- City:
- Beltsville, MD
- Site Type:
- Infrastructure and Utilities, Airports
- New Deal Agencies:
- Work Relief Programs, Works Progress Administration (WPA)
- Started:
- 1941
- Completed:
- 1941
- Quality of Information:
- Moderate
- Site Survival:
- No Longer Extant
Description
In 1941, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work on a grass airstrip at Beltsville MD. The Washington Post reported in April that “clearing, grubbing, grading, draining, construction of runways, seeding and installation of lighting facilities” had begun.
Two hangars were slated to be constructed, as well, but probably were never built – since they were still not present at the site in 1945, according to Abandoned and Little-Known Airfields website.
In 1980, the airfield was decommissioned and bulldozed. The site is now part of the giant Henry Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Station and occupied by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Building #580,
The old airstrip is still visible from the air.
Source notes
“Beltsville Airport work begins today,” Washington Post, April 8, 1941, p. 23.
Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Maryland, Northern Prince George's County website
Site originally submitted by Brent McKee on February 24, 2015.
Additional contributions by Richard A Walker.
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Randall Wilkinson
There is an old hanger there. USDA Agricultural crop duster aircraft were there years ago. I know I used to work at bldg 580 USDA Beltsville .