Trip Report: Tulsa Tour 2000
First published in 2000. Reformatted 2025. I made several business trips to the Tulsa area July through October. I made the occasional sightseeing stop on the way up, on the way back, between trips, or in my off-duty time while in Tulsa. These trips are bundled here for your convenience. Just a reminder PIN means Permanent Installation Number and ILC means Installation Location Code; I include these for Air Force properties when I know them.Wednesday, 12 July 2000
Davis Field OK, 35-40-15, 95-22. Departed home at 0550. First target of the day was Muskogee. South of town, I visited the former Muskogee AAFld, a WWII Air Support base associated with nearby Camp Gruber. Different sources show it under 2AF or 3AF, and a sub-base of Abilene AAFld or Will Rogers Field. In late 1955 it was activated as Davis Field and assigned to Continental Air Command (CONAC) under first 14AF then 10AF. In approximately 1962 it became an Air Force Reserve (AFRES) base, and remained in use until about 1966. Since then, it has served as a municipal airport, still named Davis Field (MKO). The checkerboard water tower is an unusual design--the tower is concrete, the same design I saw at Dalhart AAFld. One WWII vintage hangar and a few other buildings remain; and a faded sign hinted of more recent use by the Army National Guard. In fact, there were several Army twin-prop airplanes on the ramp. A gentleman I spoke to said those aircraft were merely visiting, and were not based on the field. Another USAF remnant was a T-33, parked on a trailer. The same gentleman told me it had been on a pylon out at highway 64, but had to be temporarily moved due to utility construction along the highway.General view
Elevated water storage tank
Hangar
Hangar
Building and derelict DC-3
Building
Hangar and Army National Guard sign
Hangar
T-33 display aircraft Hatbox Field OK, 35-44-30, 95-24-15. Heading north into town, I found the southeast end of runway 29 (note the X indicating a closed runway). Painted markings on the side of the runway suggest use as parking for nearby school ball fields. Then I drove around to the main airfield area; one hangar was stuffed with several twin-prop aircraft in US Army markings. Two larger hangars were in use for industrial purposes. A small FBO office sat nearby. Data on the AirNav web site, dated 15 June 2000, shows the airport open (including runway 29) so the shutdown was very recent. Hatbox was an AAF contract flying school during the war. Spartan Aircraft Company opened the school on 16 September 1940, and it served until sometime in 1944.
Closed runway
Closed runway
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangars
Hangars Air Force Plant #3 OK, PIN 2504, ILC ACFH, 36-11-27, 95-52-36. I arrived in Tulsa at 1230, in time to take a long nap before working an overnight shift. I did notice the large plant located on the southeast part of Tulsa International Airport. As recently as 1999, the perimeter fence was still sprinkled with standard USAF Controlled Area signs. Those signs were gone now, but I did notice an Air Force Systems Command sign still standing--quick, take a picture before they paint over it! (Note: the sign was removed within weeks!) This industrial site was home to Aircraft Assembly Plant #3 during WWII, with Douglas Aircraft Company building bombers for the war effort. It was shut down after the war, but was reactivated a few years later to produce B-47 bombers. McDonnell Douglas stopped operations in the plant in June 1994, and in late 1999 the US Senate approved transfer of the plant (337 acres, 24 buildings) from USAF to the City of Tulsa. Also still standing are several Guard Houses-Type 2 along the east side of the property. The prominent feature of this installation is the 4000-foot long assembly building, seen here behind a Guard House.
Plant sign
Guard house
Guard house AAF Modification Center #16 OK, 36-12-33, 95-52-33. Another former depot facility lies on the northeast part of the airfield. The original matched set of hangars, one with the American Airlines sign, are surrounded by newer construction. Back in WWII, these two large hangars were the key elements of the modification center operated by Douglas Aircraft. Signage indicates this area is now the American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Center. American has been using this former AAF installation since 1946.
General view
Thursday, 13 July 2000
Bartlesville AFS OK, PIN 1415, 36-45-39, 96-02-10. After a 12-hour night shift, I took another nap and hit the road at 1330. I first headed north, to Bartlesville. West of town, I found the former radar site that was operational from 1951 to 1961. In 1961, the 88.89-acre site with improvements (plus a .06-acre easement for the water pumping station) was sold by the General Services Administration for $106,000. Now a mix of commercial and residential uses, it has changed enough that its military background was not obvious. I did go inside the operations building, now home to the Red Dirt Soap Company. Access to the former search radar was blocked by fence and gate, but I was able to see the tower foundation behind the fence. The multipurpose recreation building is occupied by Keepsake Candles. A brushy area may have been the location of the height finder antenna tower. When you look closely you see that the weeds conceal a pile of broken up reinforced concrete. After this visit, I headed home, bringing this trip to a close.Operations building
Operations building
Radar tower foundation
Radar tower foundation
Multipurpose recreation building
Multipurpose recreation building
Vehicle maintenance shop
Power plant building
Communications building
Building
General view showing sidewalk
Possible height finder antenna tower location
Possible height finder antenna tower location
Water pumping station
Water pumping station
Friday, 28 July 2000
Okmulgee Municipal Airport OK, 35-40, 95-57. Only one stop on this drive from DFW to Tulsa. During WWII, the Army Air Forces had a contract glider school in Okmulgee. The Sooner Air Training Corporation operated the school. The main hangar at the airport was built late during the war, in 1944. I have not determined if the glider school was on the grounds of the present airport, although it seems likely.Hangar
Hangar
Hangar dedication plaque
Saturday, 29 July 2000
Miami Airport OK, 36-54-45, 94-53-00. I checked out of the Sheraton at a leisurely 0715, and headed to Miami, OK. My objective was the home of British Flying Training School No. 3 during WWII. This was an AAF contract flying school. The airport is still active, as Miami Municipal Airport (MIO). Thanks to assistance from Tony Broadhurst, I knew where to look for the flying school buildings. They are located outside the fence of the current airport. The original hangars are used for industrial purposes, and the faded airport lettering is still visible on one of them. The barracks still stands, but an automotive shop is located where the administration building once stood. There are remnants of the sidewalk that led from the dining facility to the administration building. Foundations are evident for the dining facility, school building, and gym. The railroad spur is still in place and looked like it has occasional use. It is interesting to note that the main road in front of the flying school was US Route 66, and the administration building was converted from a failed motel/garage complex (complete with gasoline pump island in front).Building
Building
Hangars
Hangar
Hangar
Barracks
Sidewalk
Dining facility foundation
Building foundation
Gymnasium foundation Royal Air Force graves, 36-54-38, 94-52-50. Less than a mile north of the former flying school, in Miami, the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery is home to 15 Royal Air Force students who died while in flying training at Miami.
General view
AC2 Dennis M. Mitchell
AC2 Frederick D. Beverley
AC2 Cecil J. Riddell
AC2 William G.M. Mann
LAC James Boyd
AC2 Kenneth Raisbeck
LAC Walter E. Elliott
LAC William C. Speirs
LAC Ralph K. Price
LAC Donald A. Harfield
LAC Herbert H. Hacksley
LAC Harold A. Burman
LAC Alan Brown
LAC Peter McCallum
LAC Fred Tufft Air Force Plant #65 MO, PIN 5357, ILC ACHW, 36-49-55, 94-21-33. At this point, I was close to the Missouri border, so a visit to Neosho seemed in order. Located on part of the former Fort Crowder, North American Aviation ran this government owned plant. Their Rocketdyne Division tested rocket motors here. I don't know the exact period of use, but believe it to be from sometime in the late 1950s until 1970. The plant consisted of two main areas, connected by a rail spur. The large plant building is now used by Premier Turbines. Their sign gives a hint at the facility's military past. A larger plant complex lies to the ENE of this building, connected by a rail spur, but that area is not accessible by vehicle. From Neosho, I headed home.
Building
Building and sign
Building and sign
Gate to plant complex
Saturday, 5 August 2000
Sheppard Recreation Annex TX, ILC VPFP, 33-52-48, 96-53-41. On one of my rare weekends off, I took a little side trip. Since it was sandwiched between several Tulsa trips, I include it here. Sheppard AFB operates this recreation area on Lake Texoma. This recreation area, with cabins, boats, camping spaces, a lodge, and a 2,400-foot grass airstrip (note the windsock, barely visible against the trees), has been operational since at least the mid 1970s.Gate and sign
Gate and sign
General view of lake
General view with sign
Building
Airstrip
Tuesday, 22 August 2000
Muskogee High Energy Fuel Plant OK, 35-44-45, 95-17-55. Enroute from DFW to TUL, I stopped at this former plant. It produced "Boron based fuels" for the Air Force and the Navy. The land was acquired in 1956, and the plant facility was constructed in 1959. It was under Navy control until the Air Force took over in 1960. Callery Chemical Company operated the plant. It ceased operations and went on a stand-by basis in March 1962, and was disposed of in 1964. Now, it is a partly abandoned industrial park. The sign at one entrance indicates Frontier Terminal.General view
General view
General view
General view
General view
Wednesday, 23 August 2000
Tulsa International Airport OK, ILC XHZG. Lt Col Willie Braggs III was kind enough to give me a tour of the Oklahoma Air National Guard base. We went to the edge of the flightline and watched a pair of F-16s taxi out from their distinctive metal shelters. These shelters were a local initiative, built in the early 1990s. Col Braggs and I each started our Air Force careers back in the 1970s, and we discussed how far the Guard has come in terms of equipment, missions, and respect. At the northeast corner of the base, an F-86D, F-100D, and A-7 stand guard, representing the previous aircraft of the 125th Fighter Squadron. And of course, I visited their BX while I was there! The headquarters building is soon to be replaced by new construction.Aerial view of base
General view
F-16s on taxiway
Aircraft shelters
Headquarters building Tulsa Municipal Airport OK, 36-11-30, 95-53-47. I sought out the Spartan School of Aeronautics, which operated a contract flying school here during WWII. It is still in operation, with several hangars and other buildings in use. Early in WWII, this was a British flying training school. One of the Spartan buildings is the temporary home of the Tulsa Air & Space Center.
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar Royal Air Force grave. As a tie-in with the RAF flying training, I looked for the lone RAF cadet buried in Tulsa, in the Tulsa Memorial Park cemetery. He was Ronald Dennis Harrison, and died during training in 1941. His grave is in the American Legion section, and has an American Legion-style stone; quite different from the standard RAF design markers I have seen at Terrell, Texas, and Miami, Oklahoma.
General view
Ronald Dennis Harrison grave marker
Thursday, 24 August 2000
Tulsa Transceiver Control Station OK, PIN 4918, 36-09-26, 95-58-36. This installation's address was formerly 1226-1228 East 2nd Street. I found a likely building at 1232, and found out it was the right place. Operational from 1956 to 1962, this installation consisted of 5,200 S.F. (later increased to 7,000 S.F.) of space--essentially the entire second floor of this two-story building. (The windowless section on the right was added after USAF use.) Also included were 395 S.F. of parking space in back of the building, and air conditioning to be provided by the lessor. This was an Air Material Command operation, later transferred to Military Air Transport Service. I talked with the present owner of the building, which houses Southern Specialty Services Corp. He was familiar with the AF operation, though it ended several years before he bought the building. Apparently, the second floor was packed with computer equipment (he specifically mentioned punch card readers) and operated 24x7 receiving and updating information on the USAF spare parts inventory, under management from Tinker AFB. I talked with the only remaining employee who was there at the time, and he confirmed this assessment. He recalled giving special attention to the air conditioners, to keep the cold air flowing to their tenant. He remembered a 20-ton unit and a 30-ton unit operating constantly (even in winter) to keep the computer equipment cool. The USAF installed an emergency generator outside the southeast corner of the building. The only remaining physical clue of USAF use is the stub of a power cable, going into the building at the former generator site. This facility processed Air Force supply requests from around the world, and was the predecessor to the Combat Logistics Network (COMLOGNET) system.Building
Building
Building Headquarters, Air Corps Technical Training Command OK, 36-09-25, 95-59-32. This office building at 20 East Archer Street was also home to 3rd District, Army Air Forces Technical Training Command until it was discontinued on 7 July 1943.
General view
General view
Building entrance
Friday, 25 August 2000
Ponca City Municipal Airport OK, 36-44-10, 97-05-46. Time to go home! First stop, an Army Air Forces contract flying school (British Flying Training School #6) during WWII. Darr School of Aeronautics operated the school. The former school area is now called Darr Industrial Park. All three hangars are still standing, two heavily modified but one fairly intact. A TerraServer view from 1995 shows many of the WWII buildings still standing. Only the modified link trainer building remains today. The airport is still in operation, FAA code PNC.Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Link trainer building
Link trainer building
Link trainer building Woodring AF Auxiliary Field OK, 36-22-45, 97-47-30. Now Woodring Municipal Airport (WDG), this was an auxiliary to Enid AAFld/Vance AFB during WWII and also during the Korean War era. An F-4 pulls gate guard duty, and some hangars suggest a military connection. A T-37 landed while I was at the airport, so I suspect there is still a joint use arrangement with nearby Vance AFB.
Hangars
Non-historic building and control tower Vance ILS Middle Marker Annex #1 OK, 36-19-10, 97-55-24. Vance has had two middle marker annexes. The first was assigned on 31 October 1956, and was incorporated into the base on 26 May 1971. Nothing is visible of this former site.
General view Tinker Training Annex OK, ILC SHDF, 35-26-11, 97-22-46. North of Tinker, across I-40, a VORTAC facility is visible from the highway. I identified this as a USAF facility from the AirNav web site. Getting a closer look, I found the VORTAC to be on a larger installation. The sign identifies it as Glenwood Training Annex, but I have not yet found this designation in any official documents (it may be a recent change, or informal usage). This property was originally designated Oklahoma City Transmitter Annex, then Oklahoma City Communications Facility Annex, and on 1 July 1969 it was redesignated Tinker Training Annex. The perimeter fence cuts across roadways, and it looks like much of the annex was once a housing subdivision. This area is very close to the north end of the main runway. The ILS middle marker beacon for runway 17 is also on this property, though I could not see it from the road.
General view showing sign
Thursday, 31 August 2000
Tulsa Air Reserve Center OK, 36-09-37, 95-54-20. The Sheridan Village Shopping Center (suite 201) was home to an Air Reserve Center from 1959 to 1962. The Reserve Center is long gone, but the shopping center is still operational.General view
General view
Friday, 1 September 2000
Cushing AAFld OK, 35-57, 96-46-30. An hour west of Tulsa, the former AAF WWII field serves as Cushing Municipal Airport (CUH). One hangar remains that the FBO manager believes dates from WWII; the present FBO facility was added some time later. At the time of my visit it was 109 degrees Fahrenheit!Hangar
Hangar
Sunday, 24 September 2000
Tulsa AAFld OK, 36-12-02, 95-54-13. While looking around on the part of Tulsa IAP used by the Army Air Forces in WWII, I was surprised to find fairly new USAF signs on the fence surrounding this building. The signs were the November 81 edition. This area is now used for storage by an aviation business. This was the original site of the Air National Guard unit, prior to their current base (built c. 1960). The ANG continued to lease some of the land and buildings until approximately 1995.Building and sign
Building
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar Stillwater NAS OK, 36-08-45, 97-04-45. Heading out of Tulsa to the west, I went to Stillwater. The former Naval Air Station is now their municipal airport (SWO). A few WWII era buildings remain, such as these hangars. The wind tetrahedron is lighted for night use. This airfield was briefly owned by the Army Air Forces immediately after WWII. It was acquired with the intention of being an auxiliary field to Enid AAFld, but it was never activated as such.
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Wind tetrahedron
Monday, 25 September 2000
Coffeyville AAFld KS, 37-06, 95-34. I started my return trip by heading north into Kansas. First stop, an industrial park at the Coffeyville Municipal Airport (CFV). The concrete water tower from WWII still stands, as do several buildings and foundations, and several hangars.General view
General view
Elevated water storage tank
Elevated water storage tank
Parachute and dinghy building with drying tower
Parachute and dinghy building with drying tower
Hangars
Hangars Independence AAFld KS, 37-09-30, 95-46-30. Only 12 miles west, I stopped at the Independence Municipal Airport (IDP) and industrial park. This was an AAF base during WWII. A few hangars remain, along with some foundation remnants. I don't know if this bermed firing range is original or has been built since AAF use.
Hangar
General view
Small arms range
Saturday, 30 September 2000
Perrin AFB TX, PIN 1264, ILC TBLZ. No business trip this weekend, but out of habit I drove part way to Tulsa anyway! This was a planned visit with Shannon Thomas, Research Director of the Perrin Air Force Base Research Foundation. He operates the foundation from a building on the former base. After discussing research sources, we toured the former munitions area. The igloo magazines are now used for storage and the berm of one magazine serves as a firing range backstop. On the access road before you get to the igloos, there is a row of smaller storage units, each compartment marked for 1,000 pounds explosives weight. A Fire Symbol 3 is still displayed on one end of the structure. The two large earth-covered igloos are still in good condition, and are marked with an explosives weight of 5,000 pounds each. Behind the two igloos is another structure with a row of storage bays, each marked for 1,000 pounds maximum explosives weight.Ignoo magazine
Ignoo magazine
Multicubicle magazine
Ignoo magazine
Ignoo magazine interior
Ignoo magazine interior
Explosives storage building Perrin Radio Range Annex TX, PIN 1267, 33-39-58, 96-37-57. We also paid a visit to the former navigational aid installation. It sits abandoned except for the northeast corner of the property, which houses a city water tower. The radio building is fairly intact, although almost hidden by trees and brush. This property was supporting Perrin AFB by 1952, and was disposed of in 1962.
General view
General view
Building
Building Lake Texoma Recreation Annex TX, PIN 1271, 33-49-18, 96-47-38. I made an attempted visit to this former recreation area on the Texas side of the lake. It was fenced and gated. This annex served Perrin AFB from about 1949 until 1971.
Gate
Tuesday, 10 October 2000
I started the day bright and early with a follow-up visit to the Tulsa Air National Guard. I met with Major Blickensderfer, Civil Engineer; and TSgt Roberson, Historian. Both were very helpful, and I gained additional information on Air Force activities at the Tulsa airport. Then at the Spartan School of Aeronautics, I met with Damon Bowling who provided information on the company's role in WWII pilot training. Unfortunately, we could not locate any information on the auxiliary fields used by their Tulsa school. Cimarron Field OK, 35-29, 97-49. Heading west, I drove through Oklahoma City and found the Clarence E. Page Municipal Airport (F29). Oklahoma Air College, Inc. operated it as a contract flying school for the Army Air Forces during WWII. A couple of hangars looked vintage, but most of the airport facilities looked much newer.Hangars Mustang Field OK, 35-28-30, 98-00. Continuing west past El Reno I stopped at the El Reno Municipal Air Park (F28). This was an Army Air Forces contract flying school. Some WWII sources list the operator as Oklahoma Air College, Inc.; and some list it as Midwest Air School. Four original hangars still stand in a row, and several building foundations remain between the hangars and the flagpole.
Hangar
General view
General view
General view
General view Chickasha Auxiliary Field #3 OK, 35-12-40, 97-59-00. Heading south, I looked for this former auxiliary field. What I found was farmland (no surprise).
General view Chickasha Municipal Airport OK, 35-05-30, 97-58-30. The airport still operates under that name, with FAA code CHK. It was another WWII contract flying school, operated by Wilson-Bonfils Flying Schools. it has four vintage hangars standing--although two suffered significant damage in a severe tornado in 1999. I was saddened to see the damage done to the 184-foot demountable hangar. I did not observe any other vintage buildings standing, but there are plenty of sidewalks and foundations. Many of the building foundations are now used as pads for mobile homes.
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar detail
Hangars
Hangar
184-foot demountable hangar
184-foot demountable hangar
Hangar
Hangar
184-foot demountable hangar
184-foot demountable hangar
184-foot demountable hangar
Hangar
184-foot demountable hangar and building foundation
Building foundation
Sidewalk After this, it was time to head home and bring to a close this series of Oklahoma visits. Updated January 26, 2025
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