Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Southwestern New Mexico

© 2002, © 2023 by Paul Freeman. Revised 8/27/23.

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Columbus Aerodrome / Columbus Airport (revised 5/29/17) - Cotton City Landing Area (added 1/31/16) - Deming Aux AAF #1 (revised 6/6/20) - Deming Aux AAF #2 (revised 8/9/14)

Mount Riley Intermediate Field (revised 7/18/15) - Old Savage Mine Airfield (added 8/27/23) - Rodeo Intermediate Field (revised 10/7/22) - Turner Ridgeport Airport (revised 8/26/23)

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Cotton City Landing Area, Cotton City, NM

32.073, -108.877 (Southwest of Albuquerque, NM)

“Cotton City Landing Area”, as depicted on the 1964 USGS topo map.



No airfield in Cotton City was depicted on 1955/60/65/69 Phoenix Sectional Charts.



Sam Taylor reported in 2016 of the Cotton City Airfield, “My father departed from a small dirt strip some 55 years ago [1961] & perished a few miles [away] in a crash.

It used to be maintained by the Cotton City Airmens' Association; my father was a member.”



The earliest depiction which has been located of the Cotton City Landing Area was on the 1964 USGS topo map.

It depicted 2 unpaved runways in an X shape. There were no buildings depicted on the site.



The 1980 USGS topo map depicted a completely different runway orientation at Cotton City compared to 1964,

with 2 perpendicular unpaved runways oriented north/south & east/west.



The Cotton City Landing Area was not depicted on the 1990-91 NM Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Alex Hauzer).



A 1998 USGS aerial view looking north depicted Cotton City as having 2 perpendicular unpaved runways oriented north/south & east/west.



Sam Taylor reported in 2016, “A few years ago crop dusters used it for refueling, but according to my relatives no one else has used it in years.

I have a brother who lives on the edge of the strip.

Another brother owns an adjoining section on the strip where the canopy (hangar) still stands & is used for farm equipment storage.”

In 2013 my brothers dragged both runways in anticipation of my landing there but it is now overgrown again.

I plan a flight every year to the strip in memory of my father but something always comes up.”



A 2014 aerial view looking north depicted the Cotton City runways as remaining recognizable but deteriorated.



The site of Cotton City Landing Area is located south of the intersection of Route 338 & County Road 81.



Thanks to Sam Taylor for pointing out this airfield.

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Turner Airport / Turner Ridgeport Airport (NM72), Silver City, NM

32.75, -108.29 (Southwest of Albuquerque, NM)

Turner Ridgeport Airport, as depicted on a 1975 aerial view (courtesy of Matt Franklin).



Turner Airport was established on 9/1/71, according to the 1985 FAA Airport/Facility Directory.



A 1973 NOTAM indicated Turner Airport was renamed Turner Ridgeport.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Turner Ridgeport Airport was a 1975 aerial view (courtesy of Matt Franklin).

It depicted Turner Ridgeport as having 2 runways, with several hangars & light planes parked on the north side.



A closeup of the 1975 aerial view showing 5 light single-engine planes parked at Turner Ridgeport Airport (courtesy of Matt Franklin).



A 1978 accident brief provided details of a Turner Ridgeport Airport accident, in which A36 Bonanza N9016V collided with ditches,

ran off the end of runway, and tried to use the last 1,200' of the 4,200' runway when the density altitude was 7,500'.



A 1980 aerial view (courtesy of Matt Franklin) appeared to show Turner Ridgeport Airport's main runway as having been paved with asphalt.



A closeup of the 1980 aerial view (courtesy of Matt Franklin) showed 5 light planes parked at Turner Ridgeport Airport, including 2 twin-engine planes.



Inexplicably, a 1982 aerial view (courtesy of Matt Franklin) showed that Turner Ridgeport Airport had gained a 3rd runway at some point between 1980-82, a short southeast/northwest strip to the east of the main runway.



The last photo which has been located of a plane at Turner Ridgeport Airport was the closeup of the 1982 aerial view (courtesy of Matt Franklin), which showed 1 light single-engine plane on the concrete pad on the southern end of the ramp.



The 1984-85 NM Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Alex Hauzer) depicted Turner Ridgeport as having a 4,000' paved Runway 15/33 & a 2,400' gravel Runway 8/26.



As of 1985, Turner Rudgeport was a private airfield, owned by Grant City Flying Service, and managed by William Turner.

It had 2 runways: a 4,000' asphalt Runway 15/33 & a 2,400' soil Runway 8/26.

The airport was said to have 2 based aircraft: 1 multi-engine aircraft & 1 ultra-light aircraft.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Turner Ridgeport Airport

was on the 1990-91 NM Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Alex Hauzer).

It depicted Turner Ridgeport as a private airfield having a single north/south 4,000' paved runway.



The 1992 USGS topo map depicted Turner Ridgeport Airport as having a single paved northwest/southeast runway, with 3 small buildings on the northeast side.



The earliest photo which has been located of Turner Ridgeport Airport was a 10/7/97 USGS aerial view looking southeast.

It depicted Turner Ridgeport's single paved runway (on the right), 2 unpaved runways on the east side (left of the airport), and a ramp with a few small buildings on the north side (in the foreground).

There were no aircraft visible, or any other sign of recent aviation usage.



A 7/25/11 aerial view looking southeast at Turner Ridgeport Airport showed it to remain intact, although evidently abandoned.

The remains of the other possible runways to the east also remained recognizable.



Turner Ridgeport Airport was depicted as an abandoned airfield on the 2012 Sectional Chart.

It was presumably closed due to competition from the Whiskey Creek Airport, located only 5 miles to the east.



In 2012, the Turner Ridgeport Airport property was sold as a 10 acre lot for $115K, which included 2 commercial warehouses & 'about 830 feet of the former runway’.



An 8/19/23 photo by Matt Franklin of the former Turner Ridgeport Airport runway.

Matt Franklin reported, “The runway is there, which I am sure took lots of earth moving to get the 4,000' necessary.

The end terminates abruptly at a state highway – if you float the landing you’ll make the newspaper & if you go around on a hot day you’re going to skim the terrain.”



An 8/19/23 photo by Matt Franklin of a former Turner Ridgeport Airport hangar.

Matt Franklin reported, “The two buildings depicted when it was open are there as well, one common-use hangar & one row of T-hangars. I think these have been used for general industrial storage.



An 8/19/23 photo by Matt Franklin of the interior of a former Turner Ridgeport Airport hangar.



An 8/19/23 photo by Matt Franklin of an aviation sticker on a Turner Ridgeport Airport door.

Matt Franklin reported, “The only hint of its aviation history that I could find was a RAPCO sticker on a door.”



The site of Turner Ridgeport Airport is located southwest of the intersection of Route 90 & Truck Bypass Road.

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Old Savage Mine Airfield, Silver City, NM

32.769, -108.322 (Southwest of Albuquerque, NM)

A 2002 aerial view looking northeast at Old Savage Mine Airfield (courtesy of Matt Franklin).



Not much is known about this airfield, including its name.



This airfield was evidently established at some point between 1996-2002,

as it was not yet depicted on a 1996 aerial photo.



Matt Franklin reported, this airfield is “right next to Turner Drive and the purported residence of [William Turner] the former manager [of nearby former Turner Ridgecrest Airport].

I think Mr. Turner was inspired to recreate the magic a couple decades later.

The new airport, which appears to be on the Runyan Ranch, doesn’t seem to have an identifier as its not on the Sectional.”



The earliest depiction which has been located of this airfield was a 2002 aerial view (courtesy of Matt Franklin).

It depicted a newly-cleared northwest/southeast unpaved runway, with an unpaved clearing on the west side.



No airfield was depicted at this location on 2002/2013/2017 USGS topo maps.



A 2005 aerial view showed no change in the runway configuration,

and the clearing on the west side was made only slightly more distinct into a rectangular unpaved ramp.



A 2009 aerial photo showed a single building (hangar?) had been added to the west side ramp at some point between 2005-2009.



No airfield was depicted at this location on the 2016 Albuquerque Sectional Chart.



The only photo which has been located showing an aircraft at this airfield was a March 2019 aerial view,

which showed a wingless Piper Comanche or Archer south of the building.



An October 2019 aerial photo showed the Piper had been removed at some point in mid-2019.



No airfield was depicted at this location on the 2020 USGS topo map, but “Old Savage Mine Road” was depicted over the alignment of the former runway.



A 2023 aerial view looking northeast showed the Old Savage Mine runway & possible hangar remained intact, with numerous vehicles stored on the property.



Thanks to Matt Franklin for pointing out this airfield.

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Rodeo Intermediate Field / Rodeo Airport, Rodeo, NM

31.93, -108.99 (Northwest of El Paso, TX)

Rodeo Airport, as depicted on the April 1935 Douglas Sectional Chart.



The Rodeo Intermediate Field was evidently established as one of the Department of Commerce's network of Intermediate Fields,

which were constructed in the 1920s & 1930s to serve as emergency landing fields

along commercial airways between major cities.



The date of construction of the Rodeo Intermediate Field has not been determined.



The earliest reference which has been located to Rodeo Intermediate Field

was its listing in the 1934 Department of Commerce Airway Bulletin (according to David Brooks).

It described Rodeo Intermediate Field as the Department of Commerce's Site 57A.

It described the field as having 2 dirt: 3,950' east/west & 3,140' north/south.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Rodeo Intermediate Field was on the April 1935 Douglas Sectional Chart.

It depicted Rodeo as Site 57A.



The 1/1/36 Department of Commerce Airway Bulletin (courtesy of Bruce Thompson)

described Rodeo Intermediate Field as the Department of Commerce's Site 57A along the San Diego – El Paso Airway.

It described the field as an irregularly-shaped sod field

containing 2 runways: 3,950' east/west & 3,140' north/south.

The field was said to have a rotating beacon, and boundary & approach lights.

A shed was said to be marked with “57A SD-El P.”

Bruce observed, “It is interesting to note that the coordinates listed in the facility directory

are incorrect & place the field in the mountains to the west.”



The September 1942 Douglas Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Rodeo as Site 26A.

It also depicted the adjacent Rodeo Radio beacon, but indicated “Radio Range Inoperative Until Further Notice.”



The only photo which has been located showing Rodeo Intermediate Field while in operation

was a circa 1942-45 aerial view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).

It depicted Rodeo Intermediate Field as an unpaved irregularly-shaped landing area.



The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Rodeo Intermediate Field

as a 140 acre L-shaped property field having 2 bare runways, measuring 3,950' east/west & 3,140' north/south.

The field was not said to have any hangars,

but was said to be illuminated with a rotating beacon, course lights, obstacle lights, boundary lights, and range lights.

The airfield was described as being owned by the U.S. Government & the State of NM, and operated by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.



An undated photo of a Piper Cub in front of the Rodeo radio tower & shack, from a June 1947 Skyways Magazine article (courtesy of Jerry Sorrell).

Jerry reported, “According to the article, the Cub in the photo is new, and is on a ferry trip from the Piper factory in Lock Haven PA to E Monte CA.”



The January 1949 Douglas Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted “Rodeo (CAA)” as Site 26A,

having a 4,000' unpaved runway.

It also depicted the adjacent Rodeo Radio beacon.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Rodeo Airport

was on the 1953 Douglas Sectional Chart (according to David Brooks).

It depicted Rodeo as Site 26B, with 2 unpaved runways, the longest being 3,950'.



The Rodeo Airport was evidently abandoned at some point between 1953-54,

as it was no longer depicted on the September 1954 Douglas Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

Intermediate Fields had largely become superfluous with advances in the range & reliability of commercial aircraft.



The last map depiction which has been located of the Rodeo Intermediate Field was on the 1955 USGS topo map.

It labeled the airfield as “Rodeo (CAA)”.



Nothing was depicted at the site of Rodeo Intermediate Field on the 1982 USGS topo map.



A 2006 aerial view still showed the recognizable outline of the 2 runways at the site of Rodeo Intermediate Field.



A February 2007 aerial view by Bruce Thompson looking east at the arrow & building remains at the site of Rodeo Intermediate Field.



A February 2007 photo by Bruce Thompson of Rodeo's former airmail route directional arrow.

Steve Owen noted, “The hill in the middle-distance that the arrow points directly to is the site of Airway Beacon 26B.”



A February 2007 photo by Bruce Thompson of the water tank foundation at Rodeo.



According to Bruce Thompson, “Broken [airfield lighting] fixtures can be found in a dump across the road from the airfield.”



A 2010 photo by Bruce Thompson “of the old radio building from Rodeo Intermediate field.

Apparently the building was moved into town after the airfield was shut down. It is now part of Rodeo Cottages.

The airway designation is still visible on the roof on the backside of the building & it says 'Rodeo' on the front.

The backside reads 'SD-EP 26A'.”



Veronica Straus reported in 2011, “I own the Rodeo Cottages. The large cottage was the radio shack.

When I remodeled it, I didn't want to change anything historic so I contacted a wonderful local historian, Junior Gomez,

and asked him to come & look at it before I put in a new floor & re-did the kitchen.

He told me that he had stayed there as a young boy scout during a rain storm.

They were camped on the airfield & the radio operator took pity on them & let them sleep inside the radio shack.

A hutch is built into the wall in the kitchen & I didn't remove it.

Junior says that the bedrooms had twin beds for the pilots & the hutch was always filled with coffee, peanut butter & bread.

When I ripped up the carpet, there was a linoleum floor

and in the middle of the room there was a 5'x7' square of brown linoleum with a lot of holes drilled through the floor.

Junior said that that was where the massive radio was located. No PCs then.

The small cottage was the Supply Depot. It had a bathroom & a wood stove in it.”



A 2016 aerial view of Rodeo's former airmail route directional arrow & building foundations on the south side of the airfield site.



The site of Rodeo Intermediate Field is located northeast of the intersection of Route 9 & Route 80.

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Columbus Aerodrome / Columbus Airport, Columbus, NM

31.82, -107.63 (West of El Paso, TX)

Columbus Intermediate Field, as depicted on a 1/16/42 aerial view looking north

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



According to the First Aero Squadron Foundation, “On 3/9/1916, the United States was invaded by forces under the command of the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa.

Villa & his troops attacked both civilians & the military outpost in the small border town of Columbus, NM

Eighteen Americans were killed before the Villa rebels were turned back.

In response, President Woodrow Wilson ordered the American military, the so-called 'Punitive Expedition',

to cross into Mexico to locate & destroy Villa & his fighting forces.

Accompanying the US ground forces, which grew to almost 10,000 men, was a small detachment of US Army airplanes which were based at a landing field outside of Columbus.

This deployment of the First Aero Squadron, flying Curtiss 'Jenny' biplanes, was the first use of US Army airplanes in a U.S. military campaign.

Their Columbus-based operation was, in effect, the birth of what later became the United States Air Force.”



The site of the Columbus Aerodrome was eventually reused as the location of Columbus Airport,

which was established as one of the Department of Commerce's network of Intermediate Fields

in the 1920s & 1930s to serve as emergency landing fields along commercial airways between major cities.



The date of construction of Columbus Airport has not been determined.

The earliest reference to the field which has been located

was in the 1931 Descriptions of Airports & Landing Fields (according to David Brooks).



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

described Columbus Airport as a Department of Commerce Intermediate Field,

Site 65 along the San Diego - El Paso Airway.

It was said to have 2 sod runways: 3,610; east/west & 2,628' north/south.

The field was said to have a rotating beacon, but to offer no services.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Columbus Intermediate Field

was a 1/16/42 aerial view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).

It depicted Columbus Intermediate Field as an unpaved irregularly-shaped landing area.



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of the Columbus Airport which has been located

was on the January 1944 El Paso Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

The field's designation had apparently changed at some point between 1933-44,

as the 1944 Sectional labeled it as Site 34.



The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Columbus Intermediate Field

as a 114 acre triangular property field having a bare all-way landing area, measuring 3,610' east/west & 2,610' north/south.

The field was not said to have any hangars,

but was said to be illuminated with a rotating beacon, course, obstacle, boundary, landing strip, and range lights.

The airfield was described as being owned by private interests, and operated by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.



Cy Martin recalled, “My family traveled that area with my dad when he was Assistant Airways Engineer back during WWII.

The terminal building at Columbus was a communication & weather station.

The metal building contained 2 diesel powered generators.

There was no commercial power available in the town although all the buildings were wired for electricity.

Apparently the mom & pop company went belly-up during the depression.

After the war, the area got REA juice.”



The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Columbus Airport as having a 4,210' Runway 8/26 & a 2,160' Runway 17/35.

A few small buildings were depicted on the northwest side of the field.



The August 1964 El Paso Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted the "Columbus (FAA)" airport as having a 4,200' unpaved runway.



The 1965 USGS topo map depicted the outline of the airport, simply labeled as a "Landing Area".

A surveying marker named "Colair" was depicted at the location of the former airport beacon.



In 1965 it was transitioned over to the City of Columbus & it became Columbus Municipal Airport (according to David Brooks).



The 1967 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Columbus Airport as having a 4,210' Runway 8/26 & a 2,160' Runway 17/35.



The status of the Columbus Airport evidently changed at some point between 1967-76 to that of a private field,

as that is how it was depicted on the July 1976 CG-19 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



The 1976 AOPA Airports USA directory (according to Chris Kennedy)

described Columbus Municipal as having a single 4,210' gravel Runway 8/26.



The 1991 USGS topo map still depicted the outline of the former airport,

now simply labeled as a "Landing Area".

A surveying marker named "Colair" was depicted at the location of the former airport beacon.



The last chart depiction which has been located of Columbus as an active airfield

was on the 1994 CG-19 World Aeronautical Chart (according to David Brooks).



The distinctive outline of the Columbus Airport was still very much apparent in a 1996 USGS aerial view looking north.

It does not appear as if any buildings or the beacon tower remain standing, though.



Columbus Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1994-98,

as it was no longer depicted at all on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart.



Vicki Engle reported in 2005, “the Federal Government closed the Columbus runways

because they were being used by drug smugglers.

The tower, minus the beacon (which has been misplaced or stolen),

is located at the Columbus Historical Society Museum - not yet erected, but awaiting funds to do so.”



A 2005 photo by Clifford Bossie of a light cone & boundary markers at the site of Columbus Airport.

Clifford reported, “Coming in from the East I could see a boundary (or perimeter) light cone & marker from NM Highway 9.

There is a North-South road that runs along the Eastern edge of the field,

so I turned onto that & drove down to the NE corner of the field.

There are still boundary markers & light cones marking the perimeter of the field,

but the field itself is pretty well overgrown with mesquite, sage & other vegetation.

I seriously doubt that it was active as recently as 1994.

The rutted dirt road running inside the Northern boundary was in better shape than the runways

and it has been many years since it has seen a grader.”



A 2005 photo by Clifford Bossie of what appears to be the foundation of the former terminal building.

Clifford noted, “Following that road to the West I came to the location of where the airport buildings had been located.

There are two foundations there, one large one that most likely had been what would have passed for the terminal

and the other was most likely where the generator and/or utilities were located

(the airport is located close enough to town that utilities might very well have come from the same sources as the town

and the generator might have been for emergency use).

This last foundation had several pipes sticking up which were most likely conduits for wiring.”



A 2005 photo by Clifford Bossie of the former airmail route directional arrow.

Clifford reported, “There was also a base for the beacon tower & an arrow that pointed along the airway route;

both being red & the arrow had a survey marker embedded into it.

I could not find any evidence of hangars & the area around the foundations is choked with weeds & grass.”



A 2005 photo by Clifford Bossie, of a “fair-sized metal building at the museum that looks to be a candidate

for the one that housed the generator & any other ancillary equipment.”



A 2005 photo by Clifford Bossie of the former Columbus Airport tower & beacon,

which was relocated at some point to the nearby Columbus Historical Society Museum.

Clifford noted, “all of the glass is broken out of the beacon itself.”



According to the First Aero Squadron Foundation, “In 2007, a group of aviation enthusiasts & other interested citizens

met to discuss what might be done to protect the site of the original landing field & flight line where the First Aero Squadron was based in 1916/17.

While the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was threatened by ever expanding residential & commercial development.

It was even listed as one of most endangered historic sites in NM.

By 2008 the group had formed the First Aero Squadron Foundation (FASF) with the mission of securing, preserving & restoring the historic Aerodrome.

In 2009, the FASF purchased 60 acres of the historic site, comprising part of the original 1916 Aerodrome as well as the old Columbus Municipal Airport, itself steeped in history.

Thanks to the dedication of the Board & our Friends, we own this land free & clear.

In 2012 we graded a 2,600' runway on the site of the original Columbus Municipal Airport east/west runway

which had become overgrown with mesquite, cacti & other desert plants, making the field unusable by aircraft.”



A June 2013 photo of 1st Aero Squadron Lt. Col.Chi Chi Rodriguez (courtesy of Ric Lambart), looking west along the Columbus runway with the windsock in background.

Ric Lambart observed, “The photo was taken in the year of the 1st Aero Squadron's Centennial birthday.

Chi Chi was the first Commanding Officer of the First to have revisited the historic field since the unit left Columbus for WWI back in February of 1917.”



According to the First Aero Squadron Foundation, “In 2014, we acquired access to & an option to buy the 160 acre parcel to the east of the first 60-acre parcel,

which we are now engaged in paying off – and we are already, thanks to our 'Buy an Acre' campaign, more than half-way there.

With both parcels under FASF control, the entire original landmarked historic site is now protected. We are no longer on anyone’s endangered list!

With the historic site secured, our next step is to build a Commemorative Monument to honor all the intrepid early airmen & their crews

who pioneered the beginnings of American air power – and its lead in world civil aviation development.

We will reconstruct the original 1916 Aerodrome & build a museum to house a representative selection of early World War I & pre-World War II aircraft.

As of 2015, we made the final payment on the new 160 acre part of the old 1916/17 airfield, so it's now entirely in the name of the FASF!”



The distinctive outline of the Columbus Airport was still very much apparent in a 2016 aerial view looking north.



The site of Columbus Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Route 9 & Kansas Street.

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Mount Riley Intermediate Field, Mount Riley, NM

31.8, -107.07 (West of El Paso, TX)

An undated photo of an airway beacon (believed to be Mount Riley) from a May 1932 Kohler Generator newsletter (courtesy of Steve Owen).



This remote airfield located along the Mexican border

was built as one of the Department of Commerce's network of Intermediate Fields,

which were constructed in the 1930s along airways in between major cities

for the emergency use of commercial aircraft.



The date of construction of the Mount Riley airfield has not been determined.



The earliest depiction to be (possibly) located of the Mt. Riley CAA airway beacon

was an undated photo (believed to be Mount Riley) from a May 1932 Kohler Generator newsletter (courtesy of Steve Owen).



The earliest reference to the Mt. Riley Intermediate Field which has been located

was in the 1934 Department of Commerce Airfield Directory (according to Chris Kennedy),

which described Mount Riley as Site 68 along the San Diego - El Paso airway.

It was said to have three sod runways in an "L" shape, with the longest being the 3,600' east/west strip.



The designation of the field had apparently changed within the next few years,

as the Airport Directory Company's 1938 Airfield Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)

listed Mount Riley as Site 37 along the Phoenix - El Paso airway.



"Mount Riley (CAA)" was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1949 El Paso Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



The airfield was not depicted at all on the 1951 USGS topo map.



The Mount Riley Intermediate Field was apparently closed at some point between 1949-62,

as it was not listed in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory.



The airfield was not depicted at all on USGS topo maps from 1974 or 1981.



However, the cleared area of the airfield was depicted (although not labeled) on the 1985 USGS topo map.



As seen in the 1996 USGS aerial photo,

the desert climate & lack of development in the southwestern US

generally results in a former airfield still remaining in a remarkably intact state of preservation,

and that is the case with Mount Riley.

The outline of the 3 former runways is still completely recognizable,

as the land within the former airfield remains noticeably more clear of scrub than the surrounding property.

There are no traces of any former buildings at the site.



Lloyd Sumner reported in 2004, "I first discovered this airstrip a couple of years ago

by looking at an aerial photograph of the area.

I noticed an unusual pattern in the desert that looked like an airstrip to me.

I have been in this area many times before & never saw anything resembling an airfield.

My curiosity got the best of me & I drove out to the site to look around.

I followed a primitive road heading south from the old town of Mount Riley,

a ghost town along the abandoned El Paso & Southwestern Railroad.

Off this road is a side road almost totally overgrown with shrubs

and no indication that anyone has traveled that road in many years.

About 100 yards down the road I came to the northern point of the north/south runway & parked the truck."



Lloyd continued, "After walking around for a bit,

I found a concrete foundation painted red with angle iron set in the concrete & cut off at ground level.

This used to be the base of a beacon tower.

I also found several pieces of broken concrete, also painted red.

Piecing these together, they form a huge arrow, once used to point out the direction of the air route.

A few other concrete foundations were in the immediate area,

including what looked like a foundation to a generator house.

Many tin oilcans, part to an old 4-cylinder engine & other rubbish were strewn around the surrounding desert."



Lloyd continued, "I walked around south along the north/south runway

and noticed that about every 100 yards were a series of short poles,

similar to a fence post were set in the ground.

There were about 10 of these poles set about 20 feet apart.

Another 100 yards down the runway was another series of these poles.

This continued all the way around the perimeter of the airfield.

In the surrounding desert around each of these series of poles I found several old light bulbs (25 watt Westinghouse).

At the south end of the north/south runway I found several empty 55 gallon drums."



Lloyd continued, "I also found the site of one of the navigation beacons used to mark this airway.

It is on a hill about 10 miles west of the Mount Riley airstrip.

The beacon is on top of a 50-foot hill.

The foundation of the beacon tower is identical to the foundation I found at the Mount Riley airstrip.

At the base of the hill is a stone structure with concrete mounting blocks

that apparently used to secure a gasoline motor & generator.

In the side of the hill are several telephone poles were once used to carry the electrical wires to the tower.

All sorts of rubble, broken light bulbs, fuse blocks, wires, etc. can be found at the top of the hill.

Portions of a concrete arrow are near the generator house at the bottom of the hill."



Clifford Bossie visited the site of the Mt. Riley Airfield in 2005.

He reported: “From the air the outline is clear, but from the ground it is a lot harder to find.

It appears that when the field was 'graded' the grading did little more than remove the vegetation.

It is by no means flat.

But I guess in the days it was built & aircraft reliability was an iffy proposition

it would look pretty good to a pilot in distress.

A landing there might damage the airplane, but there was a good probability of survival.”



A 2005 photo by Clifford Bossie of the boundary posts at Mt. Riley.

According to Clifford, “The posts that Mr. Sumner describes in his text were to hold the field boundary markers.

It is possible that the light bulbs he mentions in his text were used to light those markers.

I found no evidence of any field lighting.

This was a very primitive field.

I suspect that the boundary markers were removed for scrap during WWII

and also suspect that the field had been long abandoned by then.”



A 2005 photo by Clifford Bossie of foundations at the site of the Mt. Riley Airfield.



Clifford continued, “The foundations on the Northeast corner of the field are still very noticeable,

and in fact that was the first indication that I had managed to reach the right location.

I would hazard a guess that the two large concrete block held the fuel tank(s),

the lower portion the generator shack,

and the red concrete pad still has the cutoff legs for the beacon as Mr. Sumner describes.

The red concrete is actually a thin layer of red colored (or dyed) concrete, not painted, layed on top of the beacon foundation.

The whole area around this foundation has had an outline of caliche rocks forming a box,

kind of like you used to see on Army bases around barracks.

There are a couple of smaller boxes that I can only guess the purpose of.

The air route navigation arrow is outside of this boxed area.”



A 2005 photo by Clifford Bossie of foundations at the site of the Mt. Riley Airfield.



Clifford continued, “The airfield is about 2-3 miles away from the Mt. Riley Railroad station

and about a mile South of NM Highway 9.

I do not think the airfield was manned around the clock, if at all.

There does not appear to have been any other structures than the area for the generator & beacon.

My personal belief is that any caretaker lived at the El Paso & South Western's Mt. Riley station,

or more likely that the railroad was contracted to maintain it.

I did not see any evidence of telephone poles,

so I don't know how a pilot making an emergency landing could contact anyone afterwards.

Radios were not all that common.”



A 2006 aerial photo by Clifford Bossie looking southeast at the remains of the former runways at Mt. Riley.



A 3/20/15 photo by Tony Rivera of the remains of the red concrete arrow at the site of the Mt. Riley Airfield.



A 3/20/15 photo by Tony Rivera of the site of the Mt. Riley Airfield.



A 3/20/15 photo by Tony Rivera of a USGS survey monument at the site of the Mt. Riley Airfield.



The site of Mount Riley Intermediate Field is located one mile southeast of the town of Mount Riley,

directly along the Mexican border.



Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this field.

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Deming Auxiliary Army Airfield #1, Southwest of Deming, NM

32.02, -107.88 (Northwest of El Paso, TX)

Deming Aux #1, as depicted on the February 1944 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.



This field was used during WW2 as one of 3 satellite airfields for Deming AAF (20 miles northeast),

which served as a training field for bombardiers & a base for target towing aircraft.



The Deming Auxiliary #1 Airfield was evidently established at some point between 1943-44,

as it was not yet depicted on the August 1943 Roswell Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

The earliest depiction of the field which has been located

was on the February 1944 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



Deming Aux #1 was still depicted as an auxiliary airfield on the 1945 Douglas Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).



The Deming Aux #1 airfield was evidently reused as a civil airport at some point between 1945-49,

as that is how it was depicted, labeled "Deming (South)", on the 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It was described as having a 6,000' hard-surface runway.



The earliest photo which has been located of the Deming Aux #1 Airfield was a 12/9/62 aerial photo.

It depicted the airfield as consisting of a single 6,200' east/west runway.

There do not appear to be any traces of any buildings at the site.



The airfield was not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on the 1967 USGS topo map,

or more recent aeronautical charts.



A 1996 USGS aerial view showed that at some point between 1962-96 an installation of the Tethered Aerostat Radar System, Site B-42,

was built along Hermanas Road adjacent to the east side of the Deming Aux #1 Airfield , visible as the circular pad just east of the runway.



A 2016 aerial view looking southwest showed the remains of the Deming Aux #1 runway remained intact.

Note the radar surveillance aerostat moored at the Tethered Aerostat Radar System Site B-42 at the bottom-left.

The airspace over the aerostat is protected by a circular Restricted Area, R-5115.



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Deming Auxiliary Army Airfield #2, Gage, NM

32.26, -107.94 (Northwest of El Paso, TX)

Deming Aux #2, as depicted on the February 1944 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.



This field was used during WW2 as one of 3 satellite airfields for Deming AAF (12 miles east),

which served as a training field for bombardiers & a base for target towing aircraft.



The Deming Auxiliary #2 Airfield was evidently established at some point between 1943-44,

as it was not yet depicted on the August 1943 Roswell Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

The earliest depiction of the field which has been located

was on the February 1944 Roswell Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



Deming Aux #2 was still depicted as an auxiliary airfield on the 1945 Douglas Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).



The Deming Aux #2 airfield was evidently reused as a civil airport at some point between 1945-49,

as that is how it was depicted, labeled "Deming (Center)", on the 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It was described as having a 6,000' hard-surface runway.



It was evidently closed at some point between 1949-58,

as nothing at all was depicted at the location on the 1958 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



The earliest photo which has been located of the Deming Aux #2 airfield was a 1962 USGS aerial view.

It depicted Deming Aux #2 as having a 5,800' east/west runway with a parallel taxiway on the north side.

There did not appear to be any remnants of any buildings.



The Deming Aux #2 airfield was labeled "Abandoned airport" on the 1968 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



It was simply labeled "Landing Strip" on the 1982 USGS topo map.



The 1991 USGS topo map depicted a single east/west runway, labeled simply as "Landing Strip".



It was not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on aeronautical charts from 1998 or 2003.



A 2003 photo looking southwest at Deming Aux #2 by Bill Suffa.

"I was climbing at about 8,000 feet when I took this picture.

I was climbing out of Deming, and picking up my IFR clearance as I spotted this field.

It lies just north of I-10, and almost directly under V-94, west of the Deming VOR.

It looks to have a lot of scrub on it, so I doubt it would be suitable for landing today."



An 11/25/11 aerial view looking southeast shows the Deming Aux #2 airfield to remain intact though deteriorated.



The Deming Aux #2 Airfield is located on the north side of Interstate 10, eight miles east of Gage.

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