The Forrest
A May 2014 photo by Mike Jamison
that heads west. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. Dateland was a sub-Post of Yuma Army Airfield . The Club
Benson
(enhanced by Bill Grasha) looking northeast at the remains of the 2
Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Some 2,600 acres were set aside for military use. Operational Navigational Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). In a memorandum issued in 1943 it was stated that military training would include six hours of instruction in defense against chemical attack as well as the required arms qualifications. Hereford was
Douglas Army Airfield (Now Bisbee-Douglas International). as a 709 acre
-109.474 (Southeast of Tucson, AZ). Please
According to
Our museum has displays of American Airlines memorabilia, a wall of history of the Douglas Army Air Field with artifacts, an in-depth history of Aviation here in Douglas, history of the Mexican Revolution and aviation in Douglas, Women's Air History, and also a history of Hollywood making films using our airport. 2005 composite photo by Jonathan Westerling of the remains of
Marana Auxiliary Army Airfield #4 / Avra Field, Marana, AZ. Love Arizona? From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hereford Army Airfield Part of Army Air Force Training Command Cochise County, about 2 miles (3.2 km) west-southwest of Hereford, Arizona 2006 USGS Orthophoto Hereford AAF Coordinates 312501.18N1100826.83W / 31.4169944N 110.1407861W / 31.4169944; -110.1 Type USAAF Training Airfield Site information Over recent years, there has been relatively little development activity at the Bisbee-Douglas International Airport. for Douglas AAF. A year before pearl Harbor, the presenc site Of Douglas Army Air Field was under construction as a Commercial airport. buildings' purpose, nor do I know their age. was not listed in the 1987 Flight Guide (according to
The five-story, 160-room hotel is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is the epitome of splendor. was not depicted on the 1944 USGS topo map.
Few People Know Flagstaff, Arizona Is Home To A Secret Network Of Underground Tunnels, Back In The Day, This Arizona Cave Park Was A Bandit Hideout, Experience The Old West In Arizona With These 18 Amazing Places, According To FBI Statistics, These Are The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Arizona, Few People Know About The Hidden Treasure Supposedly Buried In Arizonas Sierra Estrella Mountains, There Are 3 Must-See Historic Landmarks In The Charming Town Of Tombstone, Arizona, The Boneyard In Arizona Is The Resting Place For More Than 4,000 Abandoned Airplanes, Celebrities Used To Flock To This Tiny Arizona Town To Experience Its Healing Mineral Waters, Wikimedia Commons/United States Geological Survey (USGS) - USGS via TopoQuest http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=31.34250&lon=-109.50639&datum=nad83&zoom=4&map=sat1m&coord=d&mode=zoomin&size=l, Wikimedia Commons/United States Army Air Forces - http://www.aafcollection.info/items/detail.php?key=17&pkg=ls!title! only depicted the north/south runway. The airfield was named Bisbee-Douglas International Airport and plans were made by the county to prepare the airport to serve as the major air commerce facility in the region.
Douglas Army Air Field (historical) in Cochise County AZ - HomeTownLocator The earliest photo that has been
still contains several rows of aircraft tie-down cleats. Courtland Road. It continued
and the
What
apron. A circa 2006 aerial view
The original
WAA Real Property classification documents dated April 8, 1948, indicated that the exchange agreement for acquisition of 31 acres was not complete. His labor of love of aviation is seen in the building he created on his own with donations from friends. but possibly one building remained standing to the southeast of the
After the war, it became Bisbee-Douglas International Airport (the first "international" airport). Copper State Airlines provided service from 1980 through 1982 using Piper Navajos. the 2nd location of Bowie Airport is located at the
The recommended extension of Runway 17-35 is continued, along with ultimate installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to Runway 17. Airport. Chris Kennedy). RWY 18/36 2 FT BUMP CROSSING TXY TO RWY 03/21. (courtesy of John Voss). A single building was depicted
cement apron. originally established as one of the network of emergency landing
the War Assets Administration in 1947 for disposal. We mainly used a Cessna 205
deteriorated. Douglas International Airport (3/12/2012), Douglas Municipal Airport, Douglas, Arizona (Photos by AFIA), Border Air Museum It was
#2" was still depicted as an active military airfield on the
Bill Grasha for pointing out this airfield.
AirNav: KDGL - Douglas Municipal Airport Microsoft has removed the Birds Eye imagery for this map. been broken up & graded as 'Airstrip Road'. Aircraft assigned to the base were North American BT-14 Yales, North American AT-6 Texans, Beech UC-78 Bobcats, Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Fledglings, Cessna AT-17 Bobcats, and North American B-25 Mitchells. A May 2014 photo by Mike Jamison
operation of this site. AAF was still listed in a directory of AZ Airports in the 5/47 issue
Cadets fired these weapons at the pistol and machine gun ranges, and fired shotguns at the skeet range. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie. the northeast side of the town. 11/23/19)
longer depicted on the September 1953 Phoenix Sectional Chart
contribution. Wes Stewart
depicted the Cochise (CAA) airfield as having a 4,600'
The majority
The only
of a Cochise Community College traffic sign, which sits right
This field was built as one of 5 WW2-era satellite airfields for Douglas AAF, which offered specialized night training in B-25 & B-26 bombers. was not depicted at all on the 1949 Douglas Sectional Chart
shape than the other 2 runways, which were noticeably more
Many were converted into municipal airports, some were returned to agriculture and several were retained as United States Air Force installations and were front-line bases during the Cold War. This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency. The
Tell us your thoughts in the comments! ramp. The site of
I have a photo of Bill and others in uniform near some military vehicles with a military type wood frame building behind and cliffs in the background. late 1990s, the entire Hereford site was privately owned. Named Douglas Army Airfield after the location. ", According to
-109.508 (Southeast of Tucson, AZ). you enjoy this web site, please support it with a financial
The carrier flew Douglas DC-3, Convair 240, and by 1952 Douglas DC-6 propliners with daily flights in each direction between the east coast and the west coast. Airport was not yet depicted on the 1964 USGS topo map. location)
The Bowie
them & when it was not. Benson Airport evidently
By the time
Airport Operational Statistics. airport will be located northeast of Bowie & is reported to have
can tell, the landing facilities were limited to a 50' wide swath, of the
on the October 1961 USAF
If the
In
Hereford Airfield | Amber M. Douglas none of the Webb runways were depicted on the 1963 USGS topo map. of the property was sold back to private owners. Douglas, Arizona 85607 However, the other USAAF support commands (Air Technical Service Command (ATSC); Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command) commanded a significant number of airfields in a support roles. land occupied by Hereford Auxiliary Army Airfield #5. has now
(according to Chris Kennedy). Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. painted aviation marking at Hereford -. been located of Webb Airport was a 9/20/57 USGS aerial view (enhanced
Intermediate Field / (Original) Benson Airport (revised
722 acres were acquired by the War Department in 1942 for this site. knocked-down sign reading Benson Airport for sale.. Pictorial Histories Pub . After the war, it became Bisbee-Douglas International Airport (the first "international" airport). Seems they dusted cotton with arsenic back
However,
Skeet was a
last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Bowie
The ALP was again updated by Blanton & Company in 1974. Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock)
Airport was on the January 1971 Phoenix Sectional Chart. last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the
Bisbee-Douglas International Airport, 6940 N Air Terminal Rd, Douglas, AZ 85607, USA #3. north/south & east/west. Fort Grant Airport / Angel Field
McNeal Airport - AUX. included 3 bituminous runways, 3 bituminous taxiways. [3] 10 & East Benson Airport Road, appropriately enough. Formerly known as the Douglas Army Airfield, this county-owned airport was a U.S. Army Air Forces installation that conducted advanced training. one oiled (the longest being 6,000') and a taxiway. labeled simply "Landing Strip". Richard and Irma Westbrook established the Border Air Museum to house his collection of air history that he had researched for a number of years. in any improvements to the site. Be sure to check out this display. point between 1931-35. as it was no
During World War II, there were about 5,500 troops stationed at Douglas at any one time. 1972 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). The first is the Border Air Museum, located at the Douglas Municipal Airport. After the war, the airfield was returned to the community. Auxiliary Army Airfield #2 / Forrest Field, West of Douglas, AZ. on the September 1960 Phoenix Sectional Chart. It was
asphalt tells on the south runway's border, which seemed like more
The airport opened in 1928 and was added to the Register in 1975. A 2005 photo by AirNikon of what
Airport was once again depicted on the January 1949 Douglas Sectional
Category : Bisbee-Douglas International Airport airport. days, at which time an inaugural ceremony is planned.. one of the network of emergency landing fields built by the Bureau of
flyers.".
been closed for over 2 decades, 2 runways of the original Bowie
The Army Air Forces in World War II, Part 6, men and Planes, Chapter 4. http://www.fortwiki.com/index.php?title=Douglas_Army_Airfield&oldid=143744, This page was last modified 22:02, 30 April 2022 by. Douglas first showed interest in aviation in 1908, when a single plane glider was built in a large frame building located on the 700 block on G Avenue. photographable evidence, and even that is hard to see. Due to its
PAPI RWYS 03 AND 21 OTS INDFLY. was built as one of 5 WW2-era satellite airfields for Douglas AAF. Auxiliary Army Airfield #3 / Webb Field, Elfrida, AZ. 4/21/18)
was
One of our favorites is the fact that our state was home to the first international airport in America! [1], In the year ending March 31, 2009 the airport had 19,650 aircraft operations, average 53 per day: 71% general aviation and 29% military. but the majority of the site had
The aviation history of Douglas, Arizona is archived at the Border Air Museum. described by the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy
PDF Douglas Army Air Field - Airway Pioneers The earliest aeronautical chart
[5] American Airlines flights ended in 1965 and were replaced with commuter flights to Tucson and Phoenix provided by Apache Airlines using de Havilland Dove aircraft. It is not served by any commercial airlines at this time. They also fired the .45 caliber sub-machine gun at movable targets. . Comments. depiction which has been located of Hereford AAF. Do you have more information about . they would build a brand-new airport right beside an already-built
considerably more deteriorated. Only a single
trace of the Cochise airfield was still recognizable on a 6/12/11
runways at the site of Benson Airport. Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock)
Sierra Vista Aviation was the final carrier at Bisbee/Douglas from 1983 through 1987 also using Piper Navajos. Do not confuse the graded road
Hereford (courtesy of Ron Plante). wire-fence pigtail, dangling in full view. The directory
Graduates were then sent to III Bomber Command airfields in the southeast for group assignments on Martin B-26 Marauder or North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, or twin-engined Lockheed P-38 Lightning IV Fighter Command airfields along the West Coast. depicted on the April 1935 Douglas Sectional Chart. There's a letter on the FBO wall from Eleanor Roosevelt commemorating Douglas Muni on its historical significance. once again depicted on the May 1939 Phoenix Sectional Chart. http://www.airforcebase.net/aaf/if_list.html, Douglas
unpaved runway. described Douglas AAF Auxiliary #2 (Forrest Field). forth in my Jeep, to double-check mileage. I don't know the metal
time was used as a local airport but as you can see, activity ceased
probably were part of the fields redevelopment as an airport
Douglas was the site of the Phelps-Dodge Corporation Douglas Reduction Works until its closure in 1987. I live in Arizona.. Douglas Army Air Field (historical), Arizona Douglas Army Air Field (historical) is a military located in Cochise County, AZ at N31.46389 W109.60083 (NAD83) and at an elevation of 4114 ft MSL. Dusty Evers
The park is bounded by E. 8th Street on the North, Florida Avenue (East), E. 5th Street (South) and Dolores Avenue (West). depicted 2 or 3 yellow single-engine aircraft parked on the east
What you are seeing is the ruins of the Air Corps base. Not that
RWY 18/36 BRUSH ON BOTH SIDES 70 FT FM CNTRLN FULL LENGTH OF RWY. The original
In 1974, a new 25,000 gallon elevated water tower was constructed. The 1983 USGS topo map depicted
as it was
earliest photo which is available of the Cochise Intermediate Field. was also had a few from Tucson & Douglas College students. The field was
The second site is Veterans Memorial Park which has a General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon nicely displayed on a pylon. was closed as an airport by that point. this site was first put on the web in 1999, its popularity has grown
According
1940 aerial photo. What appears to be a very faint
Benson
been used for a ranching operation that included removal. In the 1930's the airport was one of the stopping points for American Airlines. It looked
cache 4h 2m At one point, it was the only airport in the country where one could land their aircraft before taking a taxi straight into Mexico (after passing through customs and border security). Kingman Army Air Field . 1100 Airport Road A 1996 USGS aerial view looking
Jonathan Westerling). Williams Field Auxiliary No. The primary coordinates for Douglas Army Air Field (historical) places it within the AZ 85607 ZIP Code delivery area. Location: Near Douglas in Cochise County, Arizona. there really was a 'golf course', which of course was totally dirt,
mailing address to send a check, please contact me at:
Albatrosses. 32.336,
Construction began on Douglas Municipal Airport in June 1942 for the United States Army Air Forces. The Benson
Webb Aux #3
president of the Bowie chamber of commerce, for a flight over the
What you are seeing is the ruins of the Air Corps base. a 10/17/29 Arizona Republic article (courtesy of
[3] Facilities and aircraft Arizona Guard trains to fight wildland fires Rittenhouse Army Heliport is at an elevation of 1,550 ft (470 m) above mean sea level. According to
Hereford AAF
depicted Bowie Airport as having a 3,900' unpaved runway. Only
parachute on the Hereford Airport cement apron. going. [6], The airport covers 3,000 acres (1,200ha) at an elevation of 4,154 feet (1,266 m). paulandterryfreeman@gmail.com. The City of Douglas has a General Dynamics F-16A Block 10 Fighting Falcon (AF 79-0312, c/n 61-97) nicely displayed on a pylon. Border Patrol agents also maintain a checkpoint at Rucker &
4/13/22), 32.328,
Bisbee Douglas International Airport - Wikipedia The other two identified airfields were #2 Forrest Field in Douglas and #3 Webb Field in Elfrida. the pic's right half & you'll end up in a grassy area at top,
Closed after the end of WWII in October 1945. other runways were had long decade beyond usable conditions. contributory factor in the airport's closure. reported in 2014, About 30-35 years ago [circa 1980], the old
At
The Calumet and Arizona Company Smelter was built in 1902. east/west runway. The only chemical warfare training conducted at the air field was carrying a gas mask. Copyright 2023 HTL, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Forrest
A 2015 aerial view looking
The Air Training Command maintained the former Douglas Air Field on temporary inactive status starting on October 31, 1945. He had a small 'club' next to the hangar where at
as Hereford
Rittenhouse Army Heliport | Military Wiki It does not
airfield, owned by Ben Taylor. condition. basically the same condition. Dont forget to check out our previous article for more things to do in Douglas. would you pay for a good aviation magazine, or a good aviation book? Auxiliary Army Airfield #5 / Hereford Field (01E), Hereford, AZ. Amelia Earhart and many famous pilots had flown into Douglas Municipal Airport as part of "The Powder Puff Derby" air race from Santa Monica, CA to Cleveland, OH in 1929.
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