Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Eastern Oregon
© 2002, © 2009 by Paul Freeman. Revised 10/23/09.
Umatilla Army Airfield, Umatilla, OR
45.8 North / 119.4 West (Southeast of Seattle, WA)
Umatilla Army Airfield,
as depicted on the October 1964 USAF Operational Navigation Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This former military airfield is located on the grounds of the 19,728-acre Umatilla Army Depot.
The Umatilla Depot was established in 1941 to store conventional munitions
in support of the United State's entry into WW2.
The date of construction of the Depot's airfield is unknown.
It was apparently built at some point between 1956-64,
as it was not depicted on the 1956 La Grande Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
In 1962, the Army began storing chemical munitions at the Umatilla Army Depot.
The earliest reference to the airfield which has been located
was on the October 1964 USAF Operational Navigation Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
which labeled the airfield as "Umatilla Army Depot".
The March 1966 USAF Operational Navigation Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described the "Umatilla Army Depot Airstrip" as having a 3,000' runway.
The January 1975 Seattle Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the "Umatilla Army Depot" Airfield as having a single 3,000' paved east/west runway.
However, the airfield may have been closed within the next 2 years,
as it was labeled simply "Airfield" on the 1977 USGS topo map.
The Base Realignment & Closure Commission listed the Umatilla Army Depot for closure in 1988.
Umatilla was labeled simply as "Landing Strip" on the 1991 USGS topo map.
It depicted a single paved east/west runway, with no buildings.
As depicted in the 1994 USGS aerial photo, the airfield consisted of a single 3,100' paved Runway 6/24,
with no other facilities - no taxiway, ramp, hangar, buildings, etc.
The airfield appeared to still be open - it was marked as an active runway.
A road led away from the end of Runway 24 to the south,
and another road led away from the middle of the runway toward the ammunition bunkers to the north.
The Umatilla airfield was definitely closed by 1998,
as it was labeled "Umatilla AAF (Closed)" on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart.
The closure of the Umatilla Army Depot is scheduled to occur in 2004.
A Superfund cleanup project at Umatilla Depot has been attempting to clean up the site for eventual reuse.
The property is planned to be made available for wildlife management,
commercial & industrial development, and, possibly for agricultural use.
An August 23, 2006 aerial view looking west at the former Umatilla AAF showed the airfield remained completely intact,
including the paved Runway 6/24 & paved ramp.
Umatilla AAF is located northwest of the intersection of Interstate 82 & Interstate 84.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this airfield.
____________________________________________________