Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Florida, Southeastern Jacksonville area
© 2002, © 2006 by Paul Freeman. Revised 2/15/06.
Francis NOLF (revised 7/8/04) - Richard Bull Airport (revised 4/7/05)
Switzerland NOLF (revised 2/15/06) - Trout Creek NOLF (added 1/23/04)
____________________________________________________
Richard Bull Airport, Atlantic Beach, FL
30.34 North / 81.41 West (East of Jacksonville NAS, FL)
Bull Airport, as depicted on the July 1950 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
This short-lived little general aviation airport was located only a mile from the Atlantic coast.
Richard Bull Airport was evidently established at some point between 1949-50,
as it was not yet depicted at all on the February 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of Bull Airport which has been located
was on the July 1950 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Brian Rehinwinkel).
It depicted the field as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
A May 16 1952 USDA aerial photograph of Bull Airport,
(courtesy of the Digital Library Center / University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries, via Brian Rehwinkel).
Note the airfield circle on the west side of the grass runway.
The July 1954 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
also depicted Bull Airport as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
A montage of 1956 photos taken at Bull Airport (courtesy of Bill Bull, via Terry Brant).
“The radial engined plane is a Monocoupe; the other aircraft depicted is an Aeronca Scout that was owned by Beach Flying Club.
The Aeronca was put together in a bicycle shop with frame welding being done there & completed at the airport.
Much of the work was done by Forrester 'Wilkie' Wilkinson an A&E mechanic,
who for a time during the mid & late 1950s lived on the airport with his wife & children.”
Terry Brant recalled, “An interesting field was Bull Airport in Atlantic Beach,
where I took my first lightplane ride in an Aeronca Scout in 1956 at age 15.
The airport was an idyllic place to learn to fly, always exciting, and with a host of characters I have never forgotten.
Nor have I forgotten my J-3 Cub, nor all the other classic planes based at the field or often visiting -
like Stinsons, Ercoupes, a Fairchild 24 used for banner towing,
Aeronca Champion & Scout, Cessna 140, 170 & 170B, Monocoupe, and so on.
The field was 2,000' long, in a nort-south orientation when I started flying there,
later lengthened to 2,500'; the south end being quite rough.
The airport was owned by Harcourt Bull of Atlantic Beach,
a well known local businessman, active in real estate development.
That place was once a young man's dream & a real life adventure.
The host of characters was absolutely unbelievable, and it was pure grass roots aviation;
the distinct smell of fabric covered airplanes mixed with the aroma of 80 octane fuel & carefree summer days.”
The runway at Bull Airport had evidently been lengthened at some point between 1954-56,
as the July 1956 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the field as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
A 1957 photo of Bull Airport looking north along the dirt entrance road from Plaza (courtesy of Bill Bull, via Terry Brant).
“You can see the 2,000' sod runway immediately to the left of the three parked planes.”
The December 1959 Civil Aeronautics Administration Record of Airport Facilities (courtesy of Terry Brant)
depicted Richard Bull Airport as consisting of a single 2,500' turf north/south runway,
on the east side of which was a small office building.
The owner was listed as RCRS Corporation, the operator as Harcourt Bull Jr.,
and the manager as W.T. Brant.
The field was said to offer fuel & minor repairs,
and it was said to be home to 4 single-engine aircraft.
Terry Brant recalled, “In 1959, at the age of 18,
I was the manager of Bull Airport as listed on the CAA Record of Airport Facilities.”
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (according to Chris Kennedy)
described Bull airport as having a 2,500' runway.
An October 23, 1960 USDA aerial photograph of Bull Airport,
taken while the field was still open (note at least two light aircraft parked east of the runway).
The photo is courtesy of the Digital Library Center / University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries, via Brian Rehwinkel.
Terry Brant recalled, “Although I'm not sure if it appeared on 1961 charts,
I know the airport still had limited activity before I left for college in that year.”
It appears as if Bull Airport was closed at some point between 1961-62,
as it was no longer listed among active airfields in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,
nor depicted at all on the 1964 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
It apparently lasted no more than 13 years.
Terry Brant recalled, “Sadly, Richard Bull Airport is no more.
It was sold at some point in time for development.”
By the time of an April 1966 aerial view (courtesy of Reggie Brandley of FDOT, via Terry Brant),
Bull Airport was evidently closed already, as all of the aircraft were gone.
An August 1969 aerial view of the site of Bull Airport (courtesy of Reggie Brandley of FDOT, via Terry Brant).
The length of the runway was still clear in this photo.
According to Terry Brant, “The 2,500' sod runway is clearly visible to the left of the clubhouse, scanning down (southward).
Approximately 2/3 of the way down the runway from the north end, you will see a sand path across the runway.
This path was used by pedestrians crossing the runway going to & from their homes on the west side of the runway.
When the original 2000' runway was extended to 2,500', the south end was immediately north of Plaza.”
As seen in the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
not a trace appears to remain of Bull Airport.
The north end of the field covered by the golf course of the Selva Marina Country Club,
while the south end of the property has been filled in with houses.
The site of Bull Airport is located at the intersection of 11th Street & Park Side Drive.
____________________________________________________
Switzerland Naval Outer Landing Field, Switzerland, FL
30.05 North / 81.64 West (South-Southeast of Jacksonville NAS, FL)
A March 1942 aerial view of the site of Switzerland NOLF,
which at this point was being used as a bomb target,
before the airfield had been constructed.
US Government photo, courtesy of FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel.
According to a 1999 US Army Corps of Engineers report,
a total of 1,782 acres were acquired in Switzerland, FL
starting in 1940 to build a satellite airfield & bombing target for aircraft from Jacksonville NAS.
The site was used at first exclusively as a bombing target.
The above aerial photo from March 1942 appears to show the site when it was used exclusively as a bombing target,
before any runways or other airfield facilities were constructed.
No airfield at Switzerland was yet depicted on the June 1942 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Eventually, at some point after 1942, a total of 4 paved runways were constructed.
The earliest chart depiction which has been located of the Switzerland airfield
was on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted “Switzerland (Navy)” as an auxiliary airfield.
An aerial view looking east at the “Jacksonville Naval Air Station Auxiliary (16912 Switzerland Outlying Field)”,
from a 1945 Army Airfield Directory (courtesy of Bob Widner).
It depicted the field as havng 4 bituminous runways,
with the longest being the 4,000' northwest/southeast & northeast/southwest strips.
The field was said to have portable lighting, but to have no fuel or hangars.
The Switzerland facility was used as an outlying field until 1946.
In 1947 the landing field was designated as Naval Bomb Target & was used for that purpose until 1961.
The last depiction which has been located of Switzerland as an active airfield
was on the February 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted "Switzerland (Navy)" as having a 4,000' hard-surface runway.
This January 1952 aerial view of Switzerland NOLF was taken during a period when it was no longer being used as an airfield,
but once again as a bomb target.
US Government photo, courtesy of FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel.
By the time of the 1956 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
the Switzerland airfield was no longer depicted at all (not even as an abandoned airfield).
In 1961 the FAA announced revisions to the restricted air space designation in the Jacksonville complex.
Due to these restrictions, the use of this property as a bomb target was no longer feasible
and it was determined excess to the needs of the Naval Air Station.
Chris Alvarez recalled that in the early 1970s the Switzerland Field
"was a popular area for teenagers to party & hang out…
it had been pretty much reclaimed by the pine forests & scrub oaks of north Florida
and not much trace of prior military use was evident."
As of the above 1999 USGS aerial photo,
the remains of four paved runways (the largest was 4,000') & taxiways still existed.
A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial view of the remains of the Switzerland airfield.
A 2003 photo by Jason Durbin, looking to the southwest of the remains of Switzerland NOLF,
with the remains of the north/south runway (on the left) & the northeast/southwest runway (on the right).
A 2003 photo by Jason Durbin looking to the north along the remains of the north/south runway at Switzerland NOLF.
Jason Durbin reported in 2003 that "I looked at the old paved road (badly broken up)
that leads to the Switzerland NOLF site.
It's blocked by some concrete barriers & a fallen tree."
He went back into the airfield site, and reported "there's really not much to see.
You can't really tell from the ground that it used to be an airfield."
A 2004 photo by Jason Durbin of the road leading to the former Switzerland NOLF.
Jason Durbin provided an update about the status of the former Switzerland airfield in 2004.
"I happened to drive by the broken paved road that lead back to the old airfield
and noticed that the entire area has been cleared of trees in preparation for yet another neighborhood.
The concrete rubble & dirt mounds blocking the road
have been removed with just a padlocked cable blocking the road now,
with a very large NO TRESPASSING sign posted.
Looks like the last remnants of this airfield are finally being obliterated."
A July 2004 aerial view by Neil Bankston looking east at the site of Switzerland airfield.
Although the property is being redeveloped, the characteristic outline of the intersecting runways was still quite recognizable -
at least until they are removed by further construction.
Mike Strobach reported in 2006, “I fly over NOLF Switzerland a lot. It is still clearly visible.”
The Switzerland Field is located on the east side of the St. Johns River,
between the towns of Mandarin & Switzerland,
approximately 11 miles South of Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
____________________________________________________
Trout Creek Naval Outer Landing Field, Elwood, FL
30 North / 81.55 West (South-Southeast of Jacksonville, FL)
A March 1942 U.S. Government aerial view of Trout Creek NOLF (courtesy of the FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel).
This former military airfield was one of the large number of satellite airfields
built to support Navy flight training in the Jacksonville area during WW2.
Trout Creek was one of the outlying fields fully owned by the Navy.
The date of construction of Trout Creek has not been determined.
Like most of the WW2-era satellite airfields,
it was apparently built during the war, not a reused pre-war civilian field,
as it was not listed in the Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
Trout Creek was apparently one of the earlier Jacksonville-area outlying fields to be constructed,
as it was depicted on the above March 1942 U.S. Government aerial photo (courtesy of the FL DOT, via Brian Rehwinkel).
It depicted the airfield as consisting of an irregularly-shaped grass field,
containing two 2,400' runways.
No buildings were depicted at the site.
Trout Creek was not yet depicted on the August 1943 17M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
nor listed among active airfields in the 4/1/44 US Army & Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer).
Trout Creek Field was assigned to NAAS Green Cove Springs (which was 6 miles to the west),
according to a 4/27/44 Navy document.
The earliest chart depiction which has been located of the Trout Creek airfield
was on the July 1944 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted “Trout Creek (Navy)” as an auxiliary airfield.
The last chart depiction which has been located of the Trout Creek airfield
was on the February 1945 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The Navy apparently considered turning Trout Creek into a bomb target
(as was the case later in the war with many other outlying fields),
according to a an August 1945 memo (according to Brian Rehwinkel),
but it is not known if this ever happened.
It was shown as an inactive field in February 1947.
Apparently Tout Creek OLF was declared surplus & disposed of sometime between February 1947 & June 1948,
as it no longer showed up on the real property list for NAS Jacksonville in June 1948 (according to Brian Rehwinkel).
By the time of the February 1949 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
Trout Creek NOLF was was no longer depicted at all (not even as an abandoned airfield).
As seen in the above January 1999 USGS aerial photo,
the irregularly-shaped outline of the former airfield was still quite recognizable,
with the majority of the former airfield seemingly reused for crops.
The site of Trout Creek NOLF is located southwest of the intersection of Route 16A & Hardwood Landing Road.
____________________________________________________
Francis Naval Outer Landing Field, Elwood, FL
29.98 North / 81.45 West (Southeast of Jacksonville, FL)
A 3/29/42 USDA aerial photo of Francis NOLF,
from the Digital Library Center / University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
This former military airfield was a satellite airfield used during WW2 by either Jacksonville NAS or St. Augustine.
The earliest depiction of Francis NOLF which has been located
was on the above 3/29/42 USDA aerial photo.
The airfield at Francis NOLF had a unique configuration – it consisted of a 1,700' diameter circle,
which appears to have been originally paved.
Was this field used for blimp operations?
What else would have used such an unusual airfield layout?
No buildings were depicted at the site.
The earliest chart depiction which has been located of the Francis airfield
was on the July 1944 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted “Francis (Navy)” as an auxiliary airfield.
The last chart depiction which has been located of the Francis airfield
was on the February 1945 Jacksonville Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The airfield was most likely closed immediately after the end of WW2,
like many other military satellite fields.
It was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield)
on the 1949 Orlando Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
or the 1964 Jacksonville Sectional Chart.
As seen in the above 1999 USGS aerial photo, Francis' circular airfield remains quite intact.
No buildings remain at the site.
Strangely, none of the USGS topo maps of the area depict the circular airfield remains at Francis.
A July 2004 aerial view by Neil Bankston looking northeast at the remains of the Francis airfield.
Francis NOLF is located southeast of the intersection of International Golf Parkway & Francis Road,
just east of Interstate 95.
____________________________________________________