212:, and new development has covered most of it. However, part of the northeast-southwest runway remains visible and the former administration building and hangar are still standing. Another legacy of Oxnard Field is the major streets Wyoming Boulevard and Ridgecrest Drive, both of which were originally developed as airport access roads.
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By 1943, however, the mechanics' training program had ended and the depot was used as a convalescent center for wounded air crewmen and then as a storage and dismantling facility for war-weary and surplus aircraft as the war ended. Over 2,000 such planes were stripped and melted down, reclaiming some
177:
brought new activity to Oxnard Field. By 1939, Army and Navy pilots had begun using Oxnard Field for refuelling and maintenance. The Army eventually bought the Oxnard Field property and its subsequent transfer to the federal government on April 3, 1942 restricted the runways to military use only.
134:
workers Frank G. Speakman and
William Langford Franklin, using grading equipment loaned by the city after hours. Working with the town of Albuquerque, they graded two runways on the East Mesa—one approximately 5,300 feet (1,600 m) long and the other just under 4,000 feet (1,200 m). The
199:
The airport initially had two dirt runways, east-west (4300 ft) and northeast-southwest (2500 ft). The only facilities consisted of gravity-fed fuel tanks. Oxnard added the administration building, a hangar, and a 52-foot (16 m) beacon. The
Airport Inn was a popular dining
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The field was used for the last time between 1945 and 1948, when it served as the final destination for hundreds of surplus warplanes which were assembled there for scrapping. Following the end of this operation, the airport was closed permanently.
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entrepreneur, bought out
Franklin's share in the airport soon after it was completed and renamed it Oxnard Field. Oxnard expanded the facility to 480 acres (1.9 km), adding an administration building and other facilities.
170:(TWA), all commercial air service shifted to West Mesa. This airport became known as Albuquerque Airport—while the former Albuquerque Airport on the East Mesa took on the name Oxnard Field, continuing as a private venture.
182:
Air Depot
Training Station was established in June, and shortly thereafter the airport was designated Albuquerque Army Air Field. Two new runways and a variety of other facilities were built during this period.
118:. It served as the home of commercial aviation in Albuquerque from 1928 to 1929 and remained in use for other purposes until 1948. The field was located on Albuquerque's East Mesa, east of the present site of
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venture became
Albuquerque Airport. Other individuals and promoters soon became interested in Albuquerque as a crossroads location for southwestern air traffic.
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establishment. The airport reached its final configuration during the war, when the north-south and northwest-southeast runways were added.
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In its brief stint as the city's main airport, Oxnard Field was served by two competing
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The Army established a training depot for aircraft mechanics near Oxnard Field. An
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made pilots uneasy, and
Western Air Express built a new facility,
228:
U.S. Air Force, Fact Sheet, Kirtland Air Force Base
History,
166:, in 1929. Following the merger of TAT and WAE to form
277:. City of Albuquerque Planning Department. p. 47.
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The
Historical Background of Albuquerque, New Mexico
231:"Factsheets : Kirtland Air Force Base History"
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158:(TAT). However, the proximity of the field to the
130:The field was originally constructed in 1928 by
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341:Transportation in Albuquerque, New Mexico
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331:Defunct airports in the United States
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346:History of Albuquerque, New Mexico
208:The former airport is now part of
16:Airport in Albuquerque, New Mexico
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120:Albuquerque International Sunport
168:Transcontinental and Western Air
98:(also known at various times as
187:10 million pounds of aluminum.
156:Transcontinental Air Transport
1:
273:Oppenheimer, Alan J. (1962).
362:
104:Albuquerque Army Air Field
246:, retrieved April 4, 2008
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284:Oppenheimer, p. 48.
255:Kirtland AFB Fact Sheet
210:Kirtland Air Force Base
336:Airports in New Mexico
307:35.0507°N 106.5541°W
303: /
152:Western Air Express
138:James G. Oxnard, a
100:Albuquerque Airport
312:35.0507; -106.5541
204:Oxnard Field today
164:West Mesa Airport
132:Santa Fe Railroad
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160:Sandia Mountains
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180:Army Air Forces
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239:. Retrieved
235:the original
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175:World War II
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96:Oxnard Field
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23:Oxnard Field
310: /
298:106°33′15″W
112:Albuquerque
68:Albuquerque
325:Categories
295:35°03′03″N
241:2011-10-01
216:References
195:Facilities
154:(WAE) and
116:New Mexico
72:New Mexico
148:airlines
140:New York
64:Location
126:History
108:airport
59:Summary
86:Closed
78:Opened
264:Notes
102:and
89:1948
81:1928
49:none
45:ICAO
38:none
34:IATA
110:in
327::
150:,
122:.
114:,
70:,
47::
36::
244:.
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