Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Arizona - Yuma area
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 3/29/08.
Colfred Aux AAF #2 (revised 7/7/05) - Dateland AAF (revised 12/31/04) - Smiley Field (revised 7/27/04)
Stoval Aux AAF #3 (revised 4/28/05) - Wellton Aux AAF #1 (revised 12/29/04)
Yuma Aux AAF #1 (revised 1/24/04) - Yuma Aux AAF #2 (revised 3/29/08) - Yuma Aux AAF #3
Yuma Aux AAF #4 / Rolle Airport (revised 2/3/06) - Yuma Proving Ground North AAF
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32.71 North / 113.92 West (Northeast of Yuma, AZ)
Smiley Field was depicted as a commercial airport on the August 1943 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Scott Thompson).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
According to Douglas Bell, Smiley Field "was a civilian pilot training field used from 1942 for a few years.
During this period, it was operated by the United School of Aeronautics.
The buildings consisted of a large ranch house & small hangar for repairs.
My father was a flight instructor at Smiley Field from February 1942 until April or May 1943.
I have pictures of the field, buildings, airplanes (Ryan) and pilots there
plus a collection of letters he wrote during that period to his parents.
He married my mother in September 1942 & they lived in an adobe house in Wellton - she described it as 'a great time'.
He may have also instructed Navy students at a 'Loyko Field' closer to Wellton during this time -
at least that is the caption on one pictures."
Scott Thompson reported, "While talking with some old-timers who live in the Mohawk & Antelope Valleys
near the communities of Tacna, Roll, and Wellton in southwestern AZ,
I learned of an old airfield constructed around 1942.
The old-timers called it Smiley Field & claim it was located in the town of Tacna where the post office now stands.
The curator of collections at the Arizona Historical Society in Yuma
showed me a group photo of what appear to be aviation cadets
(all are in uniform, however, I can't make out the insignia on their left shoulders)
and 3 active duty noncommissioned officers standing on a runway
with a single engine aircraft parked behind them
(very little of the airplane is visible; it is a high wing type,
consistent with those used in the civilian pilot training program as opposed to a primary training aircraft).
The photo caption reads, "Smiley Field, Welton [sic], Arizona, 1942."
The earliest chart depiction of Smiley Field which has been located
was on the August 1943 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Scott Thompson).
It depicted Smiley as a commercial airport located just northwest of the Colfred siding along the Southern Pacific railroad,
approximately 3 miles east of Tacna.
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Smiley Field as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
The last chart depiction of Smiley Field which has been located
was on the 1945 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
Note that the Colfred Auxiliary Field was also located in very close proximity, to the southeast of Smiley Field.
Smiley Field was evidently abandoned (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1945-71.
It was no longer depicted at all on the August 1971 Tactical Pilotage Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Note that another airfield (labeled "DVR") was depicted quite nearby,
but according to David Brooks, DVR was located somewhat to the east of Smiley.
Smiley Field was no longer depicted as all on the 1982 or 1988 USGS topo maps.
In the 1992 USGS aerial photo, not a trace appeared to remain of the former Smiley Field.
A 2004 photo by Scott Thompson looking north-northeast at the remains of the runway pavement of Smiley Field.
A 2004 photo by Scott Thompson looking South-southwest at the remains of the runway pavement of Smiley Field.
Scott Thompson reported in 2004,
"I searched for the airfield & found a section of what I believe to be runway running in a roughly north-south direction.
It appears to be macadam, or field-mixed asphalt, on a gravel bed.
The approximately 200 yard section is surrounded by farm land with concrete lined laterals & farm turnouts,
although the area isn't under active cultivation."
"The runway remains are the north-south swath of land equidistant from the cluster of salt cedars
(sandwiched between U.S. 80 & the railroad tracks) and the Colfred siding.
As you can see in the photo, the laterals run along both sides of the runway.
I forgot to measure the width of the runway, but estimate it to be 100' wide.
The width of the Auxiliary Fields built by the Army Air Forces
(e.g., Wellton, Colfred, Stoval, etc.) during WW2 was generally 150'.
The dark, east-west line just north of the cultivated area is the Mohawk Canal,
part of the larger Wellton-Mohawk Division of the Gila Project.
The canal & attendant laterals were constructed 1951-53."
"The [presumed runway] width is narrower than the military standard
but consistent with many of the other landing strips in the area.
At one time, the runway may have been wider;
perhaps the outer edges of this section were lopped off to accommodate the construction of the irrigation laterals.
The macadam surface is what leads me to believe this short section is all that remains of Smiley Field.
I have recorded the current conditions of other WW2-era auxiliary airfields in southwestern AZ
and the surface of the site in question is identical to what I've seen at Wellton, Colfred, Stoval,
and Aux Fields 6-11 between Ajo & Gila Bend.
I've driven the entire length of the Antelope & Mohawk Valleys
documenting the features of the Wellton-Mohawk irrigation system
and have yet to encounter a road section with this type of surface.
If this is indeed the location of Smiley Field, my guess is the Army modified the (presumably) dirt landing strip
by applying the macadam to handle the heavier wheel loads of military training aircraft."
"As an aside, I found a large trash scatter around the stand of salt cedars southwest of the 'runway.'
Included in the piles were large chunks of poured concrete that may represent the remains of a foundation.
The structural debris could be associated with railroad activities."
The site of Smiley Field is located east of the intersection of Route 80 & Avenue 42E.
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Yuma Proving Ground North Army Airfield, Northeast of Yuma, AZ
33.34 North / 114.29 West (Northeast of Yuma, AZ)
USGS aerial photo 1996.
Not much is known about this airfield,
located in an extremely desolate northeast corner of the Army's huge Yuma Proving Grounds.
Its dates of construction & purpose are unknown,
as well as whether it is still used.
No airfield is listed at the site in 2003 FAA records,
and no airfield is depicted at all on 2003 aeronautical charts,
or USGS topo maps from 1969, 1981, or 1992.
Charles Marcum reported in 2004, "This was my test site for a project about 15 years ago,
and later used for C-17 testing."
A 2003 photo taken from 16,000 ft looking southwest, by Bill Suffa.
Bill Suffa noticed this abandoned airfield in 2003, while flying south of the V-94 airway.
"There isn't much of anything out there, it's in a military area,
and I can't even be sure it is an airstrip.
But it sure looks like one."
The airfield consists of a single 6,300' unpaved runway, oriented north/south,
along with the remains of an encampment or building foundations along the west side of the runway.
The airfield is located 4 miles west of Route 95, 40 miles northeast of Yuma.
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Dateland Army Airfield (AZ06), Dateland, AZ
32.82 North / 113.53 West (East of Yuma MCAS, AZ)
"Datelan AF", as depicted on the 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This field was a former WW2 Army Air Corps training base.
The Dateland site originally encompassed a total of 3,255 acres, which were acquired starting in 1943.
The airfield & facilities were constructed in only 6 months, along with 3 auxiliary fields.
Originally it started out as a gunnery training base,
as an auxiliary field for the Yuma Aerial Flying School Gunnery Range.
It eventually converted to B-25 bomber training.
A total of 11,000 hours of flight training were logged at Dateland during WW2.
DoD improvements constructed at the site between 1943-1946 were 95 buildings, 3 runways, 4 taxiways,
gasoline station, water system, electrical distribution system, sewage disposal system & perimeter fences.
The base was reduced to caretaker status in 1945.
It was left with a contingent of 12 men & an officer to maintain the base.
There is some disagreement as to the precise spelling of this airfield,
as the 1949 Phoenix Sectional Chart labeled it as "Datelan AF" (with no 'd' at the end),
whereas the 1956 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss) labeled it as "Dateland AF".
The 1956 chart described the field as having a 6,500' hard-surface runway.
In 1957 the hangar & the other flight line buildings mysteriously burned down.
The military sent in an investigation team to do an inventory on the B-25 parts & found none.
The officer was court marshaled & the base was closed permanently in 1957.
Although the Dateland base had been closed by the military in 1957,
the Dateland airfield was still depicted as an active military airfield
on the 1958 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The Dateland real estate was auctioned off in 1960 to private parties.
In 1970 the base was subdivided into 3,300 lots leaving the airport intact.
One owner was going to subdivide the airport area into lots & build small lakes.
"Dateland AF Aux" was labeled as "closed"
on the August 1971 USAF Tactical Pilotage Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
However, the Dateland airfield was apparently reopened as a private airfield at some point between 1971-77,
as that is how it was depicted on the July 1977 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The present owners bought the Dateland property in 1995 & saved the airport from extinction.
They are planning to redevelop the airfield as a fly-in community, El Camino Del Sol Airpark,
taking advantage of the extensive airfield facilities abandoned by the military.
The developers tout it as "the largest fly in community in the USA",
with a total of 427 lots having taxiway connections to the airfield,
and a concrete ramp area big enough to park 300 planes.
A motel & a museum are among the planned attributes.
USGS aerial photo 1996.
A remarkable composite picture, in which David Brooks has superimposed close-up views of 4 nearby former satellite airfields
over the 1996 USGS aerial photo of the area.
A 1997 aerial view by Steve Hoza, looking north at the Dateland airfield.
The photo is courtesy of Steve Hoza, from the book "Best Place in the Country", by Mike & Steve Hoza.
Steve Hoza reported, "I phoned Luke AFB to get permission to fly into the Ajo corridor, which is normally off limits (it's a MOA).
Getting permission was simple & we flew on a Sunday when they weren't doing any flying.
After 9/11 I am sure it would be next to impossible to get that same permission."
The Dateland airfield was once again added to the Airport Facility Directory in 2000 as a new private airfield.
The developer intended to make the field public, and hoped to attract an FBO.
The remains of 3 runways still exist (6/24, 16/34, and the longest - 1/19, 6,600' long),
along with a large concrete ramp area.
The only building remaining is a sand-filled concrete bunker previously used
to sight the machine guns of the B-25 Mitchell bombers.
A memorial plaque which was mounted in 2002,
about 100 feet southeast of the restaurant at Exit 67 on Interstate 8 (photo courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Chris Miller overflew Dateland in 2003, and reported, "Dateland looked great;
the pavement looked pretty fresh, and the parking area appeared to have revetments or tie downs.
It looked huge! Very wide runways."
A June 2004 aerial photo by Dwight Furleigh, looking southeast at the Dateland airfield.
Dwight Furleigh visited the Dateland airfield in 2004.
Unfortunately, he found that the commercial venture to reopen Dateland as a residential airpark had evidently failed.
He reported, "I saw the remains of a sales trailer/office in the southwest corner related to this,
and it was boarded up and abandoned, which indicates this venture must have peetered out.
The base was posted with 'No trespassing' signs so I stayed off the complex
but did drive up to the North end of the main runways & took some photos.
The runways look to be in good shape, but no activity in terms of airplanes was seen.
There are small low-income homes & trailers in the desert to the north & east of the base.
Some of this area used to be a POW camp;
I read on the plaque near the other Dateland plaque at the south side of the Interstate at the restaurant."
A 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh, looking southeast along Dateland's southeast/northwest runway.
A 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh, looking southwest along Dateland's southwest/northeast runway.
Dwight observed, "There was some activity on the northeast/southwest runway when I was there,
you can see the small dust cloud of a Jeep/Hummer and some orange cones or flags on the runway,
but was too far away to see the details."
A 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh, looking southeast at the sand-filled concrete bunker
previously used to sight the machine guns of Dateland's B-25 Mitchell bombers.
It is located just west of the southwest corner of the airfield.
See also: http://pirs.mvr.usace.army.mil/fuds/a-d/dateland/preasses/inpr/11.htm
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Stoval Auxiliary Army Airfield #3, Stoval, AZ
32.72 North / 113.62 West (East of Yuma MCAS, AZ)
"Stoval" was depicted as a private airfield on the 1958 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This field was built during WW2 as one of 7 satellite airfields for Yuma AAF,
which conducted primary flight training & training of bomber aircrews.
It is located along Interstate Rt.8 between Yuma & Phoenix.
Yuma Aux #3 was listed in a directory of AZ Airports
in the 5/47 issue of Arizona Highways (courtesy of George Miller),
which described the field as being unattended, and the longest runway as being 3,800'.
At some point between 1947-55, the field apparently was relinquished by the military & reused as a private airfield,
as Stoval Airport was depicted as a private field on the 1955 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
The Aerodromes table on the reverse side of the chart described the airfield
as having 2 asphalt runways (the longest being 4,000').
Stoval was still depicted as a private airfield on the 1958 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Stoval was apparently closed at some point between 1958-71,
as it was labeled "abandoned" on the August 1971 USAF Tactical Pilotage Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
As of the 1996 USGS aerial photo,
the remains of three 4,000' paved runways & 2 paved ramps still existed at Stoval.
A 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh looking southeast at the Stoval airfield.
A 2005 photo by Dwight Furleigh looking southwest from the midpoint of Stoval's northeast/southwest runway.
Dwight Furleigh visited the site of the Stoval airfield in 2005.
He reported: “This airfield is on the Barry Goldwater Range and is at the end of the old Highway 6 miles east of Dateland.
This road is from the 1950s and was used before Interstate 80 was built - now it isn't even maintained by the county.
There is a short unmaintained road to the base itself.
There is a row of porta-potties sitting in the middle of the desert so apparently some visits do occur there.
At least one of the runways (the northeast/southwest runway) has no debris & is graded & maintained,
so perhaps it is used for practice landings.
Most everything is grown over & you really can't see much on the ground.”
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Colfred Auxiliary Army Airfield #2, Tacna, AZ
32.69 North / 113.88 West (East of Yuma MCAS, AZ)
Colfred Aux #2 was depicted as "Aband arpt" on the 1966 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
Located Interstate 8 between Yuma & Phoenix,
this WW2-era airfield was originally part of the 800 acre Colfred Ground Gunnery Range #2,
which was a WW2-era undeveloped range used for small arms training.
According to Scott Thompson, Colfred was one of several auxiliary airfields constructed around November 1943
to support the training activities at nearby Yuma Army Airfield.
The Colfred Airfield was deactivated by the military at some unknown point after WW2.
At some point between 1945-55 the Colfred airfield was reused as a civilian airport.
The 1955 San Diego Sectional chart (courtesy of John Voss)
depicted Colfred as a civilian airfield with a paved 4,000' runway.
A 646 acre parcel was reacquired by the Air Force in 1956
to build the Colfred Operational Control Annex,
a facility for the construction of a remote operational control site for Q-2 Drone Aircraft.
Military improvements at the site between 1956-1958 included covered storage, operational & troop facilities, fencing,
access road improvements & a power generation plant.
The Colfred Operations Control Annex site was declared surplus in 1961.
By the time of the 1966 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
the Colfred airfield was labeled as "Aband arpt".
According to a 1991 Army Corps of Engineers Report,
at that point the Colfred site was owned by 3 private individuals,
and none of the original military buildings remained.
The remains of three 4,200' runways were still barely perceptible in the 1992 USGS aerial photo.
The western portion of airfield was evidently being used for farming.
Douglas Bell reported in 2004, "I was in the area last February [2003].
We did visit Colfred Field which was used for the planting of jojoba plants (possible source of protein) years ago
and now the plants are all dead but the runways are still there in fair condition."
A 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh looking northwest along the northwest/southeast runway.
Dwight Furleigh visited the Colfred airfield in 2004.
He reported, "The abandoned base was a little complicated to get to,
as it was about 5 miles east of the exit for Tacna, AZ, down a sand road & pretty primitive.
It is only about 1/2 mile from the interstate highway but very hard to see from it unless you know what you are looking for."
He found the northeast/southwest runway to be "narrower than he rest but still clear & usable if needed."
The northern portion of this was "where crops had been planted some time ago but appear to not be used anymore."
The northwest/southeast runway was "very wide & appears to still be well maintained."
The east/west runway was "also in good shape."
A 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh looking west along Colfred's east/west runway.
A 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh looking northeast at the Quonset huts & trucks on the site of Colfred's former ramp area.
It is not clear if the Quonset huts dated from the site's airfield days, or if they were added later.
There was no sign of any aircraft.
A 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh looking southeast at the windsock pole which remains standing in the middle of the field at Colfred.
A 2004 photo by Benjamin Russell, taken from a commercial airliner looking south at the Colfred airfield.
Greg Nelson (of Yuma County Planning & Zoning) reported in 2005
that “property containing a portion of the Colfred Airfield is the subject of a rezoning application.
I recently visited the property & spoke with the owner, Gary Waggoner.
Mr. & Mrs. Waggoner own 60 acres on which the apron area & a portion of the taxiway were located.
I asked Mr. Waggoner about the condition of the runways.
He said they are in good shape under about 6 inches of sand.
He said someone, perhaps when the airfield was abandoned,
deliberately covered the airfield with sand to protect it from the sun.
The land is not in use other than as a place for the Waggoners to spend the winter.
They reside in Oregon in the summer.
There was an attempt to raise jojoba on much of the property in the area
in the late 1970's or early 1980's but it was not successful.”
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Wellton Auxiliary Army Airfield #1, Wellton AZ
32.66 North / 114.1 West (East of Yuma MCAS, AZ)
Wellton Airport, as depicted on the 1966 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This airfield was built during WW2 as one of 7 satellite airfields for Yuma AAF,
which conducted primary flight training & training of bomber aircrews.
According to the Bureau of Land Management, the airfield was used from 1943-1950.
However, apparently the airfield was still active as of 1955,
as "Wellton" Airport 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 2 bituminous runways (the longest being 4,000').
Wellton was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1966 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Wellton was still depicted as an active airfield
on the August 1971 USAF Tactical Pilotage Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Wellton Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1971-92.
The remains of the two 3,700' runways & connecting taxiway were still barely perceptible in the 1992 USGS aerial photo.
A December 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh looking west along the remains of Wellton's east/west runway.
Dwight Furleigh reported, "I visited Wellton AAF field & others in the Yuma area in December 2004.
This airfield has fallen into complete disuse.
The runways are made of pea gravel & scrub brush has grown up over much of the area.
There is the usual empty beer bottles & trash in the area, but the runways are indeed still identifiable as you can see."
A December 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh looking northeast along the remains of Wellton's northeast/southwest runway.
A December 2004 photo by Dwight Furleigh of "old rusting debris that looks to be associated with aircraft, but was unable to identify them."
The Wellton airfield is located northeast of the intersection of East Mohawk Canal Road & Avenue 31E,
three miles southeast of the town of Wellton.
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Yuma Auxiliary Army Airfield #1, Fortuna Foothills, AZ
32.66 North / 114.44 West (East of Yuma MCAS, AZ)
The layout of Yuma Aux #1,
from a 1944 Army map of the Yuma Advanced Flying School & its surrounding fields (courtesy of John Voss).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This field was built during WW2 as one of 7 satellite airfields for Yuma AAF,
which conducted primary flight training & training of bomber aircrews.
Yuma Aux #1 was listed in a directory of AZ Airports
in the 5/47 issue of Arizona Highways (courtesy of George Miller),
which described the field as being unattended, and the longest runway as being 3,800'.
Yuma Aux #1 was still active in 1955,
as it 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 2 bituminous runways (the longest being 3,740').
Yuma Aux #1 was apparently closed at some point between 1955-71,
as it was labeled "abandoned" on the August 1971 USAF Tactical Pilotage Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
As seen in the 1992 USGS aerial photo, in an unusual reuse,
the runways & taxiways of the eastern half of the former airfield
have been reused as streets of a residential neighborhood.
The eastern half of the former east/west runway is now East 35th Place,
and the former northeast/southwest taxiway is now South Mesa Drive.
As of 1992, the western half of the former airfield remained undeveloped,
with the remains of the western portion of the runways still plainly apparent.
A remarkable composite picture, in which David Brooks has superimposed close-up views of 4 nearby former satellite airfields
over the 1994 USGS aerial photo, showing their location relative to the former Yuma AAF (the present-day MCAS Yuma).
The Yuma Aux #1 airfield remained in basically the same condition in this 1997 aerial view by Steve Hoza,
looking northeast at Yuma Aux #1.
The photo is courtesy of Steve Hoza, from the book "Best Place in the Country", by Mike & Steve Hoza.
The former airfield is located south of the intersection of Interstate 8 & South Fortuna Road.
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Yuma Auxiliary Army Airfield #2, Yuma, AZ
32.55 North / 114.51 West (Southeast of Yuma, AZ)
The layout of Yuma Aux #2,
from a 1944 Army map of the Yuma Advanced Flying School & its surrounding fields (courtesy of John Voss).
This field was built during WW2 as one of 7 satellite airfields for Yuma AAF,
which conducted primary flight training & training of bomber aircrews.
It is located within the present-day Barry Goldwater Air Force Bombing Range.
Yuma Aux #2 was still active in 1955,
as it 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 2 bituminous runways (the longest being 3,740').
As seen in the 1992 USGS aerial photo,
the Yuma Aux #2 airfield consists of two 4,000' paved runways,
along with a taxiway connecting the runways on the western side, forming an equilateral triangle.
What was formerly the taxiway has now been reused as a portion of a road, E County 19th Street.
Remains are visible of the parking apron, west of the taxiway.
Two bombing range target circles are visible adjacent to the airfield to the southeast.
The Southwest/Northeast runway is now used as a firing line
and the area to the southeast is all firing range for ground units deployed to Yuma.
A 1998 photo by Brandon Ball of an AV-8B Harrier from Yuma MCAS,
seen at Yuma Aux #2 while conducting shipboard operations practice, prior to a deployment.
The refueling probe is extended on the aircraft,
the signal for the maintenance guys to refuel the aircraft.
For day trips to Aux #2, the bulk fuel handlers would bring out a truck so that the aircraft could be turned around at Aux #2,
rather than having to make the trip back to Yuma.
Although no longer listed in the Airport Facility Directory as an active airfield of any kind,
and not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on current aeronautical charts,
Yuma Aux #2 is very much still in service.
However, the airfield's role is quite different from its original function,
according to Brandon Ball (former avionics technician with Yuma Marine Attack Squadron 513).
The center portion of the East/West runway has been widened,
and upon it has been painted the outline of an LHA-class amphibious assault ship.
AV-8B Harrier pilots from Yuma come to Yuma Aux #2 to make practice landings on the LHA outline.
It is a pre-deployment training area for pilots needing to get back up to speed on their shipboard operations,
without the costly expense of flying to an actual ship.
In addition to the ship outline, there is a fully functional island for the Landing Signals Officer to give instruction via radio
& a realistic lighting system for night operations.
Aux #2's "ship" has also been used in the past for Harrier squadron deployments.
When the squadron wouldn't have enough money to actually go somewhere,
it would pack up all the necessary gear, make the 20 minute drive to Aux #2 & live in tents for a week in the desert,
while pretending to operate from a ship.
The future of Aux #2 isn't certain.
While a valuable training aid, it occasionally closed in the past due to instances of foreign object damage (FOD) to Harrier engines.
Ham-fisted, less experienced Harrier pilots have a tendency to approach Aux #2 too low,
and during the hover transition phase, blow desert (dirt, rocks, bushes & the unfortunate lizard) all over the landing area,
which the Harrier ingested upon touchdown.
There was an instance of a Harrier that was grounded at Aux #2 due to a FOD'ed engine,
and rather than change the motor at Aux #2 (which is a huge affair that requires special equipment),
it was decided to tow the aircraft the 15 or so miles back to MCAS Yuma,
a 5 hour affair that was accomplished in the middle of the night.
Luckily, a Harrier is small enough to pass under streetlights & stoplights.
A circa 2006 aerial photo of the simulated LHA deck (complete with island superstructure)
which has been built over the east/west runway at the Yuma Aux #2 airfield.
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Yuma Auxiliary Army Airfield #3, Somerton, AZ
32.57 North / 114.6 West (South of Yuma, AZ)
The layout of Yuma Aux #3,
from a 1944 Army map of the Yuma Advanced Flying School & its surrounding fields (courtesy of John Voss).
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
The location of Yuma Aux #3,
As depicted on a 1944 Army map of the area of the Yuma Advanced Flying School (courtesy of John Voss).
Yuma Auxiliary #3 was one of 4 satellite airfields constructed during WW2
to support training operations at Yuma Army Airfield.
As indicated on the above 1944 layout,
Yuma #3 had basically the same configuration as the other Yuma Auxiliary fields,
with 2 paved 4,000' runways & a taxiway forming an equilateral triangle.
A ramp area with an operations building was south of the taxiway.
Yuma Aux #3 was listed in a directory of AZ Airports
in the 5/47 issue of Arizona Highways (courtesy of George Miller),
which described the field as being unattended, and the longest runway as being 3,800'.
"Yuma AAF #3" was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1948 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
and was described as having a 4,000' runway.
Apparently Yuma Aux #3 had been closed by 1949,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1949 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
As can be seen in the 1992 USGS aerial photo,
the area of Yuma Auxiliary #3 has been completely reused for agriculture,
and not a trace appears to be discernible of the former airfield.
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Yuma Auxiliary Army Airfield #4 / Rolle Airport (44A), Somerton, AZ
32.52 North / 114.7 West (Southwest of Yuma, AZ)
The layout of Yuma Aux #4,
from a 1944 Army map of the Yuma Advanced Flying School & its surrounding fields (courtesy of John Voss).
This 640 acre site was acquired in 1942 (according to a 1991 Army Corps of Engineers report)
to build one of 7 satellite airfields for Yuma AAF,
which conducted primary flight training & training of bomber aircrews.
Between 1942-1943, the military built 2 runways, a taxiway, a parking apron, and an operations building.
The runways consisted of a 2-3” later of oiled sand over native sand.
However, the airfield was never actually used during WW2, for unknown reasons.
It was declared surplus in 1945, and relinquished to the Department of Interior in 1947.
On March 17, 1952, the Bureau of Reclamation gave Yuma County a license
to operate, maintain, and manage a civilian airfield at the site of Yuma Aux #4.
Yuma Aux #4 was still 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 2 bituminous runways (the longest being 3,740').
In 1966, the Yuma County Farm Bureau assumed responsibility for the airfield
since the primary benefactors in the area would be farmers and growers, and their related crop dusting operations.
The Yuma County Airport Authority took responsibility of Rolle Airfield on February 24, 1972.
This was done to provide a site for civilian pilot training in the region,
as well as to reduce air traffic conflicts at Yuma International Airport / MCAS.
The original agreement between the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation & Yuma County
was amended on September 17, 1973, to allow for an additional term of license
and to make available State funds for capital improvements.
Simultaneously, the Rolle Airfield airport license was officially delegated
to the YCAA by the Yuma County Board of Supervisors.
Improvements to Runway 17/35 took place in early 1976,
and consisted of leveling a 50' x 2,500' area with prepared aggregate base course
followed by a 2-inch asphaltic overlay & an emulsion seal coat.
State grant funds covered approximately half of the $50,000 project cost
with the balance being contributed by the YCAA.
The runway improvement sparked an increased use of the airfield
as a reliever for student pilot training as air traffic in & around Yuma International Airport / MCAS increased.
In 1986, Yuma County signed a new agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation
extending their term of license an additional 25 years.
USGS aerial photo 1992.
The airfield is currently reused as a civil airport, Rolle Airport.
No aircraft are listed as being based at the field
(and no aircraft or facilities for based aircraft are visible in the aerial photo).
According to the Airport Facility Directory, 41% of the operations at the airport are military,
and the remarks include "Frequent night military operations conducted".
This apparently indicates that the airport is used by helicopter or Harrier units from Yuma MCAS.
According to Ray Williams (a member of the Yuma County Airport Authority),
"Rolle is now within the city limits of San Luis, AZ,
which in recent times has experienced amazing growth & expansion.
It will likely become a municipal field for that city.
The 10 year projection for that airport will have numerous improvements,
based aircraft, and a lengthened runway.
For the most part the military use of Rolle will probably go elsewhere."
The airfield consists of two 4,000' paved runways,
along with a taxiway connecting the runways, forming an equilateral triangle.
Only one runway is still maintained: 17/35, with only 2,800' listed as being available.
Remains are barely visible of the parking apron, northeast of the taxiway.
A 1997 aerial photo looking southeast at Yuma Aux #4 airfield by Steve Hoza,
from the book "Best Place in the Country" by Mike Hoza & Steve Hoza (courtesy of Steve Hoza).
Mike Hoza, pictured on the H1 Helipad at Yuma Aux #4 in a 2003 photo by Steve Hoza,
from the book "Best Place in the Country" by Mike Hoza & Steve Hoza (courtesy of Steve Hoza).
A January 2006 aerial view by Ken Calman, looking southeast at Rolle Airport just after he took off from the field.
Chris Kennedy observed, “Yuma #4 must be only municipal airport in the country with no road going to it.
It's also interesting that there are hold lines adjacent to each end of the runway.
I guess that's so planes taxiing in off the desert will know where to stop before entering the runway.”
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