This is the county airport just north of Montague. It was apparently used as an emergency landing field during WWII when the Army Air Corps leased it and extended the runway to 7,300 feet to accommodate disabled B-17’s and other bombers. The military left in 1945 after the field was approved for scheduled commercial airline use (I’m still digging to see if any airline did land here; do any of you readers know?).

The field was re-commissioned during the Cuban Crisis in 1962, with interceptor squadrons from Hamilton Field and later Travis AFB based here under the “dispersal” strategy (I think this means scattering our forces so as to not lose all in one attack as happened at Pearl Harbor). By 1971 the field was again considered surplus and returned to the county.

Of interest is a 1998 report which appears to be an inspection for possible ordnance left by the military. A small depression was identified as an ammunition disposal area off the end of the abandoned NE-SW runway and several “hits” were reported on the team’s magnetometer. A farmer who had leased the land and filled in the small depression said the pit had been used for this purpose but he had filled it in to level his pasture.

At only one acre in size this “area B” is described as having possible ordnance by the report in the form of 20mm, bombs, and air-to-air missles. Recommended action is “EE/CA (RAC 4)”, whatever that means. I’m still digging.

In the meantime the field apparently is host to several private companies who lease space from the county, as well as Cowling Air, the FBO (530-459-0900). I’m told gliders use the runway as well and that many radio-control model flyers practice there in addition to some private pilots. I’ll go up one of these days and poke around to learn more. If I get some pictures I’ll post them along with any further news.

PS: If you or anyone you know were ever stationed or employed at this field, particularly as a military pilot we’d love to hear from you!
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