Laughlin T-38 instructor pilot Roger Reynolds recalled, “'Bowles' field was known for some time after Laughlin transitioned
from a Strategic Air Command (reconnaisance) base to Air Training Command as 'Poorboy'.
Apparently that did not go over very well in one of the poorest counties in the nation,
and it was changed to Wizard for 'Politcal Correctness' reasons.
The name 'Bowles' was from the county judge in the 1970s who was a royal PITA.
I dug up old records in the airspace office that had letter after letter to a Senator
about how the Air Force was treating Eagle Pass (and Maverick County) wrongly.
In the late 1980's relations got really bad as the meat packing plant opened.
Another big issue was a landfill right off the approach end of the southerly runway [causing bird strikes].
Shortly after the Air Force quit using the field, a fence was put up across the middle of the runway (real smart).
This was a case that a city/county simply tried to extort too much from the government & got burned.”
In 1991 a replacement airfield (which became Laughlin AF Aux #1, see below)
was built in nearby Spofford, and Eagle Pass was closed.
Roger Reynolds recalled, “I was a T-38 instructor pilot, and lived on Laughlin AFB from 1989-95.
During part of that time I served as 'airspace & procedures officer' so I became intimately familiar with 'Wizard'.
Around 1994, after Wizard was closed in favor of the new 'Spofford' annex,
we made an attempt to re-open 'Bowles' to serve in a very limited capacity.
The T-38 usually required 8,000' of runway (waived down to 7,000' by the ATC DO).
The jet had a very limited fuel supply & sortie length was typically between 1.0-1.3.
When the weather required an alternate, the closest suitable was Kelly AFB,
and they usually had worse weather than Laughlin.
At the time NAFTA was all the rage, and whoever ran the airport (county commissioner?)
had just been thrown out for some type of corruption.
A local judge had just taken over & was very interested in opening up the place,
as one of the few border civilian airports with a big runway.
Our plan (as young, stupid captains) was to get an Instrument Landing System from the DRMO (from a closing base)
and put it into operation at Eagle Pass.
This would give us a great T-38 alternate that was close by & offer another place to accomplish training.
The plan fell apart for 2 reasons: first the ILS fell through (I think it went to that bastion of bad weather Luke AFB),
and the Wing Commander put the brakes on due to political 'issues' we were not wise to.”
In the circa 1990s USGS aerial photo, the airfield configuration consisted of the primary 10,400' concrete runway
(which was the only runway maintained in the airfield's later years).
The 2 other former runways were also still evident.
A large concrete ramp was located on the west side of the airfield..
At some point between 1991-94, after the closure of this field by the Air Force,
it was apparently operated as a private airfield, named "Bowles" (as indicated on 1994 Sectional charts).
A 1994 photo by Scott Murdock of a hangar at Eagle Pass.
A 1994 photo by Scott Murdock of a ramp at Eagle Pass.
At some point between 1994-2002,
it became a public airport, under the name of the "Maverick County Memorial International Airport".
which had been built at some point between 1994-2003.
Scott reported that "Several business & government agencies have set up shop on the grounds,
with new construction & fences blocking access to some areas I explored in 1994."
The main access road to the airfield has been widened & repaved.
The modernization here is probably inspired by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)."
A 2005 aerial view looking southeast at the Maverick County Memorial Airport,
showing the sole runway still maintained,
as well as the remains of the other 2 runways.
………………………………………………………………………..
Eagle Pass Air Force Station was built in the 1950s on the former Eagle Pass AAF cantonment area.
It was a long-range radar site.
The 733rd AC&W Squadron began operating an AN/FPS-20A search radar
and an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar at this site in 1959.
Eagle Pass AFS ceased operations in 1963.
A 1994 photo by Scott Murdock of an abandoned former guard building at Eagle Pass Air Force Station.
A 2003 photo by Scott Murdock of an abandoned building at the former Eagle Pass Air Force Station.
Scott reported that "It has suffered neglect, vandalism, and partial demolition since 1994.
The air force station housing area is in perhaps better shape than it was 9 years ago,
with most units occupied as private residences."
See also: The Handbook of TX Online.
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Eagle Pass Auxiliary Army Airfield #1, Spofford, TX
29.03 North / 100.53 West (South-Southeast of Laughlin AFB, TX)
Eagle Pass Auxiliary AAF “#1”, as depicted on the July 1945 Edwards Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This field was used during WW2 as one of 3 satellite airfields for Eagle Pass AAF,
which conducted basic & advanced single engine flight training.
The dates of use & other military history of Eagle Pass Aux #1 are unknown,
but Eagle Pass AAF itself was operational from 1942-1945.
The earliest depiction of Eagle Pass Aux #1 which has been located
was on the July 1945 Edwards Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Like many other WW2-era military auxiliary airfields,
Eagle Pass Auxiliary #1 was most likely abandoned immediately after the end of the war (if not sooner),
and apparently was not reused as a civil airfield, due to its remote location.
It was no longer depicted at all on the 1952 Edwards Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
or on the USGS topo maps from 1969, 1978, or 1985.
As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former Eagle Pass Auxiliary Army Airfield #1 is still recognizable,
as a one-mile square, oriented diagonally (into the prevailing wind).
This orientation also matches the alignment of the runways at Eagle Pass Aux #3.
An unknown structure (an oil well?) has been constructed on the middle of the former airfield.
The site of Eagle Pass #1 is located 3 miles west of Route 131, 12 miles southwest of Spofford.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for locating this field.
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Eagle Pass Auxiliary Army Airfield #3 / Barnard Ranch Airfield / Chittim Ranch Airfield,
Eagle Pass, TX
28.69 North / 100.35 West (South-Southeast of Laughlin AFB, TX)
Eagle Pass Auxiliary AAF “#3”, as depicted on the July 1945 Edwards Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This field was used during WW2 as one of 3 satellite airfields for Eagle Pass AAF,
which conducted basic & advanced single engine flight training.
The dates of use & other military history of Eagle Pass Aux #3 are unknown,
but Eagle Pass AAF itself was operational from 1942-1945.
The earliest depiction of Eagle Pass Aux #3 which has been located
was on the July 1945 Edwards Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The Eagle Pass Aux #3 airfield was apparently reused for some unknown period of time as a private civil airfield,
as it was labeled "Barnard Ranch (Pvt)" on the 1954 Edward's Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was described as having a 3,500' hard-surface runway.
What was known at the time as the "Chittim Ranch" Airfield,
as depicted on the 1957 Del Rio Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The airfield had been renamed "Chittum Ranch (Pvt)"
by the time of the 1957 Del Rio Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The Aerodromes table on the chart described the field as having 2 runways,
with the longest being a 3,000' concrete strip.
The Chittum Ranch airfield was apparently abandoned at some point between 1957-61,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the January 1961 Edward's Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
or on subsequent aeronautical charts.
It was labeled simply "Landing Strip" on the 1975 & 1982 USGS topo maps.
As of the 1996 USGS aerial photo,
the two 3,000' runways had decayed to a very poor condition but were still clearly recognizable.
The former airfield was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart.
The current ownership & status of the Eagle Pass Aux #3 airfield site is unknown.
The site of Eagle Pass #3 is located on the north side of Route 277,
eight miles east of the town of Eagle Pass.
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Eagle Pass Municipal Airport (EGP), Eagle Pass, TX
28.7 North / 100.48 West (Southwest of San Antonio, TX)
Eagle Pass Municipal Airport, as depicted on the 1943 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The date of construction of this former small municipal airport has not been determined.
The earliest depiction of Eagle Pass Municipal Airport which has been located
was in the 1934 Department of Commerce Airfield Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
It described the "Eagle Pass Airport" as being located on the eastern edge of the city on Highway 85,
and described the airfield as being a rectangular sod field.
Eagle Pass was depicted as an auxiliary airfield
on the 1943 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
However, Eagle Pass Airport may have been temporarily closed during WW2
(due to wartime security concerns, as was the case at many other small civil airports during the war),
as it was not depicted at all on the 1944 Del Rio Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Eagle Pass Airport was apparently reopened at some point between 1944-45,
as "Eagle Pass" was depicted as an auxiliary airfield
on the July 1945 Edwards Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
"Eagle Pass" was depicted as a commercial/municipal airport
on the 1954 Edward's Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was described as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
The Aerodromes table on the 1957 Del Rio Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
described Eagle Pass Municipal as having 3 runways,
with the longest being a 3,000' turf strip.
The runway at Eagle Pass was evidently paved at some point between 1957-61,
as the January 1961 Edward's Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described the field as having a 2,600' hard-surface runway.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Eagle Pass Municipal Airport as having with 2 paved runways,
and listed the operator as the City of Eagle Pass & Maverick County.
The 1963 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse)
depicted Eagle Pass Municipal Airport as having a 2,600' asphalt Runway 16/34,
and a crosswind Runway 12/30 (of which 580' was paved, with the remainder being turf).
Five hangars were depicted on a paved ramp along the west side.
The operators were listed as Al Apts Aero Service & Border Aero Services.
By the time of the 1985 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse),
Runway 16/34 had been lengthened to 3,025', and the crosswind runway had been closed.
The operator was listed as Bravo Aero Service.
USGS aerial photo 1996, when the field was still open.
Eagle Pass Municipal was closed sometime between 1996-2001,
after the former Eagle Pass AAF to the north was closed by the military
and reopened as a civil airport, Maverick County Memorial International Airport.
According to Lowell McManus, Eagle Pass Municipal Airport
was promptly subdivided & sold for commercial development.
A large new U.S. Post Office & several smaller businesses have already been built,
and 14 acres of it have been purchased for a new Wal-Mart Super Center.
"The new Wal-Mart Supercenter was completed & opened in the fall of 2002.
There is now no obvious evidence that the site was ever an airport."
However, aerial photos show that recognizable portions of the former runway still remain,
to the north of the new Wal Mart building.
However, all of the former hangars along the west side of the site have been replaced by modern buildings.
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Winn Exploration Company Airport (6TA4), Eagle Pass, TX
28.72 North / 100.41 West (Southwest of San Antonio, TX)
The Winn Airfield was simply depicted as “Landing Strip” on the 1975 USGS topo map.
This private airfield was evidently constructed at some point between 1945-75,
as it was not yet depicted on the July 1945 Edwards Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the Winn Airfield which has been located
was on the 1975 USGS topo map.
It depicted a single northwest/southeast runway, labeled simply as “Landing Strip”.
The earliest aeronautical depiction of the Winn Airfield which has been located
was on the 1985 Del Rio Sectional Chart (courtesy of Steve Cruse).
It depicted Winn as a private airfield with a 6,300' runway.
Evan Hodgden recalled, “Winn Petroleum Field...
In late 1982 I interviewed for the Citation copilot job in Eagle Pass.
I was one of #10 of 11 interviewed & was told I had the job except for one more pilot from Houston. He got the job.
The aircraft was a [Cessna Citation] 501 model I think, and the 2nd aircraft a Cessna 210.
The aircraft were kept in a hangar at the south end of the field.
Mr. Winn was a very successful oil man, indeed. He had family members in the business also.
Since I was the 1st in line to be hired at the time, I got ushered into Mr. Winn's office for an interview with the boss.
Mr. Winn was quite an impressive figure & businessman.
The office was ultra-plush & his big game trophies from all over the world were extraordinary.
In late 1983 or early 1984 the Citation crashed at the Winn Field. I read the accident report.
They made an approach descending through an overcast, canceled IFR,
were not aligned with the runway & executed a missed approach to a circling VFR approach.
Apparently they got too low & slow returning to the field & impacted on base to final on sloping terrain somehow.
The Winn field sat on a plateau above the surrounding terrain & the highway leading in & out of town.
They mostly slid on impact.
I don't think their aviation department lasted long after that.”
Dave Roach recalled, “My father used to fly for Winn Exploration in the late 1980s.
I have flown in & out of it.”
As seen in the 1996 USGS aerial photo,
the airfield at Winn consisted of a single paved runway, a ramp & a single hangar.
As of 2003 this airfield was listed in the FAA Airport/Facility Directory as an active private airfield,
but with the note "Airport closed indefinitely".
It was listed as having 2 aircraft based at the field (including 1 jet),
and the runway configuration was listed as a single 6,300' paved Runway 14/32.
A 2005 aerial view looking south showed the field remained unchanged compared to the 1996 photo.
Note the prominent “W” painted on the paved circle in the middle of the runway.
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Val Verde County Airport, Del Rio, TX
29.38 North / 100.82 West (West of San Antonio, TX)
The 1943 USGS topo map depicted the Val Verde County Airport as having 3 paved runways.
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This fairly substantial former airport has apparently been abandoned for more than 40 years.
this airport was leased in 1943 as an auxiliary to Laughlin Field (which sits right across Route 90).
The earliest depiction of Val Verde County Airport which has been located was on the 1943 USGS topo map.
It depicted the "Val Verde County Airport" as having 3 paved runways,
with one small building & a beacon on the west side of the field.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of Val Verde County Airport which has been located
was on the 1944 Del Rio Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted "Val Verde County" as an auxiliary airfield.
The July 1945 Edwards Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
also depicted "Val Verde County" as an auxiliary airfield.
Val Verde County Airport was declared surplus by the military in 1945,
and apparently was reused starting at that point as a civilian airport.
A list of offices of the National Weather Bureau stated that the local office
was located in the Administrative Building of the Val Verde County Airport from 1951-57.
Scott Murdock indicated that Val Verde County Airport was reactivated by the military in 1952.
However, the 1954 Edward's Plateau World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
appeared to still depict Val Verde County as a civilian airport, not military.
It was described as having a 4,900' hard-surface runway.
"Val Verde Co AF", as depicted on the 1957 Del Rio Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
In 1957 the airfield was transferred from Air Training Command to Strategic Air Command,
and in 1958 it was redesignated Laughlin Service Annex.
It was disposed of in 1959.
Val Verde County Airport was presumably never reused after that point for civilian aviation,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1961 World Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The closure of Val Verde County Airport was undoubtedly caused by its unfortunate proximity to Laughlin AFB,
whose runways are only 1.5 miles to the southeast.
It was depicted as "Aband arpt" on the 1966 Edwards Plateau WAC Chart (courtesy of Robert Brown).
The former airfield was not depicted at all on the 1969 USGS topo map.
Jesse Kent was an instructor pilot in T-38s at Laughlin AFB from 1969-72,
and he recalled seeing the runways of the abandoned Val Verde County Airport while on approach to Laughlin.
"While I was there (stationed at Laughlin) you could still see the triangular shape of the runways in the midst of the mesquite.
It was directly underneath our traffic pattern.
My roommate & fellow T-38 IP [Instructor Pilot], Bob Ladley, from Uvalde, TX,
was killed on the grounds of that old airport in 1969 while on an instructional ride with a student pilot
(T-38 heavyweight single-engine final turn for runway 14L)."
"Another young T-38 IP, Bob Seabury, was killed on the old field in [May of 1971]
when the hydraulic system pitch control seized during a night touch & go on runway 32R.
Captain Seabury & his student ejected at low altitude.
The student got a good chute, but came down in the flames of the wreckage,
which was right in the middle of Highway 90.
He died from burns & trauma a few days later.
Bob Seabury's ejection trajectory carried him to his death straight out through the mesquite trees on the old airport.
He had just returned from a tour of duty in Viet Nam in F-100s,
and had a brand new [son].
Though new at Laughlin, he had a reputation as an outstanding pilot."
Jason Seabury recalled, "My father, Bob Seabury, is the deceased T-38 pilot.
My dad's accident was in May of 1971.
When he died, I was one day short of nine months old."
Denver Robinson recalled, “I well remember the T-38 final-turn crash, and knew & liked Bob Seabury.
I well remember the night he bought it... I was a flying a night round-robin student mission (as the IP in the back)
and during the mission we heard a broadcast on guard (243.0)
from a familiar voice from 'Lariat' (the T-38 RSU), something like '... it looks like sparks trailing...',
then after a long while we were informed (by 'Gunsmoke', the T-38 operations folks)
that Laughlin was only accepting a single approach & full stop landing (under tower control as Lariat was closed),
from a straight in to the center runway... which was a big surprise since Lariat never closed while students were in the air,
and we had all planned to do multiple night touch & go's prior to soloing our studs out at night.
We we got within visual range of the base (I remember it was an extremely clear night)
we saw multiple rotating red lights in the vicinity of the runway...
but, didn't learn that a plane was down until after our landing.”
The former airfield was not depicted at all on the 1972 USGS topo map,
but the northwest/southeast runway was depicted (labeled simply "Landing Strip") on the 1985 USGS topo map.
As can be seen in the 1996 USGS aerial photo,
the Val Verde County Airport consisted of 3 paved runways arranged in a triangle,
the longest being 4,800'.
It is not apparent where the former ramp or terminal area was located on the airfield.
Scott Murdock visited the site in 1994 & 2003,
and reported that "housing developments cover most of the former airport,
but the runways are still visible in aerial photos, cutting across the pattern of residential roads.
I was able to drive on 2 of the 3 old runways, in an undeveloped corner of the airfield."
The outline of the 3 former runways were still quite recognizable in the 2003 USGS aerial photo.
Larry Garrison reported in 2007, “I was at Laughlin recently
and none of the current leadership has knowledge or interest
in the original Del Rio Airport right across Highway 90 from the base.”
The site of the former Val Verde County Airport is located northeast of the intersection of Route 90 & Route 2523.
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Laughlin Air Force Aux #1, Spofford, TX
29.13 North / 100.47 West (West of San Antonio, TX)
A 1994 photo by Scott Murdock of the gate which leads to Laughlin AF Aux.
This airfield was built in 1991 as a replacement for the previous Laughlin AF Aux #1 (see above).
It is also known as "Wizzard".
As seen in the 1996 USGS aerial photo,
the airfield consists of a single paved 6,277' Runway 13/31 & a small ramp area.
As of 2002, it is still used as a satellite airfield for T-37 training flights from Laughlin AFB.
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