Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Florida, Tallahassee area

Florida, Tallahassee area

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Atkinson Field / Panama City Airport (added 11/24/10) - Bainbridge Aux AAF #3 / Faceville Field (revised 3/1/14) - Blountstown Airport (added 11/3/12)

Chipley Municipal Airport (revised 9/16/12) - Dale Mabry Field (revised 2/4/16) - Fannin Field / Panama City Bay County International Airport (revised 11/5/16)

Marianna Aux AAF #1 / Ellis Field (revised 3/1/14) - Marianna Aux AAF #2 / Malone Field (revised 3/1/14) - Marianna Aux AAF #3 / Bascom Field (revised 3/1/14)

Marianna Aux AAF #4 / Alliance Field (revised 3/1/14) - Panama City Beach Airfield (added 4/11/15) - Tallahassee Commercial Airport (revised 5/7/16)

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Panama City Beach Airfield, Panama City Beach, FL

30.2, -85.82 (Southwest of Tallahassee, FL)

An admittedly low-quality 1994 aerial view looking southeast at the Panama City Beach Airfield.

The specific name of the small private airfield on the north side of the town of Panama City Beach has not been determined.

It was evidently established at some point between 1979-94,

as it was not depicted at all on a 1979 aerial photo.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Panama City Beach Airfield was an 1994 aerial view.

It depicted the field as having a single unpaved north/south runway,

with a long hangar on the northwest side.

A 1999 aerial view showed 2 light single-engine aircraft next to the Panama City Beach Airfield hangar.

A 3/9/03 aerial view by Nick Kaplan looking south at Panama City Beach Airfield from final approach,

showing the grass north/south runway, hangars, and several single-engine planes.

Nick Kaplan recalled, “ I was a banner tow pilot back in 2003 at a small grass strip in Panama City Beach.

The Company was called Aerial Ads of the Southeast.

The trailers we lived in [were] next to the hangar.

I had always logged it as simply PCB-A.

I have lost touch with past co-workers & pilots, and the company no longer exists, nor do I remember the owners name.

It was about 1,000' when the ground was dry, with a NNE/SSW runway. We had one open-aired hangar that could cover about 5 planes.

The year I was there we towed with modified Cessna 150s, a Cessna 175 & Scouts, and had a [Piper] Pawnee that never ran.

It was an extremely narrow runway lined with a fence & trees on the East side

and grassy area for the banners to be laid out & picked up to the immediate west of the runway & the proverbial 50' obstacle (trees) on either end.

I had a lot of fun & enjoyed the challenges of this field for about 700 hours worth of flying.”

A 3/9/03 aerial view by Nick Kaplan looking west at 2 Cessnas & several small buildings at Panama City Beach Airfield.

A 3/9/03 photo by Nick Kaplan of a Cessna 172 preparing to depart from Panama City Beach Airfield.

A 3/9/03 photo by Nick Kaplan of a Scout behind an aerial advertising banner ready for pickup at Panama City Beach Airfield.

A 3/9/03 photo by Nick Kaplan of a Scout next to the shed hangars at Panama City Beach Airfield.

A 3/9/03 photo by Nick Kaplan of a Piper Pawnee & a Scout at Panama City Beach Airfield.

A 3/9/03 photo by Nick Kaplan of the Panama City Beach Airfield runway, showing the poles used for pickup of an aerial advertising banner.

The last photo which has been located showing an aircraft at Panama City Beach Airfield was a 2/28/06 aerial view looking southwest,

which showed 1 single-engine aircraft on the field.

An 8/30/06 aerial view did not show any aircraft on the field at Panama City Beach Airfield.

A 2012 aerial view looking southeast showed the runway & hangars remained intact at Panama City Beach Airfield,

but there were no aircraft visible or other signs of recent aviation usage.

The date of closure of Panama City Beach Airfield has not been determined,

but no airfield there is registered with the FAA as of 2015.

The site of Panama City Beach Airport is located north of the intersection of Panama City Beach Parkway & Art Coleman Road.

Thanks to Nick Kaplan for pointing out this airfield.

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Tallahassee Commercial Airport (68J), Tallahassee, FL

30.55, -84.37 (Northwest of Tallahassee, FL)

Tallahassee Commercial Airport, as depicted on the 1963 USGS topo map.

According to its FAA Airport/Facility Directory data,

this small general aviation airport was established in October 1945.

However Tallahassee Commercial Airport was not yet depicted on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Tallahassee Commercial Airport was a 1952 aerial view.

It depicted the field as having 2 unpaved runways,

with a small building & a single-engine aircraft on the southeast side of the field.

The earliest depiction which is available of Tallahassee Commercial Airport was on the 1963 USGS topo map.

It depicted Tallahassee Commercial as having 2 unpaved runways.

The earliest aeronautical chart depiction has been located of Tallahassee Commercial Airport was on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart.

It depicted Tallahassee Commercial as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.

A 1967 aerial view depicted Tallahassee Commercial as having 2 unpaved runways,

with 4 T-hangars & 5 single-engine aircraft along the west side of the field.

The 1968 Flight Guide (courtesy of Robert Levittan) depicted Tallahassee Commercial Airport

as having 2 unpaved 2,600' runways, and a few small buildings on the west & east sides.

The earliest photo which is available of Tallahassee Commercial Airport was a 5/8/70 FL DOT aerial view (courtesy of David Henderson).

It depicted the field as having a newly paved northwest/southeast runway (which had replaced 2 unpaved runways),

and several small hangars & 5 single-engine aircraft on the west side.

Bill Walker recalled, “I have flown out of Tallahassee Commercial Airport before it closed.

That place was populated by some real cowboys.

One guy I saw, with about 100 hours, claimed he could take off in a 172, clear a 50' obstruction, and land, on that little runway.

Damn sure did it, too. I was ready to go dig him out of the trees.”

The 1983 USGS topo map showed that Tallahassee Commercial's Runway 16/34 was paved at some point between 1967-83.

A 3/2/92 USGS aerial view looking southeast depicted Tallahassee Commercial Airport as having a unpaved Runway 16/34,

with a several small hangars & 2 single-engine aircraft on the west side.

A 4/7/07 photo looking north at Tallahassee Commercial's runway & buildings.

A 2009 photo showed the Tallahassee Commercial Airport office, with a Cessna in the background.

The last photo which has been located showing Tallahassee Commercial Airport while still open was a 1/30/09 aerial view looking southeast.

It showed that the threshholds had been displaced on both ends, decreasing the runway length.

Two single-engine aircraft were still visible on the west side.

Most of the T-hangars along the west side of the field had been removed at some point between 1992-2009.

The last aeronautical chart depiction has been located of Tallahassee Commercial Airport was on the 2009 Jacksonville Sectional Chart.

It depicted Tallahassee Commercial as having a 3,200' paved northwest/southeast runway.

Tallahassee Commercial Airport was evidently closed at some point between 2009-2010,

as a 12/30/09 aerial view showed closed-runway X symbols painted along the runway,

and showed large numbers of yellow objects stored to the west of the runway.

Jamie Peate reported of the yellow objects stored on runway, “We drove by frequently.

The items were oil & debris containment booms, etc. that were used during the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

They used the field at the end/side of the airport as a storage area for several months during the cleanup effort.

Not sure why they used Tallahassee since it is not actually on the coast, but I guess close enough.”

A circa 2010-2011 aerial view looking north at Tallahassee Commercial Airport

showed a closed-runway X symbol painted on the runway,

but a solitary Cessna was evidently “stranded” on the field (presumably not airworthy).

Large numbers of oil containment booms were stored to the west of the runway.

The last photo which has been located showing Tallahassee Commercial Airport was a 1/14/12 aerial view looking southeast.

The oil containment booms previously being stored on the field in 2010 had been removed, and the airport remained otherwise intact.

In 2013 the FAA Airport/Facility Directory data described Tallahassee Commercial Airport as having a single 3,249' asphalt Runway 16/34,

“in poor condition”, with “surface cracking”.

The field was said to have 10 based aircraft, and as of 2010 was said to conduct an average of 50 takeoffs or landings per week.

The owner was listed as J.W. Hinson Jr., and the manager listed as Jonnie Stephens.

However the airport use was listed as “Closed Indefinitely”.

Aidan Brainard reported of Tallahassee Commercial Airport in 2013, “Grass is growing through the runway cracks.”

Tallahassee Commercial Airport is located north of the intersection of North Monroe Street & Box Wood Lane.

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Blountstown Airport, Blountstown, FL

30.45, -85.02 (West of Tallahassee, FL)

Blountstown Airport, as depicted on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart.

This small general aviation airport evidently was established at some point between 1957-64,

as it was not yet depicted on a 1957 aerial photo (courtesy of Dallam Oliver-Lee).

The earliest depiction which has been located of Blountstown Airport was on the 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart.

It depicted Blountstown as having a 3,100' unpaved runway.

Bill Walker recalled, “In 1963 my family moved to Tallahassee.

With extended family in Panama City, we traveled Highway 20 regularly.

As soon as you come off the bridge spanning the Apalachicola River (westbound), on the right was the strip, and on the left was the Airport Hotel.

I always thought the name of the hotel was a tad overambitious, since the strip was nowhere near being a proper airfield.

I very distinctly remember the strip being at right angles to the highway.

And I don't believe this smaller strip being anywhere 3,000'. It couldn't be over 1,000'.

One reason I remember is the hotel was directly under northbound approach (roughly 360).

And the highway was on an about 15-20' berm, due to the proximity of the river, with its flood issues, which would further complicate the approach.”

The earliest photo which has been located of Blountstown Airport was on a February 1964 aerial view (courtesy of Dallam Oliver-Lee).

It depicted Blountstown as having a single unpaved northwest/southeast runway.

No hangars or aircraft were visible on the field.

Blountstown Airport still was not depicted on the 1979 USGS topo map (according to Dallam Oliver-Lee).

The 1990 USGS topo map (courtesy of Dallam Oliver-Lee) depicted Blountstown Airport

as having a single unpaved northwest/southeast runway, with a single building (hangar?) on the southeast side.

A 2/14/94 USGS aerial view looking northwest along Blountstown's runway showed the building at the southeast corner.

According to Dallam Oliver-Lee, Blountstown Airport was evidently “abandoned around 1996 when Calhoun County Airport opened.”

The building at the southeast corner of the airfield was evidently removed at some point between 1994-98,

as only its foundation was visible on a 1998 aerial photo & later photos.

A 1/3/12 aerial view looking northwest showed the outline of Blountstown's runway to remain very recognizable,

even though the surface was covered with pine trees planted after the airport's closure.

The foundation of the building at the southeast corner was also still barely recognizable.

Aidan Brainard reported in 2013, “Across Highway 20 from this former airport, there is a small hotel called the 'Airport Hotel'."

Kevin Fleming reported in 2015, “I drive by the old Blountstown airstrip often.

The overgrowth mentioned [in the caption of the 2012 photo] was actually planted pines.

I say 'was' because they recently clear-cut them, and it looks like the old airstrip again, sort of!”

The site of Blountstown Airport is located northeast of the intersection of Route 20 & Mason Road.

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Atkinson Field / Panama City Airport, Panama City, FL

30.22, -85.69 (Southwest of Tallahassee, FL)

Atkinson Field, as depicted on a 11/3/42 USGS aerial view (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).

The date of establishment of Panama City's original airport has not been determined.

Atkinson Field reportedly began as a private field owned by Panama City citizen J.B. Atkinson, Jr.

The facility consisted of 292 acres with grass runways.

In 1932, Atkinson donated the property to the Panama City Chamber of Commerce so that a city airport could be established.

At that time the airport was named Atkinson Field.

An article entitled “Panama City Gets Modern Airport; will accommodate both land & seaplanes” appeared in the 11/17/32 Panama City Pilot:

“Possibly nothing of the year is quite equal to the magnanimous gift to the city of the site for ;the municipal airport.

This gift was made Wednesday afternoon by Mr. & Mrs. J. B. Atkinson.

The site which lies just north of St. Andrews 3/4 of a mile from the the gulf coast near Pretty Bayou,

is a tract of 292 acres, a beautiful level plateau, touching the bayou & giving to the port excellent field for the land planes

with North Bay as a landing for seaplanes in the finest harbor in the South.

The seaplanes may land in North Bay & taxi into the bayou in the roughest weather.

The city commission through the Federal Employment Relief Board has been assured that could a proper site be secured,

Federal funds would be available for the complete development of the port.”

The article continued, “It is understood the the streets leading to the port will be hard surfaced immediately.

And that within 10 days actual work will begin & rushed to completion.

This has been one of Panama City's greatest needs. And the public spirited generosity of Mr. & Mrs. Atkinson is greatly appreciated.

It is most appropriate that the field should be named Atkinson Municipal Airport.

For the generosity of Mr. & Mrs. Atkinson at this time makes possible the immediate opening of the field,

which in all probability would have been delayed for some time because of the city's present financial situation would not allow the purchase of the valuable property.”

The 1/1/36 Department of Commerce Airway Bulletin (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel) described “Panama City Airport”

as a municipal field located 5 miles northwest of the center of the city.

It was said to be an irregular sod field containing two 1,800' runways, oriented northwest/southeast & northeast/southwest.

A hangar on the north side was said to have “Panama City” on the roof.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Panama City Airport was a 11/3/42 USGS aerial view (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).

It depicted the field as having 3 unpaved runways.

Note that there was not yet any sign of the “new” airport which would eventually be constructed adjacent to the east side of the original airfield.

Throughout World War II, the airport was used as a Civil Air Patrol facility.

The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Panama City Municipal Airport

as a 360 acre irregularly-shaped property having 3 sand & sod runways, the longest being the 1,900' north/south & northwest/southeast strips.

The field was said to have a single 120' x 50' wood hangar,

to be owned by Bay County & the City of Panama City, and to be operated by private interests.

Robert Wilson recalled, “The original Panama City airport was located at the north end of Frankford Avenue.

I landed there once in about 1946/47. [It had a] lighted grass runway.”

A 1947 Army Map Service map (courtesy of the University of Alabama online Map Library) depicted “Panama City Air Port” as having 3 unpaved runways.

The original Panama City Airport evidently closed at some point between 1947-53,

after being replaced by the new & larger Fannin Field located to the southeast.

It is not known why the replacement airport didn't incorporate the original airfield,

but it is possible that the location of the original airfield, squeezed into a narrow spit of land,

did not offer room for longer runways.

A 1/2/53 USDA aerial photo (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel), “that shows the new airfield, along with the abandoned (old) airfield to the northwest.”

The 1957 USGS topo map no longer depicted Atkinson Field, just a clearing.

The last photo which has been located showing any trace of the original Atkinson Field

was a 1/8/64 USDA aerial photo (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).

The 3 grass runways of the original field were still perceptible.

The 1/19/94 USGS aerial photo showed that a road (Frankford Avenue) had been built at some point between 1964-94 across the site of Atkinson Field,

and no trace was recognizable of the former runways.

Ironically, almost 50 years after Atkinson Field had closed, aviation at this site came full-circle in 1993,

when the “Heli-Tech Inc Heliport” (99FD) was established on the southeast corner of the former Atkinson Field property.

A circa 2006-2010 aerial view looking south at the Heli-Tech Inc Heliport which sits at the southeast corner of the Atkinson Field site.

The heliport was still operational as of 2010, engaged in the business of overhauling light civilian helicopters.

A 11/13/07 aerial view shows no recognizable trace remaining of Atkinson Field,

although the Heli-Tech Inc Heliport is located on the southeast corner of the site.

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Fannin Field / Panama City Bay County International Airport (KPFN), Panama City, FL

30.21, -85.68 (Southwest of Tallahassee, FL)

Panama City Bay County Airport, as depicted on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

Panama City's original airport, Atkinson Field, was geographically constrained on a narrow spit of land.

Panama City & the Bay County Commissioners joined forces to develop a more-capable airport.

The facility’s $604,000 development project included the construction of a small passenger terminal & two 4,000' intersecting runways,

located adjacent to the east side of the original Atkinson Field.

After construction was completed, the new airport was named Fannin Field in honor of the Panama City mayor during this period.

In 1943, the Florida legislature approved the formation of an airport authority,

the Panama City-Bay County Airport & Industrial District, to manage Fannin Field.

Fannin Field was not yet depicted on the 1943 USGS topo map.

Fannin Field was established in 1945, according to a historical marker at the site.

In 1948, commercial operations at the airport commenced.

At some point between 1945-49 the airport was renamed Panama City Bay County Airport.

The earliest depiction which has been located of the field

was on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

It depicted Bay County as having a 4,000' paved runway.

The earliest photo which has been located of Bay County Airport was a 1/2/53 USDA aerial photo (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel),

“that shows the new airfield, along with the abandoned (old) airfield to the northwest.

This 1953 photo shows the 'new' field with only one runway - a paved runway situated southwest/northeast.

The photo also shows what looks to be a small building to the southeast of the runway.”

The 1956 USGS topo map depicted Fannin Airport as having 2 perpendicular paved runways & taxiways leading to a ramp & 2 small buildings on the south side.

A 1956 aerial view of Bay County Airport (courtesy of Brent Mooney), showing where the terminal soon would be constructed.

Bay County Airport gained a crosswind runway, an expanded ramp, and several hangars at some point between 1953-64,

as depicted on a 1/8/64 USDA aerial photo (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).

According to a historical marker at the site, Panama City's control tower was erected by FAA in 1967.

The earliest photo which has been located of an aircraft at Fannin Field was a 1969 photo (courtesy of Brent Mooney) of a National Airlines Convair 440.

A 1969 photo of the Fannin Field terminal building (courtesy of Brent Mooney), with a static display in front of a Nike Ajax surface-to-air missile,

what appears to be some type of small submarine, and a Ryan Firebee drone.

Panama City continued to be served by commercial airlines throughout the regulated period of airline history,

until the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.

During the 1970s & 1980s, the airport had many airlines serving the facility with jet aircraft.

However, the flight service offered was mainly point-to-point, therefore there were few destinations offered,

and, in turn, passenger enplanements were relatively low.

The 1982 USGS topo map depicted “Panama City Bay County Airport Fannin Field” as having 2 perpendicular paved runways

with parallel taxiways & a ramp on the south side.

A January 1988 photo by Javier Bobadilla at Panama City Airport of a 1945 Douglas VC-47D Skytrain (N843DD, cn 32286) used by the State of Florida to spray pesticides.

A February 1988 aerial view by Javier Bobadilla on final approach to Panama City's Runway 32.

A May 1988 photo by Javier Bobadilla of a Ft. Rucker AH-1S Cobra refueling at Panama City's Bay Aviation.

In 1992, the airport was designated as an international airport & renamed Panama City-Bay County International Airport.

At this time, the airport was equipped with on-call customs & immigrations facilities provided through the Port of Panama City.

In addition, the airport was also declared a Foreign Trade Zone, a location which allows special customs procedures to be used.

These procedures permit domestic activity involving foreign items to take place as though they were outside of a U.S. Customs territory.

A 1994 USGS aerial view looking north depicted Panama City Airport as having 2 perpendicular paved runways with parallel taxiways,

and ramps on the south & east sides with several hangars.

In 1995, the airport went through an extensive development program,

demolishing their old terminal building & constructing a new 55,573-square-foot facility with 6 gate areas, 2 equipped with jetbridges.

Additional enhancements to the terminal included concession areas, a passenger hold room, airline ticketing counters & office space,

airport administration offices, public and rental car parking lots, and an expanded terminal apron.

Harvey Weir reported in 2010, “The primary FBO for many years was Sowell Aviation based on the west ramp,

but later sold out to Sheltair just a few years ago.

Bay Aviation was purchased by Sowell Aviation around the 2000 time frame, but only operated it as an FBO for a short time.

Sowell then leased the 'Bay Aviation' hangar to a maintenance facility.”

A 10/25/03 photo by Paul Robbins of the exterior of the new Panama City terminal building.

It served for only 15 years before the airport was closed.

A 2006 photo of a historical marker.

A circa 2006-2010 aerial view looking north at the busy ramp of Panama City Bay County International Airport.

A circa 2006-2010 aerial view looking north at a hangar on the east side of Panama City Bay County International Airport

with 6 UH-1 Huey fuselages on the west side.

Due to the lack of adjacent room for further expansion of Panama City-Bay County International Airport,

in 2007 construction started on a new airport to the northwest (Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport) to replace the original field.

Bill Fusselman recalled, “Panama City/Bay County International Airport...

I rented planes from Precision Avjet & also kept my 1972 Grumman AA5 Traveler there after I bought it in 2007.

Precision Avjet was owned by Jeff Kish & his wife Ellen Rodeman Kish.

Jeff was an absentee owner, being a pilot with Delta Air Lines in Atlanta.

Although living in Atlanta, Jeff made frequent visits to Precision Avjet.

Precision Avjet, to the pilots who based there, was known as 'The Fun FBO.'

We pilots & the Precision Avjet staff, particularly the front counter girls, always joked & clowned around about something.

Rainy days were 'hang out' days & no matter the weather, we all had a good time inside the front counter area.

Sometimes, the staff dressed up in costume, say for Halloween. It was a wonderful time in the airport's history.

A Spring 2007 photo by Bill Fusselman of his 1972 Grumman AA5 Traveler

“in front of the Precision Avjet main building & maintenance hangar as seen from the Sowell Aviation General Aviation tiedown ramp.”

A 2007 aerial view of looking north at Panama City Bay County International Airport, showing many aircraft on its numerous ramps.

A 1/9/09 aerial view showing an amazing array of over 40 UH-1 Huey fuselages

on the east ramp & adjacent to a hangar on the east side of Panama City Bay County International Airport.

Harvey Weir reported in 2010, “The helicopters... a large number parked tail to tail.

Those were being completely overhauled, zero-timed, and fitted with 2 Allison turbines instead of the single engine.

The name of the company... might have been DynCorp. They were going to a foreign army, possibly down to Panama.

The company that was rebuilding them did not stay in that hangar very long ('Bay Hangar') and eventually the whole operation moved elsewhere.”

A Summer 2010 photo by Bill Fusselman “on final approach to Runway 32, Panama City/Bay County International Airport, in a Waco. I was passenger, the pilot was Terry Hagle.”

Harvey Weir reported, “The tower at PFN closed forever at 10 pm May 22

and all airline service was discontinued as well as all the instrument approaches including GPS approaches.

PFN was left without police and fire & rescue services when the tower closed as well.”

The new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport opened 5/23/10,

with airline flights moving to the new airport.

Harvey Weir reported, “PFN then became a General Aviation airport only

and all based GA aircraft had to remain at PFN because there were no GA facilities available at the new airport.

When fuel services began at ECP [Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport], fuel services ended at PFN.”

A May-September 2010 photo by Harvey Weir of the exterior of the old 'Bay Hangar'.

Harvey remarked, “The hangar has been home to several FBOs including Bay Aviation, Sowell Aviation (as a second facility on the field)

and several maintenance facilities, including one that used it for Beech 1900 commuters.”

A May-September 2010 photo by Harvey Weir of the interior of the old 'Bay Hangar'. Harvey remarked, “Notice an airplane is left inside.”

A May-September 2010 photo by Harvey Weir of the Panama City terminal building.

Bill Susselman recalled, “On 8/9/10, I was forced to relocate my plane from KPFN to Blountstown Airport

because Precision Avjet was forced out of business as KPFN was closing & all planes had to vacate the airport.”

In its last year of operation (2010), the FAA Airport/Facility Directory statistics for Panama City listed a total of 139 aircraft based on the field,

which was said to conduct an average of 251 takeoffs or landings per day.

The field was described as having 2 asphalt runways: 6,308' Runway 14/32 & 4,884' Runway 5/23.

Harvey Weir reported, “GA was finally ordered to move off PFN by midnight 9/30/10 & the airport closed forever.

At the time of the airport closing, the FBOs on the field were Sheltair & Precision Avjet, both based on the west ramp.”

Bill Fusselman recalled, “We were all so sad when the airport closed!

This wonderful airport we all loved so much - It was a time never to be experienced again!”

The November 2010 Sectional Chart depicted Panama City Bay County International Airport

as having 2 paved runways, the longest being 6,300'.

The replacement airport was depicted to the northwest.

A 12/20/10 view over a sunset over the abandoned Panama City Bay County International Airport terminal & control tower.

A 2011 photo of the interior of the abandoned Panama City Bay County International Airport terminal building (courtesy of Brent Mooney).

A 2012 aerial view of looking north at Panama City Bay County International Airport.

A 9/3/16 photo by Matt Franklin of the curbside of the Panama City terminal building.

Matt reported, “The terminal building has been turned into a school, and they left the back gate open to drive right onto the airport.

A 9/3/16 photo by Matt Franklin of the curbside of the Panama City terminal building.

Matt reported, “They’ve dug up some of the taxiways & part of the runways so I had to gingerly pick my way around, but one of the runways has been repurposed for holding miles of piping.”

A 9/3/16 photo by Matt Franklin of a former Panama City hangar.

Matt reported, “One of the FBO hangars has been repurposed for holding massive wire spools.

Some of the GA hangars are used by private businesses & the city,

and a housing development is encroaching on the airport from the south side, which I am sure will envelope the remainder of the airport.

The west ramp is pretty much gone.”

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Chipley Municipal Airport, Chipley, FL

30.76, -85.52 (Northwest of Tallahassee, FL)

Chipley Municipal Airport, as depicted on the February 1945 Memphis Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The date of construction of this small general aviation airport has not been determined.

It may have been established in 1945 (probably the biggest single year for the establishment of airports across the U.S.)

as it was not yet listed among active airfields in the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).

The earliest depiction which has been located of the Chipley Airport

was on the February 1945 Memphis Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Chipley as an auxiliary airfield on the southeast side of the town.

The 1950 USGS topo map depicted the Chipley Landing Field as having 2 unpaved runways, with 2 small buildings just southwest of the runway intersection.

The only photo which has been located showing the Chipley Airport while it was operational was a 1955 aerial view.

It depicted Chipley as having 2 perpendicular grass runways,

with a circular airport marking visible at the runway intersection.

There did not appear to be an hangars or other buildings at the airport,

and there were no planes visible either.

The 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)

depicted Chipley as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.

Lindy Kirkland recalled, “I flew my first airplane flight from this field around 1970.”

The 1976 USGS topo map depicted Chipley Municipal Airport as having 2 perpendicular runways.

The last depiction which has been located of the Chipley Airport

was on the December 1976 New Orleans Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Chipley as having a single north/south paved 2,300' runway.

The field had evidently been paved at some point between 1964-76.

Lindy Kirkland recalled of the Chipley Airport, “I flew from it several times with a friend in the summer of 1981.

It was a very small runway, probably only 3,000', paved, with just some tie-downs in the grass around it was all that was there.

It closed between 1981 when I last flew from there, and around 1984 when the West Point plant & the industrial park was built.

The airport was replaced by the Tri County Airport (1J0) in Bonifay, a few miles to the northeast.”

A 1/4/94 USGS aerial photo showed that both runways had been reused as streets,

and several industrial buildings had been built around the former airport site.

A 12/30/04 aerial view showed the remains of the 2 Chipley runways still were recognizable.

According to Lindy Kirkland, “The buildings have all been built since the airport closed.”

A circa 2006 aerial view looking north along the remains of Chipley Airport's north/south paved runway.

Lindy Kirkland reported in 2009, “The area is now an industrial park with the primary tenant being West Point Stevens.

They make curtains in the plant there now.”

The site of Chipley Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Orange Hill Road & Airport Road,

appropriately enough.

Thanks to Lindy Kirkland for pointing out this airfield.

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Bainbridge Auxiliary Army Airfield #3 / Faceville Field, Faceville, FL

30.7, -84.63 (Northwest of Tallahassee, FL)

A 4/27/43 aerial view looking north at “Bainbridge AAF Auxiliary #3 (Faceville Field)”

from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).

Faceville was evidently not a pre-war civilian airport,

as it was not listed in The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).

This field was used during WW2 as one of 6 satellite airfields for Bainbridge AAF,

a training field for the 50,000 Pilot Training Program.

According to Brian Rehwinkel, a 1946-47 War Assets Administration report

described the Faceville auxiliary field property as having been acquired in 1942 & attached to Bainbridge AAF.

The field consisted of a total of 329 acres, including 311 acres acquired by the government for $13,022

and 17 acres of leased property.

The field had 2 runways, both "bituminous base, mixed-in-place" (apparently a very thin layer of asphalt):

a 3,800' north/south runway & a 3,600' east/west strip.

The field also had one building, described as being of "temporary construction, one story".

The total cost of the field - including acquisition cost & betterments - was $92,113.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Faceville Field

was a 4/27/43 aerial view from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).

It depicted “Bainbridge AAF Auxiliary #3 (Faceville Field)” as having 2 asphalt runways, each with a parallel taxiway.

There did not appear to be any buildings at the airfield.

The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)

described Faceville Aux #3 as having a 3,000' hard-surface runway,

and the remarks said "Auxiliary to Bainbridge Field."

It also erroneously listed Faceville in the Georgia section of the directory,

even though the field is entirely within the State of Florida

(with the northern end of the runway just a few feet south of the state line).

The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described “Bainbridge AAF Auxiliary #3 (Faceville Field)”

as a 311 acre L-shaped property within which were 2 asphalt 3,000' runways, oriented north/south & east/west.

The field was said to not have any hangars,

to be owned by private interests, and operated by the Army Air Forces.

Faceville Aux #3 was still depicted as a military airfield on the 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

According to Brian Rehwinkel, the 1946-47 War Assets Administration report

recommended the land be disposed of & returned to its "highest & best use" as "Farm Land".

A 3/17/47 USDA aerial photo of Faceville Aux #3,

from the Digital Library Center / University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).

In this photo it appeared as if the airfield had already been abandoned.

The outline of 2 runways was still quite apparent,

as well as the much more faint trace of parallel taxiways along both runways.

There was no trace of any buildings or other facilities.

The Faceville airfield was definitely abandoned by 1949,

as it was not depicted at all on the 1949 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).

By the time of this 2/13/55 aerial view of Faceville Aux #3 from the FL DOT (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel),

the east/west runway had been replaced by a plowed field,

but most of the north/south runway remained intact.

The Faceville airfield was not depicted at all on the 1957 USGS topo map.

Brian Rehwinkel reported in 2003, "I have visited this site recently & it is (and has been) used for agricultural purposes.

There is nothing left of the runways."

A 4/1/13 aerial photo showed no trace remaining of Faceville Field.

The site of Faceville Aux #3 is located on the west side of Florida Route 267,

3 miles south of Faceville, GA.

Thanks to Brian Rehwinkel for pointing out this airfield.

____________________________________________________

Dale Mabry Field, Tallahassee, FL

30.45, -84.34 (West of Jacksonville, FL)

A 1929 aerial view looking east at Dale Mabry Field.

The City of Tallahassee purchased a 200-acre tract for its first municipal airport in 1928.

The land was purchased for $7,075,

and the airfield (one grass runway) was built with the assistance of federal WPA funds.

Jonnie Williams reported, “My grandfather (Simon Mann) & great-grandfather (Lane Ross) along with their neighbors

were owners of the land that was purchased by the City of Tallahassee for $7,075 for the first municipal airport in 1928.”

Local officials named the airport Dale Mabry Field in honor of Tallahassee native Army Captain Dale Mabry,

killed while commanding the Army semi-rigid airship Roma which crashed on 2/21/22 at Norfolk, VA.

The new airport was dedicated on 11/11/29, and the first manager was Ivan Munroe.

Atlantic Gulf Coast Airlines began commercial flights at the new airport during its first month.

The earliest photo which has been located of Dale Mabry Field was a 1929 aerial view looking east,

showing an irregularly-shaped grass field with a single hangar on the northwest side.

A 1929 photo of several unidentified biplanes at Dale Mabry Field's grand opening.

Airport manager Ivan Munroe began giving flying lessons at the new airport in the early 1930s in a Travelaire.

The 1934 Department of Commerce Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)

described Dale Mabry Field as having 4 sod runways, with the longest being 2,600'.

Dale Mabry Field, as depicted on the November 1936 "Official Airway Map of FL" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

An undated aerial view looking east at Dale Mabry Field

from The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).

The directory described Dale Mabry Field as having two 2,400' paved runways, under construction.

A single hangar was depicted on the northwest corner of the airfield.

The operator was listed as Ivan Munroe.

A 1938 photo of Eddie Rickenbacker & other dignitaries in front of an Eastern Airlines DC-2 at Dale Mabry Field

on the occasion of the first scheduled airline service into Tallahassee.

Eastern Airlines began service at Dale Mabry Field in 1938,

with 4 daily flights to Memphis, Birmingham, and Montgomery.

National Airlines began serving Tallahassee in the same year,

offering flights to Jacksonville, Pensacola, Mobile, and New Orleans.

A circa 1930s aerial view of a hangar at Dale Mabry Field.

This had been built by the WPA with material bought by the city.

In 1938-39, the Army's 3^rd Air Force established a fighter pilot training school at Mabry

and developed 3 runways to serve their needs.

An aerial view of Dale Mabry Field from The Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Compare this view with the 1937 aerial photo above, to see how dramatically the airport had been expanded in 4 years.

The field was described as having 2 paved runways (4,000' northwest/southeast & 2,500' north/south),

along with a 3,400' sand & sod east/west runway.

A single hangar was depicted on the field.

The manager was listed as Ivan Munroe,

and the operators were Ivan Monroe, Eastern Air Lines, and National Air Lines.

Through the political influence of U.S. Senator Claude Pepper & Florida Governor Spessard Holland,

Dale Mabry Field became an Army base in 1941

and aircraft & trainees arrived in May that same year.

Aircraft used at Dale Mabry for training during the early part of WW2

included the P-39 Airacobra, P-40 Warhawk, and P-47 Thunderbolt.

The 1940 USGS topo map depicted the configuration of the “Municipal Airport”, with 3 paved runways & a few small buildings.

A 1942 aerial view of Dale Mabry AAF.

Chinese & French cadets also trained at Dale Mabry Field in 1942 & 1944.

Despite being closed to general aviation during WW2,

the commercial airlines (Eastern & National) continued to use the field during the war.

Training on the P-51 Mustang fighter occurred at Dale Mabry later in the war.

Originally 530 acres, the airfield grew to 1,720 acres & 133 buildings during the course of the war.

Training activity peaked in mid-1944 with base complement averaging 1,300 officers,

3,000 enlisted men & women, and 800 civilian employees.

More than 8,000 pilots trained at Dale Mabry during WW2,

and, tragically, more than a dozen pilots died in training accidents.

Students used a gunnery base at Alligator Point & a bombing range at Sopchoppy on the Gulf for their training needs.

Mabry had satellite fields at Thomasville & Harris Neck, GA.

The pilots also utilized auxiliary bases in Perry, Alachua, Cross City & Dunnellon.

A branch Prisoner of War compound at Mabry held 150 POWs who worked on the base.

Dale Mabry AAF, as depicted on the February 1945 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Mabry was placed on inactive status in 1945,

and eventually resumed its role as a civilian airport after WW2.

When the airfield was transferred from the military to the city,

Dale Mabry Field's original 1930s-vintage hangar was dismantled & moved to St. Marks,

reassembled & used as a warehouse & office for the Tallahassee Electric System.

Later it was moved again to the new Tallahassee Municipal Airport.

A March 1949 U.S. Government aerial view of Dale Mabry Field,

after it had been returned to the City of Tallahassee (courtesy of the FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel).

A 1956 photo of the Dale Mabry terminal (courtesy of David Henderson).

A 1956 photo of the interior of the Dale Mabry terminal (courtesy of David Henderson).

A 3/22/60 USDA aerial view (courtesy of the FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel) of Dale Mabry,

only one year before the airfield was closed.

A closeup from the 3/22/60 USDA aerial view (courtesy of the FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel)

of numerous planes on the ramp at Dale Mabry.

Dale Mabry Field, as depicted in its very last year of operation, in the 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The field was depicted as having 3 paved runways, with the longest being the 5,243' Runway 12/30.

Dale Mabry Field was abandoned in 1961,

when a new Tallahassee Airport was built several miles to the southwest.

According to Rick Bell, Dale Mabry Field's Runway 9/27 was reused as a drag strip following the airport's closure.

Rick recalled, “Seminole Drag strip opened 4/22/62, and was run by Jack Patrick, a local speed shop owner, and a AA/D Dragster driver.”

A summer 1962 photo by Rick Bell looking east at “Dale Mabry Field, when Runway 9/27 was converted into Seminole Drag Strip”, with hangars & the control tower visible in the background.

Rick recalled, “One dragster, whose chute failed to open properly ran off of the end of the strip, jumped the road & crashed into a chain link fence.

One weekend it rained severely in the morning but turned sunny by the afternoon so everybody showed up even though it had been called off.

I raced the family car. I was 16 & in 10^th grade. I left in June 1963 & the drag strip was still open.”

A 1960s photo a hangar destroyed by fire at Dale Mabry Field.

The 1964 Mobile Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss) depicted the site of the field as "Aband airport".

The 1966 USGS topo map continued to depict the “Municipal Airport” as having 3 paved runways & a few small buildings.

However by the time of the 1972 USGS topo map the runways & airport buildings had disappeared from the depiction.

A 2/15/73 USDA aerial view (courtesy of the FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel) of the site of Dale Mabry Field,

showing the redevelopment of the property in progress.

Several roads had been built directly over the former runways, the outlines of which were still perceptible.

The buildings of the Tallahassee Junior College had begun to cover the north end of the former airfield.

The property of Mabry Field eventually became the home of Tallahassee Community College,

the Florida Highway Patrol Training Academy, and a variety of other public & private applications.

The 1976 USGS topo map (courtesy of William Stanton) still outlined the runway layout of the former Dale Mabry Field.

According to Tallahassee resident Richard Travis, "In the 1999 USGS photo,

the north-south road running vertically through the center of the frame is now Appleyard Road,

which runs in front of the TCC campus.

My calculations indicate that Appleyard Road is virtually superimposed over the north/south runway of the old Dale Mabry Field."

Richard Travis continued, "Some remnants of the runways are still in much evidence.

In the northwest corner of the Appleyard Road / Pensacola Street intersection,

on the TCC campus (at almost dead-center of the frame),

is a patch of aging pavement, sometimes used for over-flow parking,

which once was part of the north/south runway.

A commemorative plaque designating Dale Mabry Field was erected at the site

and dedicated during a ceremony in October 2001."

"To the southeast of this location, in the lower right quadrant of [the above] photo,

are some additional remnant patches of runway.

This area along Jackson Bluff Road contains a sports complex with numerous ball fields -

the 2 circles forming a figure 8.

Just to the east of these fields, on the south side of Jackson Bluff,

is a fairly large parking area, with aging pavement similar to the TCC patch,

commonly understood to be runway remnants,

and my figures indicate it was once part of the northwest/southeast diagonal runway."

In 2003, the City of Tallahassee unveiled a sculpture at the Tallahassee Regional Airport

memorializing the Dale Mabry Air Field & the pilots that served there.

The sculpture will be permanently on display in the second-floor Observation Room of the Ivan B. Munroe Terminal.

A 2004 photo by Richard Travis of the historical marker

at the northwest corner of the intersection of Pensacola Street & Appleyard Road.

Note that the text on the plaque has 2 fairly significant errors:

the plaque is located on the site of the north/south runway (not the northwest/southeast runway as stated, which is located some distance to the south),

and the airfield opened in 1929, whereas the plaque seems to indicate that it was established in 1940.

A 2004 photo by Richard Travis looking southeast at a portion of remaining runway pavement

which now serves as a parking lot for the Jim Messer Sports Complex.

Note the wear grooves in the former runway pavement,

which are aligned with the longitudinal direction of the runway.

Craig Hiers reported in 2005, “I grew up on what was the old Dale Mabry Airport.

The community we lived in was called Mabry Manor, and all the streets were named after military generals & admirals.

The buildings of the elementary school I went to (Sable Palm Elementary) were part of the base.”

Richard Travis reported in 2010, “The patch of runway on the Appleyard Drive / Pensacola Street corner of TLH Community College,

with the commemorative plaque, has been paved over (blacktop) and is now an active parking space for the school.

The plaque is still there in its original spot.”

A 4/1/13 aerial photo of the site of Mabry AAF, now the campus of the Tallahassee Community College.

The site of Mabry Field is located northwest of the intersection of West Pensacola Street & Appleyard Drive.

Thanks to Lawrence Sharp (who once flew out of Mabry) for pointing out this airfield.