Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:v
Virginia: Prince William & Stafford Counties
© 2002, © 2010 by Paul Freeman. Revised 3/21/10.
(Original) Manassas Municipal (revised 3/16/10) - Quantico MCAS Brown Field (revised 3/21/10) - Woodbridge Airport (revised 11/24/09)
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Woodbridge Airport (W22), Woodbridge VA
38.7 North / 77.3 West (Southwest of Fort Belvior, VA)
A 1962 aerial view depicted the Woodbridge Airport as little more than a dirt clearing.
No aircraft, hangars, or other improvements were discernible.
Nothing was yet depicted at the site of the Woodbridge Airport on the 1957 USGS topo map.
According to the book "Virginia Airports" by Vera Rollo & Norman Crabill (published by the VAHS),
the Woodbridge Airport was built in 1959 by the Steve Whitecoff family.
However, it may not have been 'officially' established until somewhat later,
as it was not depicted on the 1961 Washington Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
The earliest official reference to Woodbridge Airport which has been located
was in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
which described Woodbridge as having a single 2,200' dirt runway.
The earliest depiction which has been located of the Woodbridge Airport was a 1962 aerial view.
It depicted the Woodbridge Airport as little more than a north/south dirt clearing.
No aircraft, hangars, or other improvements were discernible.
Woodbridge Airport, as depicted on the 1963 USGS topo map.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Woodbridge Airport
was on the 1963 Washington Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
It described Woodbridge as having a single 2,200' bare runway.
The September 1965 Washington Local Visual Navigation Chart
described Woodbridge as having a single 2,200' bare runway.
By 1966, the runway had been paved,
as the 1966 VA Airport Directory (courtesy of Stephen Mahaley)
depicted Woodbridge as having a 2,200' bituminous Runway 1/19.
The tie-down area was southeast of the runway,
and a taxiway led from the middle of the runway to a ramp with a hangar & office along the east side.
The airfield configuration at Woodbridge Airport was still the same in the 1968 Virginia Airport Directory (courtesy of Don Thompson).
It listed the operator as S.F. Whitecott.
Jim Lane recalled, “June 23, 1970 I was ferrying a customer's Mooney M-20F N9717M
from Gaithersburg, MD back to my home base Richmond Aviation at Richmond International Airport for maintenance.
Abeam of Woodbridge at 5,000' the airplane suffered a sudden catastrophic engine failure (broken crankshaft).
Fortunately as a current Mooney instructor I was able to make a power-off forced landing at Woodbridge.”
Woodbridge Airport was purchased in 1970 by Charles Benn
(who had previously established Washington-Virginia Airport),
according to an article in the 6/1/87 issue of the Washington Post.
Ned Swartz recalled, “Woodbridge Airport... where I worked for Charles Benn in 1970-71 on weekends,
answering Unicom, writing up tickets for fueling, sometimes helping to tie down planes
and often going with Mr. Benn on a quick air-trip to retrieve a part, deliver a charter, etc.
He was of the Benn family that owned and operated the Washington-Virginia Airport at Bailey’s Crossroads,
and he bought the Woodbridge Airport when that one closed in the late 1960s.
I worked at the Woodbridge Airport on a part-time basis to earn a little extra money for flying
(but more importantly to be around airplanes).
Mr. Benn would let me fly some of his fleet at a good discount
and with lots of free “instruction,” mostly verbal, but occasionally with him as my instructor.”
Ned continued, “I always enjoyed the challenge of flying into & out of Woodbridge.
I remember 1 or 2 storms hitting the airport,
which on one occasion literally ripped the wings from a plane
made famous by one of the 'around-the-world' trips for single engine airplanes.
I also remember the several accidents that happened
because of the steep & unusual approaches needed for the Woodbridge airport,
and the 'dip' in the south end of the runway.”
Woodbridge Airport, as depicted on the 1975 Washington Terminal Area Chart (courtesy of Ed Drury).
Stephen Mahaley (who had a friend whose father had a plane at Woodbridge) recalled
"In later years there was a parallel taxiway & a much bigger ramp,
with a larger hanger at the south end of the ramp.
One unusual feature of the airport is that the runway elevation was about 25' below the ramp.
The western end of the taxiway (just before the runway) had a very steep section.
Care had to be taken going down the hill, and it took a few seconds of full power to get up the hill.
The runway itself was hardly level,
with a big dip in the southern half that continued uphill to the north."
A 1979 aerial view depicted Woodbridge Airport perhaps at its zenith of popularity,
with over 50 light aircraft visible on the field.
In the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),
Woodbridge Airport was described as having a single 2,246' asphalt Runway 1/19,
and the operator was listed as Woodbridge Airport Inc.
Woodbridge Airport, as depicted on the 1983 Maryland State Aeronautical Chart.
It also depicted that Woodbridge Airport had its own NDB navigational beacon on the field.
The 1984 USGS topo map depicted Woodbridge
as having 2 rows of T-hangars along the southeast side of the runway.
A March 16, 1985 aerial view by Kenneth Keeton looking southeast at Woodbridge Airport,
showing its proximity to the Potomac River in the background.
A late-1985 photo by Larry Beaver of Woodbridge Airport, looking north from the shoulder of Old Bridge Road along Runway 1.
A 1986 aerial photo by Larry Beaver looking southwest at Woodbridge Airport.
A 1986 aerial photo by Larry Beaver looking southwest at Woodbridge Airport's ramp,
showing several hangars along with dozens of light aircraft.
Larry Beaver recalled, “I learned to fly at W22.
My first flight there was on March 6, 1986 in a 152 with CFI Don Yoxhiemer.
I stayed in the pattern and did six takeoffs & landings.
During my time there I did a little over 140 takeoffs & landings.”
“The airport did have a reputation as being difficult to land & takeoff from.
The runway was only about 50' wide & the dip was quite pronounced.
A friend of mine was learning to fly at nearby Manassas Airport.
His instructor forbade him from landing there [at Woodbridge].
Even after obtaining his PPL he never landed there, even though he lived much closer to Woodbridge than to Manassas.”
“Since I learned to fly there I never saw it as particularly difficult.
I remember that it was a source of amusement for pilots at W22 that others feared to land there.
The reputation of being a difficult airport really was overblown if not undeserved.”
Woodbridge Airport, as depicted on a 1986 NDB-A Approach Plate (courtesy of John Clifford).
Woodbridge Airport was sold in 1986 by Charles Benn,
according to an article in the 6/1/87 issue of the Washington Post.
Benn was described as "A gruff, colorful 67-year old who has been flying & teaching pilots for 40 years".
According to the book "Virginia Airports",
Woodbridge Airport was closed on 5/31/87,
due to rapidly encroaching suburban development.
It's closing was lamented by a nice article in the 6/1/87 issue of the Washington Post.
The article said that 113 aircraft were based at the field during its final year.
Many were expected to relocate to Manassas or Leesburg Airports.
It was said that Woodbridge's tight runway,
which was described as being 2,246' long, with a large dip in the middle & trees at both ends,
gave the airport a reputation among pilots for being unforgiving.
"If you could fly in & out of here, you could fly anywhere",
said pilot Hal Blank, who said he bought his home in Lake Ridge to be near the airport
and now plans to move.
The article said that "Many of the pilots said that for them,
Woodbridge was more than simply a place to park their plane.
They said they often would spend hours in the main hangar,
regaling one another with flying stories."
"The sad thing is not so much the airport,
it was the people who would come here", said Tom Reich,
an Arlington resident who based his plane at Woodbridge.
The article pointed out that "Between 1974 and last year [1986],
more than 1,200 airports closed nationwide,
most of them small, general aviation facilities."
"It's a sad day for general aviation", said Tom Foxworth,
a pilot who used to keep his personal plane at Woodbridge.
"You need little airports like this."
Larry Beaver recalled, “I was very disappointed when the airport closed.
I still live in the area and to this day I refuse to shop at the shopping center that replaced it.”
An undated photo of the runway of Woodbridge Airport seen during its demolition.
The cause of its demise is visible in the upper right - new townhouses.
Rick Morgan recalled, "Woodbridge Airport was about 1/4 mile from where I live now -
we moved into the area in '95, apparently just as the last of it was obliterated -
you would never know there had been an airport there now."
As seen in the 2002 USGS aerial view of the site of the former Woodbridge Airport,
the southern half of the site has been covered by a shopping center,
and the northern half is occupied by housing.
The water tower which previously held the airport's rotating beacon is still visible on the right edge of the photo.
Larry Beaver reported in 2005, “The water tower is still there today
but the beacon was removed a couple of years after the airport closed.”
The site of Woodbridge Airport is located northeast of the intersection of Route 641 & Smoketown Road.
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Quantico Marine Corps Air Station Brown Field, Quantico, VA
38.5 North / 77.31 West (South of Washington, DC)
The layout of Quantico Brown Field,
as depicted on a 5/1/23 Department of Commerce Aeronautical Bulletin.
Marine Corps Base Quantico is well known as the home of Marine Corps aviation,
but it is not well known that the present-day Quantico airfield was actually predated
by not one, but 2 earlier airfields on the base.
Marine Aviation was established at Quantico when a Marine Aeronautical Company was formed in 1918.
The unit initially had 2 kite balloons & 2 free balloons.
They were supplemented later that year by 3 Curtiss R-6 seaplanes & one Curtiss R-9 seaplane.
After WW1, a decision was made to concentrate East Coast Marine Corps aviation units at Quantico.
A parcel of land south of the Chopawamsic Creek was leased in 1919 for the construction of 2 airfields.
Field #1, a 2,000' northeast/southwest strip, was laid out to the east,
in between the Potomac River & the railroad tracks.
Field #2, a 2,500' north/south strip, was constructed to the west of the railroad tracks.
Work began on the construction of 3 landplane & 2 seaplane hangars.
Access to the new airfields was complicated by the fact
that vehicular traffic had to take a very roundabout inland route from the airfields to the barracks.
A causeway was eventually built over the creek, providing a more direct route.
By 1920, the aircraft complement at Quantico consisted of the DeHavilland DH-4,
Curtiss JN-4, JN-6, and N-6, plus observation balloons.
They were supported by a total of 170 aviation personnel.
In 1921, Quantico Marines conducted an experimental long range flight
from Washington DC to Santo Domino, Dominican Republic & back.
Later that year, several Marines participated in the famous Billy Mitchell bombing raids
on the captured German battleship Osfriesland & other ships off the Virginia coast.
During the return flight, Lieutenant Walter Brown was killed after crashing into the Potomac near the Quantico field.
The next year, the Quantico Fields were renamed Brown Field #1 & Brown Field #2 in his honor.
A 5/1/23 Department of Commerce Aeronautical Bulletin depicted both Brown Field #1 & Brown Field #2,
with several hangars adjacent to both fields.
In 1930, with new heavier aircraft arriving on the scene,
a project was initiated to replace the small airfields at Quantico
with a new airfield with runways sufficient to operate modern aircraft.
The Chopawamsic Creek was rerouted, eliminating most of the land previous occupied by Brown Field #1,
and land was filled in north of the creek to construct Turner Field (the present-day Quantico Airfield).
The May 1932 J-18 Washington D. C. Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the Quantico airfield as Intermediate Field Site 53.
A 1930s USMC view of Brown Field #2 in the foreground, Brown Field #1 across the railroad tracks,
and Turner Field (the present-day Quantico airfield) under construction in the background.
A 1930s USMC view of Brown Field #2.
Quantico "Intermediate Field Site 53", as depicted on the 1934 U.S. Navy Aviation Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Quantico's airfield & seaplane base, as depicted on the 1935 Washington Sectional Chart.
The hangars at Brown Field #1 were dismantled & moved across the railroad tracks to Brown Field #2,
and Turner Field was dedicated in 1936.
Brown Field #2 was apparently also used as one of the Department of Commerce's network of Intermediate Fields,
established across the country in the 1930s to provide emergency landing sites
for commercial airliners operating along routes between major cities.
The January 1, 1936 Department of Commerce Airway Bulletin
described Quantico as the Department of Commerce's Site 53 along the Atlanta-NY Airway.
The field was said to consist of an irregularly-shaped sod field,
measuring 2,450' north/south.
Hangars were said to be marked with “U.S. Marines”.
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described the airfield along the west side of the railroad tracks at Quantico
as the Department of Commerce Intermediate Field "Site 53", along the Atlanta-NY airway.
It was described as having a 2,400' sod north/south runway,
and the hangars were said to have "Marine Corps Quantico, VA" painted on the roof.
"Brown" Field was depicted on the 1940 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
By the time of the 1942 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe),
only "Turner" Field was depicted at Quantico.
A 1943 aerial view of Brown Field #2 (National Archives photo).
During WW2, the Assembly & Repair Department overhauled a large number of aircraft & engines
in a large building on the northern portion of the former Brown Field #1.
That building eventually became Quantico's present-day Larson Gym.
Brown Field #2 was closed for aircraft operations during the war,
but its runway was used for parking aircraft going through the Assembly & Repair Department.
A 9/24/43 aerial view looking north at Quantico depicted Brown Field #2 at the bottom-left, Brown Field #1 at the bottom-right,
and the replacement Turner Field at the top-right.
After WW2, the airfield area at Brown Field #2 was once again used,
to develop the Marine Corps' new tactics in helicopter assault.
An HRP-1 "Flying Banana" lands at Brown Field in an undated (circa 1950s?) photo.
The airfield at Brown Field #2 was once again closed at an unknown date,
and the remaining 1920s vintage hangars were reused as the location of the Marine Corps Air-Ground Museum,
which held a collection of USMC aircraft.
Paul Freeman visited the museum in the 1980s.
A 1994 USGS aerial photo of the site of Brown Field #2 (west of railroad tracks) & Brown Field #1 (east of railroad tracks).
The end of Runway 2 of the present-day MCAS Quantico Turner Field is at the northeast corner.
Several buildings housing the Marine Corps' Officer Candidate School
have been built along the former airfield area of Brown Field #2.
However, the 1920s era hangars still exist along the west side of the railroad tracks,
and the former Assembly & Repair Department building on the east side still exists as well.
As of 2003, the Marine Corps Air-Ground Museum was closed,
awaiting a move from the Brown Field #2 site to a new location along the east side of Interstate 95.
Thanks to John Voss for pointing out Brown Field.
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Original Manassas Municipal Airport, Manassas, VA
38.78 North / 77.5 West (Southwest of Washington, DC)
The original Manassas Airport, as depicted on the 1935 Washington Sectional Chart.
As described on the City of Manassas' web site,
the Manassas Town Council proposed in 1930 that a landing strip be constructed along Route 234 near Manassas.
A group of investors purchased almost 95 acres of land along the northeast side of Route 234
and leased it to the Town in 1931.
Over the next few years an additional 12.6 acres were purchased
and several improvements were made at the airport.
The 1934 Department of Commerce Airfield Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
described Manassas Airport as having 2 sod runways,
with the longest being a 2,100' northeast/southwest strip.
An undated photo of an unidentified biplane in front of a hangar at the original Manassas Airport.
The January 1, 1936 Department of Commerce Airway Bulletin
described Manassass Airport as an auxiliary airfield, consisting of a rectangular sod field.
It was said to have 2 runways: 2,100' northeast/southwest & 2,050' northwest/southeast.
The field was said to offer no servicing.
A 1936 aerial view looking southeast at the original Manassass Municipal Airport.
According to the book "Virginia Airports" by Vera Rollo & Norman Crabill (published by the VAHS),
"Fancis 'Hobs' Compton began giving passenger rides in August of 1936."
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described Manassas Municipal Airport as having two 1,800' runways & a small hangar.
According to the book "Virginia Airports",
"Just before WW2 Bob Ashburn leased space for the Ashburn Flying Service for $35 a month
and offered FBO services.
The war temporarily suspended flying and when flying was resumed,
there were more restrictions on pilots & on flying."
Manassas Airport was described in the 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
as having a 2,200' runway.
In 1945 the airport was purchased by the Town of Manassas.
A circa 1942-45 aerial view looking east at Manassas Municipal Airport
from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) depicted the field as having 2 grass runways.
The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Manassas Municipal Airport
as a 94 acre irregularly-shaped property within which were two 2,100' sod runways, oriented northeast/southwest & NNW/SSE.
The field was said to not have 2 wooden hangars (measuring 50' square & 40' x 27'),
and to be privately owned & operated.
The original Manassas Airport, as depicted on the 1946 USGS topo map.
The 1947 Washington Sectional Chart depicted the original Manassas Airport as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.
According to the book "Virginia Airports",
"After the war the 'GI Bill' increased flying at the airport
and a second operator took over, the Manassas Flying Service.
In October 1949 Dudley Watts became airport manager."
A 1949 aerial view depicted the original Manassas Airport
as having 2 unpaved runways, with a hangar & 6 light aircraft on the west side of the field.
On the 1951 Washington Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe),
Manassas Airport was described as having 2 runways, with the longest being a 2,160' unpaved strip.
According to the book "Virginia Airports",
"In March of 1955, Charles Kulp became the airport manager
and taught many to fly in subsequent years.
He liked to fly a ski-equipped Piper Cub.
It was here, too, that he perfected his Piper Cub Flying Farmer act and helped put on air shows."
[Charlie Kulp was still performing the 'Flying Farmer' comedy act as of 2003, at the Warrenton Flying Circus.]
While managing the Manassas Airport, Charlie Kulp purchased & restored a 1929 Fairchild KR-34,
which as of 2006 belongs to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
(according to an article by Linda Burdette in the 1/06 issue of the VAHS Virginia Eagles newsletter).
Merton Meade recalled, “The old Manassas Airport was fun, especially when Charlie Kulp ran it.
After we moved to Hyde Field from Beacon Field,
we'd take a couple of Champs to Manassas every weekend to give instruction.
At the time Frank Marshall & Dudley Watts were running the place.
Bob Ashburn also operated out of old Manassas, but that was well before my time.”
On the 1958 Washington Sectional Chart,
Manassas Municipal was described as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.
"In early 1960 ten new T-hangars were built" (according to the book "Virginia Airports").
According to Paul Bombardier, “The 10 unit T-hangar was built by Paul Bryce of Basye, VA.”
A 1962 aerial view depicted the original Manassas Airport
as having 2 unpaved runways, with 2 hangars & 22 aircraft on the west side of the field.
An undated (circa 1960s?) aerial view by Paul Bombardier looking east at the original Manassas Airport.
Paul recalled, “I worked part time at this airport from 1960-64 as an Airframe & Powerplant mechanic.
At this time, Frank & Evelyn Marshall (Airport Management Inc.) were the operators & managers.
Previously, the operators were Dudley Watts & Charlie Kulp.”
A 1962 photo by Paul Bombardier of a 1946 Piper J-3 Cub in front of the hangar at the original Manassas Airport.
Paul recalled, “The Piper Cub N58378 was owned by Dudley Watts & Charlie Kulp.
I & two friends purchased this aircraft from them in 1961
and rebuilt it from scratch, and then learned to fly in it.”
Due to increased activity at the airport & encroaching housing development,
the Town saw the necessity of moving the airport to a new location.
Property was purchased for a replacement airport in 1963, four miles to the south.
The original Manassas Airport, as depicted on the 1963 USGS topo map.
The original Manassas Airport was described on the 1964 Washington Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
as having 2 runways, with the longest being a 2,260' turf strip.
The property of the original Manassas Airport was sold to shopping center developers Lindsey & Waldron on 4/17/64.
The new Manassas Regional Airport was dedicated on 9/20/64,
at which point the old airport presumably was closed.
The 10 newly-built T-hangars at the original Manassas Airport were relocated in 1964 by Paul Bayse to the Winchester Airport,
which was also operated by Frank Marshall's Airport Management.
By the time of the September 1965 Washington Local Visual Navigation Chart,
only the new Manassas Airport was depicted - the original Manassas Airport was no longer depicted at all.
A circa 2001 aerial photo of the site of the former Manassas Airport,
now occupied by the Manaport Shopping Center & houses.
Not a trace remains of the former airport.
According to Paul Bombardier, “The runway intersection stood right in the center of the townhouses,
and the L-shaped shopping center at the left is where the hangar stood.”
The site of the former Manassas Airport is located on the northeast side of Route 234,
directly across from the Manassas Mall.
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