Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southeastern New Mexico
© 2002, © 2005 by Paul Freeman. Revised 11/12/05.
Carlsbad Aux AAF (revised 12/10/03) - Carlsbad Caverns Airpark
Hobbs AAF (revised 7/6/05) - Hobbs Aux AAF #4 (revised 7/30/04)
Knowles Aux AAF #1 (revised 11/12/05) - Ruidoso Municipal (added 10/20/03)
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Hobbs Army Airfield (HBB), Hobbs, NM
32.77 North / 103.21 West (Southwest of Lubbock, TX)
A circa early-1940s aerial view looking northwest at Hobbs AAF (courtesy of Lou Thole),
taken while the field was still under construction (note the lack of any hangars along the ramp).
This field was established in 1942 by the 2nd Air Force for the 50,000 Pilot Training Program.
It was operated by the Western Flying Training Command,
and trained bombardiers & the crews of four engine bombers (B-17s).
The earliest chart depiction which has been located of Hobbs AAF as an active airfield
was on the August 1943 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It also depicted two of its auxiliary airfields.
During WW2, Hobbs AAF had a total of 6 satellite airfields:
Knowles Aux #1 (14 miles northeast of Hobbs AAF),
Hobbs Aux #2 (east of Lovington),
Hobbs Aux #3 (southwest of Lovington),
Hobbs Aux #4 (19 miles west of Hobbs AAF),
Wink Aux (3.5 miles WNW of Wink, TX), later reused as Winkler County Airport,
and Hobbs Municipal Aux #6 (5 miles south of Hobbs AAF), later reused as Lea County Regional Airport,
Hobbs AAF was closed by the military in 1951, and it was subsequently reused as a civil field.
Hobbs Municipal Airport was listed among active airports in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
with four paved runways.
"Hobbs Municipal" was listed as an active airport on the 1966 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The Aerodromes table described the field as having 4 runways (with the longest being an 8,810' asphalt runway),
but the remarks said "Paving no longer maintained."
It was labeled "Crossroads Intercontinental Airport" on the 1973 USGS topo map.
As seen in the 1997 USGS aerial photo, the Hobbs airfield consisted of four paved runways,
of which two were still maintained (the longest, Runway 12/30, is 8,810'), along with numerous taxiways & a large ramp.
A remaining hangar at Hobbs. Photo by Scott Murdock 1997.
An abandoned former munitions storage igloo at Hobbs. Photo by Scott Murdock 1997.
A 2003 aerial photo looking north at Hobbs by Dick Merrill.
As of 2003 the Hobbs airfield was still operated as Hobbs Industrial Airpark, a private airfield used for glider operations.
The National Soaring Foundtion is based at Hobbs.
A 2004 aerial photo looking southeast at Hobbs by Harold Brown (courtesy of Lou Thole).
A 2004 photo by Lou Thole of the massive ramp at Hobbs.
A 2004 photo by Lou Thole “of the sole remaining hangar at Hobbs.
The building has been condemned & is no longer in use.”
A 2004 photo by Lou Thole of an abandoned ordnance bunker at Hobbs.
A 2004 photo by Lou Thole a hangar originally from Hobbs AAF, but which was relocated after WW2 to the Hobbs Municipal Airport.
See also: Forgotten Fields of America by Lou Thole.
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Knowles Auxiliary Army Airfield #1, North of Hobbs, NM
32.95 North / 103.12 West (Southwest of Lubbock, TX)
Hobbs Aux #1, as depicted in relation to its parent airfield on the 1945 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This field was used during WW2 as one of four satellite airfields for Hobbs AAF (14 miles southwest),
which trained bombardiers & the crews of four engine bombers.
Knowles Aux #1 was evidently constructed at some point between 1943-45,
as it was not yet depicted on the August 1943 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the Knowles Aux #1 airfield which has been located
was on the 1945 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It is not known if this field was ever reused for civilian aviation.
It was evidently closed at some point between 1945-62,
as it was not depicted at all on the December 1962 USAF Operational Navigation Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The former Knowles Aux #1 was labeled simply as "Aband arpt" on the 1966 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
As seen in the 1995 USGS aerial photo, the airfield still remained in quite good condition.
It consisted of two paved runways (the longest is 7,500' long) & a taxiway.
Knowles Aux #1 was still depicted on 1998 aeronautical charts as an abandoned airfield.
As seen in the 2003 USGS aerial photo, the two paved runways of the former Knowles Aux AAF still remained in quite good condition.
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Hobbs Auxiliary Army Airfield #4, Buckeye, NM
32.72 North / 103.53 West (Southwest of Lubbock, TX)
"Hobbs Muncipal Aux #4", as depicted in the 1960 Jeppsen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
This field was built during WW2 as one of four satellite airfields for Hobbs AAF (19 miles east),
which trained bombardiers & the crews of four-engine bombers.
The date of construction of Hobbs Aux #4 has not been determined,
but the parent field (Hobbs AAF) was established in 1942.
The Hobbs Aux #4 airfield was apparently abandoned prior to 1945,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1945 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This airfield was apparently reopened at some point between 1945-60 as a civil airfield,
as that was how "Hobbs Muncipal Aux #4" was listed in the 1960 Jeppsen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The field was depicted as having three paved runways (7,000' Runways 3/21 & 17/35, and 5,000' Runway 8/26).
No ramp or buildings were depicted on the field,
which was said to be unattended.
Hobbs #4, as depicted on the December 1962 USAF Operational Navigation Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The Aerodromes table on the 1966 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described Hobbs #4 as having 2 runways (with the longest being an 7,000' asphalt runway),
and the remarks said "Private. Hazardous (mesquite & weeds)."
At some point after 1966 the airfield was abandoned again.
It was not depicted at all on the 1973 & 1975 USGS topo maps.
The runways were still clearly depicted on the 1984 USGS topo map, labeled simply "Abandoned".
As seen in the 1996 USGS aerial photo, the runways were somewhat deteriorated but still very recognizable.
Several oil wells had been built over the former runways.
There did not appear to be any indication that the airfield was ever reused for civil aviation.
A 2003 aerial photo of Hobbs Aux #4 by Bill Suffa.
"The field was relatively easy to identify from the air.
I took this from 17,000 feet, and - as you can tell - I flew nearly directly over the field.
It looked like there was an oil well or two where one of the runways formerly was.
This had the distinctive shape of a military field.
It's not on the sectional, and appears to be long-closed."
The airfield is located northwest of the intersection of Route 529 & Route 238.
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Ruidoso Municipal Airport, Ruidoso, NM
33.36 North / 105.66 West (Northeast of El Paso, TX)
A circa 1958 aerial view, looking west at the Ruidoso Airport & the surrounding mountains.
The date of construction of this former general aviation airport has not been determined.
It was evidently not yet in operation in 1945,
as it was not depicted on the 1945 Roswell Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
Tim Hawkins recalled, “Ruidoso Airport... Ralph Brown was the owner & a good friend of my parents.
He had several planes & ran a charter business out of that airport.
I know it was in operation in the mid-1950s.”
The earliest depiction of Ruidoso Airport which has been located
was the above circa 1958 aerial photo.
The surrounding high terrain was quite evident in that photo.
Tim Hawkins recalled, “My Dad use to hunt golden eagles & other bounty animals from the 135 SuperCub
that Ralph Brown [of Ruidoso's Brown Air Service] operated.
He took me deer hunting in the early 1960s using the SuperCub to land in mountains around Ruidoso.
An airport was never required.”
The earliest chart depiction of the field which has been located
was on the March 1963 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
which listed it under its original name of "Cree Meadows".
The 1963 AOPA Airport Directory also listed the field as "Cree Meadows".
Within the next year, the airport had apparently been renamed Ruidoso Airport,
as that is how it was depicted on the June 1964 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Tim Hawkins recalled, “Ruidoso Airport... I started taking flying lessons at that airport in 1965 from Brown Air Service.”
As depicted in a 1967 airport directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
Ruidoso Municipal Airport consisted of a single 5,500' paved runway 18/36,
with a parallel taxiway on the east side, leading to a ramp with several hangars on the southeast side.
A small ramp on the northwest side also appeared to have several small hangar.
USGS topo map 1982.
It was still depicted as "Municipal Airport" on the 1984 USGS topo map,
which presumably means it was still open at that point.
But the airport apparently closed at some point between 1984-93,
as it was not listed among active airfields in the 1993 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).
The Ruidoso Airport was evidently closed after the Fort Stanton airport (a few miles to the northeast)
was expanded & renamed the Sierra Blanca Regional Airport in 1987.
The reason for the replacement of the Ruidoso Airport was supposedly the difficulty of the airport's approaches,
given the surrounding high terrain.
As seen in the 1996 USGS aerial photo, the site of the former airport was redeveloped as a public golf course,
the Links At Sierra Blanca, and the Ruidoso Convention Center.
The faintest trace of the former runway is still recognizable,
but there are no obvious remains of the former airport.
A recent photo of the Links At Sierra Blanca, the golf course covering the former airport.
The site of the Ruidoso Airport is located south of the intersection of Hull Road & Gavilian Canyon Road.
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Carlsbad Auxiliary Army Airfield, Harkey Crossing, NM
32.26 North / 104.23 West (Northeast of El Paso, TX)
Carlsbad #1, as depicted on the 1945 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
Carlsbad Aux AAF was built during WW2
as the sole satellite airfield of Carlsbad AAF (located 5 miles northwest),
which conducted specialized bombardier training.
The date of construction of Carlsbad Aux #1 has not been determined.
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the 1945 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Tom Bemis (of the Carlsbad Caverns National Park) reported in 2003,
"During WW2 it was used in the development of Project X-Ray,
a top secret project to use bats to carry incendiary bombs into the attics of structures.
The bats were chilled to put them into a state of semi-hibernation.
When the bomb was dropped, it would open & the bats would warm up & take flight,
starting a time delay fuse on the incendiary.
The bats would seek the nearest shelter, normally attics, and set them on fire.
The bats were killed in the fire."
"One of these bombs was left out too long, however and the bats escaped,
burning down every structure on the Auxiliary Airfield."
"See the book 'Bat Bombs', by Jack Couffer for the full story about the project
and a photo of the field on fire."
The airfield was evidently abandoned at some point between 1945-63,
as nothing was depicted at its location on the 1963 Roswell Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
At some point between 1963-66, the northeast/southwest runway was apparently reused as a drag strip,
as that runway alone was depicted on the on the 1966 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),
labeled "Drag strip".
The former airfield was not depicted at all on the 1972, 1979 or 1985 USGS topo maps.
Tom Bemis reported in 2003, "The Carlsbad AAF Aux field was ripped up 15-20 years ago [1983-88]
because it was being used for drug drops."
As of the 1996 USGS aerial photo, the airfield consisted of two 6,600' runways,
as well as two ramp areas, which were all in a state of considerable deterioration.
It does not appear as if the field was ever reused for civil flying.
Carlsbad Auxiliary AAF was not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on 2002 aeronautical charts.
The Carlsbad VOR navigational beacon is located on the property of the former airfield
(in the southeast corner of the southern triangle formed by the runways).
Tom Bemis reported in 2003,
"The foundations of the buildings still exist as do portions of one asphalt runway.
The best way in is to take Old Cavern Highway from Carlsbad,
turn right on Rainbow Road, and immediately turn lift on a faint dirt track
that cuts off at 45 degrees & parallels one former runway."
Carlsbad Auxiliary AAF is located northwest of the intersection of Old Cavern Highway & Bounds Road.
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Carlsbad Caverns Airpark, Whites City, NM
32.18 North / 104.36 West (Northeast of El Paso, TX)
Carlsbad Carverns Airpark, as depicted on the 1966 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
According to William Hannah, this former small general aviation airport was constructed by Jack White in approximately 1960.
"Carlsbad Caverns" was listed as an active airport on the 1966 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The Aerodromes table described the field as having 2 runways (with the longest being an 3,160' asphalt runway).
Stanley Blanton recalled, "The field was in use at least until the middle or late 1970s.
I drove this route often and recall seeing planes tied down occasionally.
I think the field was mainly used by tourists to the caverns.
I believe there was one small hangar.
It can be seen in the aerial photo about 50 yards south of the highway & north of the runway."
According to Stanley Blanton, the airfield was labeled "Carlsbad Cavern" on the 1986 El Paso Sectional Chart.
It was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1988-89 New Mexico Aeronautical Chart.
It was labeled on the chart's airport diagrams as "White City (Carlsbad Caverns)".
It was described as having a single 3,800' Runway 7/25.
Tom Bemis reported in 2003, "The White City airfield was closed about ten years ago [1993]
because the county wouldn't help pay for the maintenance.
When it was operating, standard directions to pilots
were to buzz the field once before landing to chase off the cows."
In the 1997 USGS aerial photo (taken after the field's closure),
the runway at Carlsbad Caverns Airpark still remained in somewhat decent condition.
Carlsbad Caverns Airpark was still depicted as an abandoned airfield on 2002 aeronautical charts.
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