Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Texas, Northeastern Houston area
© 2002, © 2007 by Paul Freeman. Revised 8/1/07.
Humble Airport (revised 8/1/07) - Piney Woods (revised 11/10/03)
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29.98 North / 95.29 West (Northeast of Houston, TX)
Humble Airport, as depicted on the June 1958 San Antonio Sectional Chart (courtesy of David Brooks).
This short-lived little general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1954-58,
as it was not yet depicted on the August 1954 San Antonio Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the June 1958 San Antonio Sectional Chart (courtesy of David Brooks).
It depicted Humble Airport as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
The 1962 Humble Oil Company Map of Houston depicted Humble Airport just to the east of the huge "Jetero Airport Site"
(which eventually became today's Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport).
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Humble Airport as having a single 3,000' turf Runway 18/36.
The field was said to offer fuel, minor repairs, hangars, tiedowns, and charter,
and the operator was listed as Mr. & Mrs. Earl Bardwell (Cessna dealers).
The most detailed depiction of Humble Airport which has been located
was in the 1963 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse).
It depicted Humble as having a single 2,984' turf Runway 17/35,
the middle of which used a wooden bridge to span Garner's Bayou.
A row of T-hangars & another hangar were situated adjacent to the southwest side of the runway.
The manager was listed as Earl Bardwell.
An October 8, 1964 aerial view of Humble Airport (courtesy of David Owens)
showed the field to have a single north/south grass runway,
which crossed a stream via a bridge.
A row of T-hangars sat southwest of the runway.
There were no planes visible on the field.
The Aerodromes table on the 1964 San Antonio Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss)
described Humble Airport as having a single 2,984' turf runway.
The last depiction of Humble Airport which has been located
was on the 1965 Humble Oil Company Map of Houston.
Houston Intercontinental Airport was still shown as being under construction.
The 1966 AOPA Airport Directory (according to David Brooks)
described Humnle as having a single 2,984' turf Runway 18/36.
The airfield was said to offer fuel, major repairs, and was operated by a Mr. &Mrs. Earl Bardwell (Cessna dealers).
Humble Airport apparently closed within the next year,
as it was no longer listed among active airfields in the 1967 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Brad Stanford).
The airfield's fate was no doubt sealed by the opening in 1970
of the massive Houston Intercontinental Airport right next door.
In 1972 one of the buildings of the former Humble Airport was relocated to the east
onto the property of Houston Intercontinental Airport to become Houston Fire Station #63.
In the 1995 USGS aerial photo, the north/south outline of the runway was still barely recognizable,
even though the majority of the runway had become grown over with trees.
Will Clayton Parkway is seen crossing over the center of the former runway.
No trace remained apparent of the former hangars or other airport buildings.
In the January 2002 USGS aerial photo, the outline of the north/south runway was still just barely recognizable.
The site of Humble Airport is located east of the intersection of Will Clayton Parkway & Kenswick Drive.
The name of Humble Airport has been somewhat commemorated
by the name of the VORTAC navigational beacon at the adjacent Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport,
which is named Humble VORTAC.
Thanks to Steve Cruse for sponsoring the research about this airfield.
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Piney Woods Airfield (41R), Jasper, TX
30.86 North / 93.97 West (Northeast of Houston, TX)
Piney Woods Airport, as depicted in the 1978 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.
The date of construction of this former private airfield is unknown.
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was in the 1978 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Piney Woods as having a single 3,500' asphalt Runway 14/32.
The operator was listed as Jasper Aviation Inc.,
and the manager was listed as E. Marshall.
The 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)
described Piney Woods as having a single 3,500' asphalt Runway 14/32.
The operator was listed as Jasper Aviation, Inc.
Piney Woods Airfield was described in basically an unchanged manner
in the 1985 TX Airport Directory (courtesy of Steve Cruse).
The field apparently closed at some unknown date between 1985-98,
as it was depicted as an abandoned airfield on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart.
In the 1995 USGS aerial photo, the runway still remained, apparently without any change.
Piney Woods Airfield is still depicted as an abandoned airfield on 2002 aeronautical charts.
The site of the former airfield is located along the east side of Route 96, south of its intersection with Brewster Road.
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