Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Western Oklahoma

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Waynoka Airport (original location) / Kelsey Airport (added 11/27/15) - Woodward Municipal Airport (original location) (revised 5/27/13)

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Waynoka Airport (original location) / Kelsey Airport, Waynoka, OK

36.637, -98.857 (Northwest of Oklahoma City, OK)

A circa 1929-39 photo of a Trimotor inside Waynoka Airport's Transcontinental Air Transport hangar (courtesy of John Humphrey).

The original airport for the town of Waynoka was located northeast of the town.

The earliest photo which which has been located of Waynoka Airport

was a circa 1929-39 photo of a Trimotor inside Waynoka's Transcontinental Air Transport hangar (courtesy of John Humphrey).

As of 1929, Waynoka's hangar was reportedly the 3^rd largest hangar in the U.S.

The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Waynoka Airport was on the 1933 Airways Chart.

It depicted Waynoka Airport on the west side of the railroad tracks, northeast of the town of Waynoka.

It was depicted as having Beacon #18 along the airway.

According to John Humphrey, “I believe Kelsey bought [Waynoka Airport] in the 1940s when Transcontinental Air Transport pulled out.”

At some point, “The hangar that existed at this airport was dismantled & moved to Little Rock, AR.”

Waynoka Airport may have gone through a period of closure during WW2,

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

This airfield may have reopened under the name of Kelsey at some point between 1945-55,

as an airport by that name was depicted in the same general location on the 1955 USGS topo map.

The 1969 USGS topo map depicted a single unpaved northeast/southwest runway, labeled simply as “Landing Strip”,

with 2 small buildings on the west side.

A slight trace of a northeast/southwest runway was still recognizable at the site of Kelsey Airport on a 1990 aerial view.

A slight trace of a northeast/southwest runway was still recognizable at the site of Kelsey Airport on a 2014 aerial view.

The site of Kelsey Airport is located southeast of the intersection of North 2330 Road & East 0260 Road.

Thanks to John Humphrey for pointing out this airfield.

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Woodward Municipal Airport (original lcoation), Woodward, OK

36.42, -99.38 (Northwest of Oklahoma City, OK)

A postmark commemorating the 11/27/30 dedication of Woodward Municipal Airport.

The original municipal airport for Woodward was located adjacent to the southeast side of the town.

Woodward Airport was not yet depicted on the 1929 Rand McNally Air Trails map (according to Chris Kennedy).

A postmark commemorated the 11/27/30 dedication of Woodward Municipal Airport.

The earliest depiction of Woodward Municipal which has been located

was on the 1933 Wichita Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

described Woodward Municipal Airport as having a 2,100' x 1,993' rectangular sod landing area.

The Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Woodward Municipal Airport as having 3 sod runways,

with the longest being the 2,200' northwest/southeast runway.

A circa 1943-45 aerial view looking north at the Woodward Municipal Airport from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).

The directory described “Woodward Municipal Airport #1” as a 160 acre square property having 3 sod runways,

with the longest being the 2,100' northeast/southwest strip.

The field was said to have a single 120' x 60' steel hangar,

to be owned by the City of Woodward, and operated by private interests.

The October 1950 Wichita USAF Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Woodward Municipal as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.

An aerial view looking south at the Woodward Municipal Airport from the 1950 OK Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The directory described Woodward Municipal as having 3 sod runways,

with the longest being the 2,200' northwest/southeast & northeast/southwest strips.

The field was said to offer repairs, fuel, and hangars.

The manager was listed as Burrell Tibbs.

George D Welsch recalled, “My father, G.W. (Jack) Welsch was the manager of the airport when it closed & he moved to the 'West' airport.

He offered maintenance, fuel, flight instruction, charter & probably any other aviation service that might turn a buck.

He also operated a spray operation & often flew spotter flights for coyote hunts.”

The last photo which has been located of the original Woodward Municipal Airport was a 6/4/54 USGS aerial view.

It depicted Woodward as having 3 runways.

The original Woodward Municipal Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1950-54,

as it was no longer depicted at all on the June 1954 Wichita Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy) or the 1955 USGS topo map.

It had evidently been replaced by the much larger former Woodward Army Airfield (a few miles west of the town),

which had been released by the military & reused as a civilian airport.

By the time of the 2/11/68 USGS aerial photo,

the site of the original Woodward Municipal Airport had been reused as a golf course,

with no trace of the runways remaining.

A 2004 aerial photo, annotated by Chris Kennedy to show the runway layout of the original Woodward Municipal Airport.

The 3^rd-from-the-left building at the northwest corner is an original hangar

(the same building was visible in the photo from the 1941 airport directory).

A circa 2004-2010 photo looking northeast at the former hangar which remains at the site of the original Woodward Municipal Airport.

The site of the original Woodward Municipal Airport is located southeast of the intersection of 1^st Street & Temple Houston Drive.

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Or if you prefer to contact me directly concerning a contribution (for a mailing address to send a check),

please contact me at: paulandterryfreeman@gmail.com

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