Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
California - Southern San Diego area
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 7/2/08.
Border NOLF (revised 7/3/06) - La Pressa Airport (revised 7/2/08) - National City Airport (revised 5/1/08)
Peik Airport / Peik's Airport / Pikes Airport (revised 12/12/05) - Rosedale NOLF (revised 7/21/07)
San Diego Airpark (added 7/16/04) - Sweetwater Dam NOLF / Sweetwater Airport (revised 7/3/06)
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San Diego Airpark, San Diego, CA
32.8 North / 117.2 West (North of Downtown San Diego, CA)
"San Diego Airpark", as depicted on the September 1948 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield has not been located.
This very short-lived general aviation airport was located just east of San Diego's Mission Bay.
San Diego Airpark was one of countless general aviation airports
which were established across America immediately after the end of the Second World War.
It was evidently opened at some point between 1946-48,
as it was not yet depicted on the February 1946 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the September 1948 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted "San Diego Airpark" as having a 2,700' unpaved runway.
A 1948 street map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted "San Diego Airpark" as having 2 runways.
The March 1951 San Diego USAF Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted San Diego Airpark as having a 2,900' unpaved runway.
The San Diego Airpark was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1951-53,
as the March 1953 USDA aerial photo (courtesy of Frank Moreland)
showed that the former airport site had been graded & partially developed for housing.
By the time of the September 1954 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
the airport was no longer depicted at all.
A 1955 street map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) continued to depict the "San Diego Air Park",
even though the field had already apparently been closed.
It depicted the field as having 2 runways,
with the northwest/southeast runway having a parallel taxiway on the west side.
By the time of a 1964 aerial photo, the site of San Diego Airpark to have been densely redeveloped with housing,
with not a trace appearing to remain of the former little airport.
As seen in a 2006 aerial view, the site of San Diego Airpark has been densely redeveloped with housing,
and not a trace appears to remain of the former little airport.
The site of San Diego Airpark is located west of the present-day intersection of Clairemont Drive & Dakota Drive.
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Peik Airport / Peik's Airport / Pikes Airport, Mission Bay, CA
32.77 North / 117.21 West (Northwest of Downtown San Diego, CA)
"Peik" Airport, as depicted on the August 1943 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This little general aviation airport was located on the southwestern shore of San Diego's Mission Bay.
During its relatively short lifespan, the airport was listed under a somewhat confusing succession of somewhat different names.
Peik Airport was evidently established at some point between 1941-43,
as it was not depicted on the June 1941 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the August 1943 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted "Peik" as a commercial airport,
and showed that "San Diego Radio" was located on the airport as well.
According to the San Diego Historical Society,
the airport was operated starting in 1943 by Arnold Peik.
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described "Peik" Airport as having a 2,000' unpaved runway,
and indicated that Army flight operations were conducted from the field.
John Nance recalled, “In 1945 my father B. Plez Nance & his partner Leonard Copper
took over the lease from Arnold Peek & opened up a flight school called San Diego Flight Academy
and taught pilots how to fly on the GI Bill.
During that time they tore down some Army barracks that were in between the Peik's home & the flight operations office,
[and tore down the] maintenance hangar & built another hangar in it's place.
The new hangar was used to store the Aeronca Champs overnight.
He could get 4 in the hangar by tipping the Champs on their nose.
The flight school had about 4 Aeronca Champs, an Aeronca Sedan, a Cessna 140, a Taylorcraft and a couple of PT-22s.
There was a hangar & airport cafe on the north side for the field also.
My dad rented the north side hangar space out to aircraft owners.
It was a nice little airport & my dad made a nice living there
and I have a lot of nice memories & I enjoyed being a airport kid.”
A 1946 aerial view looking west at Piek's Airport (courtesy of John Nance),
showing the former Army barracks on the left, the Pacific Highway Tecolote Canyon Bridge in the foreground,
and the the radio towers on the right.
A 1946 aerial view looking northwest along final approach at Piek's Airport (courtesy of John Nance).
John observed, “The airport café is on the east side of the north side hangar [on the right].
The Piek home is the first structure on the south [left] side of the photo.”
Crown Point & Pacific Beach & Mt. Soladad are visible in the background.
The 1945 Haire Publishing Company Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described "Peik's Airport" as a "class 1" facility, "owned & operated by A. H. Peik".
It was said to have a single 2,400 oiled runway (oriented northwest/southeast) & an 80' x 46' hangar.
The field was described as offering storage, repairs, charter, and fuel.
According to the San Diego Historical Society,
by 1946 Peik Airport featured a 2,600' oiled runway & 3 hangars.
To further confuse matters, the September 1948 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
labeled the field with a different spelling: "Piek" Airport.
It was depicted as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.
Dick Davy recalled, "I soloed from Pike's in about February 1951,
followed by a private certificate, commercial, multi-engine and single-engine seaplane I believe in 1955.
It was a great 'little' airport to train at.
You could get in 7 or 8 takeoffs & landings an hour when traffic was light.
The runway ran about 35 degrees west of paralleling US Highway 101,
and ended into rising terrain on the southeast end where the highway & a hill intersected."
The March 1951 San Diego USAF Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
continued to depict the field under the spelling of "Piek".
A 1952 aerial view looking northwest along short final at Piek's Airport (courtesy of John Nance).
John observed, “You can see the front part of the hangar that my dad pup up.
Crown Point is in the background & you can just see the Crown Point bridge that crosses over to what is now called Vocation Island.”
A 1952 photo taken just about at touchdown of Piek's Airport (courtesy of John Nance).
John observed, “You get a good view of the flight operations office.
The office window is right behind the 7UP machine & phone both.”
John Nance recalled, “My father [Plez Nance] & Mr. Copper operated the airport until about 1953.”
A 1955 street map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted "Peik Airport" within a very small plot of land,
bounded by Knoxville, Anna, Connors, and Pacific Highway.
This map may have been somewhat in error,
as the size of the airport's depicted boundaries do not seem to make sense,
as it is quite a bit smaller than the runway length listed for this field on multiple aeronautical charts.
The September 1955 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted the field under another spelling: "Pikes" Airport.
The Aerodromes table described the field as having a single 2,600' bare runway.
The San Diego Radio facility was still depicted immediately adjacent to the southeast side of the airport.
A 1956 street map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted "Peik Airport" in a somewhat more northern location than the 1955 map,
but like the 1955 map it also seems to show the airport's boundaries as too small to have contained a runway of 2,000-2,600' in length.
According to the San Diego Historical Society,
the City of San Diego bought ought Arnold Peik
and then closed the airport in 1957 in connection with the development of Mission Bay Park.
By the time of the September 1958 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
the airport was no longer depicted at all.
By the time of a 1964 aerial photo, the site of Peik Airport had been wiped clean,
in preparation for the construction of parkland & roads which would eventually cover the site.
As seen in the June 2002 USGS aerial view, the site of Peik Airport has been covered by roads & parkland,
and not a trace appears to remain of the former little airport.
The site of Peik Airport is located roughly southwest of the present-day intersection of Interstate 5 & Sea World Drive.
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La Pressa Airport, La Pressa, CA
32.71 North / 117.01 West (Southeast of Downtown San Diego, CA)
La Pressa Airport, as depicted on the 1945 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The date of construction of this little general aviation airport has not been determined.
La Pressa Airport was evidently opened at some point between 1944-45,
as it was not depicted on the 1944 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the 1945 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted La Pressa Airport as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.
A 1945 photo of an Aircoupe at the La Pressa Airport.
Tow 1947 photos of Bob Lyth in front of several airplanes at La Pressa Airport.
A February 16, 1949 USDA aerial photo of the La Pressa Airport (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel)
depicted the field as having 2 (or possibly 3) unpaved runways,
along with a few small buildings on the northwest corner of the field.
A close-up from the February 16, 1949 USDA aerial photo of La Pressa Airport (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel),
showing over a dozen light aircraft parked at the field.
The 1953 USGS topo map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted La Pressa Airport as having a somewhat unusual runway configuration,
with a 1,500' east/west runway (with a parallel taxiway along the north side) on the south side of the field,
along with a shorter north/south runway (or taxiway?)
leading to a short east/west taxiway at the northwest corner of the property,
along which were 2 buildings (hangars?).
The Aerodromes table on the 1955 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described La Pressa Airport as having 2 runways, with the longest being a 2,200' bare strip.
La Pressa Airport evidently closed at some point between 1955-58,
as it was not depicted at all on the September 1958 San Diego Local Aeronautical Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
By the time of a 1964 aerial photo,
the northern portion of the former airport property had been redeveloped with housing,
and the southern portion was covered with the Spring Valley Shopping Center.
The 1994 USGS aerial photo did not appear to depict any remaining trace of the former airport.
A circa 2001 aerial photo of the site of the airport.
The site of La Pressa Airport is located northeast of the intersection of Sweetwater Road & Jamacha Boulevard.
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National City Airport, National City, CA
32.65 North / 117.1 West (Southeast of Downtown San Diego, CA)
National City Airport, as depicted on the February 1946 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This little general aviation airport was apparently built at some point between 1945-46
(the same timeframe in which hundreds of other general aviation airports were established across America),
as it was not depicted on the 1945 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The earliest depiction of National City Airport which has been located
was on the February 1946 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1948 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described National City Airport as having a 2,100' unpaved runway.
The March 1951 San Diego USAF Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted National City as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.
The 1953 USGS topo map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted National City Airport
as consisting of a single 1,800' northwest/southeast runway.
Several small buildings (hangars) were depicted along the east side of the runway.
The Aerodromes table on the 1955 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described National City Airport as having 2 runways, with the longest being a 2,200' bare strip.
John Ailshire recalled, “In 1955... I have a vague recollection of my father flying out of a small airport
in what I thought was National City on the west side of what was probably US 101.
The airplane I remember seeing was a 2 seater tandem, overhead wing.”
Ray Ganzer recalled, “I started flying from National City in 1959, after prior closures of the La Mesa Airport (January 1959),
and La Pressa (June 1958); dates taken from my Pilots Logbook.
There were power lines [on the west side of the field],on the railroad right-of way,
which probably helped in the decision to close the field.
I was working for the power company at the time & was asked my opinion about the hazard of the lines.
Of course I said they were no hazard, at least not for me.
I frequently flew out (& in) at night; taking off to the west, landing to the east.
The runway lights were turned on by a switch in one of the buildings,
and left on as long as there was a pilot's note attached.
The lights were staggered - half on one side of the runway to the east end, and the other half on the other side to the west end.
When lining up for a landing at night, I lined up the lights so they appeared as 2 vertical offset lines.
If I was off to the right or left of centerline, the lights would not be vertical lines.
Glide was set up to clear the power lines when landing to the east.
I liked night flying - when the air was smooth.”
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted National City Airport as having a single 2,000' paved Runway 10/28,
with a parallel taxiway on the north side leading to a ramp with several buildings on the northeast corner of the field.
Gary Parks recalled, "I remember landing at National City around 1961
and thinking this must be what carrier pilots do as it was a steep approach.
There were wires along the main boulevard to the east as well as homes on a small bluff to the southeast.
So as soon as you cleared those you dropped down to the crumbling asphalt runway.
I liked going there because they used to fly T-6s out of there (civilian).
The takeoff was equally as exciting as there were high-power lines paralleling Highway 101
not far to the west that were marked with red balls."
The 1962 San Diego Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described National City as having a 2,000' hard-surface runway.
The earliest photo that has been located of National City Airport was a 1964 aerial view.
It depicted the field as having a single northwest/southeast paved runway,
with what appeared to be an outline of a former crosswind runway.
A closeup from the 1964 aerial view depicted several hangars & 28 single-engine aircraft on the east side of the field.
Note the “Natl City” painted on the runway – apparently the extra 4 letters to completely spell “National” would've been too expensive!
A December 1965 aerial view looking north at National City Airport by Ray Ganzer.
It depicted the field as having a single northwest/southeast paved runway,
with what appeared to be an outline of a former crosswind runway.
Several light planes were visible parked on the east side of the field.
A December 1965 photo by Ray Ganzer of an Ercoupe at National City Airport, with the hangars of Bar Aero in the background.
By 1966, the end was obviously near for National City Airport,
as the 1966 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted it as having a mere 1,000' runway.
The Aerodromes table on the chart explained it as a 1,000' bituminous runway on a 2,000' gravel strip,
with the remarks saying, "West half of runway gravel closed when wet."
According to Mary Oswell of the Bonita Historical Society,
“The property was sold in January 1966 to San Diego Imperial Corporation to create an industrial park.
The airport closed about a month later.
It was the last privately-owned airfield in San Diego County.
I grew up in the area & I don’t remember it (I was born in 1963),
so they must have begun construction of the industrial park pretty soon after the airport closed.”
National City Airport was no longer depicted at all on the August 1976 LA San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
or on the 1978 USGS topo map.
As seen in the circa 2001 aerial photo,
the site of National City Airport had been obliterated with a new freeway (Route 54) & a drainage canal.
Not a trace appeared to remain of the former airport.
The site of National City is located west of the intersection of National City Boulevard & West 35th Street.
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Rosedale Naval Outlying Landing Field, Encanto, CA
32.82 North / 117.18 West (North of Downtown San Diego, CA)
“Rosedale Field”, as depicted on the June 1938 “Map Showing Locations of Leased Auxiliary Landing Fields,
Naval Operating Base San Diego” (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
The date of construction of the Rosedale airfield has not been determined.
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the June 1938 “Map Showing Locations of Leased Auxiliary Landing Fields,
Naval Operating Base San Diego” (according to Brian Rehwinkel).
It depicted “Rosedale Field” simply as a square outline.
During WW2, Rosedale NOLF was used as one of at least 12 auxiliary airfields
attached to San Diego NAS (North Island).
The 1943 USGS topo map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the "Rosedale Landing Field" simply with an irregularly-shaped boundary of the property.
A January 5, 1944 National Archives aerial view of Rosedale Field (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel)
depicted the field as being roughly square shaped, with several cut-outs on the northwest corner.
There did not appear to be any buildings or other improvements associated with the airfield.
The airfield configuration depicted for “Rosedale Field / #00508” in a circa 1944 directory of NAS San Diego airfields (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel)
was considerably different from how the field was previously depicted.
It described the field as having a single 1,500' adobe Runway 9/27.
This was presumably on the southern portion of the former airfield area,
with the northern portion no longer used as a landing area.
Rosedale Field was described as being assigned to NAS San Diego for administrative & maintenance purposes.
The 1945 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
labeled the field as "Rosedale (Navy)".
The 1949 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described “Rosedale (Navy)” as having only a 1,000' unpaved runway – a very short strip.
It is not known if Rosedale was ever reused for civilian flying.
It was apparently closed at some point between 1949-51,
as it was not depicted at all (not even as an abandoned airfield)
on the March 1951 San Diego USAF Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A 1964 aerial photo no longer showed any trace of the Rosedale airfield,
with the area having been densely redeveloped.
The exact location of Rosedale NOLF has not been determined,
but the depiction on the 1945 Sectional Chart would place it roughly at the present-day location of Genesee Plaza,
which sits at the intersection of Genesee Avenue & Balboa Avenue.
As seen in a circa 2001 aerial photo, the area has been densely developed,
and not a trace appears to remain of the former airfield.
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Border Naval Outlying Landing Field, South San Diego, CA
32.54 North / 117.12 West (North of Tijuana, Mexico)
Border Field, as depicted on the 1941 USGS topo map (courtesy of Scott O'Donnell).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
Border NOLF was built during WW2
as one of at least 12 auxiliary airfields attached to San Diego NAS (North Island).
It consisted of 100 acres,
located along the Pacific coast south of Ream Field (later to become Imperial Beach NOLF),
and directly north of the Mexican border.
The original runway configuration at Border Field is unknown (it may have been an unpaved field).
An undated WW2-era Navy Airfield planning document (courtesy of John Voss)
included "Recommended Development: One 'standard' runway into the prevailing wind."
It also said, "Proposed Use: Dive bombing; gunnery training; and practice landings during dry weather."
Naval pilots received gunnery training at Border Field.
An April 14, 1945 USDA aerial photo of Border Field (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
The airfield was evidently the rectangular area in the center of the photo.
Note the target ranges to the west, along the ocean.
Border Field was evidently closed an an official airfield prior to 1945,
as it was not depicted among active airfields on the
San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Charts from 1945, 1948, 1949, and 1955.
According to the August 1969 issue of “Naval Aviation News” (courtesy of John Voss),
Border Field was redesignated a “target drone training area & emergency landing strip” in early 1950.
Border NALF, as depicted on a 1956 street map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to the August 1969 issue of “Naval Aviation News” (courtesy of John Voss),
in 1961 Border Field was turned over to the GSA, then the Naval Electronics Lab for research.
An undated photo of an abandoned building (with what appears to be a control tower on top) at Border Field,
from the August 1969 issue of “Naval Aviation News” (courtesy of John Voss).
The site was still labeled "Border Field Naval Reservation" on the 1976 USGS topo map.
The only remaining clue to the original runway configuration is the "C"-shaped outline
of the "Border Field Naval Reservation" on the 1976 USGS topo map.
This could indicate that there presumably was a 4,000' north/south landing area along the beach,
along with a 3,000' east/west strip extending inland from the north end
and a 2,000' strip extending inland from the south end.
A very rough conjecture, though.
The site of the former airfield was labeled "Border Field State Park" on the 1979 USGS topo map.
The park has been called "California's Ugliest State Park"!
Unlike the vast majority of other San Diego area NOLFs, the area at Border Field was not redeveloped,
but traces of any runways were no longer apparent in a circa 2000 aerial photo.
Border Field is located at the western terminus of Monument Road, just north of Tijuana.
Thanks to John Voss for information about Border Field.
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Sweetwater Dam Naval Outlying Landing Field / Sweetwater Airport, Encanto, CA
32.69 North / 117.03 West (Southeast of San Diego, CA)
“Sweetwater Dam (Navy)”, as depicted on the February 1946 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
Sweetwater Dam NOLF was built during WW2
as one of at least 12 auxiliary airfields attached to San Diego NAS (North Island).
The Sweetwater airfield was not yet depicted at all
on the March 1944 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
According to Brian Rehwinkel, “This field was built in late 1944 (along with Ramona OLF) for carrier landing practice.”
The earliest depiction of the field which has been located
was on the 1945 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
It labeled this field "Sweewater Dam (Navy)".
The field was reportedly also known as Paradise Mesa.
The February 1946 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
still depicted the field as "Sweewater Dam (Navy)".
Sweetwater Dam NOLF was apparently deactivated by the military at some point between 1946-48,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1948 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A February 16, 1949 USDA aerial photo of the Sweetwater Dam airfield (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel)
depicted the field as having a single east/west asphalt runway,
with a small parking pad on the southeast side.
The field did not appear to have any buildings.
Brian observed, “You can see the landing areas (rectangular) painted on the field.
It is interesting to see how undeveloped this area was in 1949.”
At some point between 1948-49 the Sweetwater airfield was apparently reopened as a civil airfield,
as that is how it was depicted on the 1949 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Note that the same chart also depicted a "Sweetwater Springs" airport a few miles to the east.
The March 1951 San Diego USAF Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Sweetwater as having a 3,000' hard surface runway.
A topo map (circa 1950s?) which depicts the runway of the former NOLF Sweetwater,
by that time labeled "Racetrack" (courtesy of John Voss).
Sweetwater was listed among active airfields in the Aerodromes table
on the 1955 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
It described the field as having a single 3,000' bituminous runway,
and included the remark, "Auto racing on field. Closed weekends."
The Sweetwater Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1955-58,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the September 1956 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
According to auto racing historian Bret Kepner,
the Sweetwater runway was used as a commercial drag strip until 1959.
By the time of the 1962 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
the former Sweetwater Dam NOLF was labeled as "Abandoned Airport".
A 1964 aerial view showed that the site of the Sweetwater Dam airfield had been covered with houses.
Fulton Recepcion recalled, "I grew up about 1.5 miles west of the former OLF site.
I lived in Paradise Hills [the present-day community at the location of the former airfield] from 1977-91.
I think the houses [built over the site of the former airfield] went up in the late 1960s & early 1970s."
As seen in a circa 2001 aerial photo,
the property has been completely redeveloped with houses
with not a trace remaining of the former airfield.
The site of Sweetwater Dam NOLF is located north of the present-day intersection
of Paradise Valley Road & Briarwood Road.
Thanks to John Voss for information about Sweetwater.
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