Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Southeastern Georgia
© 2002, © 2016 by Paul Freeman. Revised 5/8/16.
This site covers airfields in all 50 states: Click here for the site's main menu.
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(Original) Brunswick Municipal Airport (revised 3/5/14) - Glynco NAS (revised 5/8/16) - Harris Neck AAF (revised 4/14/16)
Harris Neck Intermediate Field Site #8 (revised 4/14/16) - Liberty County Airport (revised 5/8/16) - Saffold Field (revised 3/5/14)
Savannah Wilmington Island Airport (revised 3/5/14) - Shellbine Airfield & Rocket Test Site (revised 3/5/14)
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Liberty County Airport, Walthoursville, GA
31.785, -81.64 (North of Jacksonville, FL)
Liberty County Airport, as depicted on a 5/1/68 USGS aerial photo (courtesy of Oliver Dallam-Lee).
This general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1964-68,
as it was not yet depicted on the 1964 Jacksonville Sectional Chart.
The earliest depiction which has been located of the Liberty County Airport
was on a 5/1/68 USGS aerial photo (courtesy of Oliver Dallam-Lee).
It may have depicted the field while still under construction,
as it showed a northwest/southeast clearing on the eventual runway alignment,
but not other specific airfield features.
The 1973 USGS topo map depicted the “County Airport” as having a single paved northwest/southeast runway,
with a small ramp with 2 small buildings on the southeast side.
A 3/3/73 USGS aerial photo (courtesy of Oliver Dallam-Lee) depicted Liberty County Airport
as having a single paved northwest/southeast runway.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Liberty County Airport was on the 1978-79 GA Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of David Stevenson).
It depicted Liberty County as having a single 3,200' paved runway.
A 3/5/87 USGS aerial photo (courtesy of Oliver Dallam-Lee) depicted a dozen light aircraft on the Liberty County ramp.
The last photo which has been located showing Liberty County Airport in operation was a 6/24/07 aerial view looking west,
which depicted a total of 9 light aircraft parked on its ramp.
In 2008, Liberty County Airport's last year of operation, the FAA Airport/Facility Directory statistics
described the field as having a single 3,698' asphalt Runway 14/32, in “fair” condition.
The field was owned by Liberty County, and the manager was Joseph Brown.
The field was said to have a total of 9 based aircraft,
and it was listed as conducting a total of 77 takeoffs or landings per week.
Liberty County Airport was closed in 2008 after the nearby Wright Army Airfield was opened to civilian operations,
becoming known as the Midcoast Regional Airport.
A 2008 photo by Thomas Wahl of a hangar foundation & the airport beacon.
A 2008 photo by Thomas Wahl looking northwest along the closed Runway 32.
A 2008 photo by Thomas Wahl of a “Liberty County Airport” sign on the FBO building.
A 2008 photo by Thomas Wahl of the former FBO building.
A 2008 photo by Thomas Wahl of a sign for the Liberty County Airport.
According to Thomas Wahl, “The airport property will be used for continued expansion of the County Jail facility,
a truck driving school, a new county Animal Control facility, an emergency communications antenna site and a new school site.”
Even though it had been closed the year before, Liberty County Airport was still depicted on the 2009 Jacksonville Sectional Chart.
A 2013 aerial view looking west at the site of Liberty County Airport showed the runway & ramp remained intact, but the hangars had been removed.
The site of Liberty County Airport is located northwest of the intersection of Dorsey Road & Slaten Drive.
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Brunswick Municipal Airport (original location), Brunswick, GA
31.185, -81.48 (North of Jacksonville, FL)
The original Brunswick Airport, as depicted on the February 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The original airport for the town of Brunswick was a small field
located adjacent to the north side of the town.
The original Brunswick airport was evidently established at some point between 1945-49,
as it was not yet depicted on the February 1945 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction which has been located of the Brunswick Airport
was on the February 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.
Brunswick Municipal Airport evidently gained paved runways at some point between 1949-51,
as a 1951 USGS aerial photo (courtesy of David Henderson) depicted the field as having 2 perpendicular paved runways,
with a taxiway leading to 2 hangars on the southeast side.
The 1956 USGS topo map depicted Brunswick Municipal Airport as having 2 perpendicular paved runways,
with a taxiway leading to 3 hangars on the southeast side.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Brunswick Municipal Airport as having 2 asphalt runways:
2,400' Runway 13/31 & 2,000' Runway 4/22.
The field was described as offering major repairs, fuel, hangars, tiedowns, and charter.
The operator was listed as Baker Flying Service.
David Savage recalled, “Brunswick Municipal Airport... I dropped into George Perry’s place on March 23, 1962
and he checked me out in his 7AC Champ & then let me fly anything that I felt like trying out.
I flew the following aircraft there from 3/23/62 through 7/27/62:
Aeronca 7AC ($6/hr), Piper Colt, Piper Tri Pacer, Piper J-3, Aeronca L16A (about $ 1.50/hr, only the cost of fuel as a member of CAP).
Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
But since, as a Marine PFC making about $86/month, this was still a lot of money.
George Perry also took me for a couple of rides in his Twin Bonanza.
I believe it is the furthest aircraft to the left in that picture of 5 twins.
He also took me over to St. Simons Island for an open house & small airshow.
Even when I couldn’t afford to go flying, I hung around Perry Aviation & had a great time.”
The 1965 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the Brunswick Airport as having 2 paved runways: 2,350 Runway 13/31 & 1,900' Runway 4/22.
The manager was listed as F.A. Baker.
The 1968 Flight Guide (courtesy of Robert Levitttan) depicted the Brunswick Airport as having 2 paved runways: 2,350 Runway 13/31 & 1,900' Runway 4/22.
Sherman Swofford recalled, “I Glynco veteran (1968-69) that learned to fly from George Perry at the Brunswick Airport.
I agree that George was a delightful man to talk to & I especially remember his son 'Daisy'.”
Mike Brzowski recalled, “Brunswick Airpark... I learned to fly there
and also worked for George Perry, owner of Perry Flying Service, from 1969-75.
A gracious & caring man to say the least.
George owned a fleet of 25 aircraft for rent or charter which stayed on the go constantly up until his death in 1974.”
A 1973 photo by John Caples (courtesy of Mike Brzowski)
of 5 twin-engine planes in front of the hangar & office of Perry Flying Service at the Brunswick Airpark.
The last photo which has been located of the original Brunswick Airport was a 1974 USGS aerial photo (courtesy of David Henderson).
It showed over a dozen light aircraft parked outside.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the original Brunswick Airport
was on the March 1974 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Brunswick as having 2 paved runways, with the longest being 2,300'.
The Brunswick Municipal Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1974-75,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the January 1976 CH-25 World Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
It had evidently been replaced by the much larger Glynco airfield just to the north,
which had been closed by the Navy & relinquished for use as a civilian airport.
The 1995 USGS topo map no longer depicted any runways or any other airfield infrastructure,
but labeled the buildings along the west side of the former airport site as “Brunswick Junior College”.
In the 1995 USGS aerial photo,
traces of the orientation of the 2 former runways at the site of the Brunswick Airport were still recognizable,
even though all of their pavement had been removed.
As seen in the 2004 USGS aerial photo,
traces of the orientation of the 2 former runways at the site of the Brunswick Airport were still recognizable,
even though all of their pavement had been removed.
It appears as if some of the buildings along the south end of the site could be original airfield buildings,
but this has not been confirmed.
A circa 2006 aerial view looking southeast at what appears to be the last remnant of the former Brunswick Airport:
a short section of taxiway pavement, along with a foundation & a paved ramp.
The circa 2006 aerial has been annotated by Mike Brzowski to show where the former Brunswick Airpark structures were located.
The site of the original Brunswick Airport is located north of the intersection of 4th Street & Old Airpark Road,
appropriately enough.
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Savannah Wilmington Island Airport, Wilmington Island, GA
32.014, -80.98 (Southeast of Savannah, GA)
Savannah - Wilmington Island Airport, as depicted on the April 1945 Savannah Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The date of construction of this airport has not been determined.
It may have been established in 1942,
as, according to the History of the Civil Air Patrol in Savannah,
"The Savannah Squadron of Civil Air Patrol was organized in June of 1942
under the command of Captain S. E. Perkins and was based at the old Wilmington Island Airport.
During the war years, this airfield was known as CAP Field, Savannah.
The land was donated by Mr. H. M. Carter
and the actual labor was performed by members of the old CAP squadron."
Robert Wilson recalled, “I learned to fly at this airport.
It never had 5 runways. When I started there it had only 2.
One of which was very short with an approach over some power lines at one end.
We, CAP members, did clear & build a 3rd runway that was too short to safely use.
I began to take flying lessons sometime in late 1943 or early 1944.
I was a 14 year old CAP Cadet at the time.”
However, no airfield in the Wilmington Island area
was depicted on the September 1943 or March 1944 Savannah Sectional Charts (according to Chris Kennedy)
nor listed in the April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
Frank Coleman recalled, “While still in Savannah High School I caught the aviation bug
and went out to the Wilmington Island Airport for flying lessons.
My Instructor was Bill Hobbs of Hobbs-Waller Avbia Service.
I wish I had a photo of Hobb’s Field as it was affectionately known in the early days.
My 1st flight with Bill Hobbs was on 9/11/44 in a Cub J-5
and my solo took place on November 9, 1944.
I subsequently flew a garden variety of light aircraft out of this field.
Aside from the Aeroncas, Luscombes Taylorcraft, more Cubs etc,
I took lessons in the Stearman PT-17 & had some wonderful acrobatic hops in that venerable/tough aircraft.
I eventually owned it outright & flew it with enthusiasm.
The stacks were blowing off & CAA advised me to recover the wings, replace stacks, and required other fixes.
It became cost prohibitive later so I sold it. $300. Wow!”
The earliest depiction of this airfield which has been located
was on the April 1945 Savannah Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
which depicted "Savannah Wilmington Island" as a commercial or municipal airport.
A circa 1943-45 aerial view by Robert Wilson looking east along Wilmington Island's primary runway,
with old Tybee Road at the left.
The field had a small building on the north side, with several light aircraft parked.
A circa 1943-45 aerial view by Robert Wilson looking south from the downwind leg to Wilmington Island,
with old Tybee Road at the bottom.
The field consisted of 3 unpaved runways.
A 1945 photo of Robert Wilson in front of a Piper Cub at Wilmington Island Airport.
Robert recalled, “Because of my age I did not solo until September 11, 1945.”
The Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described the "CAP - Wilmington Island Airport" as a "class 2" airport owned by H. M. Carter,
and operated by Hobbs & Waller Aviation Service.
The field was described as having no less than 5 soil runways,
with the longest being the 3,000' north/south & east/west runways.
The field was described as having hangars under construction,
and offering tie-downs, repairs, training, charter, and fuel.
Wilmington Island Airport was not depicted on the 1945 USGS topo map.
Savannah-Wilmington Island Airport was depicted on the 1948 USGS topo map as a commercial/municipal airport.
The February 1949 Savannah Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Wilmington Island Airport as having a 2,900' unpaved runway.
According to longtime Wilmington Island resident Eva Thompson, “It was known by the people who worked there
and used it frequently as Hobbs Field, according to my father-in-law,
since Bill Hobbs ran all the operations.”
A 1951 USGS aerial photo (courtesy of David Henderson) may have showed the field after its closure.
Only the northeast/southwest runway appeared to have been recently cleared,
with the other 2 runways still being recognizable but deteriorated.
One small building was located on the northwest side, but no aircraft were visible on the field.
The Wilmington Island Airport was evidently closed at some point by 1954,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the August 1954 Savannah Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
or the 1955 USGS topo map.
According to Eva Thompson, the reason for the airfield's closure
was that the Air Force had relinquished what is now Hunter Army Airfield
to the City of Savannah for use as a municipal airport.
Shortly after that, Hobbs moved his operations to the new airport.
“My father-in-law worked as an aircraft mechanic for Bill Hobbs, and left after the operation moved to the new airport.”
Eva continued, “Sometime during the 1960s, an episode of the television series 'Route 66'
was filmed at night at the site of the old Hobbs airfield.
Everybody on the island showed up to watch, including me.
At the time there was not much left of the old airfield, pine trees and undergrowth having taken it over.
Shortly after that, development began to crop up.”
Harry M. Carter III reported, “My grandfather is the H.M. Carter
mentioned as having donated or owning the land on which this field was established.
I still have his C.A.P. hat, uniform and pins.
I also have a few memories of the field, mostly second hand through my father.
One though is first hand although I was very young at the time.
My father woke me at nearly midnight one night. I was around 6 years old.
I was told to put on my robe & slippers because there was something he wanted to take me to see.
We drove across the island & stopped on the shoulder of the road which runs roughly parallel to the East west runway.
He handed me a flashlight & instructed me to walk straight into the bushes & tellhim what I saw.
What I saw made me burst into excitement & immediately ask if we were going to take it home.
It was the entire fuselage of a Piper Cub or similar aircraft.
The wing & stabilizer were removed & laid alongside the main fuselage, but at 6 years I was sure we could get it running in no time.
Well, we didn't take it home but it was still an interesting experience.
My father told me to watch what was happening here when I passed over the next few days.
I noticed the plane had been reassembled & a crew of men were working in the general area.
Next I saw the plane, appearing brand new, but leaning at about 45 degrees with tail in the air & nose in the dirt.
That night he took me back down to see the crew with lightning machine in full flame & told me this would be on television very soon.
So, I [can] reconfirm the account of the 'Route 66' episode. The lightning was much more convincing on TVas was the crash.
We had a barn across from our home on Wilmington
which still had 2 large German-made 'Klieg' lights which my father told me were from the airfield.”
As seen in the 1995 USGS aerial photo,
not a trace of the former Wilmington Island Airport appeared to remain -
the area had been densely redeveloped with housing.
Eva Thompson reported in 2005, “There is now a Kroger grocery store, a shopping center,
a private school & several subdivisions covering what used to be the old airfield runways.
All traces are completely gone.
Most people who live on the island now have no idea that there was ever an airfield here.
How well it's remembered depends on how many gray hairs you have, I suppose.”
The site of the Wilmington Island Airport is located south of the intersection of Johnny Mercer Boulevard & Penn Waller Road.
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Saffold Field (GA40), Wilmington Island, GA
32.04, -81.008 (Southeast of Savannah, GA)
Saffold Field, as depicted on the February 1949 Savannah Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This former general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1945-49,
as it was not yet depicted on the April 1945 Savannah Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of Saffold Field which has been located
was on the February 1949 Savannah Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Saffold as having a 3,500' unpaved runway.
The only photo which has been located of Saffold Field was a 3/22/51 USGS aerial photo (courtesy of David Henderson).
It depicted Saffold Field with having 2 grass runways,
with one single-engine aircraft & several small buildings on the southeast side.
The 1955 USGS topo map depicted Saffold Field as having two 3,500' unpaved runways, with several small buildings on the south side.
Don Imbody recalled, “I flew out of Saffold Field in 1959 as a student pilot while I was stationed at Hunter AFB.
Saffold Field had trees on 3 ends of the runways & power lines on the 4th end of the runway.
It was a great airfield from which to take primary instruction!!”
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Saffold Field
as having 2 sod runways: a 3,800' Runway 3/21 & a 2,500' Runway 12/30.
The field was said to offer fuel, repairs, hangars, tiedowns, and charter,
and the operator was listed as Flight Service Inc.
The Aerodromes table on the 1964 Savannah Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described Saffold as having 2 runways, with the longest being a 3,500' turf strip.
Longtime Wilmington Island resident Eva Thompson recalled, “During the Vietnam War,
Saffold Field was used as a helicopter training field by the Army.
All the signage was replaced by signs in Vietnamese, which was a little disconcerting to local residents.
It appeared that the Army wanted to create a realistic landing zone atmosphere at the field.
I don't recall any fixed-wing landings at Saffold after the Army used it in the 1960s for the LZ training.”
Al Fitzgerald recalled, “Saffold Field was used by the Army in the mid-late 1960s as a site to practice Ground Controlled Approaches (GCA).
I was teaching instruments in those days & there was a portable GCA radar set up at Saffold.
Can remember landing & taking a break there, not a whole lot going on, but remember a small hangar & office.”
The 1978 USGS topo map showed Saffold Field as having two 3,500' unpaved runways.
Only a single building was depicted on the field - a small building, just south of the runway intersection.
Saffold Field was no longer depicted at all on the 1978-79 GA Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of David Stevenson).
Saffold Field was still depicted on the 1981 USGS topo map,
but with only one runway (the northwest/southeast strip).
Saffold Field was still listed in the 1982 AOPA Airports USA directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),
although the field's status was described as "Private. Closed to Public."
The airfield configuration had been reduced to a single 2,640' turf Runway 12/30.
Saffold Field was apparently closed at some point between 1982-95.
According to Wilmington Island resident Eva Thompson, “Saffold Field was taken by eminent domain from the Saffold family
in order to build what was supposed to have been elementary, middle, and high school campuses.
Two elementary schools & one middle school were eventually built,
and parts of the Saffold property were also used for the development of the Battery Point subdivision adjacent to the schools,
as well as a Wal-Mart & other stores along the new U.S, Highway 80.”
The 1995 USGS aerial photo showed that the site of the former Saffold Field
had been reused for 2 elementary schools & a middle school.
However, the rectangular outline of the northwest & southwest halves of 2 of the former runways were still quite apparent.
Jon Stark recalled in 2003, “Staffold Field... For as long as I can remember driving by there (since 1776)
it was mowed but I think I only ever saw one aircraft there.
There was something about it having to be maintained as an airfield to remain in the family.
It is prime development real estate.”
As seen in the 2003 USGS aerial photo,
the rectangular outline of the northwest & southwest halves of 2 of the former runways were still quite apparent
when comparing this photo with the airfield layout as depicted in the 1978 USGS topo map.
The site of Saffold Field is located south of the intersection of Saffold Road & Whitemarsh Island Road.
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Shellbine Airfield & Rocket Test Site, Shellbine, GA
30.945, -81.53 (North of Jacksonville, FL)
A 1974 USGS aerial photo (courtesy of David Henderson) of the Shellbine runway.
Nothing was yet depicted at this location on a 1958 USGS topo map.
An article in the 4/19/63 issue of the Camden County Tribune reported that "Thiokol Chemical Corporation
was awarded Tuesday long-anticipated contracts for construction
of the largest & most powerful rocket motors ever built in the United States.
Thiokol received 3 parts of a 4-part contract by the NASA acting in conjunction with the Air Force.
The 2 contracts affecting Camden County include one for demonstration firings of 260-inch solid fuel motors
and another for demonstration firings of a 156 inch motor with a 3-million pound thrust
both to be assembled and tested at the new Thiokol plant in Camden now under construction.
This contract marks the 1st time that NASA has participated in a demonstration program
looking toward the use of solid propellants for space vehicles."
According to Gene Greneker, the Georgia plant was previously described on Thiokol's web site.
"There was a small photo at the previous web site of the casting pit being built.
It discussed the facilities saying it 'was a reinforced concrete pit more than 260 inches in diameter
and more than 100 feet deep that was intended to serve as a combination casting pit & curing oven.
The old timers tell me that one engine was tested in the casting pit with the blast going straight up.
It seems that it was heard over a large radius around the area."
At some point a single runway was constructed,
on the north side of the complex, just to the south of the Schooner Landing rocket test site.
According to Clifton Cox, “The landing strip was built so NASA had a place to land at the site.
It was a long drive from Jacksonville or Brunswick.”
According to Gene Greneker, "The entire business failed when they built an engine for NASA and the housing failed
during a hydrostatic pressure test at 50% rated strength.
It seems that NASA & Thiokol did not have the instrumentation to detect the type flaws that caused the failure at that time.
The program was killed.
A small crew stayed at the Georgia Plant trying to find a use for the facility."
After failing as a rocket booster plant, the facility was reconfigured for a U.S. Army contract
to manufacture trip flares (flares that are ignited by an external trigger,
normally an enemy soldier approaching a camp's perimeter).
Bill Boles recalled, “I was Chief of Quality Control for Thiokol from 1969 until 3 months after the explosion on 2/2/71.
I flew a Cessna 140 (N77151) to that field from SSI (almost) daily for a year before the accident.”
On 2/2/71, an explosion at the Thiokol plant killed 34 people and injured 150.
That ended the use of the facility to manufacture flares.
According to Clifton Cox, “In 1971 when the accident at the plant there
most of the injured were flown by Perry Flying Service Aircraft into Brunswick with a few to Jacksonville.
George Perry would not accept an payment for the many flights his aircraft made that day.
If my memory is correct George had a contract with Norton Thiokol
to fly their upper management members to & from Jacksonville on their visits to the plant.
I worked for George Perry from 1966-72
and lived across the street from the road leading to the airfield 2 doors down from the Perrys.”
Gene Greneker recalled, "In the 1970s the Georgia Facility was sold to Union Carbide.
Now it is an insecticide plant.
You can still see the rocket fuel storage bunkers from the sat photos around the oval access road."
The earliest depiction which has been located of the Shellbine Airfield was a 1974 USGS aerial photo (courtesy of David Henderson).
It depicted the field as consisting of a single asphalt Runway 11/29, with no buildings or other improvements.
The 1979 USGS topo map depicted a single northwest/southeast runway, labeled simply as “Landing Strip”.
The 1995 USGS topo map depicted a single 2,300' runway, labeled simply as “Landing Strip".
The rocket test site (at the top), and the abandoned runway (at the bottom),
as depicted on the 2003 USGS aerial photo.
The airfield was not depicted at all (not even as an abandoned airfield) on 2003 Sectional Aeronautical Charts,
but the site was depicted as "plant".
The Shellbine airfield is located at the eastern terminus of Union Carbide Road,
three miles northwest of Shellbine, GA.
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Harris Neck Intermediate Field Site #8, Harris Neck, GA
31.62, -81.27 (South of Savannah)
The Harris Neck Intermediate Field, as depicted on the 1935 U.S. Navy Aviation Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
The 1st airfield in Harris Neck was one of the Department of Commerce's network of Intermediate Fields,
established for the emergency use of commercial aircraft flying on airways between major cities.
Harris Neck Intermediate Field Site #8 was evidently established at some point between 1929-32,
as it was not yet depicted on the 1929 Rand-McNally Air Tails Map of GA (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to the airfield which has been located
was in The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described the Harris Neck Intermediate Field as the Department of Commerce's Site #8 along the Jacksonville – Richmond Airway.
The field was said to be located “west of Gould's Landing”,
and to consist of an irregularly-shaped 93 acre sod parcel, measuring 2,600' x 2,550'.
The field was said to be illuminated, but to offer no services.
The 1935 U.S. Navy Aviation Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the Harris Neck Intermediate Field as having 2 unpaved runways:
2,600' east/west & 2,550' north/south.
It described the field as being the Department of Commerce's Site #8 along the Jacksonville – Richmond Airway.
The field was said to be illuminated, but to offer no services.
The Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described the Harris Neck Intermediate Field as the Civil Aeronautics Administration's
Site #8 along the Jacksonville – Richmond Airway.
The field was said to be located “west of Gould's Landing”,
and to consist of an irregularly-shaped 93 acre sod parcel, measuring 2,600' x 2,550'.
The field was said to be illuminated, but to offer no services.
A circa early 1943 aerial photo (National Archives, courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel) showed the proximity of the Harris Neck Intermediate Field (bottom of photo)
to the newly-built Harris Neck Army Airfield (top of photo).
The Harris Neck Intermediate Field was evidently abandoned by 1944,
as only the much larger Harris Neck Army Airfield was depicted on the January 1944 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A 3/21/51 USGS aerial photo did not depict any recognizable trace of an airfield, just an open grass field.
The 1959 USGS topo map still depicted a “rotating light” on the south edge of the airfield site,
no doubt a remaining airway beacon.
In the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
not a trace appears to remain of the former Harris Neck Intermediate Field.
Brian Rehwinkel reported in 2016, “The former intermediate field supports a nice stand of tall pines.”
The site of Harris Neck Intermediate Field is located northwest of the intersection of Route 29 & Harris Neck Road.
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Harris Neck Army Airfield, Harris Neck, GA
31.64, -81.27 (South of Savannah)
A 1942 Army map of Harris Neck AAF.
This abandoned airfield is located on an island along the Atlantic coast, barely a few feet above sea level.
It was built during WW2 as a satellite field for Dale Mabry AAF, in Tallahassee, FL,
which was a combat command base primarily for fighter planes.
P-39 & P-40 fighters operated from Harris Neck.
According to Brian Rehwinkel, “I believe most of the construction took place in the latter part of 1942.”
The earliest depiction which has been located of Harris Neck Army Airfield was on a 1942 Army map.
The airfield consisted of three 3,500' paved runways, taxiways, and a large quantity of dispersal pads.
The military property was a total of 1,200 acres.
The earliest photo which has been located of Harris Neck Army Airfield was a circa early 1943 aerial view (National Archives, courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
Brian Rehwinkel noted, “The photo shows the field before all of the runway paving has been completed.
According to the Base History of the airfield (from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, via Brian Rehwinkel),
the first group of buildings were accepted by the Army on 1/28/43.
The earliest chart depiction of Harris Neck AAF which has been located
was on the January 1944 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The only photo which has been located showing Harris Neck AAF in use was a 1944 USAAF aerial view (courtesy of David Henderson),
showing about 20 planes on the parking ramp, and 16 dispersal hardstands.
According to Joe Benson, a 1944 Directory of AAF Stations & Activities
listed Harris Neck as being accountable to Waycross AAF,
while a 1945 AAF Installations Directory listed it as a sub base of Statesboro AAF, GA.
Harris Neck AAF was deactivated in 1944.
After WW2, the property was given to McIntosh County for use as a municipal airport.
It was depicted as a civil airfield, "Harris Neck", on the 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
and described as having a 5,400' hard-surface runway.
Due to county mismanagement of the land resources,
Harris Neck was transferred at some point to the Federal Aviation Administration.
A 3/2/51 USGS aerial view (courtesy of David Henderson) still showed the Harris Neck runways marked as active runways,
and the field remained in fine condition, but there were no aircraft visible on the field.
The 1954 USGS topo map depicted "Harris Neck Airfield" as having 3 paved runways,
with paved taxiways leading to a network of 16 parking revetments in the center of the field, and a ramp with one building on the east side.
The Harris Neck airfield apparently then also was used by the Navy,
as it was depicted as "Harris Neck ALF (Navy)" on the February 1956 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
and the remarks in the Aerodromes table said "ALF to NAS Glynco. Closed to all traffic except on prior approval. CAA Site 8 on field."
Richard Legg recalled, “While an aircrewman with ZP-2 [NAS Glynco 1957-59] we often flew to Harris Neck ALF to conduct touch and go landings.
The field was used to graze cattle & we had to buzz the field first to scatter the beasts.
While at the CIC School we were issued Geneva Convention Cards
that in case of a nuclear attack in which we could not return to NAS Glynco we were directed to proceed to Harris Neck.
It was an investigation conducted during this period that the government learned that the County Commissioners of McIntosh County
had removed & sold all wooden structures from Harris Neck & sold them for profit.
The only structure remaining was a masonry building that was once the officer's club. At one time this was used as a nightclub.”
"Harris Neck OLF" was still depicted in the 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
but the field was said to be "Closed to all traffic except on prior approval."
The field was depicted as having 3 paved runways, with the longest being the 5,361' Runway 8/26.
A single building was depicted on the ramp on the east side of the field,
but it did not appear to have been big enough to be a hangar.
In 1962, the US Bureau of Sport Fisheries & Wildlife (forerunner of the USFWS)
acquired the property & established the area as a migratory bird refuge.
That is presumably when the airfield was closed.
As seen in the 1995 USGS aerial photo,
the remains of Harris Neck's 3 paved runways still existed in quite good condition,
along with its network of taxiways & dispersal pads.
As of 2002, the property is still operated as the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge.
Harris Neck was still depicted as an abandoned airfield on 2002 aeronautical charts.
The 2003 aerial photo showed that Harris Neck's former runways, taxiways & dispersal pads still remained remarkably intact.
A 2004 photo by Les Parker of the map of the Haris Neck National Wildlife Refuge.
Les Parker reported in 2004, "On a recent trip to Georgia, we happened to visit Harris Neck NWR,
only to discover that it had once been an airfield.
Other than the runways & taxiways there is very little left to show what this area once was.
The area is very overgrown & travel is limited by 'keep out' signs.
It's my feeling that the wildlife folks want the area returned to nature as rapidly as possible.
A new asphalt road has been laid over the broken runway
so it is possible to drive where the wildlife service wants you to drive.
I would strongly recommend very good snake boots if any off road exploring is planned.
We saw the largest copperhead we've ever seen sunning on a section of the old runway.
The surrounding woods are full of roads but they don't show up on your map."
Les Parker reported in 2004, "Your map shows a short road near the upper right hand corner leading to some kind of bunker.
It is still standing and is the only building we saw anywhere."
A 2004 photo by Les Parker of the foundation of the former guard shack for Harris Neck AAF.
A 2004 photo by Les Parker of the remains of the Harris Neck trash incinerator.
A 2009 photo by Joe Burke looking along a former Harris Neck runway.
A 2009 photo by Joe Burke of a historical plaque at the site of Harris Neck AAF.
An 11/8/14 aerial view by Dean Baker looking northeast at the remains of the Harris Neck AAF runways.
Brian Rehwinkel reported in 2016, “The former [Harris Neck] AAF is a great place to visit.
There is a loop road for driving around the refuge. It goes through the middle of the airfield & is about 3-4 miles in length.
There are also numerous walking trails. Most of the pavement is still in existence, but trees, bushes, and other plants have grown up through some of pavement.””
The Harris Neck Army Airfield is located north of the intersection of Route 131 & Harris Neck Airport Road,
appropriately enough.
See also: http://harrisneck.fws.gov/historyx.html
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Glynco NAS (BQK), Brunswick, GA
31.245, -81.474 (North of Jacksonville, FL)
A circa 1942 aerial view looking north at Glynco's Hangar 1 under construction,
with one blimp on the large circular blimp field.
Naval Air Station Glynco was built in 1942 as Navy antisubmarine blimp base.
The wooden trusses for Glynco's 2 massive blimp hangars were cut in Oregon & Washington,
fabricated & numbered, and shipped to Glynco on rail cars.
No airfield at Glynco was yet depicted on the April 1942 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A circa 1942 photo showing Glynco's massive Hangar 1 nearing completion.
A 1942 aerial view of NAS Glynco (from the Vanishing Georgia Collection of the Georgia Archives).
NAS Glynco was was fully operational by 1943,
with two 960' long wooden blimp hangars, 2 mooring circles,
an operational complement of 12 blimps, and a helium plant.
The number of buildings constructed during the WW2 period was approximately 500.
The number of circular blimp mooring pads was eventually expanded to a large number
(their remains are visible southwest of the current runway as a cluster of circular clearings).
The earliest chart depiction which has been located of NAS Glynco
was on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted “Glynco (Navy)” as a military airfield with a control tower.
The January 1944 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
also depicted “Glynco (Navy)” as having a blimp mooring mast.
A WW2-era view of Glynco, looking south. National Archives photo.
In 1945 the station was reduced to an air facility,
and it became a storage & salvage yard for some 800 Navy aircraft.
A post-1946 view of SNJ trainers stored inside one of the Glynco's blimp hangars
(from the Vanishing Georgia Collection of the Georgia Archives).
"NAF Glynco (LTA)" was depicted on the 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
along with the mooring mast symbol.
The last photo which has been located showing NAS Glynco in its original WW2 configuration was a 1951 aerial view (courtesy of David Henderson).
Both massive blimp hangars remained, and 2 fixed-wing runways were marked out as well on the large paved landing mat.
In 1952, Glynco underwent a significant expansion, and the current 8,000' runway was built for jet aircraft operations.
The base eventually totaled over 4,434 acres.
At one time, the base could boast of being the only air station operating
every type of aircraft: blimps, propeller aircraft, jets & helicopters.
These included the P2V Neptune, E-2B Hawkeye, T-33, T-39 & A-4.
The newer aircraft were required to support advanced pilot training
& the Naval Air Technical Training Command (NATTC).
NATTC provided advanced & specialized training for the Combat Information Center,
air traffic control & associated equipment maintenance.
ZS2G-1 (5-K) airship moored to a mobile mooring mast in front of a Glynco hangar.
According to Richard Legg, the first ZS2G-1 “was not delivered to the US Navy until 1955”, thus dating the photo to 1955 or after.
An undated (circa 1950s?) view of several Navy blimps at Glynco (courtesy of Steve Cruse).
A circa 1950s photo of the crew boarding a K-type airship at Glynco.
A curious footnote in the history of the Navy's use of Glynco is its 1956 "Master Shore Development Plan".
whereas only one runway was ever built for jet aircraft.
This was apparently a proposal to upgrade Glynco as one of the Navy's "Master Jet Bases",
which was eventually carried out at Oceana NAS & Cecil Field NAS instead.
The 1956 USGS topo map depicted Glynco NAS as having 2 blimp hangars & the large paved blimp apron area & mooring pads.
An undated (circa 1956) photo of 4 blimps of Squadron ZP-2 inside Glynco's massive Hangar 1.
According to Richard Legg, the photo is “circa 1956 when ZP-2 was replacing the ZSG-3 (3-K) airships with the newer ZS2G-1 (5-K) airships.
Note that there are 2 of each type airship in the photo: the ZS2G-1 airships have 3 tail fins while all previous model K-ships have the standard 4 fins.”
An undated photo of 3 Navy blimps moored to portable mooring masts at Glynco.
An amazing 1957 aerial view of no less than 7 blimps at Glynco.
According to Richard Legg, “I reported to ZP-2 in August 1957
and jet hangar maintenance was still being performed beneath the airships in Hangar 1.
In 1957 I transferred to ZP-2 at NAS Glynco where I was stationed until February 1959.
During my years with ZP-2 the squadron was assigned 6 ZS2G-1 (5K) airships & 3 SNB aircraft.
Airship pilots were required to be qualified in both LTA (Lighter-Than-Air) & HTA (Heavier-Than-Air) aircraft.
The SNB were used for travel to commands located at other locations.
NAS Glynco was also the site of the only airship training command.
It was at various times identified as ZTG (Airship Training Group) & ZTU (Airship Training Unit).
This squadron operated 6 ZSG-4 (4-K) airships during the years that I was there.
Basic airship training was provided young airmen after they received their wings as well as other pilots that did not have airship experience.
They operated out of Hangar 2. The old diehard LTA officers always referred to them as Dock 1 & Dock 2 vice hangars.
While an aircrewman with ZP-2 we often flew to Harris Neck ALF to conduct touch & go landings.
While at the CIC School we were issued Geneva Convention Cards that in case of a nuclear attack in which we could not return to NAS Glynco
we were directed to proceed to Harris Neck.”
Richard continued, “ZX-11, which was based at NAS Key West, FL, maintained a permanent detachment at NAS Glynco.
The detachment was housed in Hangar 1 & all personnel were permanently assigned.
ZX-11 operated the much larger ZPGN (Nan) ships & only brought the ships to Glynco for major inspections
or maintenance requiring hangaring since no airship facilities were available at NAS Key West.”
Richard Legg recalled, in February 1959, “At that time my sea tour was ended & I crossed the field and was stationed with the Naval CIC School until February 1962.
The US Naval Combat Information Center (CIC) School was located at NAS Glynco during the late 1950s & early 1960s.
It was a major command that had more than 1,000 enlisted & officers assigned.
The command consisted of a large masonry building, known as the 'T' Building, located in the pine forest well to the north of the other buildings
and 2 hangars located alongside the single 8,000’ runway.
The 'T' Building housed all non-aviation components of the CIC School command.
This included all administrative offices as well as the Training Department including classrooms
and full size Combat Information Centers like those found on board major Navy surface ships.”
Richard continued, “The second component was the Operations Department that was located alongside the 8,000' runway & next to the base control tower.
The Operations Department was housed in 2 hangars, one being a nose hangar containing shop & maintenance spaces
and one standard hangar containing shop, maintenance, and office spaces.
The Operations Department was divided into 2 completely separate maintenance sections,
one performing maintenance on the assigned propeller-powered aircraft
and the other performing maintenance on the assigned jet powered aircraft.
The fact that maintenance was assigned to the Operations Department was definitely a non-standard arrangement.
The propeller section of the maintenance division was completely independent from the jet division.
Each had their own Maintenance Officer, CPO and assigned personnel.”
Richard continued, “The propeller section maintained four WV-2 Super Constellation early warning type aircraft.
The WV-2 aircraft were maintained in the nose hangar that permitted the forward section to be indoors out of the weather
but leaving the remainder of the aircraft exposed to the elements.
The WV-2 aircraft were utilized as in-flight classrooms where Air Traffic Control students were trained in the operation of the radar equipment.
Upon successful completion of the course the students would be designated as Air Traffic Controllers (AC) (W).
The controllers were trained to detect aircraft on their radar screens & vector interceptor aircraft
while feeding this same information back to the CIC units in the 'T' Building.
The jet section maintained around 90 aircraft.
Initially the assigned aircraft consisted mostly of several versions of the F-2H dual-engine Banshees.
Around 1960 the older & slower F-2H Banshees were replaced by the newer & more up-to-date FJ-4 Fury.
Also a few other aircraft such as T2V & F3D were assigned in limited numbers.
The jet aircraft were utilized as both bogies & interceptor aircraft & were flown both day & night.”
Richard continued, “The CIC jet hangar was probably completed & occupied in late 1957 or early 1958.
All maintenance personnel assigned to the Operations Department of the CIC School were reassigned to NAS Glynco in November 1961.
The reason for this change is not known.”
Richard continued, “During my years in the CIC School I recall that the station had at least one R4D, one UF & some helicopters.
I recall an instance when a pilot assigned to the CIC School flew a jet, prop driven aircraft, seaplane, airship and helicopter in the same day.
His name was Lt. Straughn and he was an ex AP (enlisted pilot).”
The 1959 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
shows the configuration of the jet airfield which was constructed at Glynco:
a single 8,000' paved Runway 7/25,
along with the much smaller 3,800' Runways 5/23 & 13/31, from the original WW2-era airfield.
NAS Glynco, as depicted on the 1964 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
An undated photo showing sunlight poring through several holes in one of Glynco's blimp hangars.
A 1970 photo by Dan Davis of the 2 hangars at Glynco.
A 1970 close-up by Dan Davis of one of the blimp hangars at Glynco.
A 1970 photo by Dan Davis showing Navy T-39 Sabreliners (used to train RIOs) at Glynco.
A 1971 photo of the remains of one of Glynco's massive blimp hangars,
taken during its demolition (from the Vanishing Georgia Collection of the Georgia Archives).
Both blimp hangars were demolished in 1971.
The Navy was in the process of constructing new quarters & upgrading the facilities of the base
when they were directed to disestablish the Naval Air Station in 1974.
In 1977, the US conveyed the northern half of the base (the runway area, consisting of a total of over 2,300 acres)
to the County of Glynn to establish a civil airport.
The southern part of the base (the blimp operating area, a total of over 1,524 acres)
became the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center,
with driver training tracks being built over many of the former blimp mooring pads.
A 2003 photo of the tower at Glynco by Christopher Ness.
He reported, “I did try to get a good view of the old blimp facility with minimal success.
It was neat to see about 30 police cars with lights flashing run the course."
In a circa 2002-2005 aerial view looking west,
a yellow closed-runway “X” symbol was still visible on the southeast end
of the former southeast/northwest Navy runway at Glynco.
A 2014 aerial view looking northwest at the remains of the Glynco blimp field, with the runway of Glynco Jetport in the background.
A 1999 Army Corps of Engineers report gives further details of Glynco.
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If you enjoy this web site, please support it with a financial contribution.
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