Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
California: Oakland area
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 3/7/08.
Alameda Airport / Alameda NAS (revised 12/24/07) - Byron Airpark (added 2/16/08) - (Original) Concord Airport (revised 6/25/05)
Concord NWS Airfield (revised 4/17/07) - Discovery Bay Airport (revised 1/28/06) - Knights Airport / Stan's Airpark (revised 3/7/08)
San Francisco Bay Airdrome (revised 3/22/05) - Sherman Field (revised 3/4/08) - Vallejo Airport / Mini Airport / Vallejo Sky Harbor (revised 4/14/07)
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Byron Airpark (4Q5), Byron, CA
37.5 North / 121.38 West (East of Oakland, CA)
The 1973 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
depicted Byron Airpark as a private airfield having a 2,100' unpaved runway.
The specific date at which the Byron Airpark started operations has not been determined.
According to Jonathan Westerling, the December 2000 Contra Costa County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan
described the Byron Airpark as “a small, privately-owned, public-use airport which had occupied the current property... since the 1950s.”
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Byron Airpark
was on the 1973 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
It depicted Byron as a private airfield having a 2,100' unpaved runway.
The 1976 AOPA Airports USA Directory (according to Jonathan Westerling) described Byron Airpark
as having 3 dirt runways, all 2,100': Runways 9/29, 4/22, and 14/32.
The 1979 AOPA Airports USA Directory (according to Jonathan Westerling) described Byron (4Q5) as a private airfield.
It was said to have 2 dirt runways in an 'X' pattern: 2,100' Runway 14/32 & 2,000' Runway 4/22.
According to Jonathan Westerling, “The little unpaved runways were home to modest flight operations through the 1980s.”
This included some student training, according to the NTSB Accident Database.
The 1981 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
depicted Byron as a private airfield having 2 paved runways, with the longest being 2,100'.
According to Jonathan Westerling, Contra Costa County records stated that “The Byron Airpark was purchased in 1986.
After its purchase, the County made some minor improvements to support operations at Byron Airpark
while the new County airport was planned & constructed just to the south.”
The 1987 Airports Guide (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
described Byron Airpark as a public-use airport which conducted ultralight operations.
It depicted the field as having a 2,800' paved Runway 14/32 & a 2,100' paved Runway 4/22.
Several buildings were depicted on the east & northeast sides of the field.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Byron Airpark
was on the 1989 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
It depicted Byron as having 2 paved runways, with the longest being 2,800',
and also showed that skydiving operations had commenced.
The 1993 USGS aerial photo of Byron Airpark depicted an amazing number (over 3-dozen)
of what appeared to be individual T-hangars on the east side of the field.
According to the Contra Costa County website, “In 1993 Contra Costa County broke ground on a new airport 2 miles south of Byron.
On October 8, 1994, [the new] Byron Airport was dedicated.”
Presumably the old Byron Airpark was closed around the same time the new airfield opened.
The 1996 Pilots Guide to California Airports (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
still depicted the “Old Byron Airport (Closed)” adjacent to the new Byron Airport.
A circa 2006 aerial view looking north at the site of the Byron Airpark
showed that all of the pavement of the 2 former runways had been removed, along with all of the buildings.
Note the runway of the new Byron Airport on the right edge of the photo.
A February 2008 photo by Jonathan Westerling of a skydiver touching down on what used to be Byron Airpark's Runway 22.
Jonathan Westerling reported in 2008, “Today, aviation use of the old Byron Airfield continues to some extent
as the property is the Drop Zone for Bay Area Sky Diving.
A call to their receptionist revealed that they were well aware of the property’s prior use as an airfield.
She mentioned that they are sometimes removing bits of the old runway which poke up out of the ground.
She also stated that the last remnant of the prior airfield,
the segmented circle & runway indicator were lost in a grass fire a few years ago.”
A February 2008 photo by Jonathan Westerling of the windsock at the old Byron Airpark.
According to Jonathan, the windsock “has been restored by Bay Area Skydiving to indicate the wind direction on their drop zone.
The segmented circle which surrounded this windsock was constructed
out of a hundred or more white steel-belted tires which were burned in a recent grass fire.
The rock beyond the windsock is believed to be the remains of the base for the tetrahedron.”
A February 2008 photo by Jonathan Westerling of “All that remains of a building near the hangars of the old Byron Airpark.
The large hangar at the north end of the field was completely removed to make way for the construction of the new County Airport.”
A February 2008 photo by Jonathan Westerling, “Looking up the remains of Runway 32 at the Byron Airpark.
The pavement was plowed under when the airport was decommissioned.”
A February 2008 photo by Jonathan Westerling, “Looking West to the eastern end of Runway 4.”
The site of Byron Airpark is located southwest of the intersection of Armstrong Road & Falcon Way,
adjacent to the west side of the current-day Byron Airport.
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Discovery Bay Airport, Byron, CA
37.89 North / 121.62 West (East of Oakland, CA)
Discovery Bay Airport, as depicted on the 1969 USGS topo map.
Photo of the airport while open has not been located.
This short-lived private airfield may have been related to the construction of the adjacent housing development.
The Discovery Bay Airport was evidently established at some point between 1966-69,
as it was not yet depicted at all on the 1966 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the 1969 USGS topo map (courtesy of Dann Shively).
The only aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Discovery Bay Airfield
was on the 1970 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
It depicted Discovery Bay as a private airfield with a 3,000' unpaved runway.
Dann Shively recalled, “When I first started flying in 1972 I tried to explore my local area from the air as much as possible.
I noticed a small strip on my Sectional Chart called Discovery Bay.
Although I never landed there, I flew over it from time to time in the early 1970's.
Nearby is the Discovery Bay development.
It's a man-made series of waterways with all houses having direct water access.
It started small in the 1970's and has grown over the years into a city with more & more waterways being added.
On the southwest corner of the development sat the small dirt or grass field.
I always thought it was somehow connected to the development,
possibly as a place for prospective buyers to land to check out property.”
The only directory listing of the Discovery Bay Airport which has been located
was in the 1976 AOPA Airports USA Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
It described the field as having a single 3,000' dirt Runway 15/33,
and the field was said to be “Private, Closed to Public.”
The Discovery Bay Airport was evidently closed at some point in 1976,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the 1976 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
nor on the 1976 or 1989 USGS topo maps (although they did depict the 1st stages of the adjacent housing development).
The 1993 USGS aerial photo of the airport site
showed the remaining outline of 2 runways (oriented northwest/southeast & north/south).
There was no sign of any buildings having been at the airport site.
A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo
showed that construction had started for a shopping center on the northwest corner of the airport site.
The southeast portion of the former runway still remained, though.
Dann Shively reported in 2005, “In the last year or so a shopping center has been built on part of the property.
I flew over it today & you can still see part of the runway on the east side.
Most likely that will soon be gone as development continues in the area.”
A 2005 aerial photo by Dann Shively looking north at the site of the former Discovery Bay Airport,
showed the shopping center covering the western half of the property,
with the remains of the southeast portion of the runway still recognizable.
A 2005 aerial photo by Dann Shively looking northwest at the remains of the runway at Discovery Bay Airport.
The site of Discovery Bay Airport is located on the northwest corner of Route 4 & Bixler Road.
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Knights Airport / Stan's Airpark, Vallejo, CA
38.13 North / 122.27 West (Northeast of Oakland, CA)
"Knight" Airport, as depicted on the 1939 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
This little airport was known under several names throughout its history.
It was originally known as Vallejo Airport.
According to K.O. Eckland, in 1929, Western Air Lines moved half its equipment from Santa Rosa
and established a flight school at Vallejo Airport.
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described Vallejo Airport as being located "2 miles northwest" of the town of Vallejo.
The field was said to have three dirt runways,
with the longest being a 2,500' northeast/southwest strip.
A hangar on the southeast side of the field was described as having "Vallejo" painted on the roof.
By 1939, the airport had apparently been renamed "Knight" Airport,
as that is how it was labeled on the 1939 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
It was labeled as "Knights Airport" on the 1942 USGS topo map.
The 1942 USGS topo map depicted an airport symbol (the propeller) along with the outline of property,
but did not label the airport.
Knights Airport may have been closed for a few years during WW2
(due to wartime security concerns & gas rationing,
as was the case at many other small civilian airports during the war),
as it was not depicted on the 1943 Sacramento Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
At some point after WW2, it reopened as "Stan's Airpark",
which was how it was depicted on the 1946 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
However, Dann Shively recalled in 2003,
"I don't know why it became Stan's by 1946,
but it was known as Knight's as long as I knew it growing up.
In fact there was a large painted sign on the hangar facing the road that read 'Knight's' airport."
At some point between 1946-48, the official name of the field apparently reverted to Knights Airport,
as that is now it was labeled on the 1948 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
It depicted the field as having a 2,300' unpaved runway.
A 1948 picture (courtesy of Dann Shively) of Harold Horodyski (Knight's Airport operator),
Al Shively (who had just soloed after just 1.5 hours of instruction), and Russ Moody (Al's instructor).
Dann Shively recalled, "Growing up in Vallejo, I remember as a child when Knight's Airport was still in operation.
My dad, in 1948, as a publicity stunt, soloed an Ercoupe there after only an hour & a half of instruction."
The most detailed depiction of Knights Airport which has been located is the 1949 USGS topo map,
which depicted the field as having a total of four runways or taxiways,
with the longest being an 1,800' northeast/southwest strip.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Knights Airport
was on the 1954 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
It described Knights as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.
In a 1965 aerial view of Knights Airport (from the Alexandria Digital Library @ UC Santa Barbara, courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
it is not apparent if the field was still operating at that point.
The 2 runways were quite evident, but the photo is not detailed enough to show any aircraft or other indications of current use.
Knights Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1954-68,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1968 USGS topo map.
A 1970 aerial view of the site of the site of Knights Airport (from the Alexandria Digital Library @ UC Santa Barbara, courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
still showed the remnants of the runways & what appeared to be a hangar still standing of the east side of the field.
The 1993 USGS aerial photo of the airport site depicted that
the waters of the Napa River had risen over the site of the former airport.
Dann Shively reported in 2003, "I watched it slowly deteriorate over the years.
The office & hangar disappeared, and the runways were taken over by swamp grass
until a levee broke & the whole area was under water.
Currently the stretch of Sears Point Road (Highway 37, now known as Marine World Parkway)
that was next to the field, is being widened.
Shortly, what was the airport will be under a new roadway."
A 2003 panoramic composite photo by Dann Shively,
looking east at the site of Knight's Airport.
Dann visited the site of Knight's Airport in 2003.
"Highway 37 / Sears Point Road / Marine World Parkway is being widened
adjacent to the old Knight's Airport in Vallejo.
There's also an interchange being built just to the west.
I climbed up on what's built so far of the interchange & got a nice shot of the former airport.
I actually stitched 2 shots together for a panorama. The shot is looking east.
That's the Napa River on the left and the highway on the right.
You can see the new section of the highway which isn't opened yet.
That new section partially or wholly covers what was one of the runways that ran along the existing 2 lane road.
As mentioned before it's a wetlands area with marsh grass and tules.
Running along the bottom of the photo is a drainage canal & levee that's evident in your old topo map of the airport."
As seen in the February 2004 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the former airport was still submerged under the waters of the Napa River.
However, by comparing the runway layout in the 1949 topo map with the above aerial photo,
it is interesting to note that the land of the former Northeast/Southwest runway
is apparently at a slightly higher elevation than the surrounding terrain,
as it was still above water.
The site of Knights Airport is located north of the intersection of Marine World Parkway & Sacramento Street.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this airfield.
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Vallejo Airport / Mini Airport / Vallejo Sky Harbor Airport, Vallejo, CA
38.14 North / 122.25 West (Northeast of Oakland, CA)
What was then known as "Mini" Airport, as depicted on the 1939 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
Photo of the airport has not been located.
The date of construction of this former airport has not been determined.
It may have existed as far back as 1929,
as a "Vallejo" Commercial Airport was listed as being located "3 miles due north of Vallejo"
in the Standard Oil Company's 1929 "Airplane Landing Fields of the Pacific West" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was described as having a 1,500' northeast/southwest runway,
and the "main highway to Sacramento" was said to border the east side of the field.
That description seems to match later map depictions of what eventually became Vallejo Sky Harbor Airport.
By 1939, the airport had apparently been renamed "Mini" Airport,
as that is how it was labeled on the 1939 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
Dann Shively recalled in 2003, "The Mini family owned most of the property in that area.
In fact, the site of the airport is near what is now Mini Drive."
The 1942 USGS topo map depicted an airport symbol (the propeller) along with the outline of property,
but did not label the airport.
The Vallejo Airport may have been closed for some period of time during WW2
(like many other small civilian airports, due to wartime security concerns),
as it was not depicted on the 1943 Sacramento Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The airport was evidently reopened after the war, as it was depicted as "Sky Harbor"
on the 1946 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
The 1948 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
depicted the "Vallejo Sky Harbor" Airport as having a 2,500' unpaved runway.
The most detailed depiction of Vallejo Sky Harbor which has been located is the 1949 USGS topo map,
which depicted the field as having a total of four 1,800' runways or taxiways.
Two buildings or hangars appear to have been located east of the runway intersection.
A propeller decal, undated, from Vallejo Sky Harbor Airport (courtesy of Dann Shively).
Vallejo Sky Harbor was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1949 Sectional Chart (according to Dann Shively),
but it was apparently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1949-54,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the 1954 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively).
Dann Shively recalled, "I grew up in Vallejo & have been flying around the area as a broadcast news pilot for nearly 30 years.
When I was 11, in 1957, we moved to a house that was within a mile or so of the Sky Harbor Airport site.
Of course it was long gone by then & was covered by tract houses built in the 1950s.
We've lost a lot of airports!"
The 1993 USGS aerial photo of the site showed that it had been completely covered by houses.
As seen in the circa 2001 aerial photo,
the site had been completely covered by houses, and not a trace appeared to remain of the Vallejo Sky Harbor.
According to Dann Shively, the site of Vallejo Sky Harbor is located northwest of the intersection of Route 29 & Mini Drive.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this airfield.
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Sherman Field, Pleasant Hill, CA
37.95 North / 122.06 West (Northeast of Oakland, CA)
Sherman Field, as depicted on the August 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
According to K.O. Eckland, a 107-acre tract at the intersection of Monument Boulevard & North Main Street
were purchased by Chester Dickson in 1941.
The initial airfield consisted of a 2,150' dirt runway.
The field was dedicated in 1941, and was named for Dr Samuel R Sherman, who helped finance the field.
A collection of photographs has a picture of the airport from 1941.
Sherman Field was used by PAA from 1942-44 for navigation & instrument flight training
with 2 Stinson Reliants & a Waco VKS-7.
The earliest depiction which has been located of Sherman Field
was on the 1943 Sacramento Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The August 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
depicted Sherman as a municipal/commercial airport.
In a 1946 aerial view of Sherman Field,
from the Alexandria Digital Library @ UC Santa Barbara (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling),
Jonathan observed “You can just make out the X-shaped airstrips of Sherman Field.
Note that a few years later they built a large road along the south side of the field.”
The 1947 USGS topo map depicted Sherman Field as having two 2,800' runways,
and a ramp at the southwest corner with 2 hangars.
K.O. Eckland recalled that "Sherman Field was where I checked out in a PT-22
to qualify for my civil ticket after discharge from USAF in 1947."
A 1948 aerial view looking northwest at the ramp & hangars at Sherman Field.
Photo is courtesy of Bill Larkins, who lives adjacent to the site of the airport.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located
of Sherman Field was on the 1948 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
It depicted Sherman as having a 2,800' unpaved runway.
Sherman Field was still depicted on the 1949 USGS topo map.
However, the airport property was sold in 1950 for real estate development.
Sherman Field was evidently closed at some point between 1950-59,
as the 1959 USGS topo map depicted a drive-in theatre & a grid of new residential streets
which had been constructed on the site of the former airport.
As an be seen in the February 2004 USGS aerial photo,
the 680 Freeway has been built through the center of the site,
and not a trace of the former airport appears to remain.
Sherman Field was located northeast of the intersection of Contra Costa Boulevard & Monument Boulevard.
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(Original) Concord Airport, Concord, CA
37.97 North / 121.99 West (Northeast of Oakland, CA)
An undated aerial picture of the original Concord Airport by A.W. Stevens, from a 1926 magazine article (courtesy of Neil Hinckley).
The caption read, “This is the main western terminus of the transcontinental Air Mail line.
Eastbound mail leaves from this field.
Westbound, the mail plane flies directly to Crissy Field, on the edge of San Francisco,
unless prevented from landing there by bay fog.
From Concord Field to Crissy Field is only about 20 minutes by air.”
The original airport for the town of Concord was located on the east side of the town.
According to a circa January 1986 article in the Concord Gazzette (courtesy of Phil Beutel),
the airport was dedicated as the “Diablo Air Mail Terminal” on February 7, 1925.
Concord was declared by the U.S. Postal Service to be the West Coast terminus for cross-country airmail flights.
Airmail planes flew into the Concord field to deliver & pick up mail
that was carried back & forth from San Francisco & Oakland on trains.
The January 1926 issue of the National Geographic magazine featured a picture of the airfield
in a story describing the new airmail service.
The 1927 Standard Oil of CA Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Concord Airport as a “permanent” field, located 2 miles southeast of the city.
It was said to consist o a 2,600' x 2,200' field,
which permitted landings in any direction.
Hangars were said to be located at the northeast corner.
It was also noted that “This field is used by the United States Air Mail
and is to be used for emergency only.”
According to a circa January 1986 article in the Concord Gazzette (courtesy of Phil Beutel),
Concord's role as the West Coast Airmail terminus lasted until 1927,
when new airmail contractor Boeing Air Transport moved the terminus to San Francisco.
But even then Concord still saw some airmail use,
as the San Francisco Airport was frequently fogged-in.
As private companies were taking over the airmail service,
it was possible for the same planes to begin carrying passengers.
Boeing's 1st passenger flight out of Concord was recorded on July 1, 1927 in a local newspaper.
The earliest chart depiction of the Concord Airport which has been located
was on the 1929 Rand McNally Air Trails Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted an intermediate field just southeast of Concord.
It was described as an “Emergency” field, “open to private planes for emergency only.”
It was said to consist of an 80-acre earthen field, measuring 2,200' square,
with 2 hangars on the northwest side.
According to a circa January 1986 article in the Concord Gazzette (courtesy of Phil Beutel),
Clothidle Larkin recalled that the field was rededicated in the early 1930s.
The role of the Concord Airport was apparently shifted to that of an Intermediate Field at some point between 1929-33,
as it was listed in The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
as the Department of Commerce's Intermediate Field Site 2A,
along the San Francisco – Salt Lake City Airway.
The field was said to consist of an 81-acre black loam field,
along with hangars.
The 1933 San Francisco Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Concord as Site 2A.
The original Concord Airport was no longer listed at all in the 1934 Department of Commerce Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy),
or in The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airport Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
However, the field was still being used in the “late 1930s”, according to Phil Cox,
a charter member of the Concord Flying Club.
The original Concord Airport was not depicted at all on the December 1941 San Francisco Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy),
or on the 1942 USGS topo map.
World War 2 brought an end to the original Concord Airport,
when the Sheriff removed the propeller from the Concord Flying Club's plane (due to wartime security concerns).
The aircraft was stored in a barn for the next 4 years.
Phil Beutel recalled, “I purchased Niagra Duplicator in 1950.
The lease on the hangar came with the business & the owner was a Mr. Nulty.
When I leased the hangar the land was all vacant except for a few houses on Clayton Road.”
The land of the former airport was eventually covered by housing tracts.
Neil Hinckley recalled, “Our (1950) housing development, 'Concord Village', was built over” the site of the airfield.
A undated photo of a remaining hangar from the original Concord Airport,
from a circa January 1986 article in the Concord Gazzette (courtesy of Phil Beutel).
The article said the hangar was used in recent years by a battery exchange company,
and was also used as a warehouse.
However, it had fallen into disuse, and was the subject of complaints from neighbors.
The hangar was evidently removed at some point between 1986-93,
as the site of the hangar appears to be covered by more houses in the 1993 USGS aerial photo.
As seen in the 2004 USGS aerial photo,
the site of the original Concord Airport has been densely covered in housing,
and not a trace appears to remain of the old airfield.
Phil Beutel reported in 2005, “The last I heard there was a bronze marker near the intersection of West & Chestnut.”
Neil Hinckley reported in 2005, “500 houses & a school now cover that 2,200' x 2,600' grass field.”
According to Phil Beutel, Concord Airport was bounded on the west by West Street, on the north by Wilson Lane,
on the east by Denkinger Road, and on the south by Clayton Road.
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Concord Naval Weapons Station Airfield, Concord, CA
37.99 North / 122 West (Northeast of Oakland, CA)
A 1943 photo of an F6F Hellcat at OLF Concord, by Bill Larkins.
"This F6F (BuNo 40198) was there one day in October 1943 when I was home on leave
and hung out in the weeds with my Graflex.
Other planes there that day were a Cessna JRC-1, North Amnerican SNJ-4,
Beech SNB-1, Beech SNB-2C, Douglas SBD-5 and a Grumman F4F-3."
This former military airfield was located on the southern edge of the Concord Naval Weapons Station.
The date of construction of the Concord airfield is unknown.
The earliest depiction of it which has been located is the above photo from 1943.
Bill Larkins recalled, "Alameda operated the Outlying Field Concord for practice takeoffs & landings."
A 1944 USN aerial view looking southwest at OLF Concord (courtesy of Bill Larkins).
The August 1944 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling)
depicted the Concord Navy Airfield as an auxiliary airfield.
By the time of the 1946 Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dann Shively),
the Concord Navy Airfield was still depicted,
but its depiction on the chart had been downgraded to that of an auxiliary airfield.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located
of the Concord Navy Airfield was on the 1948 Sacramento Sectional Chart (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
It depicted “Concord” as having a 4,000' hard-surface runway.
Strangely, the airfield was not depicted with any military label,
so it is possible that it may have been (briefly) relinquished for civilian use.
The Concord Navy airfield was evidently closed at some point between 1948-49,
as it was not depicted as an active airfield on aeronautical charts
from 1949, 1955, 1956, 1957, or 1966 (according to Chris Kennedy & John Voss).
The airfield was depicted on the 1959 USGS topo map, but it was not labeled,
which presumably means it was no longer an active airfield at that point.
The Concord airfield was depicted as having 2 paved runways (the largest was 3,300' long),
taxiways, and a ramp.
The 1993 USGS aerial photo showed that the primary (east/west) runway & parking ramp still existed,
but the majority of the north/south runway had been removed,
with a residential development having been built over the northern portion of the former north/south runway.
The Concord Naval Weapons Station itself was placed in a "reduced operation status" in 1999.
The station is presently surrounded by dense residential development.
A 2003 photo by Jonathan Westerling looking east along a remaining runway of the former Concord NWS airfield.
A 2003 photo by Jonathan Westerling looking south along a remaining runway of the former Concord NWS airfield.
Jonathan Westerling visited the Concord NWS airfield in 2003.
His report: "The trees at the ends of the runways at the Concord Naval Weapons Station
have grown to well over 35' high.
Even though it has been inactive for a long time,
the field itself is still very much in evidence,
and fresh yellow X's have been painted on the asphalt runways.
The east/west runway is in better condition than the north/south runway which is mostly overgrown.
Near the runway intersection, a Naval housing complex 'Victory Village' was constructed,
though the buildings are almost completely empty.
No other present day reuse of the airfield is evident, though the property is completely fenced off.
The runways can be easily seen from East Olivera Rd."
As seen in the February 2004 USGS aerial photo,
the majority of the primary (east/west) runway & parking ramp still existed,
but a residential development had been built over a northern portion of the north/south runway.
Ironically, in 2005 the Mayor of Concord, Laura Hoffmeister,
was lobbying the Defense Department to close the Concord Naval Weapons Station,
according to an Associated Press article by Michelle Locke (courtesy of Jonathan Westerling).
At a time when many other municipalities are desperately trying to avoid having their bases closed,
the Concord Mayor is trying to clear the way for 13,500 new homes,
planned for the property of the Navy base.
Marshall Carter reported in 2005 that the plan has been reduced to 6,000 houses over the former airfield site,
due to concerns about low-level radiation contamination on other parts of the former Navy facility.
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San Francisco Bay Airdrome, Alameda, CA
37.78 North / 122.28 West
A 1930 aerial view of the San Francisco Bay Airdrome (courtesy of aerofiles.com).
In 1920, as part of an inheritance from a wealthy alumnus,
the University of California received 458 acres of partially filled marshland on both sides of Webster Street.
In 1929, capitalizing on the airplane fever created by Lindbergh's transcontinental flight,
the UC Regents began construction of an airport.
The marsh was drained by a network of ditches from which water was pumped.
After grading the site, crushed oyster shells were barged from Bay Farm Island to pave 3,400' & 1,700' runways,
and the airdrome's business was housed in a single 53,000-square-foot hangar, constructed for $150,000.
The Bay Airdrome had its gala christening party in 1930.
The airfield was a busy place,
as an early home base for Coastal Air Freight, Varney Air Lines, West Coast Air Transport,
Western Air Express, the transbay Air Ferries, and Boeing's Pacific Air Transport.
The Standard Oil Company's 1930 "Airplane Landing Fields of the Pacific West" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described San Francisco Bay Airdrome as having 2 shell runways,
with the longest being a 3,400' east/west strip.
A 3,600' northeast/southwest runway was listed as being under construction, to be ready in 1931.
Its success during 1930-31 led to a 160' addition to the original hangar
and the first 160' of another one.
Three more hangars were soon added, actually attached to the first,
then a fifth one, separate & canted at an outward angle.
“San Francisco Bay” was depicted as a commercial/municipal airport
on the 1933 San Francisco Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
An aerial looking northwest at San Francisco Bay Airdrome,
from The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Note the aircraft in flight over the center of the field.
The directory described San Francisco Bay Airdrome as having 2 crushed shell runways
(extravagantly described as "one of the finest surfaces ever constructed for airplane landings"),
oriented 3,400' east/west & 1,700' north/south.
The field featured a "modern steel hangar", fueling, passenger waiting room, and "expert mechanical service".
The manager was listed as R.U. St. John.
A 1936 airport directory described San Francisco Bay Airdrome as having four runways,
with the longest being a 3,600' crushed shell northeast/southwest runway.
A blimp anchorage was located on the southwest part of the field.
A 1937 aerial view of the San Francisco Bay Airdrome (courtesy of aerofiles.com).
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described San Francisco Bay Airdrome in much the same manner.
A 1938 photo of a Condor Air Lines Consolidated "Fleetster" 20-A in front of the boarding area at SFBA.
Condor Air Lines started a route to Monterey with this plane.
It's still in it's TWA red colors - it was repainted yellow the next year.
Photo courtesy of Bill Larkins.
Airline business at the field was negatively impacted by the depression-era economy,
and the airlines soon departed to the San Francisco & Oakland Airports.
The Airdrome became home to general aviation & a number of operators,
including Johnston Air Service, Monarch Air Service, Pacific Aerial Survey,
dealerships for Stinson, Waco, Stearman-Hammond, Kinner, and Fairchild airplanes,
and the business fleets of Standard, Mohawk, and Richfield oil companies.
Aerial extravaganzas in 1938 & 1939 attracted tens of thousands of locals to their airfield.
K.O. Eckland recalled, "SFBA is where I grew up, the classic kid riding his bike
from Berkeley all the way to Alameda after school let out & on weekends just to be around airplanes."
A 1939 photo by Bill Larkins of Paul Mantz's Lockheed Orion 9-C at San Francisco Bay Airdrome.
A undated photo of Tex Rankin in his Grear Lakes biplane in front of the hangars at SFBA (courtesy of Bill Larkins).
Bill Larkins recalled, "It had unique hangars & in addition they were different in having advertising painted on the roofs.
A fascinating place!"
A list of aircraft registered as being based at the Airdrome from 1931-40 included aircraft by
Aeromarine-Klemm, Aeronca, Alexander Eaglerock, American Eagle, Bach, Beechcraft, Buhl,
Consolidated, Curtiss, De Havilland, Fairchild, Fleet, Fokker, Keystone, Kinner, Lockheed,
Luscombe, Monocupe, Piper, Porterfield, Ryan, Rearwin, Savoia-Marchetti, Security Airster,
Sikorsky, Stearman, Stinson, Swallow, Taylor, Taylorcraft, Travel Air, Viking, and Waco.
The last aeronautical chart depiction of San Francisco Bay Airdrome which has been located
was on the December 1941 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The new Alameda Naval Air Station had recently been constructed adjacent to the west side of the Airdrome,
and the naval airfield's significant expansion soon spelled the end for the little civil airport.
The Bay Airdrome was closed in 1941 when it was decided that its traffic interfered with operations at NAS Alameda.
The Navy first condemned 70 acres bordering Atlantic Avenue for a housing project,
then ordered the abandonment of the Airdrome.
The 1942 USGS topo map still depicted the San Francisco Bay Airdrome,
but the adjacent NAS Alameda was simply left blank (without any depiction of the airfield at all),
simply labeled "Military Reservation".
This was omission was apparently due to security concerns during WW2.
By the time of the 1946 USGS topo map, the Airdrome was no longer depicted at all.
By the time of the 1949 USGS topo map,
the open airfield area of the former Airdrome had been filled in with buildings.
In 1970, the College of Alameda opened on the eastern portion of the former Airdrome property.
A view of one of the former hangars of San Francisco Bay Airdrome in 1993, by Bill Larkins.
Bill Larkins reported that the former hangars of SFBA still existed as of 2003.
"They were moved by the Navy & still belong to them.
Most are abandoned but one is being used as a Navy medical supply warehouse."
Rick Turner reported in 2003, "I went by today
and the 2 hangars that had been moved are gone
along with some other ex-Navy warehouses.
It looks like some construction will start there soon but I don't know what.
The one hangar that was still in it's original position
is still there & appears to be being used for some sort of storage."
A February 2004 USGS aerial photo of the site of the former Airdrome.
The last hangar from the former Airdrome was evidently removed at some point between 2004-2006,
as a 2006 aerial photo showed that it had been replaced by new housing.
The site of the former Airdrome is located northwest of the intersection of Webster Street & Atlantic Avenue.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this airfield.
See also: http://www.aerofiles.com/SFBA/SFBA.html
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Alameda Airport / Alameda NAS (NGZ), Alameda, CA
37.79 North / 122.31 West
Alameda Airport & Seaplane Base,
as depicted on the 1929 "Rand McNally Standard Map of CA With Air Trails" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
In 1927, an airfield was built at Alameda with one east/west runway, three hangars,
an administration building, and a yacht harbor.
The Standard Oil Company's 1929 "Airplane Landing Fields of the Pacific West" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Alameda Airport as being operated by Curtiss Airport, Inc.
The airfield configuration was said to be a 2,600' east/west runway,
along with the comment, "Field to be enlarged to 5,400' x 3,400'."
A total of 10 hangars, a repair shop, weather bureau, and a hotel were listed as being along the north side of the field.
By 1930, it was known as Benton Field,
and the Army had established a base at the field.
A remarkable 1932 aerial view looking west, with Alameda Airport in the foreground at lower-left,
with the San Francisco skyline at the upper-left (courtesy of Bill Eaton).
Bill observed, “Alameda Airport is at lower left along the south side of the Oakland estuary- the dark channel at lower left.
Goat Island, later renamed Yerba Buena, is at center & the old Key System streetcar/ferry pier is at far right.
No Bay Bridge yet in 1932 so the ferries crowd the bay.
Large Southern Pacific railhead & ferry piers are at lower center
and 2 more ferry operators have piers on each side of the mouth of the estuary.”
“Alameda” Airport, as depicted on the 1933 San Francisco Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Over the next few years, the City of Alameda continued to expand the area of the airport by filling in land in the bay.
Pan American Airlines took over the yacht basin in 1935
and inaugurated flying boat service to Hawaii & the Orient.
The City of Alameda deeded the property to the Federal Government in 1936,
and the Army turned over its facilities at Benton Field to the Navy.
An aerial view looking northeast at Alameda Airport,
from The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
A 1937 photo of Alameda Airport (courtesy of Bill Larkins).
Congress appropriated $10 million for the development of a Naval Air Station at the site in 1938.
Pan Am moved its operations to Treasure Island in 1939,
and the new Naval Air Station was commissioned the following year.
A January 1941 aerial view looking north at the hangars & buildings of NAS Alameda.
Inexplicably, no airfield at NAS Alameda was depicted
on the December 1941 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A 1943 National Archives photo looking east at NAS Alameda,
showing the disruptive camouflage pattern painted on the runways.
A circa 1944-45 photo of Grumman Hellcats being overhauled at Alameda
(from the 1965 Open House program, courtesy of Bill Eaton).
A WW2-era aerial view of the ramp at Alameda
(from the 1965 Open House program, courtesy of Bill Eaton).
Numerous PBYs, Consolidated Coronados, Martin Mariners, and C-47s (R4D?) were visible.
Close inspection seems to reveal a clump of Helldivers at center, judging by the upward wing-folds & round tails,
as well as Grummans, possibly Avengers, on the water side of the ramp.
The base eventually included five runways, a seaplane lagoon & ramps,
& 2 aircraft carrier piers, with a total of 2,720 acres.
NAS Alameda, as depicted on the March 1945 San Francisco Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
In 1945, NAS Alameda had the following outlying fields (according to John Voss):
NOLF Half Moon Bay, NOLF Concord, OLF San Luis Obispo,
NOLF Clear Lake (seaplane only), OLF Tulare Lake (seaplane only), and OLF Paso Robles.
A March 1946 photo by Fred Dickey (courtesy of William Larkins) of a Curtiss SC-1
operating with SOSU-3 approaching NAS Alameda's seaplane ramp.
A 1946 photo by Bill Larkins of a Martin JRM-1 Mars (76820) making a JATO-assisted takeoff from Alameda,
headed north on San Francisco Bay on its way to Hawaii.
A 1946 aerial view of NAS Alameda, showing the 5 paved runways & large number of hangars.
USGS topo map 1949.
Al Brown recalled, "I was stationed at Alameda in 1953-54.
I was a crew member on the JRM Mars seaplane.
We flew to Hawaii & returned twice a week.
Travel time was 16 hours flying at 10,000 feet."
A 1955 USN photo of a sporty FJ3 Fury in front of NAS Alameda's Hangar 20 (courtesy of John Voss).
Compare to the photo of the same building, 48 years later, several paragraphs below.
An undated (circa 1950s) USN photo of a static display at NAS Alameda,
with a F7U-3 Cutlass in the center (courtesy of John Voss).
A 1956 photo of a Convair R3Y-2 Tradewind "Caribbean Sea" (131723)
of VR-2 leaving the seaplane docks at Alameda (courtesy of Bill Larkins).
A late 1950s photo by Bill Eaton of the surviving fleet of Martin Mars seaplanes
at NAS Alameda after they were retired & put into storage.
A July 1963 photo by William Larkins of a Curtiss C-46F, N69346 at NAS Alameda.
According to William, “Quicktrans was a contract service at that time for civilian operators to carry freight for the Navy.”
An undated photo of A-4 Skyhawks in the Alameda Naval Air Rework Facility.
In postwar years, one of the most important tenants at Alameda was the Naval Air Rework Facility,
a depot for various naval aircraft.
A wide variety of Navy & Marine Corps aircraft units were stationed at Alameda.
An undated (circa 1960s?) aerial view looking northwest, showing three aircraft carriers docked at the piers,
with NAS Alameda behind them, and the an Francisco skyline at the top left.
Alameda served as the homeport for several aircraft carriers,
with piers large enough to accommodate the largest carriers in the fleet.
A 1984 aerial view of Alameda, showing a large number of tactical aircraft on the ramp at the bottom,
as well as P-3 Orions along the former seaplane ramp along the east side.
A 1988 airport diagram of Alameda NAS.
A January 1989 DOD aerial view looking southeast at NAS Alameda.
A 1993 USGS aerial photo of Alameda, shortly before it closed (note a few aircraft still on the ramp).
The 1996 USGS topo map depicted the massive airfield infrastructure of the Alameda NAS.
Alameda NAS was closed on April 25, 1997 as part of the Base Closure & Realignment process.
At the time of its closure, two asphalt runways were still maintained (the largest, 5/31, was 8,400').
Civil reuse plans did not include any aviation uses.
A mile & a quarter long section of "freeway" which was constructed on the former Alameda runways
in 2001 as a movie set for the film "The Matrix Reloaded" (courtesy of Eric Barbour).
According to Eric Barbour, the former runways at Alameda were used in 2001 to film part of the movie "The Matrix 2".
An entire 3-mile-long section of freeway was constructed on part of Runways 13 & 25.
Warner Brothers removed the set after filming,
but the layout of the roadway sections were still perceptible on the runways.
A beautiful 2003 photo by Erick McCarthy of the San Francisco skyline behind the remains of the runways at NAS Alameda.
A 2003 photo by Erick McCarthy looking south along the parking apron,
with the hangars & control tower of NAS Alameda visible on the left.
A 2003 photo by Bill Larkins of a Douglas A-4 mounted on a pylon at Alameda.
A 2003 photo by Bill Larkins of a loaded Vought A-7, mounted on a pylon at Alameda.
A 2003 photo by Tim Tyler of Building 77 at Alameda - still marked as the "Air Terminal".
Tim Tyler visited the former NAS Alameda in 2003.
His report: "Hello from 37-46.86 N / 122-17.96 W,
the ramp area in front (south) of the former NAS Alameda Building 77 -
the old Air Terminal Building.
Building 77 is on the east end of this ramp area,
with the newer ATC/Terminal Building being on the west end.
The newer ATC building is actually the corner,
as the hangars & ramp area basically form an 'L' shape."
A 2003 photo by Tim Tyler of the remains of a seaplane ramp,
with several former Navy ships in the background.
Tim Tyler continued, "I rode my bike all around the ramp area this afternoon,
seeing / photographing the numerous old seaplane ramps
(including one that seemed to have been converted from a barge),
the faded helicopter LZ markings, and four major hangars.
Three in a row & then one located right behind Building 77.
NAS Alameda is now known as Alameda Point, and is pretty much owned by the city of Alameda now.
I'd say maybe 40% of the NAS properties are redeveloped,
but that number could be substantially greater
if some companies have just chosen not to put any signs up on their doors or something."
A 2003 photo by Tim Tyler of "a very large, metal NAS Alameda emblem,
mounted on the wall next to the doors at the old Air Terminal."
Tim Tyler continued, "Building 77 looks like it dates back to the 1930s or 40s, several stories tall,
with 'Air Terminal' lettering on the ramp-side of it.
There are several historical markers around the steps leading to the door,
and a large NAS Alameda emblem is still up on the wall next to the doors.
This building was apparently a NAS Alameda Museum at one point,
however a piece of paper still posted on the glass doors indicated that the museum was still looking for volunteers,
and they were anxious because they had a 2001 opening date.
Peering in through the window, the ground floor area was full of miscellaneous junk,
but not dirty or showing any signs of vandalism.
Apparently the museum group suffered from a variety of mismanagement, and was short-lived.
Some of the aircraft that were on loan to them is now aboard the USS Hornet,
moored several hundred yards away."
A 2003 photo by Tim Tyler.
"The Pan American Airways System artwork is on the side of one of the old hangars behind the old Air Terminal building.
I'm assuming it was a hangar used by Pan Am Clippers back in the day."
Tim Tyler continued, "The hangar behind the Air Terminal is Hangar 41, the 'AIMD' [Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department] Hangar.
It's unusual in that it has a small Quonset hut located along the south side of the doors,
and an old cipher lock on the personnel door, located in between the 20'x40' Quonset hut & the hangar."
A 2003 photo by Tim Tyler of NAS Alameda's Hangar 40.
"The next major Hangar, number 40, is now the Bladium Sports Club, at 800 West Tower Avenue."
Tim Tyler continued, "Hangar 39, 950 West Tower Ave, is now Delphi Productions,
which based on what I saw when I peered in one of the windows,
is involved with helping design, build & ship exhibits for trade shows.
The south side of this hangar is at 37-46.9 N / 122-18.19 W.
Based on some painted-over stenciling ('HS-85 Parking Only') on the side,
this hangar had been used by Navy Helicopter Squadron 85."
Tim continued, "The next hangar west is number 12,
which according to some very faded/perhaps painted over lettering was the 'NARF Emergency Repair Hangar 12' once,
but from all external appearances, it seems unused these days.
However, in peeking through a window, I did observe a 2003 calendar on the wall of a work area.
On the ramp about 50' back from this hangar are some 'humps' in the concrete
which seemed to provide some power & liquid receptacles for parked aircraft.
Building 12 is a very large hangar, perhaps 700' long on it's south side.
It has several street addresses - 1090 & 1190 West Tower Avenue.
The '12' numbers are on the hangar doors on the east end of the building.
The doors on the west don't have a hangar number above them,
but the doors on the number side indicate it is Hangar 11."
Tim continued, "Hangar 25 is a newer (at least 1970s) hangar
and is on the opposite side of the ramp from the ATC Tower.
It had three separate bays to it,
and the east end is at 37-46.83 N / 122-18.60 W.
It seems mostly to be used these days for indoor antique shows & flea markets.
It was used to remove the canons from aircraft,
which would then be taken to nearby Building 29.
Behind (south) it seemed to be some sort of power production facility,
and then Building 494 (1851 Monarch Street),
which is an ancient looking corrugated steel warehouse type building
with several storage bays that have newer cars in them."
Tim continued, "A couple hundred yards South of Building 494 is Building 29.
It's in an isolated area, with it's own security fencing,
and seemed to have old CCTV camera mounts in all four corners of the fenceline.
It's a fairly modern poured concrete building, with a variety of ventilation ducts on the roof.
The entrance door was hardened, and next to it is a 10'x15' equipment door.
An American flag is flying on the roof, and per a sign up on the fence,
this building is now used by Rosenblum Cellars.
It turned out this is the former aircraft cannon test firing cell facility,
and was hardened in case of misfires or explosions."
Tim continued, "Heading back due north, past Hangar 494 a couple hundred yards,
is the ATC Tower at 2175 Monarch Street.
This is a fairly modern structure in very good condition, and is attached to some other buildings,
which to me indicates it became the new Air Terminal facility.
It's now used by the Alameda Point Community Partners -
the name of the entity in charge of redeveloping the former NAS.
The SE corner of this site has three Mark-22 naval artillery pieces on their original mounts,
built in Detroit, Michigan in the 1940s."
Tim continued, "Right at 37-46.94 N / 122-18.63 W was some sort of large emblem
painted onto the gray concrete ramp area in front the runway-side entrance to this building.
For some reason, it has been painted over in black paint,
but it read 'Naval Air Station Alameda California'
and had a red, white & blue shield in the center."
Tim continued, "Continuing north on the ramp area past the ATC/Terminal Building puts you on the other part of the 'L' shape.
The runway area is west, but it's fenced off with numerous 'No Tresspassing' signs,
indicating that the area is now a California Least Tern nesting area.
This was the site in particular I was hoping to be able to access with my bike.
Off in the distance, near the bay I can see 2 munitions igloos near the southwest corner of the runway area.
More towards the center is a series of several small concrete buildings & one Quonset hut structure.
A couple of cars and a motorhome are parked in their vicinity.
One of these buildings is marked as Building 499, and based on the ventilation ducts on the side,
perhaps it was a generator or transformer building for the airfield lighting system?
It turns out that the Terns don't care too much for the peace & quiet,
so there is some discussion amongst the powers-that-be
to re-use some of this valuable bay-front land with spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline.
As it is, the City of Alameda rents out access to the former runways frequently -
Hummer built a temporary course to demonstrate their vehicle's prowess,
General Motors has leased the grounds to provide demo rides of their products, etc."
Tim continued, "Hangar 24 is north-northeast of the Terminal Building a couple hundred feet,
and is a modern hangar with a lot of heavy-duty ventilation on the roof.
It's now used by Coach Specialties Inc. and is the former aircraft painting facility.
Coach Specialties uses it to paint large buses."
Tim continued, "The North end of it seems to be used by another firm.
There were about a dozen strange looking 4 door cars known as 'Cayenne Turbos'
but no manufacturer name or logo.
Turns out they're a new Porsche product,
brought in to test driven by Bay Area Porsche enthusiasts his weekend."
"The next hangar north is number 23, now apparently used by 'WCN' company.
Next is Hangar 22 at 2501 Monarch Street, now used by Creative Technology.
Hangar 21 is/was used as a factory by Kitz Direct Seal Valves, but sure looks like it is unused now.
On the runway side of Hangar 21, 'Welcome from the Firebirds' is still easily legible along the roofline.
These hangars were formerly home to Marine Corps aviation squadrons."
A 2003 photo by Tim Tyler of NAS Alameda's Hangar 20.
Compare to the photo of the same building, 48 years before, several paragraphs above.
Tim Tyler continued, "What should be Hangar 20 does have any Hangar or Building number markings up,
but it is occupied by Ocean Systems Inc, Protector Boats, Juniper Ridge, and Edge Innovations.
Protector Boats is a series of harbor patrol type RIB/RHI boats, and several were stored outside.
On the west (runway) side of this building, at 37-47.3 N / 122-18.60 W should be exactly where
the F-3J 'Fury' aircraft was parked when the photo [several paragraphs above] was taken.
It's kind of eerie to be parked in that exact spot right now, while I look at that photo from 1955.
The tower cab is no longer up on the end of the hangar.
Further north of Hangar 20 is a large, paved area that's vacant,
and then an active Port of Oakland commercial shipping area beyond that."
Tim continued, "On the west-northwest side of the runway area is the former modern WSA for 'special' weapons.
That portion of the base also had a small arms firing range, and south of this area, I spotted the field's tetrahedron."
Tim continued, "The former NAS Alameda is a very large installation,
with lots of areas to explore, however in this visit & report,
I'm tending to focus on the aviation-related aspects.
There were numerous other large hangars
(I've been informed that Hangar 5 has about 1,000,000 square feet of floor space)
that I'm not even mentioning,
because they're set back behind others & not up against the flight line."
Tim continued, "I was extremely lucky to stop & talk with an Alameda PD officer,
who happened to be a retired Marine who was stationed aboard the USS Carl Vinson
during the time the Vinson's home-port was NAS Alameda.
He confirmed numerous educated guesses I'd made,
allowing me to revise some tentative wording in this Situation Report to something definitive."
Hugh Black reported in 2003 that he works for Protector Boats & Performance Boats,
which is located in Alameda's former Hangar #20.
"This is an old helo hangar.
There are still diagrams on the wall of the different types of helos... size, dimensions etc. (very cool)."
As seen in the February 2004 USGS aerial photo,
the former airfield remained almost completely intact,
with an extensive network of runways, taxiways, large ramp areas & numerous hangars.
However, note the movie-set 'freeway' which had been constructed over several of the runways.
Scott reported in 2004 "that a couple of WWII veterans have just opened a museum [the Alameda Naval Air Museum]
in the old Air Terminal Building in Alameda Building 77 of the old Naval Air Station.
It is open on the weekends & features the local history.
As you come through the gate on Atlantic Ave when you reach the fork it is on your right."
A 2004 photo by Tim Tyler looking east at Alameda's abandoned hangars.
A 2004 photo by Tim Tyler looking west along one of Alameda's abandoned runways, with the San Francisco skyline in the background.
A 2004 photo by Tim Tyler of one of Alameda's abandoned former munitions storage bunkers.
Tim Tyler visited the abandoned NAS Alameda again in 2004.
"The entire airfield area is fenced, but on occasion, the gate for the northern half is open,
and I was able to drive around this portion.
Besides part of the runway & taxiway areas,
the only thing that's really there is the former weapons storage areas -
an older conventional munitions area,
and then an adjacent compound that had been guarded by a contingent of Marines, and stored nuclear weapons."
Tim continued, "There was another fence running East/West & cutting the airfield in half.
This other half of the airfield is this silly wildlife preserve & very much off-limits to unauthorized people,
though there was some sort of truck driving around there.
This half of the airfield has a couple large munitions igloos towards the SW corner,
the old shooting range, windvane, and a couple other miscellaneous buildings."
A beautiful August 2004 photo © by AirNikon (used by permission),
looking west with the site of the former San Francisco Bay Airdrome in the immediate foreground,
the closed NAS Alameda in the middle,
and the skyline of San Francisco in the background.
A 2006 aerial view by Bill Larkins looking northeast at the Alameda ramp, hangars, and control tower.
Adrienne Simpson reported in 2006, “I work for Hangar One vodka,
which occupies Hangar 21 on the former Alameda Naval Air Station.”
A December 2006 aerial view by Ian Carisi looking southeast along Alameda's Runway 13.
A November 2007 aerial view by Ian Carisi looking south at Alameda's former control tower.
See also: www.vpnavy.com/nasalameda.html
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