Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Southeastern North Carolina

Atlantic MCOLF (revised 12/22/07) - Blue Bird MCEAF (revised 7/19/05) - Bogue MCALF (revised 10/7/07)

Camp Davis AAF / Camp Davis MCOLF (revised 10/28/07) - Jacksonville Airport (revised 10/28/07)

Oak Grove MCOLF (revised 8/20//06) - Point of Marsh Target Airfield (added 4/1/07) - White Oak Airport (revised 10/28/07)

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Point of Marsh Target Airfield, Piney Island, NC

35 North / 76.47 West (East of Cherry Point MCAS, NC)

The Point of Marsh airfield was labeled simply as a “Landing Strip”

within the “Cherry Point U.S. Military Reservation (Point of Marsh Target Area)”

on the 1982 USGS topo map.

The Point of Marsh Target Area is located on Piney Island,

and presumably serves the needs for air-to-ground target practice for aircraft from nearby MCAS Cherry Point,

as well as military aircraft from the Norfolk area.

Two large target circles are located on the north end of the island,

and an airfield with a single 4,000' paved northwest/southeast runway is located in the center of the island.

It is not known if the Point of Marsh runway was built exclusively as a target,

or if it was ever used to actually operate aircraft.

The date of construction of this airfield has not been determined.

No airfield at this location was depicted on Sectional aeronautical charts from 1945 or 1965.

The earliest depiction which has been located of the Point of Marsh airfield

was on the 1982 USGS topo map.

It depicted the 2 target circles as well as the runway, labeled simply as “Landing Strip”,

within the “Cherry Point U.S. Military Reservation (Point of Marsh Target Area)”.

The 1983 USGS topo map depicted the single northeast/southeast runway, labeled simply as “Landing Strip”.

The 1993 USGS aerial photo depicted several structures or containers on the center of the runway,

and what appeared to be several target aircraft on the southeast end of the runway.

A 2006 aerial photo showed what appeared to be several target items on the northwest end of the runway,

as well as several target aircraft on the southeast end of the runway.

A close-up from the 2006 aerial photo showed what appeared to be at least 4 tactical jet aircraft (specific type unidentified)

situated on the southeast end of the runway, presumably serving as targets.

Thanks to Wendy Bissinger for pointing out this airfield.

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White Oak Airport, Jacksonville, NC

34.77 North / 77.35 West (North of Camp Lejune, NC)

White Oak Airport, as depicted on the 1977 USGS topo map.

Photo of the airport while open has not been located.

The date of construction of this small private airfield has not been determined.

No airfield at this location was depicted on Norfolk Sectional Charts from 1945, 1961, or 1965,

listed in the 1976 AOPA Airports USA Directory (according to Chris Kennedy),

or depicted on the November 1976 CG-21 World Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

The earliest depiction of White Oak Airport which has been located was on the 1977 USGS topo map.

It depicted the field as having a single 2,400' unpaved north/south runway.

A single small building was depicted on the southeast side of the runway.

Former Jacksonville resident Maxine Frisbee recalled of White Oak Airport,

"It was open in the 1970s & was a private airstrip.

It was located off of Piney Green Road behind White Oak High School."

The 1982 AOPA Airports USA Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)

listed a private airfield in Jacksonville called Piney Green International,

which may have been the same field as White Oak.

Maxine Frisbee recalled of White Oak Airport,

"It closed in the early 1980s I believe not long after my cousin & a fellow pilot crashed & died there.

I believe that it was determined that the gas that was provided had the wrong mixture.

They gained enough altitude to get off the ground but crashed into one of the high school greenhouses."

White Oak Airport was still depicted on the 1991 USGS topo map,

even though it may have been closed by that point.

As seen in the 1993 USGS aerial photo, the White Oak Airport appeared to remain completely intact,

with the runway still clear, and what appeared to be a small building just southeast of the runway.

Maxine Frisbee reported in 2004, "I am sure that the old runway might be there

because it led out into tobacco fields that are still farmed today."

A 2007 aerial photo showed the site of White Oak Airport to remain completely intact,

with the runway still clear, and what appeared to be a small building just southeast of the runway.

The site of White Oak Airport is located northeast of the intersection of Piney Green Road & Halltown Road.

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Jacksonville Airport, Jacksonville, NC

34.79 North / 77.4 West (North of Camp Lejune, NC)

Jacksonville Airport, as depicted on the April 1946 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Photo of the Jacksonville Airport while open has not been located.

The original airport for the town of Jacksonville was located to the northeast of the town.

Jacksonville Airport was apparently built at some point between 1945-46

(like hundreds of other small airports across the U.S., in the post-WW2 airport boom),

as it was not depicted at all on the 1945 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

The earliest depiction of the Jacksonville Airport which has been located

was on the April 1946 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Jacksonville as an auxiliary airfield.

The January 1956 Norfolk Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)

depicted Jacksonville as a public-use airport.

The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Jacksonville as having a single 2,800' Runway 4/22, of which the southwestern half was paved.

A ramp on the south side of the field had 3 small buildings (hangars?).

The airport was said to be unattended, and "closed to the public."

The 1961 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Jacksonville as a private field with a 2,800' unpaved runway.

The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Jacksonville Airport

as consisting of a single 2,800' Runway 4/22 (1,400' paved & 1,400' turf).

The operator was listed as the NC Department of Conservation & Development,

and the airport was listed as being "Closed to general public."

By 1965, the Jacksonville Airport was apparently open to the public,

as it was depicted as a public airport on the 1965 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),

and the Aerodromes table on the chart did not include any mention about it being closed to the general public

The 1971 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Jacksonville Municipal Airport

as having a single unpaved 2,640' Runway 4/22,

with a small ramp at the southwest side of the field with several small buildings (hangars?).

The 1971 Flight Guide also depicted Jacksonville's new airport, Albert Ellis Field,

which had been built as a replacement several miles to the northwest of the town of Jacksonville.

The original Jacksonville Airport was evidently closed within the next year,

as it was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield)

on the August 1972 Charlotte Sectional Chart (courtesy of Robert Brown).

The 1978 USGS topo map still depicted Jacksonville Airport,

but it had apparently already been abandoned for several years at that point.

The original Jacksonville Airport continued to be depicted on the 1978 & 1991 USGS topo maps,

quite a while after being abandoned.

As seen in the 1993 USGS aerial photo, the remains of the runway were still clearly apparent,

but a new road, Western Boulevard, had been built across the southwestern end of the former runway

(and right across the former ramp area, the outline of which is still barely visible).

No remnants of any former airfield buildings were still apparent.

A 2007 aerial view shows a starkly different scene compared to the 1993 aerial photo,

with several roads having been built over the site of the former airport,

erasing the traces of the former runway.

The site of Jacksonville Airport is located east of the intersection of Western Boulevard & Gateway South,

northeast of the town of Jacksonville.

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Blue Bird Marine Corps Expeditionary Airfield, Duck Creek, NC

34.55 North / 77.32 West (Southeast of Jacksonville, NC)

The Blue Bird Airfield was labeled simply as “Landing Strip” on the 1991 USGS topo map.

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

This small airfield on the property of Camp Lejune

is one of 31 Expeditionary Airfields operated by the Marine Corps.

The date of construction of Blue Bird EAF is unknown.

It may have been built at some point between 1988-91,

as the airfield is not depicted at all on the 1970 or 1988 USGS topo maps,

but does appear (labeled simply "Landing Strip") on the 1991 USGS topo map.

The airfield at Blue Bird is not depicted at all on aeronautical charts,

and it is not listed in the Airport Facility Directory as an airfield or heliport.

As seen in the 1993 USGS aerial photo, the Blue Bird Airfield consisted of a single northwest/southeast runway,

along with a helipad on the east side.

In 1998 the Blue Bird EAF was rebuilt by members of the "Untouchables", Marine Wing Support Squadron 272,

as described in a article in the 9/16/98 issue of the Marines Digest.

According to Gunnery Sgt. John C. Jefferson, MWSS-272 EAF officer-in-charge,

given the nature of the operation & the work that had to be done,

this was one of the quickest & most successful airfield construction operations he has witnessed.

"We had to take up the existing EAF because the shoulders surrounding it have eroded in the past few years,

causing a hazard to landing aircraft," Jefferson said.

"Once all the mats were taken up, our engineers & heavy equipment (HE) sections built new dirt shoulders,

and then a new airfield was constructed."

TLZ Blue Bird is a vertical/short takeoff & landing (VSTOL) site

used by helicopter & AV-8 Harrier pilots for combat mission training.

The airfield at Blue Bird consists of a single 1,700' runway, composed of hundreds of interlocking aluminum mats.

A taxiway leads a 96' square vertical takeoff & landing pad.

The entire landing area has a total of 161,568 sq ft.

"The entire surface area was reworked about five years ago & is still in relatively good shape," Jefferson said.

"Only certain spots that laid under the old mats needed to be repaired for certification."

The Untouchables constructed their entire base camp,

relocated necessary equipment from New River to the TLZ, assessed work requirements,

and started disassembling the runway on the 1^st day at the site.

The squadron's base camp was spread throughout a wooded area adjacent to the TLZ

and consisted of a small number of the all-to-familiar general purpose tents,

covered with camouflage netting which made it virtually invisible to an untrained eye.

The estimated time taken to complete the operation was 4 weeks.

The Untouchables completed the task in a mere 2 weeks.

"The troops deserve every bit of the credit for another successful operation,"

said Lt. Col. Danny Brush, MWSS-272 commanding officer.

"They came out here & broke their backs to meet the needs of the Corps."

A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo looking northwest at the Blue Bird airfield.

Blue Bird EAF is located on the northeast shore of Mile Hammock Bay, 1.5 miles south of Route 172,

less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean.

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Camp Davis Army Airfield /

Camp Davis Marine Corps Outer Landing Field (14NC),

Holly Ridge, NC

34.52 North / 77.55 West (Southwest of Jacksonville, NC)

Camp Davis AAF, as depicted on the September 1943 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Camp Davis was originally built in 1940 as an Army anti-aircraft artillery training facility.

It was an expansive facility, consisting of more than 3,000 buildings on 45,538 acres,

with access provided by newly-built railroad spurs leading into the camp.

No airfield was yet depicted at Camp Davis on the August 1942 14M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Two 5,000' paved runways were built by the Army at Camp Davis at some point between 1942-43.

The earliest depiction of Camp Davis AAF which has been located

was on the September 1943 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Camp Davis' Runway 5/23 was wider, and was intended for use by transports,

while Runway 18/36 was narrower, and intended for use by single-engine aircraft.

Most of the aircraft which operated from the Camp Davis runways were single-engine aircraft

which were used to tow targets for the anti-aircraft artillery units.

A list of airfields used by the U.S. Government listed the field as “Hollyridge AAF”,

and listed dates of usage from 1/1/43 – 8/31/45.

A WW2 era view looking east at Camp Davis, with the 2 runways at the left & center of the photo.

An undated (pre-1944) series of panoramic images of Camp Davis' cantonment area, undated (courtesy of Joe Benson).

Camp Davis & its WW2-era artillery firing ranges, as depicted on a 2003 Army Corps of Engineers diagram.

In 1944 the anti-aircraft training facility was transferred to another base,

and Camp Davis was closed by the Army.

"Camp Davis AAF" & its associated firing area,

as depicted on the April 1945 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

In 1945, a portion of the Camp Davis area that was formerly used by

the Army as the Coastal Artillery Anti-Aircraft Firing Range

(and is the location of the present-day town of Surf City) was transferred to the Navy.

The site was used by the Navy for the development & testing of early surface-to-air missiles,

under the name "Operation Bumblebee".

In 1948, the Navy closed down operations.

Camp Davis was declared surplus & was dismantled in the late 1940’s for salvage & sale.

At that time the Navy apparently gave up the leases on the land

& it was returned to the original landowners.

In the words of Joe Benson, "I came to Jacksonville every year when school was out from about 1949-62.

Every year Camp Davis changed. As I think back, it was like a slow flickering film.

One year, everything was there. The next some buildings gone. The next, even more.

As the buildings went, the thing that started becoming the principal landmark was all the chimneys from the buildings.

For some reason, they never touched the brick chimneys even to this day, so to speak.

For years, they looked like brick trees, there were so many.

If you go in there now, you can still see many on the ground that were just eventually knocked over.

I guess others were finally stripped by people over time for the brick.

But I'll never forget that forest of chimneys for years.

There's probably enough chimney bricks left there to build a house if you wanted!"

In 1954, the U.S. Marine Corps took out a new lease for approximately 955 acres

on the former Camp Davis airfields & surrounding land from International Paper Company.

Camp Davis was still listed as a Navy facility on the 1965 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),

but was still labeled "Closed".

It was described as having two 5,500' concrete runways.

The 1981 USGS topo map depicted the 2 runways at Camp Davis as “Abandoned Landing Strip”.

Howie Howe recalled a deployment to the Camp Davis airfield.

"In the early 1980's, my Marine Crops Reserve unit was activated for a weekend,

and put on Air Force transports.

We were flown from NAS South Weymouth, MA,

down to an abandoned airfield [Camp Davis MCOLF] adjacent to Camp Lejeune.

When we landed the runway was in very bad need of maintenance,

there were no standing structures,

and the air traffic control operations were done by radiomen using jeep mounted UHF radios.

I do remember seeing some overgrown foundations,

and that the road from the field out to Highway 17 was dirt."

A 1986 close-up by Paul Cotrufo, looking east at the deck outline of an LPH helicopter carrier,

painted on the north/south runway at Camp Davis.

A May 1989 photo by T. Birrenkott of an Army AH-64A Apache helicopter returning to Camp Davis from an assault mission

during the joint services Exercise Solid Shield 89.

A May 1989 photo by Scott Stewart of Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the 101^st Airborne Division

on the airfield at Camp Davis during the joint services exercise Solid Shield 89.

Also note the Marine UH-1N Iroquois helicopter passing overhead in the background.

A May 1989 photo by Scott Stewart of a C-130 Hercules from the 317^th Tactical Air Wing lifting off from the runway at the Camp Davis airfield

carrying soldiers from the 101^st Airborne Division at the conclusion of the joint services exercise Solid Shield 89.

A May 1989 DOD photo by Sgt. Birrenkott of 2 CH-47 helicopters hovering at Camp Davis

as they prepare to make an external lift of 2 sets of M-998 HMMWVs & 105mm towed howitzers during Operation Solid Shield '89.

A 1990 aerial view by Paul Cotrufo looking northeast along Camp Davis' northeast/southwest runway.

USGS 1996 aerial view.

Camp Davis has been used in recent years by the Marines as a satellite airfield

for helicopter units based at nearby New River MCAS.

The gate is located along the west side of NC Route 17, just North of Holly Ridge.

The airfield at Camp Davis currently consists of 2 paved 5,000' runways (5/23 & 18/36),

along with an extensive network of taxiways & parking ramps.

Runway 18/36 was being resurfaced with concrete in 1997,

possibly for use by the V-22s which would be based at nearby MCAS New River in increasing numbers over the next few years.

A 1997 photo by Paul Freeman of a CH-46E performing a practice low approach to Runway 5/23.

A 1997 photo by Paul Freeman of an MH-53E performing a practice low approach to Runway 5/23.

A 1997 photo by Paul Freeman of one of 2 derelict USN TA-4Js

which are still parked at end of parking ramps in between the 2 runways.

The TA-4J was previously used for external load operations by New River CH-53s.

According to Michael Montgomery (who worked on TA-4s at Kingsville),

this Skyhawk was previously assigned to TW-2 at NAS Kingsville, TX.

In 1998, Jamie Clabaugh was a Marine at Camp Lejune,

and he recalled coming across the TA-4J while on an exercise.

"I was in a reconnaissance unit & that day I had hiked from the main highway all the way to the far runway

which took a good 2 days through the swamp.

We were working on anti-terrorist training at the time

and our mission on that day was to watch a suspected terrorist training camp

that was located about 500 meters north of where that plane was located.

We had set up base camp right next door to that aircraft & got to know that plane quite well."

Even aircraft as large as a C-130 Hercules have occasionally landed at the Camp Davis runway in recent years.

Members of Company 4 run off a USAF C-130 Hercules at Camp Davis

during an Airfield Security, Convoy Operations, and Humanitarian Assistance Final Training Exercise in 1996.

DoD photo by Army Staff Sgt. M.A. Jones.

Peter Hantelman reported about the TA-4J pictured above at Camp Davis:

“That A-4 appeared in the 'junkyard' at Defense Reutilization Management Office at MCAS Cherry Point in around summer 2001.

I drove past in several times a week, and recognize that particular hulk, plus its identification marks.

It sat there for about a year, before it disappeared.

There was a write-up about it in the base newspaper.

It was demilitarized, then shipped on a barge into the training areas east on base.

It sits at a mock-up runway, along with other targets for the Harrier pilots to practice bomb.”

A 2002 photo of a CH-46E at Camp Davis,

as Marine Wing Support Squadron-272 used the field to conduct pre-deployment training.

The purpose of this was to provide advanced training for the air base ground defense platoon

and a warm-up exercise for their upcoming deployment to Spain

Howie Howe reported in 2003, "It appears that the Marines have recently purchased a majority of Camp Davis

and may now be referring to it as the Greater Sandy Run Training Area."

A winter 2006 aerial view showed a dusting of snow around the Camp Davis runways.

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Atlantic Marine Corps Outer Landing Field (12NC),

Atlantic, NC

34.88 North / 76.35 West (Northeast of Morehead City, NC)

A 1942 photo of pilots in front of an SBD Dauntless in front of the Atlantic Field control tower (courtesy of Homer Davis, via Sam Taylor).

Atlantic was built during WW2 as a satellite airfield for MCAS Cherry Point.

The Navy acquired 1,470 acres of land in early 1942,

and construction commenced later that year.

No airfield was yet depicted at Atlantic on the August 1942 14M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The earliest depiction of the Atlantic airfield which has been located

was a 1942 photo of pilots in front of an SBD Dauntless

in front of the Atlantic Field control tower (courtesy of Homer Davis, via Sam Taylor).

Two 1942 photos of SBD Dauntlesses at Atlantic Field (courtesy of Homer Davis, via Sam Taylor).

An undated (WW2-era) USMC photo of the control tower & operations building at Atlantic

with several SBD Dauntlesses in the background.

The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of the Atlantic airfield which has been located

was on the September 1943 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It labeled the field as “Atlantic (Navy)”.

A December 1943 photos of the Atlantic Field control tower (courtesy of Homer Davis, via Sam Taylor).

Note the tower cab on top, which was not yet present in the earlier photo.

Atlantic Field was initially planned to have 2 runways,

but work began on a 3^rd runway in 1943.

The 1^st aircraft reportedly arrived at Atlantic in 1943 [but that is contradicted by the 1942 photos above],

the Douglas SDB Dauntless dive bombers of VMSB-341,

followed shortly by VMSB-342.

Atlantic was commissioned as a Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield in 1943.

A total complement of 36 aircraft was present on the base in 1943 - 35 SBDs & one J2F Duck amphibian.

A hangar was completed in late 1943, as well as barracks, workshops & other buildings.

Several other Marine dive bombing squadrons were assigned to Atlantic during 1943.

In 1944 a detachment of Air Warning Squadron AWS-16 arrived,

as well as VMSB-934 with new Curtiss SB2C Helldivers.

A 1944 aerial view looking southwest at Atlantic MCOLF (National Archives photo).

By 1945, aviation activity at Atlantic declined to a minimal level.

By the end of the war, the facilities at Atlantic consisted of three 3,500' asphalt runways,

a hangar, control tower & operations building, and barracks for a total of 815 personnel.

The total cost of the station was $1.26 million.

"Atlantic (Navy)", as depicted on the April 1945 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Atlantic was apparently abandoned at some point between 1956-65,

as it was labeled "OLF Atlantic (Navy) (Closed)" on the 1965 Norfolk Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

The Aerodromes table on the chart described the field as having 3 asphalt runways,

with the longest being 3,500'.

Although it has remained officially closed as an airfield,

Atlantic has been used occasionally in subsequent years by the Marine Corps

as a satellite airfield for aircraft & helicopters from MCAS New River & MCAS Cherry Point.

As of the 1993 USGS aerial photo,

the remains of 3 paved runways still exist (01/19, 05/23 & 10/28), each 3,500 ft.

Atlantic is still used occasionally (as of 2003) for exercises by New River helicopters.

A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo showed the Atlantic airfield to remain completely intact,

and with some signs of recent use – including a number of trailers or other ground vehicles stored on the ramp.

A close-up from a circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo showed what appeared to be 3 A-4 Skyhawks on a ramp at Atlantic.

A December 19, 2007 photo by Sam Taylor of a Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey from nearby MCAS New River

which was temporarily grounded at MCOLF Atlantic.

Sam reported, “There were 3 V-22s here on a night training mission.

This one lost oil from a pump around the starboard engine.

It was repaired & left the next day.

We have just cleared 2 massive landing zones for the V-22 here.

There is a military construction job to build a new invasion city here.

This old WW2field is going to be a hot spot for them to train.”

Sam Taylor reported in 2007, “MCOLF Atlantic is the Mid-Atlantic Electronic Warfare Range.

We have about 65 people here. I work in the Supply Department.”

A December 19, 2007 photo by Sam Taylor of a Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey from nearby MCAS New River

which was temporarily grounded at MCOLF Atlantic.