Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Virginia: Western Fairfax County

Virginia: Western Fairfax County

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Centreville Airport (revised 2/20/15) - Falls Church Airpark (revised 5/15/13)

Herndon Nike Missile Battery W-83 Launch Site (revised 4/30/14) - Herndon Nike Missile Battery W-83 Integrated Fire Control Site (revised 4/30/14)

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Falls Church Airpark, Falls Church, VA

38.865, -77.2 (West of Washington, DC)

Falls Church Airpark, as depicted on the 1946 USGS topo map.

According to the book "Virginia Airports" by Vera Rollo & Norman Crabill (published by the VAHS),

"The Falls Church Airpark Inc. airport license was granted on 7/25/45."

However, the airport may not have actually began operation for a little while,

as it was not yet depicted at all on the 1946 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).

According to Falls Church resident Mark Sublette, “The Falls Church Airpark... opened in 1946 as 3,000' grass strip

and I don't believe it was ever paved.”

The earliest depiction of the Falls Church Airport which has been located

was on the 1946 USGS topo map.

The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of the Falls Church Airport which has been located

was on the 1947 Washington Sectional Chart,

which depicted it as having a 2,500' unpaved runway.

The Falls Church Airpark "tract was located on 60 acres of the Eisenhower Farm"

(according to the book "Virginia Airports").

The 1949 USAF Target Complex Chart depicted Falls Church Airpark as having a single east/west runway.

The earliest photo which is available of the Falls Church Airpark was a 1949 aerial photo.

It depicted the field as having a single east/west grass runway, with signs of a crosswind runway.

A closeup from the 1949 aerial photo, showing the hangar on the north side of the field with “Falls Church Airpark” painted on its roof,

and a total of 11 light aircraft parked on the field.

An advertisement for the 7/10/49 Air Circus held at Falls Church Airpark

(from the Styles Public Library, courtesy of Charlie Davis).

The 1951 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe) depicted Falls Church Airport as having 2 runways,

with the longest being a 2,800' unpaved strip.

The last photo which has been located showing the Falls Church Airpark in operation was a 7/5/51 USGS aerial view.

It depicted the 2 unpaved runways, several buildings, and a total of 17 light aircraft parked on the northeast side of the field.

A closeup from the 7/5/51 aerial photo, showing the hangar on the north side of the field with “Falls Church Airpark” painted on its roof,

and several of the light aircraft parked on the field.

David Farrell recalled, “I was in the Civil Air Patrol. [In] the Civil Air Patrol building I flew the BLUE BOX [Link Trainer].

The J-3 Cub behind the building [in the photo above] was my first airplane to fly at 16.

I checked out in an L-16 which I believe is the other aircraft in the aerial photo next to the building.

That J-3 finally 'bit the dust' & I joined a flying club that had a Taylorcraft (1^st aircraft to the left, 1^st row from the hangars) and that is the aircraft that I flew up to getting my private [pilot's license].

I had a girlfriend in Hanover PA & used to fly up to visit her in that plane. I taught her how to prop it as it had nothing electrical but a magneto.”

The 1951 USGS topo map depicted Falls Church Airport as having a single unpaved east/west runway, with a few small buildings on the north side.

Merton Meade recalled, “I went to Falls Church Airport many times.

It never was paved & had 2 runways which were nearly parallel.

There indeed was a Mooney dealer at Falls Church & they actually rented the single seat Mooney Mite.

After a couple of wheels up landings, they attached a cowbell to the wee flag

that waved back & forth in front of the pilot's face as a gear warning device. THAT got your attention!

Seems to me a man called Ash Rossen was the operator there.”

Lifelong Northern VA resident Mike Keefe recalled, "In 1953, I joined the Civil Air Patrol at that airport [Falls Church].

It had a 2,800' dirt runway, grass tie downs, a couple of flimsy hangers,

and a small wooden building that housed an Army Air Force Link Trainer.

My very first airplane ride was in that Link Trainer."

Former air traffic controller Andrew Pitas recalled, “In the mid-1950s

I had a Navy Twin Beech take off from NAS Anacostia in IFR weather who encountered engine trouble.

He was several miles west of National Airport when he declared an emergency

with a request we get him to the nearest airport.

I radar-vectored him into the Falls Church Airport for a safe landing.

They had to take the wings off in order to get the airplane onto a trailer to get it out of there.”

Jon Eckert recalled, “I was in the Civil Air Patrol Squadron at the Falls Church Airpark.

It was a great squadron to be in & Fall Church Airpark was a great place to learn to fly.

I can attest to that as my father soloed me out there in a J-3 owned by the CAP on 5/17/55.

All landings were full stop because of the trees on both ends, runway length & runway slope.

The Blue Box (Link) was great too.

It was not certified for instruction so we all could play with it & learn about instrument flying.

Many days we spent the whole day flying the Link.

We also had an unlicensed Stearman.

It ran like a top & we would sneak a taxi ride when no one was around.

When we got tired of that & had 25¢ for a gallon of gas, we'd take turns flying the Cub.”

In the late 1950s, several aircraft 'orphaned' by the closure of nearby Beacon Field & Alexandria Hybla Valley Airport

were relocated to Falls Church.

Robert Everett recalled, "I worked at Falls Church Airpark as a line boy in 1958-59 before going into Air Force.

I was also in the Civil Air Patrol there 1957-59.

CAP had a small building on the right of the road as you entered

and had a couple of L-15s of L-16s & a Link Trainer."

"The CAP squadron was good to belong to as many of the kids' fathers were flying officers in various services

and when we wanted to go anywhere all the dads needed to do was go check out a C-47

and take the entire cadet squadron anywhere we needed to go.

I went to England AFB for the 1958 Fire Power Demonstration,

to summer encampments & to Loch Haven, PA to the Piper factory."

"There was also an old house that served as both an office & snack bar.

The airport manager was named Bruce Walton

and he had told me in 1959 that the field would be closing & soon be developed.

I remember the cheeseburgers & beer after work."

"There were about (it seemed) 75-80 planes based there

including 'Little Butch', the clip-wing monoplane that won all of the aerobatic awards & is now in the Smithsonian."

"There were 2 runways & if you consider the main to be a 9/27,

then the auxiliary runway would be about a 13/21

intersecting Runway 27 between 1/2-3/4 down the field & terminating at the intersection.

They had a gas pump & several mechanics working there & also did some painting.

I think that they had a Mooney dealer there also.

The 27 runway had a nasty down slope

and on hot summer days the Cubs & Taylorcraft had to do downwind landings

as they would float too bad to land.

I remember that Author Godfrey landed his DC-3 there once."

The Aerodromes table on the 1960 Washington Sectional Chart described Falls Church Airport

as having 2 turf runways, with the longest being 2,800'.

The remarks also said "Hazardous - use at own risk. Strips muddy. East blocked trees."

This little airport was apparently closed within the next year,

as it was not depicted on the 1961 Washington Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).

It had been crowded out of existence by the surrounding suburban development.

A 1962 aerial photo showed that the hangar had been removed.

The east end of the former airfield was still clear, but apartment buildings had been constructed over the west side of the property.

Falls Church resident Mark Sublette recalled, “It was being converted into the Loehmann's Plaza Shopping Center in the mid-1960s.

I recall it just before [the shopping center] opened in 1967.

We went go-karting there one Saturday afternoon with the parking lots just empty of vehicles.”

A circa 2001 aerial view of the site of the former Falls Church Airport, now Loehman's Plaza Shopping Center.

Not a single trace appears to remain of the former airport.

The site of Falls Church Airpark is located southeast of the intersection of Arlington Boulevard & Allen Street.

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Centreville Airport (VA16), Centreville, VA

38.879, -77.485 (Southwest of Dulles Airport, VA)

A 1/26/60 USAF aerial view (courtesy of Dallam Oliver-Lee) depicted Centreville Airport as having 2 grass runways.

A 3/12/52 aerial view of the eventual site of Centreville Airport did not depict any sign of an airfield yet;

the property was farmland without any trace of a runway.

According to the book "Virginia Airports" by Vera Rollo & Norman Crabill (published by the VAHS),

Centerville Airport "was opened in 1954 by C. L. Caldwell with 2 turf runways.

It seems to have been a personal airport."

Centreville Airport was not depicted on the 1956 USGS topo map.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Centreville Airport was a 1957 aerial view.

It depicted Centreville as having 2 grass runways.

No aircraft were visible on the field,

but there were several buildings along the east side.

Centreville Airport was depicted in an unchanged configuration in aerial photos from 1962 & 1963.

Centreville Airport was not depicted on the 1963 USGS topo map.

Centreville Airport was depicted in an unchanged configuration in a 1964 aerial photo.

The 1966 USGS topo map depicted Centreville Airport as having a unpaved runways, labeled simply as "Airfield".

Herb Dunkle recalled, “Centerville Airfield... I flew out it of with Colonel L. Caldwell as a 16-18 year old kid in 1966-68 in Mr. Caldwell's Piper PA-24 Tripacer.

Mr. Caldwell was the Commander of the USAFR Civil Air Patrol Dulles Composite Squadron in the mid-1960s

which was the Official Search & Rescue group for Northern Virginia Area.

He was a great teacher.”

The only aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Centreville Airport was on the 1971 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ed Francis).

It depicted Centreville as a private airfield with a 2,100' unpaved runway.

Scott Keating recalled, “I grew up in Centreville & remember driving by the 'airport' in the 1970s.

As best I can remember the field was apparently just a private strip for the homeowner,

but he had the power lines that surrounded the property well marked with orange balls,

and had a large wind tetrahedron in the front yard - it was always well maintained.”

Centreville Airport was depicted in an unchanged configuration on a 1974 aerial photo.

Centerville Airport was not depicted on the 1974 Fairfax County parcel map (courtesy of Dallam Oliver-Lee).

The earliest appearance of Centreville Airport on the Fairfax County parcel maps which has been located

was on the 1975 parcel map (courtesy of Dallam Oliver-Lee).

Centreville Airport was depicted in an unchanged configuration in aerial photos from 1979 & 1981.

The earliest directory reference to Centreville Airport which has been located

was in the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),

which described it as a private airfield consisting of 2 turf runways: 2,100' Runway 6/24 & 1,1000' Runway 15/33.

Centerville Airport was located a mere 4 miles from the end of Dulles International Airport's Runway 1R,

well within the inner ring of Dulles' Class B airspace

(which must have made flight operations from the little field quite interesting!).

The 2 runways of Centreville Airport were depicted on the 1983 USGS topo map, labeled simply as "Landing Field".

Scott Keating recalled, “During the 1980s it slowly started to disappear, but was always recognizable.”

Vincent Agnelli recalled visiting Centreville Airport in 1984, “C.L. Caldwell - The 'C' in his name stood for Colonel which was his real name.

He was also a retired Colonel from USAF.

He was a WWII fighter pilot. I really pressed him for stories. His first combat was at Midway. Can you imagine?

He also said he was flying a fighter plane before he had a driver’s license! If I remember correctly he flew a P-40.

He told me he flew off of Midway Island & got shot down.

Turned out he had just beat prostate cancer & was on the mend but what a tough guy he was.

His family owned that land. It was 180 acres & it was all his.

At the time he was asking just over a million dollars for it.

He would have got it right away except the county rezoned not to have city sewer & water which made potential developers shy away.

I remember Mrs. Caldwell too. Feisty & smart.

The house was so old the floor boards were warped down & they still had a wood stove in the kitchen.

Nicer folks to a stranger you never have met I can assure you.

On the property he had an open hangar that could have accommodated 2 planes.

He had a gas pump & a machine shop building. The planes were gone…he had long since stopped flying.

He said he used to fly air-mail to New York & he used to charter folks a lot.”

The last appearance of Centreville Airport on the Fairfax County parcel maps which has been located

was on the 2000 parcel map (courtesy of Dallam Oliver-Lee).

Centreville Airport was no longer depicted on the 2001 Fairfax County parcel map (courtesy of Dallam Oliver-Lee);

instead the site was labeled “Pleasant Valley Properties”.

The last photo which has been located showing Centreville Airport still intact was a circa 2000 aerial view.

According to J. Lartz, “Fairfax County Park Authority bought the land in 2001.”

However a 2001 aerial photo showed land being cleared for new houses along the eastern portion of the airport property.

Paul Freeman drove by the site of the airfield in 2002,

and saw that newly-constructed housing was surrounding the airfield.

It appeared as if the airfield property was also about to be redeveloped as a housing development.

A 2002 USGS aerial photo showed that the eastern portion of both runways

had been covered by a newly-constructed street with several new houses.

According to J. Lartz, “The land next to it was developed with million-dollar homes in 2002 & 2003.”

According to the 2003 book "Virginia Airports", "The site has been acquired by the Hunter Development Company."

Inexplicably, as of 2004, Centreville was still listed with the FAA as an active private airfield,

with the owner listed as David Hunter.

This seems quite strange, given that the 2002 photo shows that the field

had undoubtedly ceased to function as an airfield even by that point.

Scott Keating reproted in 2005, “I visited the site last October

and was amazed to see it was completely gone, overrun with houses everywhere.

The orange balls were still on the power lines though.”

As of 2006, the Centreville Airport was no longer listed in the FAA Airport/Facility Directory as an active airfield.

Vincent Agnelli reported in 2008 that the site of Centreville Airport now is occupied by a housing subdivision named Victoria Crossing.

A 6/20/11 USDA aerial photo (courtesy of Dallam Oliver-Lee) still showed the recognizable outline of both runways along the western portion of the site of Centreville Airport.

The regional farm attraction of Cox's Farm sits just across the road to the northwest.

The site of Centreville Airport is located just south of the intersection of Braddock Road & Pleasant Valley Road.

Thanks to Charlie for pointing out this airfield.

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Herndon Nike Missile Battery W-83 Launch Site, Herndon, VA

38.992, -77.327 (Northwest of Washington, DC)

A December 1956 aerial view looking northwest at the Herndon Nike missile launch site (courtesy of Thomas Page),

showing the Nike missile launchers on the east side of the facility,

and an earthen berm on the west side.

A barracks was seen in the background, on the northwest side of the facility.

The purpose of this military base was to shoot down incoming aircraft.

It is included here due to its significance in Cold War history.

Herndon Site W-83 was one of a network of 13 Nike missile batteries that surrounded Washington.

The others were located in Davidsonville, Bay Bridge, Croom, Brandywine, Waldorf,

Accokeek, Pamonkey, Lorton, Pohick, Rockville, Gaithersburg & Laytonsville.

The Washington-area Nike batteries have great historical significance,

as when they first became operational in 1953,

they were the very first surface-to-air guided missile system to enter operational service in the world.

Each Nike battery consisted of 2 separate facilities:

a Launch Area & an Integrated Fire Control Area.

The layout of all Nike sites was characteristic in that the launch site was situated 1-3 miles “downrange” from its Integrated Fire Control Area,

along the axis toward the anticipated targets,

such that the radars at the IFCA would have a line-of-sight toward both the missiles & the target.

To build Herndon Site W-83, in 1955 the US Government obtained property on Utterback Store Road (to be used for the launch site),

as well as an additional 12 acres from the dairy farm of Mark Turner (to be used for its companion Integrated Fire Control Area).

Herndon Site W-83 was activated in 1955.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Herndon Site W-83 was a December 1956 aerial photo (courtesy of Thomas Page).

An undated photo of 2 Nike Ajax missiles on their launcher.

The Herndon Nike site operated the first-generation Nike Ajax missile.

The Nike Ajax missile was huge: each one stood 34' tall & weighed 2,400 pounds.

It had a range of 25 miles & a maximum speed of Mach 2.3.

A cutaway view of a typical Nike Ajax Launch Area underground magazine.

A 1957 aerial view of the Herndon Nike Launch Site showed its full complement of 12 Nike-Ajax missile launchers

(several of which appeared to have missiles mounted on them).

Five of the Washington area batteries were later converted to fire the 2^nd-generation Nike Hercules missile.

Herndon Site W-83 was not among the Nike sites upgraded with the Nike Hercules missile, and it was closed in 1962.

A 1962 aerial view showed that the above-ground Nike launchers had been removed.

The hatches for the 3 underground missile magazines were still visible, connected by an east/west concrete strip.

The last photo which has been located showing the Herndon launch site basically intact was a 1974 aerial view.

The former Nike Launch Area on Utterback Store Road was turned over to Fairfax County in 1975.

A 1979 aerial view of the Herndon Nike Launch Site showed that the area of the launchers had been completely sanitized,

with the missile magazine hatches & concrete base having been removed.

The only remaining trace of the missile installation was the earthen berms on the west side of the facility.

The former barracks on the northwest side of the launchers had also been removed at some point between 1974-79.

Paul Freeman visited the Herdon Nike Site W-83 in 2000.

The Launch Area is located on the east side of Utterback Store Road,

just north of Route 7, and immediately south of Forrestville Elementary School.

The area previously containing the barracks has become the site of Forrestville Elementary School,

and not a single Nike building remains.

Most of the property surrounding the location of the launchers has become "Great Falls Nike Park",

a complex of athletic fields.

In the center of this area is a rectangular raised earthen berm,

which obviously was the protective berm surrounding the launchers.

No other physical trace remains of the launchers,

but the ground of this area is noticeably higher in elevation than the surrounding area,

which makes it appears likely that the underground magazine was left intact & simply buried.

This contention is supported by accounts from local residents.

A September 2000 photo by Paul Freeman of the radome at the site of the Herndon Nike launch site.

This may be the former HIPAR radome, relocated from the Herndon Nike Integrated Fire Control Site.

A circa 2005 aerial photo looking west at the earthen berm & radome which remains at the site of the Herndon Nike Launch Site.

A 10/12/12 aerial photo of the location of the Herndon Launch Area.

The cluster of trees on the west side cover the earthen berms which formerly surrounded the missile launchers.

Thanks to Tom Page for information about the Herndon site.