Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southeastern Alabama
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 6/10/08.
Dothan Municipal (revised 4/1/06) - Napier Aux AAF #1 / Wicksburg Field / Minor Field / Allen AHP (revised 6/10/08)
Wheelless Airport (revised 4/29/08)
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Wheelless Airport (37J), Dothan, AL
31.23 North / 85.49 West (West of Downtown Dothan, AL)
Wheelless Airport, as depicted on a 1967 AL Highway Department map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This small former general aviation airport was located only two miles west of the Dothan Municipal Airport.
According to Virgil Fenn, the growth of the City of Dothan up to the edge of the original Dothan Municipal Airport
“was the main factor for Mr. Wheelless building his airport on his farm.”
The date of construction of Wheelless Airport has not been determined.
The earliest reference to the airport comes from Keith Brown,
who recalled, “I took my first airplane flight as a young boy somewhere around 1959-60
out of that airport when my daddy showed an agricultural pilot where our field was to be dusted.”
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on a 1967 AL Highway Department map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It labeled the site as "Wheelless Airport", but did not depict any runways or other details of the airfield.
Tom Stoy recalled, “I started flying in 1964 & got my CPL and ATP at Dothan Municipal.
I later ended up at Wheeles, 'To gain experience', thanks to Clide Lovall, my examiner at the time.
It took several approaches to get a job from Mr.Wheelless
as he considered me overqualified for any job in his company with a college degree.
I finally made it & enjoyed every single day.
I worked there as mechanic, hangar floor & airplane cleaner etc,
finally did engineering drawings & got my first crop spraying experiences, ferrying spray planes
and as co pilot on the PV-2 & B-17 during the fire ant program in Longview TX & Savanna GA.
Field spotting with farmers was one of my favorites!
Great memories are related to the good old Wheeles Airport.”
A 1968 Soil Conservation Service aerial photo of Wheelless Airport,
courtesy of Thomas Kallsen of the University of Alabama Map Library.
The photo depicted Wheelless Airport as having a single paved runway, oriented northeast/southwest.
A paved ramp on the northeast side of the field also had three hangars.
A total of 5 light aircraft were visible on the ramp,
and 5 larger aircraft were parked in a separate location to the southwest of the runway.
Two 1968 photos by Virgil Fenn of B-17 N5017N at Wheelless Airport.
Virgil reported in 2006, “This B-17 is presently owned by the Experimental Aviation Association.”
Virgil Fenn recalled, “I was Vice President & Chief Pilot for Dothan Aviation Corporation.
We operated 7 B-25's, 7 PV-2's, 3 B-17's, and 3 Martin 404's.
We also had a fleet of Stearman, Ag-Cats, and Cub Dusters & Sprayers.”
A circa late 1960s photo of Tom Stoy on a Stearman at Wheelless.
Tom Stoy recalled, “When I left Wheelless in late 1969 the large hangar
and the all the small buildings shown south (to the right) of the runway did not exist.
At the time we had 3 B-17s & 2 PV-2 Lockheed Loadstars, several AG-Cats,
Stearmans & B-25s used for spares only, as far as I remember.”
A circa 1969 (or later) aerial view looking east down Wheelless' Runway 7 (courtesy of Virgil Fenn, via Art Morris, via Tim Cotter).
Note the large number of B-17s & other large multi-engine aircraft at the field.
According to Tim, “Virgil worked with Mr. Wheelless flying B-17s & other WWII vintage airplanes
spraying fire ants before the pesticides were banned.”
A circa 1969 (or later) aerial view looking northeast at Wheelless Airport (courtesy of Virgil Fenn),
showing an amazing array of WW2-era aircraft, including 3 B-17s.
Richard Cuber recalled, “I was stationed at Fort Rucker in 1970
and doing Project Transition at Wheelless in mid 1970.
Wheeless Avaition was the largest crop dusting company in the south at that time.
The B-25s were there at that time, they were parked because of the cost of flying them with 2600s.
They were flying three B-17s & three PV2 Harpoons for contracts on poisoning fire ants all over the South.
They also flew Agcats, Cubs and quite a few Stearmans for normal dusting & spraying.
They also did some maintenance on private aircraft.
The Wheeless family owned & operated the firm.”
Keith Brown recalled, “There was a hurricane or maybe by that time a tropical depression
that came through in the late summer or fall of 1975.
I can remember going out there & seeing the B-17's & B-25's.
I met one of the pilots who flew the B-17 as mosquito sprayer over to Mississippi.
I remember the J-3's & Stearmans or Ag-Cats sitting around. It was a great little airport. I miss it dearly.”
The January 1976 New Orleans Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Wheelless as having a single 3,500' paved runway.
The 1976 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
listed the operator of Wheelless Airport as the Dothan Aviation Corporation.
The 1978 AL Highway Department map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Wheelless Airport as having a single runway, oriented northeast/southwest.
The 1986 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Wheelless Airport as having a single 3,500' paved Runway 7/25.
Taxiways led to several hangars on the north & south side of the runway.
The office of Dothan Aviation Incorporated was in a building on the northeast corner of the field.
Tim Cotter recalled, "During the 1980s, I made a few landings at the Wheelless Airport,
plus I visited a propeller repair facility there during my A&P mechanic training."
Brian Newsome recalled "2 B-25 bombers that were at one time on the property of Wheelless Airport.
I remember going with my father & grandfather back in the early to mid 1980s
and seeing them over in a wooded area.
They were not in a flyable state but still looked fairly decent."
Dean Peeples recalled, “From 1990-91 I worked on a restoration project at Wheelless Airport.
Thomas Duncan & I returned Lockheed PV-2D, serial #151501, tail # N83L, to ferry flight status in July of 1991.
We then flew with the aircraft to Pearson Field in Vancouver, WA where it was finished for the warbird show circuit.
The airworthiness certificate was granted in November 1991.
This aircraft was owned at the time by Neil Rose of Vancouver.
N83L was the last flyable warbird to leave Wheelless (only the shell of PV-2C NC47G was left),
and it was also the first production D model in service.
I was last at Wheelless in October 1991 to crate up leftover parts for shipment to Vancouver.
This airport & aircraft in particular bear a place in my memory for the history attached to both.”
Wheelless Airport was apparently closed in 1992,
according to a monument which occupies the site in 2004.
However, Ron Traywick reported, "Wheelless Field was still active as a base for ultralights
sometime between the 1992-96 time frame.
I passed by it frequently during that time."
By the time of the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart,
the former Wheelless Airport was depicted as an abandoned airfield.
As seen in the 1998 USGS aerial photo,
the probable reason for the demise of Wheelless Airport was apparent -
the property was more "valuable" redeveloped as a golf course.
Soon to be the fate of many small airports if things don't change.
The western half of the former airport had been covered by a Robert Trent Jones golf course (according Ron Traywick),
but approximately 2,000' of the east end of the former runway pavement remained intact as of 1998.
All of the former airport buildings & hangars had been removed.
Ron Traywick reported that the eastern portion of the former airport
was covered with new apartments, "sometime around 1996-99."
A 2004 photo by Tim Cotter of the Highlands Trail apartment complex which occupies the site of the former Wheelless Airport.
A 2004 photo by Tim Cotter of the monument at the site which commemorates the former Wheelless Airport.
Tim Cotter reported in 2004, "My fiancée is living in an apartment complex constructed on the site of Wheelless Airport.
Located there is a monument & a square yard of the original asphalt from the airport runway."
Dean Peeples reported in 2006, “Several months ago I was down in Dothan
and went to see the plaque marking the grave of Wheelless Airport.
It was late in the day & I had a long drive back to Birmingham, but I had to stop and see for myself.
As I stood there, for just a moment, the rumbling idle of my Softail on the curb behind me became the sound of a PW 2800 at idle.
I caught a whiff of 115 avgas & Aeroshell 120
and felt the wash from a mighty Hamilton Standard 11ft 3-blade prop swinging at ground idle.
I could almost see, out of the corner of my eye,
the wingtips & tails of a host of old planes sticking out of the ground shadows around me.
Then my cell phone rang, my wife calling to see when I would be leaving so she would know when to expect me home.
When I told her where I was & that I would be late getting in she understood, she always does.”
The site of Wheelless Airport is located west of the intersection of Brannon Strand Road & Montrose Court.
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Dothan Municipal Airport, Dothan, AL
31.24 North / 85.44 West (North of Panama City, FL)
A circa 1938 photo of the first Eastern Airlines aircraft (a DC-2) to land at Dothan (courtesy of Frank Gaines).
This was the original municipal airport for the town of Dothan.
The date of construction of the field is unknown.
The earliest reference to the field which has been located is
the 1934 Department of Commerce Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy),
which described Dothan as having two sod runways in an "L" shape, with the longest being 2,100'.
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described Dothan Municipal Airport as having two sod runways,
with the longest being a 2,500' east/west strip.
The first landing at Dothan by an Eastern Airlines aircraft was in circa 1938 (a DC-2).
The earliest chart depiction of the Dothan Airport which has been located
was on the June 1942 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
During WW2, Dothan Airport was taken over by the Army, which named it Dothan Auxiliary #2,
and used as one of four satellite fields for Napier Army Airfield in Dothan,
which conducted advanced & specialized training in single engine aircraft, including P-40 fighters.
The August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Dothan as a military airfield.
After WW2, Dothan was returned to its prior use as a municipal airport.
Dothan was depicted as a commercial/municipal airport on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A 1955 photo (courtesy of Virgil Fenn) of 4 Stearman crop-dusters in front of the Dothan Aviation Corporation hangar.
A 1957 Soil Conservation Service Photo,
courtesy of Thomas Kallsen of the University of Alabama Map Library.
In the photo there were at least 12 light aircraft visible parked outside
on the ramp at the eastern side of the field.
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Dothan as having three paved runways (with the 4,006' Runway 5/23 being the longest),
along with ramps with hangars on the northeast & southeast sides of the field.
Dothan Municipal was listed among active airports in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
with three paved runways, and the operator listed as Dothan Aviation Corp.
It was still depicted as an active airport on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),
with three runways, the longest being a 4,006' asphalt strip.
Three 1965 photos (courtesy of Virgil Fenn) of the Dothan Aviation Corporation facilities at the southeast end of Dothan Municipal Airport.
Note the B-25 & B-17 bombers visible in the top & bottom photos.
A 1965 photo (courtesy of Virgil Fenn) of B-25 & B-17 bombers
at the Dothan Aviation Corporation ramp on the southeast end of Dothan Municipal Airport.
According to Billy Singleton, Dothan Municipal Airport closed in 1966,
when the City of Dothan completed the rehabilitation of Napier Field for use as its municipal airport.
Napier Field was less constrained geographically, being located farther outside of the town.
In the words of Virgil Fenn, “The city had grown to the edge of the airport
and the pressure was on to relocate the airport to Napier Field.”
John Snapp recalled, "The original Dothan Airport was used as a drag strip in the early 1970s."
By the time of the January 1976 New Orleans Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
Dothan Municipal was depicted as an abandoned airfield.
In the 1997 USGS aerial photo,
the northern portions of the former runways still remained evident,
but several baseball diamonds had been built over the southern portions of the runways.
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Napier Auxiliary Army Airfield #1 / Wicksburg Field /
Minor Field / Allen Army Heliport, Wicksburg, AL
31.23 North / 85.65 West (North of Panama City, FL)
A February 15, 1943 aerial view of “Napier Field Auxiliary #1 (Wicksburg Field)”,
from a 1945 AAF airfield directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Napier Auxiliary Army Airfield #1 was constructed during WW2
as one of 5 auxiliary fields used to support the flight training activities at Napier Army Airfield in Dothan.
Napier AAF conducted advanced & specialized training in single-engine aircraft, including P-40 fighters.
The other field used to support Napier AAF were Dothan Municipal, Benoit Field at Headland,
Hyman Field at Columbia, and Ozark Army Air Field (now Cairns AAF).
Napier Aux #1 was evidently constructed at some point between 1942-43,
as it was not yet depicted on the June 1942 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of Napier Aux #1 which has been located
was a February 15, 1943 aerial view from a 1945 AAF airfield directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It labeled the field as “Napier Field Auxiliary #1 (Wicksburg Field)”,
and depicted the field as having 3 runways, each with a parallel taxiway.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the field
was on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The airfield had evidently been renamed, as it was labeled as “Minor”, an auxiliary airfield.
According to Billy Singleton, the WW2-era airfield layout consisted of 3 runways:
a 4,000' northeast/southwest runway, a 3,300' north/south runway,
and a 3,000' southeast/northwest runway.
The facilities included one emergency building.
Minor was still depicted as an auxiliary airfield on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Minor Auxiliary #1 was evidently abandoned at some point between 1945-49,
as it was not depicted on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
At some point between 1949-57 the southwestern portion of the WW2-era airfield property
was reused by the Army to construct a facility to support high-volume helicopter flight training operations at nearby Fort Rucker,
the home of Army helicopter flight training.
The 1957 USGS topo map (from the UA map collection, courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted "Fort Rucker Landing Field #2" as having a total of 6 parallel 1,800' paved helicopter landing strips.
"Allen (Army)" was depicted as a heliport on the January 1976 New Orleans Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Tim Cotter reported that he has trained US Army pilots to fly helicopters at "Allen Stagefield" from 1987-2004.
"For certain it has been in use for helicopter training for at least 35 years."
As seen in the 1997 USGS aerial photo,
the airfield configuration consisted of 6 paved helicopter runways (marked "1H" through "6H", each 1,800’ long),
two paved ramps with individual helicopter spots, and several small buildings.
Strangely, Allen was not included (as of 2002) among current active military fields in the FAA Airport Facility Directory,
even though it is depicted & labeled "Allen AHP" on aeronautical charts,
and labeled "Allen Field" on USGS topo maps.
Army aviator Andy Miller confirms that the field is still active (as of 2002),
used daily for the training of fledgling Army aviators in the TH-67 helicopter.
White & orange TH-67s are commonly seen in the traffic pattern, practicing autorotations.
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