Trip Report: Alabama 4th of July
First published in 2000. Reformatted 2025. Shortly after moving to the Shreveport area from San Antonio, I visited my parents in Scottsboro, Alabama on a long weekend. 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.Friday, 1 July 1994
Hinds County Airport MS, 32-18-15, 90-24-15. On the road at a leisurely 0715, headed east on I-20 from Haughton through Ruston, Monroe, and Vicksburg. Near Jackson, MS, I visited Williams Airport (M16). During WWII, this was an auxiliary field of Jackson AAB.General view Jackson AAB MS, 32-20, 90-13-30. Then, also in the Jackson vicinity, I visited Hawkins Field (HKS).
Quonset hut Key Field MS, 32-20, 88-45. Onward to Meridian, MS, and Key Field (MEI), still an active airport with both civilian and military use.
Hangar Demopolis AF Auxiliary Field AL, 32-28, 87-57. Near Kewanee, I switched to US 80 and headed to Demopolis. The former auxiliary field is still a general aviation field, Demopolis Municipal (7A2). This was an auxiliary to Craig AFB.
General view Then via Hwy 43 to I-59, I headed north through Birmingham and on to Gadsden. From here it was a short drive through Fort Payne to Scottsboro. Arrived at my parents' place at 1915; covered 659 miles in 12 hours.
Monday, 4 July 1994
Courtland AAFld AL, 34-40, 87-21. My dad and I took off for a day of adventure. From Scottsboro, highways 72 and 565 to Decatur. Then highway 72 to Wallace Industrial Air Park (9A4), just SW of Courtland. We found a few WWII vintage buildings and foundations remaining, including what was probably the main gate.Elevated water storage tank
Building
Foundation
Main gate Muscle Shoals Auxiliary Field AL, 34-44-45, 87-37. Back on 72, west to Muscle Shoals Regional (MSL). This was an auxiliary to Courtland AAFld, during WWII. Among the buildings remaining on the airport, we were pleased to find a nice looking WPA-built hangar completed in 1937. We were told a nearby metal hangar had been moved from Courtland AAFld.
General view
General view
WPA marker on hangar wall
Hangar
Hangar
Building Decatur Airport AL, 34-39, 86-56-30. To Decatur to Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU). This was during WWII, a contract flying school operated by Southern Airways, Inc. Some older buildings remain, including a vintage hangar.
General view
Hangar William Northern Field TN, 35-23, 86-14-30. Back on 565 to Huntsville, then we made our way through Fayetteville and Lynchburg to Tullahoma. There we found William Northern Airport (THA), used by the AAF during WWII (I've found one reference calling it William Northern AAB, but I believe that to be an error). A nice hangar and a few other buildings are still in use.
Hangar
Building Then, back to Scottsboro. Dad drove his minivan for this trip, so I didn't do my usual time/mileage count.
Tuesday, 5 July 1994
Starkville Municipal Airport MS, 33-26, 88-51. Out from Scottsboro at 0550, at Fort Payne I took I-59 south to Tuscaloosa. Then Hwy 82 west toward Columbus, MS. On to Starkville, and George M. Bryan Airport (STF), a WWII auxiliary field to Columbus AAFld.General view Grenada AAFld MS, 33-50, 89-48. North on I-55 to Grenada, and Grenada Municipal (GNF).
General view
Hangar Greenwood AAFld MS, 33-29-30, 90-05. Onward to Greenwood, I visited Greenwood-Leflore Airport (GWO), an AAF airfield during WWII. A few military buildings remain on the airport.
Hangar
Building
General view Indianola AF Auxiliary Field MS, 33-29, 90-40. Continuing on to Indianola, I visited the former auxiliary field to Greenville AFB. It is now Indianola Municipal Airport (IDL).
General view
General view
General view Greenville AFB MS, PIN 1157, 33-28-30, 90-59-30. Then I was off to Greenville. The large hangar at Mid Delta Regional (GLH), was visible from several miles away. Quite a few military buildings remain including WWII barracks, a chapel, and a hangar.
General view
Elevated water storage tank and control tower
Barracks
Chapel
Hangar From Greenville I headed south to Monroe, then took I-20 home. Long day--749 miles in 15 hours. The outbound and return legs of this trip totaled 1,408 miles, in 27 driving hours. Updated January 26, 2025
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