Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Southwestern Illinois

© 2002, © 2022 by Paul Freeman. Revised 10/25/22.

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Belleville Airport (revised 12/14/20) - Bosa Field / Springfield Airport / Conkling Field / Lindbergh Field (revised 9/2/22) - Central Airport (revised 1/30/16)

Collinsville Airport / Downtown Airpark (revised 3/18/17) - Cyril Lebert Airport / Flying L Airport (revised 8/17/22) - Giant City State Park Airfield (added 2/4/22)

Lakeview Airport / Lakeside Airport / Nichols Airport (revised 3/31/22) - Parks College Airport (revised 10/25/22)

Springfield Commercial Airport / Springfield Municipal Airport / Southwest Airport (revised 10/25/22) - WLS Airport (revised 10/28/17)

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Giant City State Park Airfield, Makanda, IL

37.602, -89.176 (Southeast of St. Louis, MO)

Giant City State Park Airfield, as depicted on the January 1966 Nashville Sectional Chart.

Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.



At the eventual location of this airfield, a 1938 aerial photo showed a clearing that may or may not have been a runway.



David Warner reported, “The airstrip at Giant City State Park... the 1938 air photos show open land but no discernible airstrip.

The airstrip probably was a postwar addition with the idea that returning pilots would want to travel by air.

The airstrip was in the 1951 CAA plan, and operated roughly between 1953-1983.”



No airfield was depicted at this location on a 1958 USGS topo map.



A 1963 aerial photo showed a more distinct runway-looking clearing, oriented northeast/southwest.



The 1963 IL aeronautical chart (according to David Warner) depicted Giant City as a 2,400' Restricted Landing Area.”



Giant City State Park Airfield was not yet depicted on the 1965 Nashville Sectional Chart.



David Warner reported, “The 1965 air photo showed the airstrip.”



The earliest labeled depiction which has been located of Giant City State Park Airfield was on the January 1966 Nashville Sectional Chart.

It depicted Giant City State Park Airfield as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.



The earliest topo map depiction which has been located of Giant City State Park Airfield was on the 1966 USGS topo map.

It depicted a single unpaved northeast/southwest runway, generically labeled as “Landing Strip”.

There were no buildings or other improvements depicted.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Giant City State Park Airfield was on the July 1969 Nashville Sectional Chart.

It depicted Giant City State Park Airfield as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.



Larry Flesner recalled, “I landed [at Giant City] around 1970 in a Piper Clipper with an instructor while working on my Commercial license.

It was land, turn around, and take off. I recall it having a bit of grade to the runway.”



Bill Hunter recalled, “We moved to our home in Makanda in 1975.

One of the factors making it attractive was the Giant City landing strip, which I thought would be very convenient for my Dad to fly into to visit us.

This may have been unrealistic because he was flying a Mooney M-22 Mustang.

I don’t recall the landing; take-off distance of the plane, or the length of the strip, but if anyone could have done it, he could.

We drove out to have a look at the strip at some point & it was still being maintained. It never worked out that he flew in.”



Aerial photos from the 1980s/90s did not show any planes at the Giant City State Park Airfield, or other improvements, just a grass runway.



David Bertellotti recalled, “While I attended flight school at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, I did many flights over this area.

I recall one of my first flight instructors simulating engine failure over this 'strip', which really was just a clear grassy slope cut out of the park, a portion of the Shawnee National Forest.

Given the trees, we would only descend to about 500' or so before climbing away. From the looks of it, the field looked to be about 2,000' long.

The story goes that the airstrip was used to attract flyers from all over to provide access to the state park & especially the Giant City Lodge, which was renown for its restaurant.

I do have a professor friend who recalls school aircraft getting stuck there given the short runways & obstructions on both ends,

including the Giant City Lodge water tower/observation platform, which was basically straight ahead of the south-facing airfield.

Years later, I recall parking my car & hiking the short distance through the brush to where the adjacent tiedown spot was - lots of bloodthirsty ticks!

I also saw that the strip was pretty steeply sloped down toward the north-northeast. I never saw any aircraft there.”



Dale Boyer recalled, “The grass strip at Giant City State Park... In 1980 I flew for forest patrol over Shawnee Forest & stopped in there for lunch occasionally.”



Paul Stibolt recalled, “We used to fly into the Giant City State Park Airfield during our University Days at SIU.”



David Warner reported, “Records indicate Giant City closed in 1982.”



The 1996 USGS topo map continued to depict Giant City State Park Airfield in the same fashion as the 1966 topo map.



A 2020 aerial view looking northwest showed the Giant City State Park Airfield to remain cleared.



The Recreational Aviation Foundation's Mike Purpura reported in 2021, “My colleagues & I are collaborating on a project to re-open the Giant City Airstrip.”



Bill Hunter reported, “It would be a hoot to put my RANS down on that strip before I have to give it up.”



Thanks to Brent Horn for pointing out this airfield.

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Bosa Field / Springfield Airport / Conkling Field / Lindbergh Field, Springfield, IL

39.824, -89.72 (East of St. Louis, MO)

A 4/15/26 photo of Charles Lindbergh flying the 1st official airmail flight in a De Havilland DH-4 from Bosa Field (courtesy of Mike Denja).



The first airport in Sangmon County was Bosa Field, established in April 1926.

Bosa Field was named for the farmer who gave the land near Bradfordton west of the city for the airfield.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Bosa Field was a 4/15/26 photo

of Charles Lindbergh flying the 1st official airmail flight in a De Havilland DH-4 for the Robertson Aircraft Corporation (courtesy of Mike Denja).



According to Sagamonlink, “Spurred by weeks of advance publicity, an estimated 5,000 area residents thronged the edges of a 60-acre field west of Springfield.

Use of the field had been hastily arranged after Lindbergh’s plane nearly got stuck at the originally planned takeoff spot north of town.

The turf field, off Hazlett Lane, was owned by Bill Bosa.

Airmail flying in 1926 was statistically the most dangerous occupation in the U.S., and Lindbergh was not exempt.

An equipment problem with his mail plane forced Lindbergh to land in a farm field in northern Sangamon County on 9/30/26.

Lindbergh got a ride to Springfield to deliver his mail, then stayed the night at the home of a nearby farmer.

Lindbergh made repairs the next day & resumed his flight.”



John Fuller noted, “After Robertson Aircraft won the airmail contract, there was little time to select the Peoria & Springfield airfields.

This necessitated, in the case of Springfield at least, finding an established pasture. No time to groom crops or plant grass.

This made me think that many of these really were rectangular fields & not what we think of today as grass 'strips'.”



Charles Lindbergh's 1953 book, "The Spirit of St. Louis", described a flight in which he had taken off from Bosa Field, Springfield, just after sunset, headed north for Peoria.

Visibility was too low to land at Peoria, so he headed back to Springfield to put the mail on a train.

This excerpt (courtesy of John Fuller) picked up as he is approaching Bosa Field in the dark:

“I shift course 5 degrees & watch for the straight row of lanterns that will mark our mail field. We have no electric lights there.

There's no power line nearby. But we've arranged with the mail-truck driver to hang a half dozen lanterns on fence posts along the southern border.

Four lanterns are still burning when I find the pasture. Fortunately the wind's north - or at least it was at dusk.

[On a left downwind approaching base leg turn] I leave the lanterns a ¼ mile to my left, let them angle back 60 degrees toward my tail, bank around steeply, and pull back to half throttle.

Night’s black brush has swept over posts & poles, trees & earth, leaving no contrast between them to help a pilot’s eye -

only 4 dim points of light, a yard above the ground, and several farmhouse windows for horizon.

Stay right of the telephone poles along the western edge - keep left of the gully that cuts through from the east."



John Fuller noted, “Pilots today would compare those lanterns to runway threshold lights.

Lindbergh was landing to the north (into the wind), and it was good to have the lanterns on the approach end!”



Bosa Field was later renamed Springfield Airport, and then Conkling Field, after the local postmaster.



The 1927 Commerce Department Airway Bulletin (courtesy of Mike Denja) depicted Conkling Field as having an 80 acre sod field measuring 1,960' north/south, with a 150' cinder runway extension.

There were no buildings described, but a beacon tower was depicted on the southwest corner.



The 1927 Commerce Department Airway Bulletin (courtesy of Mike Denja) labeled the field as Springfield Airport, even though the textual description used the name Conkling Field.



An August 1927 photo of Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis at Conkling Field (from Springfield Aviation Company Collection, IL State Library).



A 1927 photo of a Waco 9 biplane (owned by Ator & Sellers) at Conkling Field (courtesy of Mike Denja).



According to Sagamonlink, Springfield / Conkling Field “was renamed Lindbergh Field in 1927, following Lindbergh’s Atlantic exploit.”



A 1927 photo of a Waco 10 biplane (owned by the Lady Dover Iron Company) at Lindbergh Field (courtesy of Mike Denja).



A circa 1927-28 photo of a Ford Tri-Motor (owned by the Standard Oil Company) at Lindbergh Field (courtesy of Mike Denja).



In 1928, most operations were moved to the new Springfield Municipal Airport, later named Southwest Airport.



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Springfield Airport was on the 1929 Air Corps Strip Map (courtesy of John Fuller).

It depicted Springfield Airport as a commercial/municipal airport located northwest of the town.



Lindbergh Field was closed in 1929, and the land reverted to farmland.



Lindbergh Air Mail Field, as depicted on the 1930 USGS topo map.



Lindbergh Field was no longer depicted on the March 1933 Cincinnati Sectional Chart,

which instead only depicted the Springfield “Commercial” Airport southwest of the town.



A 1939 aerial view of Springfield Airport / Bosa Field (courtesy of John Fuller).

John Fuller noted, “It shows a railroad right-of-way running east/west across the southern end of the property.

It was an active passenger & freight railroad in the 1920s/30s, so I assume the south end of the landing area began just on the north side of the tracks.”



The site of Lindbergh Field was commemorated by a historical plaque placed on the west side of the site by Boy Scouts in 1995.



A 5/8/20 photo looking northeast at the marker which commemorates the site of Lindbergh Field.



A 2022 aerial view of Springfield Airport / Bosa Field site, annotated by John Fuller.

John Fuller noted, “The abandoned railroad right-of-way is evidenced by the discoloration of the crop. The brick memorial sits about 500' north of the tracks.”



Thanks to John Fuller for pointing out this airfield.

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Belleville Airport, Belleville, IL

38.579, -89.988 (East of St. Louis, MO)

Belleville Airport, as depicted on the May 1945 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

Photo of the airport has not been located.



According to Ed Whinnery, “Local newspapers indicate that the Belleville Airport was in operation during the years 1941-1953.

It is possible that it started operations as a Restricted Landing Area (RLA) field.”



Belleville Airport was not yet depicted on the May 1944 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.



According to Ed Whinnery, “On 7/11/44 a Belleville group interested in commercial aviation announced that it had received permission

from the IL State Aeronautics Commission to set up a 75-acre 2-runway airport 4 miles north of Belleville.

The sponsors said the airport with sod runways would be ready for operation in about 2 weeks.

Announcement by the group of the formation Belleville Airport, Inc., with a capitalization of $30,000, and of plans for the field,

were made when officers of the corporation were elected at a meeting at Belleville.

Dewey Holland, until recently an instructor at Shiloh Valley Airport, near Scott Field, was elected President.

Construction of a hangar at the airport site, on Highway 159, started yesterday.

Grading of 2 runways, 2,200' long, will be completed this week.

The group has 4 small passenger planes, and plans to begin operation immediately training pilots & making charter flights.”



The earliest depiction which has been located of Belleville Airport was on the May 1945 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

Ed Whinnery noted, “This chart shows the airport located southeast of the junction of Highway 50 & Highway 159.”



In contrast to the 1945 depiction, a 1953 map (courtesy of Ed Whinnery) depicted Belleville Airport slightly to the west, to the southwest of the intersection of Highway 50 & Highway 159.



According to Ed Whinnery, “On 9/30/49 it was announced that an air show would be held Saturday & Sunday at the Belleville Airport.

Featured at the air show would be the 4 Cole brothers, one of whom was voted as aerobatic champion of the world in a poll of commercial pilots.

Included in the 10 acts put on by the barnstorming group are trio formation flying & acrobatics, duo maneuvers,

a solo display by one of the smallest stunt planes in the business & a man-on-the-wing act.

All 4 of the brothers, Duane Lester, Arnold & Marion flew with the armed services in the war.

Duane is the holder of world’s record in a plane flown upside down

and Marion who will do the solo stunting, was voted as the top aerobatic flyer by the commercial pilots polled by the Aeronautic Society of America.”



According to Ed Whinnery, “On 4/26/50 it was announced that Belleville Airport's east/west runway was unsafe for use during wet weather.”



According to Ed Whinnery, “In September 1950 the city of Belleville considered constructing a municipal airport suitable for feeder line & cargo planes.

The present privately-owned Belleville Airport could be purchased for $125,000.

The field occupied 180 acres on Highway 159. It had one hangar & a shop & 2 sod runways.

The city later decided not to establish a municipal airport.”



According to Ed Whinnery, “On 3/14/52 Bellville Alderman Calvin Isselhardt, a Navy reservist, announced that he had been ordered to report for extended active duty.

Isselhardt, 30 years old, served 3.5 years in World War II as a Navy flying instructor.

He was manager of the Belleville Airport at the time.”

This presumably may have been the end of operations of Belleville Airport.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Belleville Airport was on the December 1952 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.

It depicted Belleville Airport as having a 3,300' unpaved runway.



Belleville Airport was evidently closed by 1953, as it was no longer depicted on the June 1953 Cincinnati Sectional Chart

or the 1954 USGS topo map.



A 1988 aerial view showed no trace of Belleville Airport, with the area having been heavily redeveloped.



A 2016 aerial view showed no trace remaining of Belleville Airport.



Thanks to Ed Whinnery for pointing out this airfield.

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Collinsville Airport / Downtown Airpark, Collinsville, IL

38.655, -90.054 (East of St. Louis, MO)

Collinsville Airport, as depicted in an undated aerial photo from a circa 1959-61 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



According to Ed Whinnery, “I don’t know when the airport first opened,

but the Collinsville Airport was listed in the 1953 IL Airport Directory as a Restricted Landing Area (RLA) field.

The owner at the time was Ardell Davinroy. The north/south runway was 1,400’.”



Collinsville Airport was not yet depicted on the June 1955 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.



The runway length of Collinsville Airport had decreased slightly to 1,200' in the 1958 IL Airport Directory (according to Ed Whinnery).



According to Ed Whinnery, “On 12/30/58 the Collinsville RLA field became Collinsville Airport, a privately-owned public[-use] airport.

Claud Cleveland, owner & operator, received a commercial certificate of operation issued by the State of IL Department of Aeronautics.

The airport consisted of 135 acres fronting U.S. Highways 40-66.

Installations were to include a 3,300' all-weather strip, a shop, operations office, tiedown area & repair & refueling facilities.

Plans called for a second strip, which was under construction, lighting for night flying & individual T-hangars for private planes.

Cleveland, a former Collinsville automobile dealer & flying enthusiast, had obtained a sales agency for Cessna aircraft & would provide flight instruction.”



The earliest photo which has been located of Collinsville Airport was an undated aerial photo from a circa 1959-61 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

It depicted Collinsville Airport as having a 2,000' paved north/south runway, and a 1,900' unpaved northwest/southeast crosswind runway.

Several light aircraft were parked on the northwest side, but no buildings were visible.

The directory listed the owner as Claude Cleveland & the manager as Ken Cothern.



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Collinsville Airport was on the January 1960 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.

It depicted Collinsville Airport as having a single north/south paved 2,000' runway.



According to Ed Whinnery, the airport was “renamed St. Louis Downtown Airpark in 1963.”



An undated aerial view of Collinsville Airport from the 1966 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

It listed the operator/manager as S.W. Sisk. The north/south runway had been extended to 2,800’ at some point between 1962–66.

There wee at least 25 light aircraft visible tied down.



The 1968 USGS topo map depicted Downtown Airpark as having a north/south paved runway & an unpaved northwest/southeast runway.






An October 1968 aerial view looking north at St. Louis Downtown Airpark (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

Ed Whinnery noted, “The northwest/southeast runway was not in use in 1968 & 1969.”



An October 1968 photo of a U.S. Army National Guard de Havilland U-6A (DHC-2) Beaver landing towards the south at St. Louis Downtown Airpark (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

The aircraft next to the hangar appears to be a North American Harvard AT-6.



Jim Meyer recalled, “The airport (I remember it from the late 1960s) used to be located right across the street (to the south) from the old Grandpas Store.”



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Downtown Airpark was on the September 1969 St Louis Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ron Plante).

The length of the paved runway had increased slightly to 2,800'.



Downtown Airpark was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1968-74.

as it was no longer depicted on the 1974 St Louis Sectional Chart.



The last depiction which has been located of Downtown Airpark was on the 1985 USGS topo map.



A 1988 USGS aerial view looking southeast at the site of Downtown Airpark showed the paved runway remains were quite deteriorated,

and a building had been built over the north end of the runway.



A 2015 aerial view looking southeast showed the majority of the site of Downtown Airpark remained clear.



The site of Downtown Airpark is located southeast of the intersection of Collinsville Road & Ramey Drive.



Thanks to Jim Meyer for pointing out this airfield.

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Central Airport, Centralia, IL

38.58, -89.12 (East of St. Louis, MO)

Central Airport (north of Centralia), as depicted on the 1947 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jerry Spear).



This small general aviation airport on the north side of Centralia was evidently established at some point between 1946-47

(like hundreds of other small airports in the post-WW2 general aviation boom),

as it was not yet depicted on the October 1946 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dick Merrill).



The earliest depiction which has been located of Central Airport was on the 1947 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jerry Spear).

Note that it also depicted the very similarly-named Centralia Airport only a few miles to the southeast, which must have caused confusion.



The last depiction which has been located of Central Airport was on the June 1955 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.

It depicted Central Airport as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.



A 1955 aerial photo did not show any recognizable sign of Central Airport.



Central Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1955-60,

as it was no longer depicted on the January 1960 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.



A 1966 USGS aerial view did not depict any recognizable trace of Central Airport.



Central Airport was no longer depicted on the 1971 USGS topo map.



A 2015 aerial view showed that the presumed site of Central Airport – the north/south field, remained clear.

There did not appear to be any airport-related buildings remaining on the site.



The site of Central Airport is located southwest of the terminus of County Road 750 North & Old 51st Street.



Thanks to Jerry Spear for pointing out this airfield.

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Cyril Lebert Airport / Flying L Airport (3H5), Lebanon, IL

38.59, -89.8 (East of St. Louis, MO)

Cyril Lebert Airport, as depicted on the May 1945 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.



According to Ed Whinnery, “An eleven-year old local boy saw his first airplane in 1917, and it was love at first sight.

The plane was one of the first to locate at the new U.S. Army base known as Scott Field. The boy’s name was Henry Lebert.

After school every day & his newspapers all delivered, he would ride his bicycle to a point about 2 miles southwest of Lebanon to view the dirigibles & biplanes flying in the area.

Henry had a dream of being part of this exciting thing called aviation.

Henry attended Parks Air College, where he was graduated in 1929, taking all 23 of the required courses & soloing at the flight school in a Travel Air OX-5 biplane.

Henry learned to pack parachutes while attending Parks Air College at Cahokia.

He received a CAA rating of Master Parachute Rigger & Instructor.

Over the years, he packed ‘chutes for many famous aviators including Col James Doolittle of Tokyo Raid fame.

Col. Doolittle flew for Shell Oil Co. at the time of their association.

Lebert did a lot of flying in the 1930s & always dreamed of owning his own airport.

The advent of World War II put his dream on hold until after the duration.”



Lebert Airport was not yet depicted on the 1943 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.



Ed continued, “It was during 1943, as a Navy instructor, that Henry noticed a farm south of Lebanon that had come up for sale.

It consisted of 175 acres & was located at Route 4 (then numbered 43) & South Street (now Southern Drive), just across the B&O railroad tracks.

Henry had planned to install his brother Cyril as the manager of his airport when the war ended.

Cyril was a T/SGT in the US Army Air Force & served as a radio operator on a Boeing B-17-G Flying Fortress.

Cyril was killed when his bomber was hit by enemy flak & crashed near Vlessendijk, Raalte, Holland on 1/11/44.

Despite this loss, plans continued to get the airport open as soon as possible.

On 12/8/44, Henry received permission from the state of IL Aeronautics Commission to start his airport on the Lebert farm.”



The earliest depiction which has been located of Cyril Lebert Airport was on the May 1945 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.



According to Ed Whinnery, “By mid-1945, as WWII was winding down, 2 turf runways, consisting of a 2,200' north/south strip & an 1,800' east/west strip

wide were laid out & two 3-place hangars & one large hangar that was used as an aircraft rebuilding & repair shop were built.

By this time, aircraft fuel had become plentiful again & was on hand in time for opening day.

Everything was in place as fall arrived. The Cyril Lebert Airport was open for business as a public / general aviation airport.”



Ed continued, “The airport manager would be Carl Coley, a former Army instructor; Jay Williams operated the flying service;

Robert Willard & Leonard Nevener would manage the rebuilding & repair shop.

The Ideal Parachute Loft operated by Henry was also included in the operation.

Parachutes were packed on a regular basis & delivered to airports all over Southern IL.”



Ed continued, “The airport office & hangars were located on the northwest side of the field.

The airport offered flight training, 80 octane fuel, minor mechanical repair, passenger rides, aircraft charter & rental services, and aircraft tie-down & hangar rental.

The airport was also home to 2 aircraft dealerships, for Ercoupe & Stinson planes.

Like hundreds of other small airports in the post-WW2 aviation boom, there was no airport beacon, control tower, runway lights or radio.

The pilots had to be alert and take a visual check for other air traffic when taking off & landing.”



An Autumn 1945 aerial view looking northwest at Cyril Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A 6/14/46 USGS aerial view showed Cyril Lebert Airport to have 2 perpendicular grass runways,

with 3 single-engine aircraft visible on the northwest side of the field, and another on the north/south runway.



A 1946 photo of Lew Whinnery & a flying school Piper J3 Cub at the Cyril Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A February 1947 view of a Winter scene at Cyril Lebert Airport, looking east at a Curtiss Robin & Piper Cubs (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A February 1947 photo looking south at a Winter scene at Cyril Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

Ed Whinnery observed, “The poster on the tree says 'Attention Veterans', for flight training under the G.I. Bill.

The sign on the building says 'Office'. Shell aviation fuel pump inside the fence.

The small building on the right had a 'Restroom' sign: fancy name for an outhouse!”



A 2/8/47 advertising card from the Lebanon Flying Service (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A 7/22/47 photo of flight instructors in front of a Waco biplane at the Cyril Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A circa mid-1940s advertisement for Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A circa 1947 view looking north at the Cyril Lebert Airport, showing the airport office, large hangar, 3 other hangars and the workshop (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

Eight aircraft are on the field & one is in the main workshop. Aircraft are Waco, Piper Cubs & a Luscombe.



A circa late 1940s newspaper ad for Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A circa late 1940s photo of an unidentified young lady in front of a Piper J-3 Cub at Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A circa late 1940s photo of the large hangar (“Hangar 1”) that also functioned as a workshop with “Lebert” painted on the roof

and “Cyril Lebert Airport Inc, Lebanon Illinois” on the south side of the hangar (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

The white structure in the background was the parachute drying tower.



A circa late 1940s photo of a shiny natural metal Ercoupe at Cyril Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery),

with the airport office building & large hangar in the background.



A 1948 photo of Lew Whinnery & his Curtiss Robin B (marked with “Ideal Parachute Service”) at Cyril Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



The business card for Ideal Parachute Service, Cyril Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A circa 1949 photo of Lew Whinnery (center) & a Mooney Mite at Cyril Lebert Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



Ed continued, “A restaurant was opened in the old house that sat on the property, the former Gartside home,

and was managed by Loretta Wick & later on by Fay & Edna Battoe.

The airport qualified under the G.I. Bill of Rights, and it wasn’t long before more than 40 students were registered in the flight program.

There was no shortage of students, all airports in the metro-east area offered flight instruction.

Piper J-3 Cubs were used for flight training.

Other pilots at the airport included Lewis 'Lew' Whinnery, who operated an aerial photography business & also delivered the freshly-packed parachutes.”



The 1949 USGS topo map depicted Cyril Lebert Airport as having 2 perpendicular unpaved runways, labeled simply as “Landing Field”,

with several buildings along the north side.



Ed continued, “The Lebanon Civil Air Patrol Squadron met at Lebert Airport on Sunday afternoons.

In 1947, a new manager was named for the airport, Phil Zimpani, a former instructor of Wings of Mercy Airport at Belleville.

Carl Coley, the former manager, left to open Club 50, a tavern on West St. Louis.

Mr. Zimpani stayed on as manager until 1949, when he left to move back to his home state of OH.

He was replaced by Earl Shaffer, who remained until 1953 when the flight service was sold to the Ahring family of Collinsville.

The restaurant closed in 1951.

A senior squadron [Civil Air Patrol] existed in 1952.”



The 1953 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Whinnery) depicted Lebert Airport as having 2 perpendicular grass runways.

But Ed Whinnery reported, “The correct length of the East/West runway was 1,800 feet.”



An undated aerial view of Cyril Lebert Airport from the 1958 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

Ed Whinnery observed, “The East/West runway was no longer shown.

The office building & hangars were located on the northwest side of the property.”



A circa 1958-59 photo looking north at a Piper Cub in front of Cyril Lebert Airport's main hangar/workshop (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

Ed Whinnery observed, “It appears that the building hasn’t been painted since it was built in 1945. The wording 'Cyril Lebert' is completely faded.”



A circa 1958-59 photo looking west at a Bellanca Cruisemaster 230, model 14-19-2, in front of Cyril Lebert Airport's office building (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).

Ed Whinnery recalled, “My family flew in this plane to Alexandria, MN, where we lived at the time.”



Ed Whinnery continued, “The Ahring family remained until 1958 when their son, Orville, was killed by a B&O train at the former South Herman Street crossing.

Richard Hollenkamp took over as airport manager after Orville Ahring’s death. After several years of short-term managers, Henry closed the airport.

By 1959, after several years of short-term managers, aviation was changing.

No longer was it profitable to operate small general aviation airports.

The G.I. Bill of Rights ended in the mid-1950s, slowing the flow of new students.

The new FAA rules also made public airport operations more difficult.

Henry Lebert decided to close Cyril Lebert Airport in 1959 or 1960.”



However, Ed Whinnery reported that it “changed to a private restricted airport which was known as Lebert Flying L Airport.

Lebert retained ownership. When Lebert closed the Cyril Lebert Airport,

he moved it further south on his farm & it was changed from a public general aviation airport to a private restricted airport & renamed the Lebert Flying L Airport.

The turf runway was also relocated & it ran northeast/southwest.

The only services provided were hangar & tie-down rental.

The airport had a single turf northeast/southwest 1,600' runway (also reported as 1,700' & 1,800').

The FAA assigned the airport identifier code 3H5.

New T-hangars were built, and outside tie-downs were installed.

The airport was very popular, for there were still many private pilots in the bi-county area, many of whom had learned to fly at the Cyril Lebert Airport.

Many fun times were held at the airport, with chilli cook-off & mulligan held annually.

These were always popular, for they brought in many pilot visitors who flew in to enjoy the food & the fun.”



A circa early 1960s photo of a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser in front of a Flying L Airport hangar (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



Ed Whinnery continued, “By the end of the 1960s, the Lebert Flying L Airport had 2 hangars without doors.

The wooden framework was covered with galvanized corrugated sheet metal.

The original hangers were placed in an 'L' shape; the east/west hangar had place for 3 aircraft, and the north/south hangar had place for only 1 aircraft.

There was a small pilot lounge at the west end of the east-west hangar.”



A circa 1960s photo by Ed Whinnery of a Funk touching down toward the northeast at Flying L Airport.



Ed Whinnery continued, “It was common in the mid to late 1960s that on Saturdays or Sundays

several aircraft would take off & fly in formation to the Civic Memorial Airport at East Alton where the crews would have coffee & brunch.

I’m sure that the flights continued during the 1980s.

I remember flying to Civic Memorial several times with my dad in the mid & late 1960s.”



The 1968 USGS topo map still labeled the airport as “Cyril Lebert Airport”,

with with its new runway configuration of a single unpaved northeast/southwest runway, with a few small buildings on the south side.



A 1968 aerial view looking northwest depicted 3 light single-engine aircraft parked near the Flying L Airport hangars (courtesy of Mike Denja).



A 1968 photo of Lew & Jim Whinnery touching up after painting Lew’s Piper Super Cruiser PA-12 at Flying L Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A 4/20/69 photo by Tom Lebert of Lew Whinnery with his Piper Super Cruiser at Flying L Airport, with Tom Lebert Jr sitting on the tire (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Lebert Airport was on the August 1969 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.

It depicted “Leberts” as a private airfield with a 1,900' unpaved runway.



Ed Whinnery continued, “Lew Whinnery was probably the first pilot to land & take off from the Flying L Airport in a twin-engine [plane],

flying a Piper Apache (Model PA-23) during the late 1960s or early 1970s.”



A sad photo by Tom Lebert of Bill Dickerson’s damaged Stearman after being flipped on its back during a 6/19/73 storm with 70 mph winds at Flying L Airport.

Ed Whinnery recalled, “The storm also tore off part of the roof on one of the hangars.”



Ed Whinnery continued, “Runway lights were installed in the early 1970s.

Pilots would click their radio microphones on a designated frequency to turn the lights on & off.

There was an 'Airport' sign on Route 4 for many years directing motorists to the airport,

but this was removed in the mid-1970s at the recommendation of Henry’s insurance agent.”



Ed Whinnery continued, “A sign on the outside wall of the pilots lounge reminded pilots:

RESTRICTED

Left traffic pattern

Alt. 440 ft Use at own risk

No commercial operations

No aerobatics or buzzing

No touch and go

WATCH FOR SCOTT TRAFFIC”



By the mid-1970s the original north/south hangar was expanded to store 2 additional aircraft & a new east/west 3-place hangar was built.

Outside tie-downs were increased for a total of 20 airplanes.”



An April 1975 aerial view by Joe Whinnery looking southeast at Lebert Flying L Airport.

Ed Whinnery observed, “Notice the 'Lebert' & the winged 'L' on the barn roof.”



An April 1975 aerial view by Joe Whinnery looking southwest on final for Lebert Flying L Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



A beautiful April 1975 photo by Joe Whinnery of the Stearman biplane owned & piloted by Bill Dickerson

coming in for a landing while people in front of the Flying L Airport pilots' lounge watch (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



An April 1975 photo by Joe Whinnery of a Globe Swift landing at Flying L Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



An April 1975 aerial view by Joe Whinnery looking east at Flying L Airport (courtesy of Ed Whinnery).



The 1977 USGS topo map labeled it as Flying L Airport.



The last photo which has been located showing aircraft at Lebert Flying L Airport

was an August 1979 photo by Ed Whinnery of the airport dog, Lew Whinnery, Henry Lebert and Joe Whinnery outside the pilot lounge.



An August 1979 photo by Ed Whinnery of the “Home of the Lebanon Air Force” sign on the Lebert Flying L Airport pilot lounge.



According to Ed Whinnery, “Although the airport was expanding & was popular among the pilots during the 1970s & 1980s, there were dark clouds on the horizon.

Nearby MidAmerica Airport (KBLV) was constructed

and increased air traffic at the Lebert Airport was causing friction with Scott Air Force Base as the airport was within the airspace controlled by SAFB.

Also, plans for a proposed Route 50/4 bypass would cut across the northern end of the turf runway, which would force the airport to close in the future.

By 1991, with Henry’s health deteriorating, he decided it was time to close the airport.

The decision to close the airport didn’t come easy for someone who has dedicated most of his life pursuing & realizing his dream.

He sold his farm & airport property in 1998.”



The 1991 USGS topo map depicted the Flying L Airport

as having a single unpaved northeast/southwest runway, with a few small buildings on the south side.



Ed Whinnery reported, “In 1992, Henry Lebert was honored by Parks Air College as the oldest (age 86) living graduate of his 1929 graduating class.

He was also a member of the OX-5 Club of America, a group of people who flew, rebuilt, or serviced OX-5 engines prior to 1940.

Henry died on 3/26/99, 92 years old.

'OX-5 Pioneer' is inscribed on his headstone in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Lebanon.”



A circa 2010 aerial view looking south at the south side of the site of the Flying L Airport showed a hangar remained (the building on the right),

whereas the building on the left was a post-airfield addition.



A 2014 aerial view shows that one hangar remains on the south side of the site of Flying L Airport, which is otherwise unrecognizable as a former airport.

All of the older airport buildings on the northwest side, from the original Cyril Lebert Airport have been removed.



Ed Whinnery observed in 2015, “All of the former airport buildings on the field have been removed, with the exception of the east/west 3-place hangar.

The runway has been returned to cultivation. All that remains are many fond memories.”



The site of Lebert Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Southern Drive & Route 4.



Thanks to Ed Whinnery for pointing out this airfield.

____________________________________________________



WLS Airport, Williamson, IL

38.98, -89.75 (Northeast of St. Louis, MO)

A circa 1946 photo of an Aeronca at WLS Airport, with a building under construction (courtesy of Jack Abercrombie).



According to Livingston IL History (courtesy of Jack Abercrombie), “In 1946 a group of 5 men,

Ted Dworzynski, John Bellovich, Elmer France, Arthur Coalson, and John Repovsch, planned to build an airport & flying school.

It was located on John Repovsch’s land a quarter of a mile north of the Route 66 overpass over the Big Four Railroad.

It encompassed 80 acres & was east of Mt. Olive & Staunton Coal Mine #2.

In February 1946, the Illinois Department of Aeronautics approved the plan.

It was named W.L.S. Airport; the initials designating Williamson, Livingston and Staunton, the 3 adjoining communities.

By 6/13/46 four airplanes were available for passenger service.

One was a [surplus] PT-23 Army primary training plane & one a Navy Timion training plane.”



WLS Airport was not yet depicted on the October 1946 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.



Livingston IL History continued, “One Sunday in October 1946, an air show was held at the airport which included the following:

Formation Flying, Leonard Brown of Staunton former Army pilot, Bombing Practice,

Comic Stunt Flying, Felix Revello of Wilsonville former Army pilot, Ted Soper, well-known stunt pilot,

Parachute Jump by Flash Kelly, known as 'The Greatest'.

Admission fee was 75 cents for adults & 25 cents for children.

Fifty cents of the adult price could be applied to a $2 airplane ride after the show or anytime within 30 days.”



Livingston IL History continued, “On 9/1/47, Labor Day, the W.L.S. had a formal opening.

An afternoon of flying exhibition, stunts, glider flights, parachute jumps & bombing was held with 3 men from Springfield participating –

Jimmy Graham, Arthur Treppler and Norman Bruckner.

A fish fry was held in the afternoon & evening.

In the evening a dance was held in the big hangar with Louis Baldoni & his Vets furnishing the music.”



A 1948 advertisement for WLS Airport (courtesy of Jack Abercrombie) proclaimed that it was “under new management”

and “will be open every day beginning 1/17/48.”



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of WLS Airport was on the June 1950 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.

It depicted WLS as having a 2,800' unpaved runway.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of WLS Airport was on the December 1952 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.

It depicted WLS as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.



The last depiction which has been located of WLS Airport was on the 1954 USGS topo map,

which depicted a single north/south runway to the east of Williamson, labeled simply as “Airfield”.



WLS Airport was evidently closed by 1955, as it was no longer depicted on the June 1955 Cincinnati Sectional Chart,

nor on the 1958 USGS topo map.



By the time of a 1968 aerial photo, there was no recognizable trace at the site of WLS Airport,

with the property having reverted to a farm field.



A 2012 aerial view showed no trace remaining of WLS Airport.



The site of WLS Airport is located east of the terminus of 3rd Street.



Thanks to Jack Abercrombie for pointing out this airfield.

____________________________________________________



Lakeview Airport / Lakeside Airport / Nichols Airport, Granite City, IL

38.7, -90.07 (East of St. Louis, MO)

A 1941 aerial view of Lakeside Airport (from the Illinois Natural Resources Geospatial Data Clearinghouse, courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



Chuck Midyett recalled of Lakeside Airport, “Mom & Dad opened the doors on 7/15/40.”



According to the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum (courtesy of Jack Abercrombie),

"In 1940, Chub & Bill Hart moved their flying school to Lakeside Airport when Parks Air College expanded its pilot training to Curtiss-Steinberg Airport.”



However Lakeside Airport was not yet depicted at all on the January 1941 Kansas City Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).



The earliest depiction which has been located of Lakeside Airport

was a a 1941 aerial view (from the Illinois Natural Resources Geospatial Data Clearinghouse, courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Lakeside as having 2 grass runways, with several small hangars & 10 light aircraft on the west side of the field.



A circa 1940s photo of Chub Wheeler's Fairchild 24, likely taken at Lakeside Airport (courtesy of Jack Abercrombie).



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Lakeside Airport

was on the October 1942 Kansas City Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Lakeside as a commercial/municipal airport.



A 9/26/43 aerial view looking west from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock)

depicted Lakeside Airport as having 3 runways, with several hangars along the west side.



The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Lakeside Airport

as a 154 acre square-shaped field having 3 sod runways, the longest being the 2,500' north/south strip.

Lakeside was said to have 3 metal hangars, the largest measuring 100' x 60'.

The field was described as being owned & operated by private interests.



The 9/27/05 issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch had an article

entitled “Lakeside Airport has plows instead of planes on its runway” by Rick Pierce.

It said that when Omar Midyett operated the airport following World War II, as many as 100 aircraft were based there,

according to a study conducted by Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Consulting Engineers.



Lakeside Airport, as depicted on a 1952 road map (courtesy of Kevin Walsh).



Pamela Hines recalled, “Lakeview Airport...When I was a child my great uncle William Brown owned it.

I have photographs of them standing in front of the facility with 'Brown Aviation' in bold letters.

I was born in 1958 & our family went there when I was a child.”



An undated aerial photo of Lakeside Airport from the 1962 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).

Lakeside Airport had evidently gained a paved runway at some point between 1941-62,

as the directory depicted the field as having 3 turf runways,

including a 2,600' turf north/south runway within which was inset a 1,700' bituminous strip.

A total of almost 50 light aircraft were visible parked on the west side of the field.

The operator & manager was listed as Omar Midyett.



The airport was listed as “Lakeview Airport” in the 1966 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The 1966 directory had the same photo of the field as had been used in the 1962 directory.

The operator was listed as J & S Flying Service,

and the managers were listed as William Jennings & Ed Shafer.



Sheila O’Neil recalled, “My sister & I spent many wonderful years at Lakeside in Granite City.

My parents, Rick & Phyllis Reynolds, were the Fixed-Base Operator on the airport & we worked the business as a family.

My father was a flight instructor, and our family ran fundraisers called Penny-a-Pound Airplane Rides. Everyone would step on a scale & pay their weight.

It was so popular that we often had 5 or 6 planes in the air & long lines of those waiting their turn.

It was always a good fundraiser for the Church or charity it supported.

Even now it’s mentioned by those who went on their first airplane rides in the mid-to-late-1960s.”



Chris Greer remembered the old Lakeside Airport when the Blue Angels performed there,

when he & his father landed a twin-engine Douglas DC-3 on one of the 3 runways

and when dozens of aircraft were based there.



Chuck Midyett recalled of Lakeside Airport, “We operated until July of 1966.”



The February 1967 Kansas City Sectional Chart depicted Lakeview Airport as having a 2,900' unpaved runway.



Lakeview Airport was no longer depicted on the or the August 1967 Kansas City Sectional Chart,

the 1968 USGS topo map, or the September 1969 St. Louis Sectional Chart.



The 1971 St. Louis Sectional Chart once again depicted the airport, but under the name of Lakeside.



The airport was renamed Nichols Airport after being purchased by Bill Nichols.



The 1974 St. Louis Sectional Chart depicted Nichols as a private airfield having a 1,800' north/south paved runway.



The 1974 USGS topo map depicted “Nickols Landing Field” as having 2 unpaved runways & a few small buildings on the west side.



The 1985 USGS topo map depicted the “Nickols Landing Field” as having 2 runways: north/south & northwest/southeast.



Bill Nichol's heirs eventually sold the property to the Madison County Transit District.



An article entitled “Madison Transit Agency to Buy Nichols Airport” by Lee Conrad

in the 10/9/95 issue of the St. Louis Business Journal said:

“The Madison County Transit Authority plans to spend $455,000 later this month

to buy Nichols Airport in an unincorporated area between Granite City & Collinsville on the east side of Horseshoe Lake.

The 150-acre airport, formerly known as Lakeside Airport, has only about 6 planes,

a grass runway & dilapidated hangars, said Jerry Kane, managing director of the transit district.

The East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, a regional planning agency,

recommended the acquisition to make Nichols a public airport as part of its master aviation plan.

The Airport Improvement Fund, a federal funding source, can be used for publicly owned airports only, Kane said.

The district plans to improve the facility with a hardtop runway & new hangars, he said.

The airport's proximity to Downtown St. Louis

and the fact that it has clear approaches from all directions led East-West Gateway to its conclusion that the airport

could become a big part of the area's aviation system by handling future demand if it became a publicly owned airport.

It also will help the entire region with development, said local officials.

'The acquisition of Nichols Airport is essential to Madison County's future development,' said County Chairman Nelson Hagnauer.

Granite City Mayor Ron Selph said as development on the Missouri side of the area

extends farther west & away from downtown St. Louis,

the Metro East will become more attractive to developers, he said.

'Maybe they'll start looking east & develop on this side of the river”, he said.”



However, by the time the county bought the site, activity at the airport had already declined.

A November 1995 photo showed just 4 aircraft at the facility & a few buildings.



Jerry Kane, the head of Madison County Transit, which owns the site,

says the push for the airport came from former Madison County Board Chairman Nelson Hagnauer,

who at the time was also the head of the transit district.

However, Morris Chapman, a longtime attorney in Granite City who kept his plane for years at the old Lakeside Airport,

says the death of Hagnauer in 1996 doomed the project.

"Hagnauer was contemplating making a real airport out of it," Chapman said.

"Then he died, and the county lost interest in it."



Two factors grounded the project, according to Jerry Kane.

One was the need to obtain additional property - in addition to the 150-acre airport site - to make longer runways.

The second was a cutback in federal funding for such projects.



In the 1998 USGS aerial photo, a total of only 3 light aircraft were still visible on Nichols Airport.



Jerry Kane said the transit district tried to sell the airport in about 2000.

However, the buyer could not obtain the necessary financing & the deal collapsed, he said.



Unfortunately the 2003 USGS aerial photo showed that Nichols Airport had been closed at some point between 1998-2003,

with all of the former airport buildings on the west side of the field having been removed as well.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Lakeside Airport was on the December 2004 St. Louius Sectional Chart.

It depicted Lakeside-Nichols as a private airfield having an 1,800' paved north/south runway.



According to the article in the 9/27/05 issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,

“Today, all that remains is a lone grass runway & patches of pavement punched through with weeds.

Chris Greer says his father has tried for years to revive interest in the facility

and even had fliers and signs printed up that read 'Save Lakeside Airport'.

Meanwhile, the transit district continues to hold on to the property.

Kane said the land continues to appreciate in value -

and will be worth more to the transit district than if the money spent on the land had been invested.

A man farms the property and, in return, keeps the front of the property & the old runway mowed.

Dan Corbett, a longtime member of the transit district's governing board,

says the board has no plan to turn the site back into an airport or to sell it in the immediate future.”



A circa 2007 aerial view looking north, showing a car parked over the foundation of the former hangar at the site of Lakeside Airport.



The June 2018 St. Louis Sectional Chart no longer depicted Nichols Airfield.



The site of Lakeside Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Horseshoe Lake Road & Route 111.



Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this airfield.

____________________________________________________



Springfield Commercial Airport / Springfield Municipal Airport / Southwest Airport, Springfield, IL

39.75, -89.69 (Southwest of Chicago, IL)

A 6/12/28 aerial view looking northwest at Springfield Airport during the 'Reckless' Rex Murphy air show sponsored by the Illinois State Journal & the Springfield Aviation Company.



The date of construction of the Springfield Airport on the southwest side of the town has not been determined.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Springfield Commercial Airport

was a 6/12/28 aerial view looking northwest during the 'Reckless' Rex Murphy air show sponsored by the Illinois State Journal & the Springfield Aviation Company.

It depicted hundreds of cars parked along the south side of the airfield, with a hangar along the east side.



A 6/29/28 photo of Josephine Trowbridge, Miss Springfield of 1928, with Springfield Aviation Company co-owner Craig Isbell & an unidentified biplane at the Springfield Airport celebration of Air Mail Week.

Isbell took Trowbridge on a biplane flight as part of the event. Trowbridge was elected Miss Springfield in a vote open to local bus & street car riders.



The Springfield Airport on the southwest side of the town was not yet depicted on the 1929 Air Corps Strip Map (courtesy of John Fuller),

which instead depicted the predecessor Springfield Airport to the northwest of the town.



A circa 1930-32 photo of Phantom 1, the sole Nicolas-Beazley NB-R NR1W at Southwest Airport.



An 11/11/31 photo of the 1st blimp to land at Springfield's Commercial Airport (from the IL Digital Archive).

It depicted a grass airfield, with a hangar & several other buildings in the background.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Springfield Commercial Airport was on the March 1933 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.

It depicted Springfield Commercial Airport as a commercial/municipal airport located southwest of the town.



The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

described Springfield as a commercial airport, located 3.5 miles southwest of the town.

The field was said to consist of a rectangular 2,500' x 2,600' sod landing area.



A 1934 aerial view looking southwest (from the IL Digital Archive, courtesy of Mark Hess) depicted Southwest Airport as having 2 runways in an X-shape,

with a ramp with several buildings on the east side of the field.



A 5/1/35 photo looking northeast at the hangars & office of the Springfield Southwest Airport (courtesy of Mike Denja).



A 1939 aerial photo (from the Access IL Historical Aerial Photography collection, via Chris Kennedy)

depicted Springfield Municipal Airport as having 2 runways in an X-shape, with a ramp with several buildings on the east side of the field.



A 9/15/40 photo of the a Taylorcraft & an Ercoupe in front of a Springfield Aviation Company hangar (from the IL Digital Archive).



An undated aerial view looking northeast at Springfield Municipal Airport from The Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The airport had been improved somewhat with shale runways, as the directory described Springfield Municipal as having 2 shale runways: 3,080' northwest/southeast & 2,850' northeast/southwest.

Two other unpaved runways were also visible in the aerial photo, and several hangars were depicted on the east side of the field.



Springfield Airport was depicted as a commercial or municipal airport on the April 1943 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



A circa 1942-45 aerial view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock)

depicted Springfield Airport as having 2 runways, with several hangars along the east side.



A December 1944 photo of flight student Sue Cole (student) & Springfield Aviation Company flight instructor J. W. Marsh with a ski-equipped Taylorcraft BL at Springfield Airport.



The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Springfield Airport

as a 159 acre irregularly-shaped field having a total of 5 shale or sod runways, the longest being the 3,080' east/west sod strip.

Springfield was said to have 5 steel hangars, the largest measuring 80' square.

The field was described as being owned & operated by private interests.



The 1945 Haire Publishing Company Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)

said the field was owned & operated by the Springfield Aviation Company,

and the airport managers were Graig (sic) Isbell & Gelder Lockwood.



It was still labeled "Springfield" on the October 1946 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).



However, the airport was apparently renamed "Southwest" at some point in the next 2 years,

as that is how it was labeled on the September 1948 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The airport's name was probably changed to differentiate it from the larger former military airport to the north of Springfield,

which had become available for civilian use.

Southwest Airport was depicted as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.



The 1950 USGS topo map depicted Southwest Municipal Airport as having 2 paved runways & several buildings on the east side.



The 1954 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Lee Corbin)

depicted Southwest Airport as having two 2,430' runways, and a set of buildings on the east side.



An undated aerial view of Southwest Airport from the 1956 IL Airport Directory (from the University of IL, courtesy of Daniel McGill).

It depicted Southwest Airport as having two 2,430' turf runways, oriented northwest/southeast & northeast/southwest.

Several hangars were depicted on a ramp on the east side of the field, along with several light aircraft parked on the ramp.

The operator was listed as listed as Springfield Aircraft Sales & Service, and the manager was listed as John Brandis.



The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Southwest Airport as having a 3,190' turf Runway 4/22 & a 3,180' turf Runway 11/29.

Several hangars were depicted along the ramp on the east side of the field.



The December 1961 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Southwest Airport as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.



The last photo which has been located of Southwest Airport was an undated aerial view in the 1962 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).

It depicted Southwest Airport as having two 2,470' turf & shale runways, oriented northwest/southeast & northeast/southwest.

Several hangars were depicted on a ramp on the east side of the field, along with 8 light aircraft parked on the ramp.

The operator was listed as listed as Springfield Aviation Company, and the manager was listed as Gelder Lockwood.



Southwest Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1962-64,

as it was no longer depicted at all on the February 1964 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).



Springfield Airport was still depicted on the 1969 USGS topo map,

even though it had not been operational already for several years at that point.



Although a 1998 USGS aerial photo showed that the majority of the former airport property had been covered by housing,

surprisingly some of the former airport buildings remained standing on the east side of the site,

including one large hangar that was visible on both the 1941 & 1956 aerial photos.



A circa 2007 aerial view looking east at the 60-year old hangar & other airport buildings remaining on the east side of the site of Springfield Airport.



A circa 2007 photo looking west at the 60-year old hangar & another airport building remaining on the east side of the site of Springfield Airport.



A 5/15/12 aerial photo shows that the former Springfield hangar remained standing on the east side of the property.






A September 2020 photo by Alex Melia looking southwest at the 70-year old hangar remaining on the east side of the site of Springfield Airport.

Alex reported, “The old hangar is still present & looks as if it had been turned into a storefront [“Adventure Hobbies”], but even then the store looks like it has been closed down for some time.”



A September 2020 photo by Alex Melia looking northeast at the 70-year old hangar & other building remaining on the east side of the site of Springfield Airport.

Alex reported, “The rear of the hangar still presents as it does in older photographs. Inside is a tractor & bush hog & the rear grass where part of the runway used to be is very soft & grown with tall grass.

The red brick buildings present in older photos are still around & currently used for other commercial use.”



A September 2020 photo by Alex Melia looking northeast at concrete remains behind the former hangar on the east side of the site of Springfield Airport.

Alex reported, “Telltale signs of airport use still remain with empty concrete pads still holding onto their former selves, possibly holding some sort of windsock or antenna.”



A September 2020 photo by Alex Melia looking south at the former airfield area at the site of Springfield Airport.

Alex reported, “Owners from nearby houses walk their dogs in the grass field, possibly unaware of the history their houses stand on.”



The site of Southwest Airport is located southwest of the intersection of Chatham Road & Westchester Boulevard.

____________________________________________________



Parks College Airport (H72), East St. Louis, IL

38.57, -90.18 (East of St. Louis, MO)

An advertisement for Parks Air College from the 8/25/28 issue of Aviation Magazine (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



Parks College was founded by Oliver L. Parks in 1927, just 2 months after Charles Lindbergh's historic flight,

and was the first certified aviation school in the US.

Mr. Parks believed, prophetically, that aviation had a great future

& very early he saw the need for instruction in aircraft design, maintenance & flight safety.



The fledgling College was determined to raise the standards of aviation education.

In pursuing this end, Parks College became the first federally approved school of aeronautics & today still holds FAA Certificate #1.

In the late 1920s Mr. Parks operated an aircraft factory in conjunction with the school, where Parks' P-1s, P-2s & P-3s were built.



The location of Parks Airport as depicted on the 2/26/29 Commerce Department Airway Bulletin (courtesy of Mike Denja).



The 2/26/29 Commerce Department Airway Bulletin (courtesy of Mike Denja) describe Parks Airport as a commercial airport,

owned by Parks Airlines Inc. & operated by Parks Air College Inc.

It was said to consist of a 100 acre rectangular sod field, measuring 3,000' north/south.

Several buildings were depicted along the northwest side, including 3 hangars.



A 1929 aerial view looking southeast at the Parks Airport, taken during the Gardner Cup Races (courtesy of Shaun Braley).

The airplanes lined up on the right flew in a round-trip race to Indianapolis, which was won by "Speed" Holman in a Whirlwind-Laird.



A circa 1920s photo of students in front of the Parks Air College Administration building.



During the early years, Parks College was an official stop in the famous coast-to-coast air races.

Among the aviation greats who visited the campus were Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes, Jimmy Doolittle, and Eddie Rickenbacker.



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Parks Airport was on the November 1933 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.



A circa 1930s photo of a row of biplanes & a Piper Cub inside a Parks Air College hangar (courtesy of Joel Russell).



A circa 1930s photo of several planes in front of the Parks Air College hangars (courtesy of Joel Russell).



In 1939 Parks was one of the air schools contracted by the Army Air Corps to give elementary flight training to cadets.



A 1940 aerial photo of the Parks College Airfield (from the Access Illinois Historical Aerial Photography collection, via Chris Kennedy).

The airfield had 2 runways within a large grass airfield area.

There were a dozen aircraft visible on the field, including 2 which appear to be getting ready for takeoff (at the north end).



A Fall 1940 photo of a Army Northrop A-17A in front of a Parks Air College hangar during a visit (from the Parks Air College collection via Terry Love).



An aerial view looking southeast at Parks from the Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The field was described as a 2,600' x 1,700' sod rectangular landing area, with 2 cinder runways measuring 2,200' & 1,150'.



Army Air Corps Cadets in front of biplane trainers at the Parks Air College, circa 1940s.



During the WW2 era, Parks College & its subsidiaries were responsible

for training 1 out of every 10 Army Air Corps pilots, plus thousands of aircraft mechanics.



A circa 1940s postcard aerial view looking north at Parks Air College (courtesy of Joe Gurney).



Calvin Casteel recalled, “During WW2 I attended Parks Air College

for my Army Air Corps primary flight training in the PT-19 Fairchild trainer.

Our barracks & ground school classes were at Parks Air College

and our flight training was at Curtiss Steinberg Air Field just up the road a short piece.”



A 9/26/43 aerial view looking northeast from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock)

depicted Parks Airport as having 2 runways, with several hangars along the northwest side.



A 1943 photo by Ed Powers of a Curtiss AT-9A, 42-56891, seen in front of the Parks hangars.



A 1943-44 photo by Ed Powers of perhaps the largest aircraft ever to fly in & out of the Parks Airfield –

a Boeing B-17F bomber, 41-24436, seen in front of the Parks hangars.



Parks was described in the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)

as having a 2,600' runway.



The November 1944 St Louis Sectional Chart depicted Parks as a commercial/municipal airport.



The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Parks Airport

as a 115 acre rectangular field having 2 cinder runways, measuring 2,600' north/south & 2,300' east/west.

Parks was said to have 3 brick or metal hangars, the largest measuring 340' x 100'.

The field was described as being owned & operated by private interests.



Parks College became part of Saint Louis University in 1946.



The 1949 USGS topo map depicted Parks Airport as a diamond-shaped field with buildings along the northwest side, labeled simply as “Airport”.



A circa 1950s photo of Parks College aircraft maintenance instructors in front of a 1930 Waco CTO, N655N, c/n 3137, at Parks College Airport.

According to Johan Visschedijk, “The aircraft is confusingly also referred to as Waco Taperwing.

Built in 1930, modified & rebuilt by Parks College. It had the original Wright R-760 replaced by a Lycoming R-680E, hence the different engine cowling.”



Parks College Airport, as depicted on a 1952 road map (courtesy of Kevin Walsh).



Hans Friedebach recalled, “I went to schools at Parks in 1957 & lived in the Portview Arms dormitory.

While attending Parks I worked part-time for Walston Aviation

at Parks Metropolitan Airport [located just to the east of Parks College Airport].

I owned a Fairchild PT-26 which I kept at Parks Metropolitan.

Father Choppesky, Parks College Dean, was surprised one day to see me land at the College

to fetch my sandwich lunch at the Cafeteria before hopping into the PT-26 to fly back over to my part-time job.”



The 1958 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of George Miner) depicted Park's College Airport

as having 2 "cinders" runways: a 2,500' north/south strip & a 2,400' east/west strip.

The manager was listed as the Rev. J.C. Choppesky, Regent & Acting Dean.



A closeup from a 1960 aerial view looking east at a group of aircraft parked on the north end of the Parks College Airfield (courtesy of Robin Sova).



An undated aerial photo of Parks College Airport from the 1962 IL Airport Directory (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).

It depicted the field as having 2 "cinders" runways: a 2,500' north/south strip & a 2,400' east/west strip.

The manager was listed as the Rev. J.C. Choppesky, Regent & Acting Dean.



Dean Sanborn recalled, “I attended Parks 1964-66. There were no flight lessons or operations of that sort after 1964.

We went to Collinsville Airport to learn to fly.”



An April 1966 photo by Joe Gurney of 3 aircraft (including a surplus Air Force Republic F-84 Thunderjet fighter) in front of a Parks Air College hangar.

Joe recalled, “I went to Parks from 1963-66 & recently attended my 50th Reunion.”



A Fall 1966 photo of Joe Gurney in his Air Force ROTC uniform in front of a Cessna 170 with Parks Air College Mercury Hall dorm in the background.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Parks College Airport was on the August 1967 Cincinnati Sectional Chart.

It depicted Parks College Airport as a private airfield having a 2,600' unpaved runway.



Parks College Airfield was no longer depicted on the February 1968 St Louis Sectional Chart.



A 3/3/68 USGS aerial photo shows Parks College Airport after routine flight operations had ended,

with the airfield facilities still completely intact, but devoid of aircraft.



A circa 1960s-70s photo of surplus Air Force Republic F-84F Thunderstreak fighter in Thunderbirds colors in front of a Parks Air College hangar.



The last photo which has been located of an aircraft at the Parks Airfield was a 1970 photo of a Fairchild PT-26

which was permitted to fly into the airfield at Parks College for an open house,

after the field had been closed to most flight operations.



Andrew Supko recalled, “I attended Parks in the early 1970s. The field was closed, except during our open house when some folks would fly in.

One of our classmates, Wayne Worth, brought in a Beech 99. We all held our breaths as he kept in on the ground (for what seemed like a LONG time!) before lifting off!”

John Schumacher recalled, “I was a student at Parks from August 1979 to July 1982.

The airport, commonly referred to as the 'Beanfield' was maintained, but use was by permission only.

During my time there in the spring there would be a fly-in, where alumni & others could land at the campus.

There was barbecue, campus tours, displays, and aerobatic demos by Ed Merchant in his Pitts S-1, an alum from around the 1976-77 time frame & others.

Other times it was used by students for radio-controlled model airplane flying.”



The Parks College Airport was still listed as a private airfield in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),

which described the field as consisting of a single 1,670' turf Runway 18/36.



A 1988 USGS aerial view looking northeast showed the north/south paved runway at the Parks College Airfield remained completely intact,

but several classroom buildings had been built over the western portion of the former east/west runway.



John McGowan reported that he attended Parks Air College in 1993.

"I have a picture somewhere of an Air Force C-9 [a military version of the DC-9]

doing a slow pass along the runway that was left after they built the dorms.

It was during an open house, where many Parks alumni had flown in to display their airplanes.

I'm pretty sure that the pilots of the C-9 were former Parks students,

and from what I was told, they were definitely exceeding some safety limitations whey they did their fly-by."



Parks alumnus H.G. Frautschy recalled that in approximately 1995, “I flew in with Capt. Dick Hill,

flying his Cessna Bamboo bomber into the field for a Parks College Open House.

That northwest corner of the airport did look pretty close, but the Cessna’s low wing loading made it easy.

We had to drop it in over the wires along the railroad tracks on the east side of the field.

We had a a great visit, and I was blessed with 4 hours of twin-engine cross country time. Getting out was a little more interesting.”



John Schumacher recalled, “The Cahokia campus of Parks, and the 'Beanfield' [airfield], closed at the end of the 1996 academic year,

which coincided with the opening of the new Parks facility on the main campus of St Louis University.

This was bittersweet to most of the alumni as the campus was old, but very rich in aviation history & tradition.

For the time the university owned it, they paid for private security on the grounds.

When the city of Cahokia bought the property this was not continued, and the campus has been the victim of some serious vandalism.

A sad state of affairs for a facility conceived & executed by Oliver Parks & Charles Lindbergh, and responsible for a large supply of pilots during WWII.”



A circa 2006 aerial view looking north at a former hangar which remains on the western corner of the Parks College Airfield site.

This same hangar was visible in the 1929 aerial photo.



A 2013 or before photo of Robert Fishbone's mural "Flight Rings" which he painted in 1982 on an interior wall of a Parks College building.

Around the periphery are airfoil shapes, round, flat and wing-like, with representations of how they behave in a stream of air, including some stalled.



A 9/17/13 photo of an abandoned Parks College Airport hangar.



A 9/17/13 photo of the interior of an abandoned Parks College Airport hangar.



Parks alumnus H.G. Frautschy reported in 2014, “The campus is now closed & completely abandoned.”



A 2017 aerial view looking northeast showed that traces of Parks' north/south paved runway were barely recognizable.



A June 2019 photo looking west at the overgrown hangar which still bears the faint trace of “Parks Air College”.



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