Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Virginia: Virginia Beach
© 2002, © 2009 by Paul Freeman. Revised 3/11/09.
Creeds NOLF (revised 3/11/09) - Fentress NALF (revised 8/29/08)
Fort Story Aux AAF - Pungo NOLF (revised 7/4/06)
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Fort Story Auxiliary Army Airfield, Cape Henry, VA
36.92 North / 76.03 West (North of Virginia Beach, VA)
Fort Story Aux AAF, as depicted on the 1961 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
Fort Story is located at the tip of Cape Henry,
where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.
The Fort was established in 1914, as a coastal artillery site,
intended to protect the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.
These defenses were considerably expanded during WW2,
with many heavy guns mounted in fortified concrete batteries (the remnants of which still exist today).
After WW2, Fort Story eventually became the home to the Army's Transportation Command.
At some point between 1956-61, a small auxiliary airfield was constructed at Fort Story.
The purpose of the airfield is unknown.
The airfield was not yet depicted on the January 1956 Norfolk Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of Fort Story Aux AAF which has been located
was on the 1961 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described the field as having a single 1,900' paved runway.
The Aerodromes table on the 1965 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described Fort Story Aux AAF as consisting of a single 1,950' steel mat runway.
Paul Stroman recalled, “There was a landing strip at Ft. Story.
I used to fly an L-19 from Ft. Eustis to there in 1966.”
Fort Story Aux AAF was still depicted on the September 1967 Washington Sectional Chart,
and described as having a 1,900' runway.
Fort Story Aux AAF was still depicted on the 1969 USGS topo map.
However, it was evidently closed at some point between 1969-70,
as it was labeled "Closed" on the 1970 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Clifford).
Navy pilot Michael Strobach recalled, "We used charts we called JOGs when we flew around at night on NVGs.
These JOGs were an excellent resource for abandoned airfields.
Kind of like the US topographical maps.
I first noticed a field listed as 'Spier' on the tip of Cape Henry,
and the runway length was listed as 1,500 ft.
I used to fly my CH-46 over Fort Story & try to make out the field outline every time I flew over.
I even visited it on the ground, much to my patient wife's frustration!
There isn't anything on the ground that gives a clue to its history.
There is a clearing in the foliage & a long flat area."
"I also noticed that in the VFR Supplement that we fly with,
the helo pad at Fort Story is named 'Spier'.
They must have transferred the name."
By 1998, the Fort Story airfield was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on Sectional aeronautical charts.
As seen in the 2001 aerial photo, the site of the former airfield is presumably the rectangular clearing
(oriented somewhat northeast/southwest) in the lower portion of the photo.
No specific remnants of the airfield appear to remain.
The site of the former airfield is located southwest of the intersection of Atlantic Avenue & Vung Tau Street.
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Pungo Naval Outer Landing Field,
Virginia Beach VA
36.69 North / 76 West (South of Oceana NAS)
"Pungo (Navy)", as depicted on a 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Some sources indicate that Pungo was originally the site of a civil airport
(whose date of construction is unknown),
which was taken over by the Navy in 1941.
However, no airfield at this location was depicted
on the July 1941 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
or the 1943 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Pungo NOLF was commissioned in 1943 as a satellite airfield for nearby Norfolk Naval Air Station.
The station's intended mission was to support operations & training
of aircraft intended to operate from escort carriers.
A total of 24 such squadrons passed through Pungo during WW2,
most consisting of TBF or TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
and F4F or FM Wildcat fighters.
The 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
labeled the field as "Pungo (Navy)".
Pungo's facilities were expanded in 1944.
At its wartime height, the airfield consisted of three 2,500' concrete runways,
taxiways, two large concrete ramps, and a total of 82 buildings.
The station had a complement of up to 1,400 men.
A WW2-era view of Pungo, looking northeast (National Archives photo),
with the ramp filled by Navy aircraft.
"Pungo (Navy)" was still depicted on the April 1945 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Following the end of the war, Pungo was disestablished by the Navy in 1945.
Pungo may have been operated for some period of time as a civil airport,
as "Pungo" was depicted as an auxiliary airfield (but not military)
on the September 1945 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
According to Cort Tompkins, "When the facility was disestablished by the Navy,
the land immediately surrounding the airstrip was sold as farmland.
This now private farmland includes the apron at the end of the longest runway,
to which the Navy would taxi its fighters to sight in their 0.50 caliber machine guns
into a concrete-encased earthen berm 200-300 yards distant.
After its disestablishment by the Navy, the berm became an informal shooting range,
until the early 1970s when the farmer who then owned that portion of the airport
leased the area around the berm to the then newly-formed Virginia Beach Rifle & Pistol Club."
The Pungo airfield was labeled "Aband arpt" on the 1961 Norfolk Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
At an unknown date, the Pungo property was turned over to the Coast Guard,
which constructed a radio transmitter site over much of the former airfield.
This facility is still in use today by the Coast Guard.
There are many radio towers spread throughout the airfield property,
along with several maintenance buildings situated along the west side of Runway 4/22.
An 11/99 aerial photo by Paul Freeman looking northwest at the Pungo airfield, taken from a Diamond Katana DA20A-1.
A 7/00 photo by Paul Freeman looking north at the entrance to the current Coast Guard facility at the Pungo airfield.
A 7/00 photo by Paul Freeman of the view along Runway 4,
showing radio towers & maintenance buildings along west side of runway.
Paul Freeman visited the site of the Pungo airfield in 2000.
A public road intersects the northern end of Runway 18/36,
and runs over a portion of the taxiway before turning north just before the main ramp area.
All of the runways, taxiways & ramps still existed, in excellent condition.
As of 2000, the Pungo airfield was not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on current aviation charts,
but was shown as an airfield on local road maps.
Cort Tompkins reported in 2004 that the earthen berm at Pungo
remains in use by the Virginia Beach Rifle & Pistol Club "to this day (imagine all the lead in there!).
Sadly, that portion of the former airport is now being sold to a residential developer -
who will have to find a way to remove the berm as well as several WWII-era bunkers near the airstrips!"
The portion of the airstrip currently retained by the USCG will remain with the USCG.
Also interesting is that the CG-owned portion of the airstrip has now been encircled
with a make-shift wall of huge chunks of concrete debris placed inside the property's chain-link fence.
This likely occurred as a post-9/11 security measure."
A circa 2005 aerial view looking north at the ramp & several runways at the Pungo airfield.
A 2005 aerial view of the Pungo airfield.
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Creeds Naval Outer Landing Field (64VA),
Creeds VA
36.6 North / 76 West (South of Oceana NAS)
"Creeds (Navy)", as depicted on a 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Creeds NOLF is located south of Pungo NOLF, along the Atlantic Coast.
The Navy began construction at the site in mid 1940
of an Outlying Landing Field to support training operations at NAS Norfolk.
The airfield at Creeds was not depicted at all on the July 1941 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
or the 1943 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Creeds was eventually commissioned on 4/5/43 as an auxiliary of NAS Norfolk,
with its mission being the support, operations, training, and maintenance of fleet squadrons.
The Navy had intended Creeds to function as a base for composite squadrons
of Wildcats & Avengers that would eventually serve on small CVE escort carriers.
The first squadron to arrive at Creeds was VF-1 (appropriately enough!),
followed by VC-52, VB-8, VF-13, and VB-15 throughout 1943.
In early 1944, composite squadrons VC-15, VC-95, and VC-42 had passed through Creeds.
The complement at Creeds reached a total of 1,383 personnel in 1944.
The station was assigned 2 base aircraft, usually GH Howards.
CAG-27, CAG-28, and VT-153 were based at Creeds in early 1945.
An expansion program in early 1945 included the installation of permanent lighting,
additional barracks, and additional aircraft parking areas.
The airfield eventually consisted of 3 concrete runways (the longest being 2,500'),
taxiways, and a large ramp area.
The construction program was completed on 8/1/45, just in time for the end of WW2.
A WW2-era view of Creeds, looking south (National Archives photo),
with a large number of Navy aircraft parked on the ramp.
"Creeds (Navy)" was still depicted on the April 1945 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Creeds was decommissioned by the Navy on 10/15/45.
Following the end of WW2, Creeds may have been operated for some period of time as a civil airport,
as "Creeds" was depicted as an auxiliary airfield (but not military)
on the September 1945 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
Some sources indicate that Creeds was still used by the Navy as an Outlying Landing Field into the 1950s
(but perhaps this was in an unofficial capacity).
The Creeds property was conveyed by the Federal Government to the local government in 1961.
It was labeled "Aband arpt" on the 1961 Norfolk Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
In the late 1960s & early 1970s the main runway was used as a drag strip.
At some point between 1961-76 Creeds was apparently reused as a private civilian airfield,
as that is how "Creeds" was depicted on the November 1976 CG-21 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was depicted as having 2 paved runways, with the longest being 2,500'.
Don McMahon recalled, “I was a Police Officer in Virginia Beach during the mid-late 1970s
and I know that Creeds was used for organized drag racing on weekends;
we were detailed to it checking for underage drinking & crowd control.
We also used it for driver training, and got ‘buzzed’ once or twice by fighters doing touch & goes.
At the time there were more than a couple of hulks laying around in the woods.”
The use of Creeds as a private airfield evidently ended at some point between 1976-93,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the March 1993 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Carl Taylor).
A November 1999 aerial view by Paul Freeman looking southeast at the Creeds airfield.
A 7/00 photo by Paul Freeman of Creeds' Runway 35.
Note wrecked cars along west side of runway.
A 7/00 photo by Paul Freeman of the main ramp area at the northeast portion of Creeds NOLF.
The sign gives the current name of the site - the "Forrest P Capps Law Enforcement Training Center",
whose complex of buildings are visible directly behind & to the right of the sign.
The property is used by the Virginia Beach Police Department as a training area.
They have a complex of trailers & other small buildings at the east end of Runway 8/26,
and abandoned cars & trailers are scattered about the ends of the other runways.
A 7/00 photo by Paul Freeman of the only remaining original building at Creeds:
a curious little single-story concrete structure which sits along a circular concrete road
along the southern edge of the large ramp area at the north end of the airfield.
Two signs say: "Warning. Bio chemicals. Keep out. Gas mask eye protection required."
The original purpose of this building is unknown.
As of 2002 the Virginia Beach Police Department also maintained the only remaining aviation use of the airfield:
a 500' x 175' portion of Runway 3/21 was occasionally used for operations by their Bell 206B helicopters,
and was designated "Creeds Heliport" (VA64).
Although the Airport Facility Directory listed 2 helicopters as being based at the facility,
there was no evidence at the site to suggest any aircraft were currently based there.
The target adjacent to the east side of the airfield was Target #1,
and the target further east was Target #2.
In recent aerial pictures, no trace remains of either of these targets.
Cort Tompkins reported in 2004, "the Virginia Beach (and formerly Princess Anne County) Sheriff's Department
(and now also Virginia Beach Police Department) up until very recently used a berm
in that airstrip area as a firing range.
Due to complaints from residents (and bullets discovered in nearby homes),
the city is now constructing an alternate range in North Carolina.
Further, while the Police Department may land their helicopters at Creeds from time to time,
they are not stationed there (they're farther north, near the municipal center)."
Creeds was not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on current aviation charts,
but shown as an airfield on local road maps.
A 2005 aerial view of the Creeds airfield.
A circa 2006 aerial view looking east at the north end of the Creeds airfield.
A circa 2006 photo looking south along the former Runway 17 at Creeds.
The Creeds Heliport was evidently closed at some point between 2002-2009,
as the facility was no longer listed with the FAA as a current heliport as of 2009.
A 2009 plan of the “VA Beach Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center Creeds” (courtesy of Christopher Epperson),
showing the road courses which are planned to be overlaid on the former runways & taxiways.
Christopher reported in 2009, “We are about to reopen the police training facility at Creeds.”
He also indicated that plans were being made to commemorate the Navy personnel who had used the Creeds airfield in years past.
See also: http://pirs.mvr.usace.army.mil/fuds/m-p/navalax/preasses/inpr/11.htm
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Fentress Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NFE),
Chesapeake, VA
36.7 North / 76.16 West (Southwest of Oceana NAS)
"Fentress (Navy)", as depicted on a 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Fentress was originally commissioned on 4/15/43 as one of several satellite airfields for Norfolk NAS.
The base was primarily home to composite squadrons
of FM Wildcats & TBM Avengers that would eventually serve on small CVE escort carriers.
Fentress could accommodate up to 3 squadrons,
typically composed of 9 Wildcats & 12 Avengers.
Several composite squadrons passed through Fentress in 1943.
The base was designated as a night flying field in 1944,
and Field Carrier Landing Practice night training commenced.
The base's complement peaked in 1944 with a total of 1,384 personnel.
Aircraft assigned to Fentress included six SNJs, an NE Piper Cub, a PBY Catalina amphibian, and a GH Howard.
A new construction program was begun in 1944.
Fentress temporarily closed for a month for the installation of runway lighting.
A WW2-era National Archives picture of the Fentress ramp.
By the end of WW2, the Fentress airfield consisted of four 2,500' concrete runways,
along with numerous taxiways & large ramp areas.
Fentress was placed in Caretaker status in 1946,
and became an Outlying Landing Field for NAS Oceana.
According to Robert Crabtree, “When WWII was over all the buildings were locked & boarded up.
They hired one local man as caretaker named McClanahan.”
According to Robert Crabtree, CWO Davidson was the first commander of NALF Fentress after it was reopened.
In the postwar period, with higher-performance aircraft starting to be operated from Oceana,
with their attendant need for much longer runways,
a modern 8,000' paved Runway 5/23 was built at Fentress at some point between 1946-51.
Robert Crabtree served at Fentress starting in 1951.
He recalled, “All furnishings, tools, pencils, some weapons & ammunition were uncovered when we moved in.
I had purchased a commercial speed graphic camera & set up my own darkroom in one of the empty buildings.
The Oceana Crash & Salvage Crew sent a crash crew to NALF Fentress on a daily basis
to stand-by for carrier practice shortly after adding the 8,000' runway.
A short time later a crew of about 35 men were sent there full-time.
Many of these people were Reservists & their talents varied making this crew most unique & interesting.”
Robert continued, “Fentress was located deep in the Dismal Swamp.
We were about 8 miles away from the one good bar there named Kay's Place
that we all visited almost on a daily basis.
The Navy allowed us to use a vehicle to make one run twice a day to the nearest bus stop.
For convenience we stole a bus stop sign & installed it in front of the bar.
Most of the time our vehicle of choice was our Navy ambulance.”
A 1952-53 photo by Robert Crabtree of a Grumman AF-2 Guardian, “Unlucky #13...
being towed out the Fentress Gate back to NAS Oceana after landing at Fentress wheels up.”
Robert Crabtree recalled, “Carrier practice was done with a Landing Signal Officer,
Radioman with communication trailer & a couple of others to keep records.
They would come down from Norfolk or Oceana & fly with 4 planes
in carrier operational formation at a height of about 300 feet on base leg.
They would hang the plane by the prop & drop on the cut.
They would touch down & give her the gun & go around again in the same for hours.”
Robert continued, “Some units would bring us donuts, we would furnish coffee
and would watch the Arthur Godfrey show on TV.
They would also come with their swim suits.
There is a good sized lake across the road from the front entrance
that was formed from fill they used when the 8,000' runway was built.
It was one of the best fresh water swimming holes anywhere around.
The store at the gate was owned by Mennonites.”
Robert continued, “Oceana would send about 7 tractors & mowing machines
down to mow our acres several times a year.
We would have drag races on the airfield if they were left there over the weekend.
Once 2 collided & a transfer case was busted.
We paid a local old time Mennonite blacksmith big time to forge
and weld the cast iron transfer case that was busted.
We had plenty of Navy gray paint. No one ever knew what we had done.”
A 1954 photo by Robert Crabtree of the buildings of NALF Fentress, taken from the control tower.
A 1953 photo by Robert Crabtree of an F4U Corsair which crashed off the end of the Fentress runway.
According to Robert, “This was quite an undertaking getting the plane across irrigation ditches.
Just about all our equipment is shown in this photo.
The Corsair photo was just by chance taken by me.
I had been driving a large Tournapull Crane to the site that had rear wheels 10 feet wide apart on center.
I had to go across several of those irrigation ditches with drain pipes that were 10 feet long.
One had been collapsed that stopped me in my tracks.
The chopper was flying overhead, I waved him down, he picked me up & I was able to take the photo on the way in.”
Robert Crabtree recalled, “I had never heard of the Confederate Air Force.
A Reserve squadron came from Houston for their 2 weeks, many of them were Colonels.
Now this was the most interesting time of my life.
They were flying F6Fs, F4Fs, F4Us and an F8F.
I was asked to take photos of one of them buzzing the field.
I got in the middle of the runway & this dude flew with his prop about 6 inches from the ground.
I ran & was told not to worry that the pilot was one of the best & was a Colonel in the Confederate Air Force.
It took a lot of talk to get me to believe them. I took the photos & they were happy.
The Corsair may have been one of those guys.”
The 1961 & 1965 Norfolk Sectional Charts (according to Chris Kennedy)
depicted both the old & new runways at Fentress,
and the Aerodromes table on the charts listed the number of runways as 5.
A June 21, 1974 DOD aerial view by PHC Barnes, looking north at Fentress Auxiliary Landing Field,
with the modern runway in the foreground & the WW2-era runways in the background.
"ALF Fentress (Navy)", as depicted on the November 1976 CG-21 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
At some point after 1965, the original WW2-era runways at Fentress were abandoned,
with the single postwar jet-capable runway being the only one still used.
A November 30, 1987 DOD photo by Joseph Higgins of a Fighter Squadron 143 Grumman F-14A Tomcat
making a practice carrier landing at Fentress Auxiliary Landing Field.
The Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System lights are in the foreground.
Fentress is still in use as a satellite airfield for NAS Oceana today.
An aerial photo taken by Paul Freeman 11/99, from a Diamond Katana DA20A-1, looking northeast at the Fentress airfield.
On April 9, 2001 an F-14A (159591 / AD-225 / cn 138) of VF-101 Grim Reapers
belly-landed at Fentress after suffering a landing gear failure.
According to Scott Shea, “The F-14D had a nose landing gear failure. The nose landing gear failed to extend.
I heard it actually had the issue at NAS Oceana, which it was then told to land at Fentress for unknown reasons.
It landed & skidded down the runway on its nose; pilot & WSO uninjured.
It was removed from the runway & the squadron could be seen robbing/removing/cannibalizing it for parts on weekends.”
What a sad end for such a mighty Mach 2 fighter.”
However, Curtis Rohnert reported, “I was part of the team sent in to salvage peaces off the F-14 that landed there.
The Navy use to use a civilian contractor with some Navy personal to supplement.
Myself & another sailor were a part of this team.
I was onboard for 3 months. My permanent Squadron being VF-211.
The team was called SARDIP. I can't remember what that stood for,
but I can say that the aircraft did not have a nose gear failure, all gear were lowered after touchdown.
That’s why the main gear look collapsed.
If it did have a nose landing gear failure the main gears would still be down & locked.”
The F-14A which belly landed at Fentress on April 9, 2001.
A circa 2000 aerial view of the WW2-vintage portion of Fentress.
A 7/02 photo by Paul Freeman of the Fentress NALF entrance.
A 7/02 photo by Paul Freeman of the view along Fentress' original Runway 5.
Note traffic cones at the far end of the runway -
Portions of the abandoned runways are used for driver training
by the Virginia Beach Police Department.
An October 2004 photo by Michael Carlyle of the F-14A which had belly landed at Fentress on April 9, 2001.
An October 2004 photo by Michael Carlyle of the E-2C (160420 / AC-601 / cn A040) of VAW-126
at Fentress which had hit a deer while taxiing at night.
Michael reported, “The deer ran into the prop & was thrown through the fuselage damaging the airframe beyond repair.
You can see a shiny aluminum patch just ahead of the wing to repair the skin where the deer entered the fuse.
The airframe is now used for fire practice.”
A circa 2005 aerial view looking west at what appears to be the fuselage of a Grumman E-2 Hawkeye,
along with an unidentified fuselage structure,
which sit at the northwest corner of the abandoned WW2-era Fentress runways.
Scott Shea reported in 2006, “The E-2 Hawkeye is actually there because it hit a deer in the runway.
The carcass of the deer entered the blade arc & was slung through the fuselage of the Hawkeye.
They deemed the aircraft structurally unairworthy.”
A circa 2005 aerial view looking east at the Grumman F-14 Tomcat,
which sits at the southwest corner of the abandoned WW2-era Fentress runways.
Scott Shea reported in 2006, “On Weekends, NALF Fentress is open for radio controlled aircraft modelers.
Its one of the best R/C sites in the area; we use the taxiway as the runway.
Occasionally, we get asked by the ABF's to cease operations because of inbound aircraft.
They practice carrier landings just a few hundred feet in front of us!
Its frustrating to have to stop flying for a while but at the same time,
how many chances do you have to see F-14s & F/A-18s practice carrier landings that close!”
Even though Fentress was built as an "outlying" field,
the rapidly growing suburbs of Virginia Beach have been expanding ever more closely to the field.
This has resulted in considerable pressure by the local community on the Navy
to cease operations at Fentress, replacing it with yet another outlying field,
even further from the current suburban sprawl.
It seems to matter not that those who complain about the jet noise over their newly built suburbs
in fact chose to move next to an military airfield that was there before they were.
Your tax dollars at work.
An August 2007 aerial view by DC Air National Guard flight engineer Kent Ferrell looking south at the Fentress airfield.
Kent reported, “I took the picture from our C-130 while we were doing some training out of Oceana NAS.”
A circa 2008 photo by Dave O'Brien taken from the Fentress LSO station, showing a C-2 Greyhound on short final.
A circa 2008 photo by Dave O'Brien of the FLOLS system at Fentress, with the C-2 Greyhound climbing out in the background.
A July 2008 photo by NALF Fentress Crash Chief ABHC(AW/SW) Kris Smith of a French Navy Dassault Rafale M doing a touch & go at Fentress,
with the FLOLS gear in the background.
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