Former Walesboro Auxiliary Army Airfield 4
USA /
Indiana /
Columbus /
World
/ USA
/ Indiana
/ Columbus
World / United States / Indiana
This airfield was built during WW2 as one of four satellite airfields for George AAF in Lawrenceville, IL, which was a training base for light & medium bomber pilots. It was also known as Walesboro Auxiliary #1, as one of five satellite airfields for Freeman AAF, which provided advanced flight training for crews of multi-engine aircraft.
The date of construction of Walesboro is unknown. The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)described Walesboro Auxiliary AAF as having a 4,500' hard-surface runway. The date of closure of Walesboro by the military is unknown.
At some point between 1944-62, Walesboro was reused as a civil airport for the town of Columbus, and became known as Columbus Municipal Airport. The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Columbus Municipal Airport as having two 4,500 bituminous runways: 4/22 & 13/31,and listed the operator as James Owens.
The Aerodromes table on the 1964 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Columbus Municipal Airport in basically the same manner, but the remarks said, "Caution - use at own risk during inclement weather."
Columbus Municipal Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1971-82, after the much larger Bakalar AFB (a few miles to the northeast) had become the new Columbus Bakalar Airport.
According to former nearby resident Paul Smith, the Walesboro runways have been reused as an automotive testing ground by EMCON Technologies (formerly ArvinMeritor) in Columbus, IN. The usage of the runways is also rented to other local industries, including Cummins engine and others located near the I-65 exit.
(Information from www.airfields-freeman.com/IN/Airfields_IN_S.htm)
The date of construction of Walesboro is unknown. The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)described Walesboro Auxiliary AAF as having a 4,500' hard-surface runway. The date of closure of Walesboro by the military is unknown.
At some point between 1944-62, Walesboro was reused as a civil airport for the town of Columbus, and became known as Columbus Municipal Airport. The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Columbus Municipal Airport as having two 4,500 bituminous runways: 4/22 & 13/31,and listed the operator as James Owens.
The Aerodromes table on the 1964 Cincinnati Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Columbus Municipal Airport in basically the same manner, but the remarks said, "Caution - use at own risk during inclement weather."
Columbus Municipal Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1971-82, after the much larger Bakalar AFB (a few miles to the northeast) had become the new Columbus Bakalar Airport.
According to former nearby resident Paul Smith, the Walesboro runways have been reused as an automotive testing ground by EMCON Technologies (formerly ArvinMeritor) in Columbus, IN. The usage of the runways is also rented to other local industries, including Cummins engine and others located near the I-65 exit.
(Information from www.airfields-freeman.com/IN/Airfields_IN_S.htm)
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 39°8'32"N 85°55'45"W
- Bethel Village,INDIANA 1.3 km
- Tipton lake 8.3 km
- THE COFFIN, BOBTOWN, IN 12 km
- Multi-Purpose Training Range 19 km
- Drop Zone Smith 27 km
- Combat Operating Location 3 27 km
- Jackson County Fair Grounds 31 km
- Uniontown 33 km
- Heltonville, In 45 km
- Leesville, Indiana 45 km
- Bethel Village, Indiana 1.1 km
- Shadow Creek Farms 3.2 km
- Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Grounds 3.6 km
- Bartholomew County, Indiana 6.8 km
- Mill Race Park 7 km
- Columbus Historic District 7.2 km
- Clifty Park 7.3 km
- Greenbelt Golf Course 8.2 km
- Otter Creek Golf Course 14 km
- Jennings County, Indiana 31 km
Comments