Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Virginia: Northeastern Fairfax County

© 2002, © 2016 by Paul Freeman. Revised 3/12/16.

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Crossroads Airport / Washington-Virginia Airport (revised 3/12/16) - Springfield Airport (revised 10/18/13)

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Crossroads Airport / Washington-Virginia Airport, Bailey's Crossroads, VA

38.845, -77.121 (Southwest of Washington, DC)

What was originally known as "Crossroads" Airport,

as depicted on the 1945 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).



E.C. Germain submitted an application in 1941 to locate an airport on Mary Cornelius’ land,

under the name of Crossroads Airport.

Germain was doing business as Washington Air Charter Service,

which at one point appears to have been a division of Mount Vernon Airways, Inc.,

which operated from the old Alexandria (Hybla Valley) Airport.



In 1942, a license was granted to Germain to build & operate Crossroads Airport.

It was planned to be 150 acres,

with a NW/SE runway proposed to be 3,500' & a NE/SW runway of 2,500'.

However, wartime shortages of construction materials meant that the opening

of the airport would have to wait until the end of WW2.



Crossroads Airport was not yet depicted on the 1944 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)

or the 1945 USGS topo map.



The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located

was on the 1945 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),

which depicted "Crossroads" Airport as a commercial airport.



According to Frank Perfetti, “The Benn brothers bought the airport in 1945.”



According to Richard Benn, “I am the grandson of John D. Benn Sr. the owner of Washington Virginia Airport.

I am sure that my grandfather did not pay more than $100,000 for the property.”



In 1946 J. D. Benn & Charles Benn submitted an application to build & operate Bailey’s Crossroads Airport.



The 1946 USGS topo map depicted the field as “Cross Roads” Airport.



The airport was up & running by 1947, the flight school welcoming ex-GIs to the flying world.

The Benn brothers ran Bailey’s Crossroads for 2 decades.

A north/south grass runway was laid out first.

This was used while the longer northeast/southwest runway, 12-30, was constructed & graveled.

Later, the north/south runway was also graveled.



By 1948 the flight school had 10 Piper J-3s, 2 Cessna 120s, a Cessna 140, a PT-19

and a UC-78 for twin-engine & instrument work.



The earliest photo that has been located of Washington Virginia Airport was a 4/9/49 aerial view.

It depicted the field as having 2 unpaved runways, with hangars on the northeast & southwest sides of the field.

A total of 28 aircraft were visible parked on the northeast side.



A 1949 photo by Nick Proferes depicted 2 ERCO Ercoupes Washington Virginia Airport,

with the drive-in movie theater screen visible in the background.



A circa 1949 photo of Nick Proferes in his newly-acquired ERCO Ercoupe at Washington-Virginia Airport.

Nick recalled of being at Washington Virginia Airport with his father, “I recall the place vividly,

having flown with him on many occasions since I was about 5 or 6 years old,

including the golf balls which used to somehow fly over the road from the driving range & make holes in his wings.”



The 1949 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)

described "Wash-VA" Airport as having a 2,800' unpaved runway.



The 1949 USAF Target Complex Chart depicted the Washington-VA Airport as having 2 runways

and a single hangar northeast of the runway intersection.



An undated (circa 1940s-50s?) photo of a Duramold Aircraft Corporation F-46 at Washington-Virgnia Airport.



The 1951 USGS topo map depicted Washington-Virginia Airport as having 2 paved runways, with several buildings on the northeast & southwest sides.



The 1951 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)

and the 1955 Washington Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)

depicted Washington-Virginia Airport as having 2 runways,

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



At least one of the runways at Washington-Virginia was paved by 1957,

as the 1957 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)

described the field as having 2 runways,

with the longest being a 2,800' hard-surface strip.



Power lines & encroaching buildings led to substandard approaches.

Nonetheless, its incredibly convenient location

led to it becoming one of the most active airports in the DC area.

Eventually, hangar space for 70 aircraft was constructed

and sales operations for Piper, Cessna & Beech were underway.

When nearby Beacon Field closed in 1960, a number of aircraft moved to W-VA.

By then well over 100 aircraft were based at Washington-Virginia Airport.



Due to the proximity of the Pentagon, manufacturers, including those of helicopters,

would demonstrate their wares at the airport to the Pentagon Brass.

This included a demonstration in 1951 or 1952 or the Piper PA-18 by Charles Lindbergh.

The first jet helicopter, the French Alouette, was also demonstrated there to officials

and the Goodyear blimp would come calling once a year or so.

But by the late 1950s, the suburbs of Washington were creeping past Bailey’s Crossroads

and problems with the neighbors were increasing.



Washington-Virginia was listed among active airports on the 1960 Washington Sectional Aeronautical Chart,

with 2 paved runways (the largest was 2,800').



A 1961 diagram of the Washington Airport Traffic Area displayed a 1 mile cutout for Washington-Virginia Airport.



A 1962 aerial view depicted Washington-Virginia Airport as having 2 paved runways.

Two new rows of T-hangars had been added on the southeast end of Runway 35 at some point between 1949-62,

along with 2 other hangars on the northeast side of Runway 30.

The airport was obviously well-used,

as a total of over 52 light aircraft were visible on the field.



The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described the field as having 2 asphalt runways (12/30: 2,800' long, and 17/35: 2,200' long).



Charles T. Benn ran the fixed-base operation & student training activities.



The 1964 National Geographic Map of Suburban Washington (courtesy of David Brooks)

depicted the Washington Virginia Airport as having 2 runways.



A February 1964 photo of Mary Simmons at Washington Virginia Airport (courtesy of Marcia Weikle).

Marcia Weikle recalled, “Mary was JD Benn, Sr's secretary and 'mistress'.

Standing right behind her is my sister Sandy Weikle Bradley.

Behind them are the offices where the pilots checked in, and where there was also a barber shop for the pilots.”



Marcia Weikle recalled, “My father, Lamar Weikle, worked for Mr. Benn in the 1960s.

When dad worked for Mr. Benn, we lived right on the airport.

I remember finding abandoned baby rabbits in holes on the runway because mama bunny set up housekeeping, got scared by the planes & ran off!

My mom tried to save many a bunny!”



Marcia continued, “In the 1960’s my dad was building a hangar, and was in the field by himself.

A very strong wind came about & blew him off the roof of the hangar he was working on.

Three two-by-fours landed on top of him that day. He dragged himself to the truck he was using & collapsed unconscious across the steering wheel.

Other workers (friends) heard the beeping, knew he was working on the hangar & knew something was drastically wrong.

I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade that year at Glen Forrest Elementary.

When I got home from school with my older sister, for the first time in our lives, we had a babysitter. My dad was fighting for his life.

It took him 6 months to be able to fully function again. When he came home, he was in a wheelchair.

The accident crushed every bone in both of his wrists, smashed a kneecap to pieces, and just generally incapacitated my dad for a long time.

My mom had five children to take care of, all under the age of 9, the littlest just a couple of months old.

Now she had a husband needing care as well. Mr. Benn & his love (Mary ?) took care of us the best they could.

Mr. Benn thought so much of my dad as he was a WWII vet & a very hard worker. My dad was much respected by the pilots that came in.”



A circa 1964-65 photo by Mike Keefe of the Goodyear Blimp Columbia at the Washington-VA Airport.

According to Mike Keefe, the Goodyear Blimp visited the Washington-Virginia Airport

and was featured in several photographs in the Evening Star newspaper.



A circa 1964-65 close-up by Mike Keefe of the Goodyear Blimp Columbia at the Washington-VA Airport.

What appear to be hangars are in the background at left.



A 1965 photo taken by Robert Morris with his Polaroid Swinger camera approaching Washington Virginia Airport.



A 1965 photo taken by Robert Morris of his Piper Comanche at Washington Virginia Airport.



In 1966, the state provided $22,000 to relocate & improve Washington-Virginia Airport's east/west runway

provided that the north/south runway (which barely cleared Route 7) was closed.



A circa mid-1960s aerial view looking east at Washington-Virginia Airport.

Note the drive-in movie screen directly across the street from the threshold of Runway 17.



Gordon Gallison recalled, “Washington-Virginia / Bailey's Crossroads Airport: You cannot emphasize enough about the outdoor movie screen on the approach to the airport.

On my first landing in a Mooney Ranger there, one of the airport's instructors told my Dad that I wasn't going to make it.

I proved him wrong, but not by much. I liked the airport as it was only 3 miles from where my folks lived.”



Richard Benn recalled, “During the 1960s many aircraft were brought to the Airport

for demonstration to the defense department as well as members of the House & Senate.

They include the North American OV-10 Bronco & De Havilland Caribou

as well as the McDonnell Douglas STOL transport operated by Eastern Airlines

[the McDonnell Douglas 188 – which might have been the largest aircraft to operate from Washington-VA Airport].

The airport's close proximity to the Pentagon & downtown DC made it very attractive for this purpose.”



Frank Perfetti recalled, “Washington/Virginia Airport was where I learned to fly

starting in November 1966 at the young age of 15 years old.

I remember that 2 initial solos were required: one on the long runway & one over the drive-in theater screen,

that runway was so narrow that landing in the grass on the side was quite acceptable.

Charlie Ben was landing a Aztec over the screen one day & hit it with his main landing gear leaving 2 tire marks on top of it.

On the bottling plant at the other end there were big X's painted on it

because someone had landed their J3 Cub on the roof one day & stopped it before reaching the other end.

One time someone lost their engine on takeoff & crashed in the Toys-R-Us parking lot.

Also 9 AT-6s modified to look like Japanese Zeros landed there one day

on their way to the filming of the movie 'Tora-Tora-Tora'.

One of them lost control crashing into a couple parked airplanes & had to have its wing replaced.”



According to Richard Benn (grandson of airport owner John D. Benn Sr.),

“John D. Benn Sr. passed away December 1, 1967.

My father John D. Benn Jr. took over operations

and also started to teach me (officially as this is when my log book starts) to fly at the young age of 10.”



A circa 1960s aerial view looking northwest at Washington-Virginia Airport.

Note the drive-in movie screen across Route 7, directly in the path of Runway 17.



An undated aerial view looking northeast at Washington-Virginia Airport.

Note the area across Route 7 formerly occupied by the drive-in movie theatre

has already been redeveloped into another shopping center.



An undated view of the main hangar of Washington-Virginia Airport.



A 1968 photo of the Washington-Virginia Airport office.

Note the sign for the Giant supermarket (just above & to the right of the office) which had already been built across Route 7,

foreshadowing the increasing development which would eventually doom the little airport.



The 1968 Virginia Airport Directory (courtesy of Don Thompson) depicted the Washington-Virginia Airport

as having a 2,400' Runway 11/29 & a 2,150' Runway 17/35.

It also said that the airport was subject to "special air traffic rules, see FAA AIM".



Washington-Virginia was always an amusing airport to fly in & out of,

surrounded by various power lines, apartment houses & commercial buildings.

There was a Coca Cola distribution center building about 500' from the threshold of runway 35.

A 42' high drive-in movie screen was a bit to the side & just off the threshold of runway 17.

At night you could catch a minute of 2 of Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca

on each downwind & while turning base for runway 11.



The last photo which has been located showing Washington-Virginia Airport still open was a 1969 aerial view looking northeast by Frank Perfetti.

It depicted what appeared to be a very popular airport,

with several dozen light aircraft parked on the field.

Frank observed, “On the left side next to the runway that goes over the drive-in theater screen (Runway 17/35) [is] a brown streak.

Because of the extreme narrowness of the runway a lot of airplanes would land on the grass on the side of the runway.

I did a number of times myself, and it was considered normal.

That is the point where most airplanes landed & then rolled onto the runway.”



After airport owner J.D. Benn Sr. died, an era began to end.

The continuing pressures from neighbors & the recognition by the family

that the land value - and the taxes - had grown so huge,

that it could be no longer operated as a privately-owned airport.



Frank Perfetti recalled, “Just before the closing of the airport

someone was doing a pre-buy purchase of one of the flight school's Cherokee 140s,

he missed the drive-in theater screen but hit the high tension power lines,

bringing them down & electrifying the whole line of fence welding a gate shut

and passing into the airport's power line feed, popped the runway lights & electrified the water fountain inside the building.”



The 1970 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Mark Sublette)

described the Washington-Virginia Airport as having 2 macadam runways: 2,650' Runway 11/29 & 2,200' Runway 17/35.

The airport was described as offering fuel, repairs, hangars, tie-downs, and charter,

and the operator was listed as Washington Virginia Flight Service (also a Piper dealer).



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

the Washington-Virginia Airport closed on 10/18/70.



An undated photo, presumably showing the Washington-Virginia Airport office after the airport's closure.



Even though it had closed the year before, Washington-VA Airport was still depicted on the 1971 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ed Francis).

It depicted Wash-VA as having 2 paved runways, with the longest being 2,400'.



Washington-Virginia Airport was no longer depicted on the 1971 USGS topo map.



According to Richard Benn, “The Benn Family went into partnership with the Charles E. Smith Company to develop Skyline Center.”



Mary Cornelius’ original acreage was redeveloped as the Skyline high-rise office buildings,

apartment towers, and shopping complex.



Frank Perfetti recalled, “In its 25 years of operation there was never a fatal crash there

but when they turned it into apartments [14] workmen were killed

when concrete shoring was removed too soon & the building collapsed on them.”



The Skyline complex was completed in 1977.



A 1979 aerial view showed that the new buildings had covered

the runways, hangars, and other primary elements of the former airfield.



A 2002 USGS aerial view of the site of the former airport -

now occupied by the Skyline towers.



Darren Fox observed in 2004 "some existing evidence of the airfield.

There is today, a Burke & Herbert Bank on Seminary Road right next to a Shell station

that is at the corner of Seminary & Carling Springs Roads.

It turns out that there are 2 sets of 2 marker light on the bank building!

The lamps are long since dead, but the red glass beacons are still there today.

I personally remember these beacons working when the airfield was in operation

as they marked this little building that sat at just outside the airfield property at the end of Runway 11/29!"



A 2004 photo by Darren Fox of the Burke & Herbert Bank building at Seminary Road & Gorham Street,

which still has 2 sets of former airfield marker lights on the roof.

The 2 towers of the Skyline apartment complex (which were built on the site of the airport) are in the background.



Darren Fox has indicated the location of the building which still has the marker lights

on the 1968 airfield layout & a vintage photo of the airport,

making it obvious why this building needed obstacle lights - it sat directly off the end of the runway!



Darren Fox recalled, "I remembered it seemed that those Cessnas & Pipers would miss those beacons by only a few feet!

If memory serves me right, I think that this Burke & Herbert bank was a BP gas station in the last days of the airport.

I spoke to my father today, and seem to remember the BP station too."



Barara Helm reported in 2009, “I recall that at one time there was a room or two dedicated to the former airport in one of the Skyline towers on the bottom floor

and a small cafe named for the old airport or some part of it.”



Two 3/12/16 photos by Tom Reich of the last remnants of Washington-Virginia Airport:

the front & rear set of airfield lights which remain on the Burke & Herbert Bank building.



See also: The VA Aeronautical Historical Society Newsletter

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Springfield Airport, Springfield, VA

38.782, -77.175 (Southwest of Washington, DC)

Springfield Airport, as depicted on the 1945 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).



Today, millions of drivers pass through the infamous "mixing bowl" - the intersection of the Washington Beltway & Interstate 95,

which is renowned as a traffic bottleneck among Washington commuters.

However, how many of those drivers know that this spot was once the location of the Springfield Airport?



The date of construction of Springfield Airport is unknown.

It apparently opened at some point between 1944-45,

as it was not listed in the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)

nor depicted on the 1945 USGS topo map.



The earliest reference to Springfield Airport which has been located

is the 1945 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),

which depicted Springfield as a commercial airport,

adjacent to the south side of the Southern railroad tracks.



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

Springfield Airport was opened "after WW2" by Carl Allen.

"The airport had a north/south 3,000' sod runway

and offered fuel & maintenance to the public."



Springfield Airport, as depicted on the 1946 USGS topo map.



In 1947, Charlie Kulp (who would later go on to fame as the Bealton Flying Circus' “Flying Farmer”)

worked as an Airframe & Powerplant mechanic at Springfield Airport

(according to an article by Linda Burdette in the 1/06 issue of the VAHS Virginia Eagles newsletter).



The September 1948 USAAF Pilot's Handbook (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Springfield Airport, but did not give any other details about the field.



The 1948 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

and 1949 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)

described Springfield Airport as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.



The irregular outline of the Springfield Airport property was depicted on the 1949 USAF Target Complex Chart,

but no runways were depicted.

The planned alignment of Interstate 95 was also depicted running adjacent to the west side of the airport property.



The only photo which has been located of Springfield Airport was a 3/4/49 USGS aerial view.

It depicted Springfield Airport as having 2 grass runways in an “X” shape,

with a hangar & 9 single-engine light aircraft on the south side.



Charlie Kulp left his job as an A&P Powerplant mechanic at Springfield Airport in 1950

(according to an article by Linda Burdette in the 1/06 issue of the VAHS Virginia Eagles newsletter).

At some point afterward, the owner of the airport & his wife were killed in an airplane crash,

and the airport closed soon afterward.



Springfield Airport was evidently closed by 1951,

as the remarks in the Aerodromes table on 1951 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe) said "Closed indefinitely."

Strangely, even though the remarks indicated the field was closed,

it was still depicted as an active airfield on the front side of the 1951 Sectional.

It was described as having 3 runways, with the longest being a 2,770' unpaved strip.



The 1951 USGS topo map showed the newly-constructed Interstate 95 having been built along the west side of the site of Springfield Airport,

although a single airport building appeared to still be depicted on the west side of I-95.



According to the book "Virginia Airports",

"As in so many other cases, developers purchased the land & built a large residential subdivision, Springfield Estates."



Springfield was a short-lived airport, apparently lasting no more than 7 years.

It was obviously doomed by its location,

directly adjacent to the paths of both the Washington Beltway & Interstate 95,

which were constructed in the 1950s.



By the time of the 1962 Washington Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),

Springfield Airport was no longer depicted at all.



A 1962 aerial photo showed houses covering the site, with not a trace remaining of the former airport.



As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial photo, the site of the former Springfield Airport is now a densely developed residential neighborhood,

adjacent to the infamous "mixing bowl" - the intersection of the Washington Beltway & Interstate 95.

Not a trace appears to remain of the former Springfield Airport.

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