Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Michigan: Southeastern Detroit Area
© 2002, © 2023 by Paul Freeman. Revised 2/16/23.
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Flat Rock Airport / Maveal Airport / Maveal Brothers Airport (revised 2/16/23) - Hance Airport (revised 11/24/20)
Motor Boat Seaplane Base / Garland's Seaplane Base (revised 1/10/19) - Sanders Field / NOLF 24109 / Carls Airport (revised 2/16/23) - Sheep Ranch NOLF (revised 2/16/22)
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Sanders Field / Naval Outer Landing Field 24109 / Carls Airport (78MI), South Rockwood, MI
42.041, -83.304 (Southwest of Detroit, MI)
“Sanders Field 24109", as depicted on a 1942 map (courtesy of the NAS Grosse Ile web site).
According to the Army Corps of Engineers FUDS site (courtesy of Mike Denja), “Prior to WW2, the Sanders Field OLF property was privately owned farmland.
In November 1942, the U.S. Government entered into an agreement with private landowners to lease the property
for the establishment of an outlying auxiliary airfield to the Naval Reserve Aviation Base Grosse Ile.
There was one lease for the property, NOy(R)-31630, 11/15/42, with Arthur & Grace Sanders and Arthur & Meta Henry for 100 acres, with the OLF named after Mr. & Mrs. Sanders.
The Navy designated the property as Field Number 24109, and the lease was renewed on an annual basis.
During WW2, Outlying Fields were used for touch-&-go landings.
Other associated uses included emergency landings, refueling, and bombing & gunnery.”
The designation “24109” indicated the field was located 09 miles along a 241 degree radial from the parent field (NAS Grosse Ile).
Sanders Field was one of the 16 satellite landing fields which supported Grosse Ile's primary flight training.
The earliest depiction which has been located of Sanders Field was on a 1942 map (courtesy of the NAS Grosse Ile web site).
It depicted “Sanders Field 24109" as a rectangular outline, along with many other Grosse Ile auxiliary airfields.
Sanders Field was not yet depicted on the March 1944 Detroit Sectional Chart.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of NOLF 24109 was on the October 1944 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Denja).
According to the Army Corps of Engineers FUDS site (courtesy of Mike Denja), “On 10/26/44, by an Agreement of Surrender & Release, the Navy terminated the lease.”
Sanders Field was no longer depicted on the June 1945 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dick Merrill),
or subsequent Detroit Sectionals from 1950/55/60.
A 1949 aerial view (courtesy of Greg Steinmayer) showed a farm occupying the site of Sanders Field, without any indication of recent aviation use.
A 1951 aerial view showed the same configuration.
Sanders Field was not depicted on the 1952 USGS topo map.
A 1955 aerial view showed a T-hangar had been built at some point between 1951-55 at the site of Sanders Field, indicating the start of post-war civilian reuse of the airfield.
The earliest photo which is available showing Sanders Field was a 1956 aerial view (courtesy of Greg Steinmayer), which showed 1 T-hangar.
A 1957 aerial view showed the same configuration.
A 1964 aerial view depicted 6 light aircraft parked at Sanders Field.
An 11/21/66 aerial view (courtesy of Mike Denka) depicted Sanders Field as having a single grass north/south runway, several hangars & 7 light aircraft on the southeast side.
The only topo map depiction which has been located of Sanders Field was on the 1967 USGS topo map,
which depicted a single unpaved north/south runway, generically labeled “Landing Strip”, with a few small buildings on the southeast side.
According to its FAA Airport/Directory data, Carls Airport was activated at this location in November 1968.
However, Carls Airport was not yet depicted on the July 1969 Detroit Sectional Chart.
The earliest depiction which has been located of Carl Airport was on the January 1970 Detroit Sectional Chart.
It depicted Carl as a public-use airport having a 2,400' unpaved runway.
A 1971 aerial view looking northwest (colorized by Mike Denka) depicted Carls Airport perhaps at its zenith of popularity, with 19 light single-engine aircraft visible on the field.
It had also gained a perpendicular crosswind runway at some point between 1967-71.
A 10/6/73 aerial view (courtesy of Mike Denka) depicted 14 light aircraft at Carls Airport,
including 1 which had just taken off from the north/south runway.
The 1973 USGS topo map depicted “Carls Landing Field” as having 2 perpendicular unpaved runways, and it also showed the 2 rows of hangars which had been built.
A 1981 aerial view (courtesy of Greg Steinmayer) depicted 8 light aircraft at Carls Airport.
The last photo which has been located showing aircraft at Carls Airport was a 1983 aerial view, which showed 5 light aircraft.
A 1993 aerial view showed Carls Airport as remaining in the same physical configuration, but devoid of aircraft.
Multiple photos from subsequent years do not show any aircraft on the field.
According to its FAA Airport/Directory data, Carls Airport conducted an average of 70 takeoffs or landings per month for the year ending 6/14/93,
all of which were transient general aviation.
Airport owner Carl Brinkmeier passed away in 2017, according to his obituary (courtesy of Charles Adkins).
A December 2021 photo (courtesy of Greg Steinmayer) looking northeast at the row of hangars at Carls Airport, which appear to be empty of aircraft, but a runway roller was visible, and a windsock was still mounted.
A December 2021 photo (courtesy of Greg Steinmayer) looking north at the Carl's Airport sign for the Downriver Aeromodelers, which appear to be the only recent aviation users of the airport.
A 2022 aerial view looking northwest showed Carl's Airport as remaining intact & well-maintained, with the radio-controlled model aircraft facilities on the southeast side of the runway,
but with no sign of any recent manned aircraft usage.
A circa 2023 3-D aerial image looking southwest at the Carl's Airport hangars.
Carls Airport is still depicted on the 2023 Detroit Terminal Chart,
even though all other indications point to the field being abandoned for manned aircraft years ago.
As of 2023, Carls Airport was still listed with the FAA as a private airfield, owned & managed by Carl Brinkmeier,
with a single 2,285' turf Runway 18/36, “in fair condition”.
Thanks to Greg Steinmayer for pointing out this airfield.
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Flat Rock Airport / Maveal Airport / Maveal Brothers Airport, Flat Rock, MI
42.056, -83.319 (Southwest of Detroit, MI)
Flat Rock Airport, as depicted on the 1947 Detroit Sectional Chart.
This small general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1946-47
(like hundreds of other small American airports, in the post-WW2 general aviation boom),
as it was not yet depicted on the July 1946 Detroit Sectional Chart.
The earliest depiction which has been located of Flat Rock Airport was on the 1947 Detroit Sectional Chart.
It depicted Flat Rock as a commercial/municipal airport.
At some point in 1947 the airport was evidently renamed Maveal, as that is how it was listed in the 1947 MI Airport Directory (courtesy of Bill Grasha).
It depicted Maveal Airport as having 2 unpaved runways, measuring 2,400' northwest/southeast & 2,100' northeast/southwest.
Two offices, 2 hangars, and a house were depicted along the west side.
The only photo which has been located of Maveal Airport was a 5/3/49 Detroit Edison aerial view (courtesy of Bill Grasha).
It depicted Maveal Airport as having 2 grass runways in an X-shape, with 2 small hangars, a house, and 1 light single-engine plane on the west side.
Bill Grasha reported, “Perhaps it is N9691E, the Aeronca 11AC which belonged to Maveal Brothers Flat Rock Airport.”
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Maveal Airport was on the 1949 Detroit Sectional Chart.
It depicted “Maveal Bros” Airport as having a 2,400' unpaved runway.
A 4/27/51 aerial view of the site of Maveal Airport (courtesy of Mike Denja) showed that the southern hangar had been removed at some point between 1949-51,
and there was no remaining trace of the 2 runways.
Mike Denja remarked, “This was indeed a very short-lived airport considering how much effort was put into it.”
Maveal Airport apparently was very short-lived, lasting no more than 5 years,
as it was no longer depicted on the May 1951 Detroit Sectional Chart.
A 1964 aerial view showed Maveal Airport's northern hangar remained.
At some point between 1993-99, the northwestern portion of the Maveal Airport site became a truck/trailer depot.
A 2017 aerial view shows no trace remaining of the Maveal Airport runways, but the building at the northwest corner appears to be a former hangar.
A circa 2023 3-D aerial image of the former hangar which remains standing at the northwest corner of the Maveal Airport site, more than 60 years after the airport's closure.
Thanks to Bill Grasha for pointing out this airfield.
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Motor Boat Seaplane Base / Garland's Seaplane Base, Detroit, MI
42.359, -82.934 (Southeast of Downtown Detroit, MI)
A 1945 photo of Harry Garland inspecting the construction of his wooden seaplane ramp at Garland's Seaplane Base.
Garland's seaplane base was not yet depicted on the October 1943 Detroit Sectional Chart.
According to Wikipedia, “Harry Garland was an accomplished pilot & yachtsman, active in the Civil Air Patrol, and served on the Advisory Board of Aviation & Yachting magazine.
In 1945 he built his home in Detroit at 14480 Riverside Avenue, located on the Detroit River. He operated a seaplane base & flight school from his home.
Garland's seaplane base had both wooden ramps, from which he operated floatplanes, and a concrete ramp from which he could taxi his Grumman Widgeon amphibian into the water.”
The earliest depiction which has been located of Gardland's Seaplane Base was a 1945 photo of Harry Garland inspecting the construction of his wooden seaplane ramp.
In the 1940s, this area of Detroit was described as relatively “posh”.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Garland's Seaplane Base was on the May 1945 Detroit Sectional Chart.
It depicted the anchor symbol for the seaplane base, but without any name label.
A circa 1945-52 letterhead of Garland's Seaplane Base & Yacht Harbor (courtesy of Bill Grasha).
A 1946 photo of Harry Garland's J-3 Cub (NC38207) & J-4A Cub (NC30815) on the Garland's Seaplane Base ramps facing the Detroit River (courtesy of Bill Grasha),
with Garland's home in the background.
A 1946 aerial view by Harry Garland of his 7 floatplanes at his Garland's Seaplane Base, including a very rare Ercoupe on floats (courtesy of Bill Grasha).
The location of Garland's Seaplane Base, as depicted in the 1947 MI Airport Directory (courtesy of Bill Grasha).
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Garland's Seaplane Base was on the 1947 Detroit Sectional Chart.
A 1947 photo of 3 Piper J-3 Cub floatplanes & a Republic Seabee amphibian seaplane at Garland's Seaplane Base (courtesy of Bill Grasha).
A 1947 photo of Grumman G-44 Widgeon NC40011 at Garland's Seaplane Base (courtesy of Bill Grasha).
In 1947 there were 11 seaplane bases operating in Michigan, but only Garland's Seaplane Base had the facilities to accommodate large amphibians like the Grumman.
A 1947 photo of Grumman G-44 Widgeon NC40011 at Garland's Seaplane Base (courtesy of Bill Grasha).
A 1947 photo of Grumman G-44 Widgeon NC40011 at Garland's Seaplane Base (courtesy of Bill Grasha).
A 1947 photo of Harry Garland taxiing his Piper J-3 Cub floatplane at Garand's Seaplane Base (courtesy of Bill Grasha), with the Windmill Point Lighthouse in the background.
A 7/8/48 photo of Piper J-3 Cub floatplane (NC98463) at Garand's Seaplane Base (courtesy of Bill Grasha).
A 1948 aerial view looking west at Garland's Seaplane Base, showing 4 floatplanes.
Garland's Seaplane Base & Yacht Harbor, as depicted on a 1949 map.
The last depiction which is available of Garland's Seaplane Base was a 1949 aerial photo (from the DTE Aerial Photo Collection, via Wayne State University, courtesy of Mike Denja).
At least 4 light planes can be seen at the seaplane base (bottom-center of photo).
Garland's Seaplane Base was evidently closed at some point in 1949, as it was no longer depicted on the 1949 Detroit Sectional Chart.
The last depiction which has been located of Garland's Seaplane Base was a 1951 aerial view, which showed at least 2 floatplanes.
According to Wikipedia, “In 1952 the City of Detroit took possession of Garland's property by eminent domain to convert it into a park.”
The 1954 USGS topo map no longer depicted Garland's Seaplane Base.
A 1957 aerial view showed no planes at the Garland's Seaplane Base, with the houses & other buildings still remaining intact,
but evidently abandoned after the property's acquisition to be used as a park.
A 1967 aerial view showed a park covering the site of Garland's Seaplane Base, with all the houses & other buildings having been removed.
Photos from 2009 show the park covering the former seaplane base to be overgrown & looking completely abandoned.
A 2017 aerial view looking north showed no trace remaining of Garland's Seaplane Base.
As of 2018, street maps label the site of Garland's Seaplane Base as Riverfront Lakewood East Park.
Sadly, 2019 photos show the park to be overgrown, completely abandoned, and with its entrance blocked-off.
What a shame the seaplane base had to go for this!
Thanks to Bill Grasha for pointing out this seaplane base.
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Sheep Ranch Naval Outer Landing Field, Newport, MI
42.02, -83.27 (Southwest of Detroit, MI)
A September 1940 aerial view of the eventual site of Sheep Ranch Field (from Monroe County GIS, courtesy of Mike Denja).
The earliest photo which has been located of the site of Sheep Ranch Field was a September 1940 aerial view (from Monroe County GIS, courtesy of Mike Denja).
It depicted several farm fields, over which someone had annotated a circle which corresponded very closely to the circular airfield which would soon be built on the site.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers FUDS site (courtesy of Mike Denja), “Prior to World War II, the Sheep Ranch OLF property was privately owned farmland.
In July 1942, the U.S. Government entered into an agreement with private landowners to lease the property
for the establishment of an outlying auxiliary airfield to the Naval Reserve Aviation Base in Grosse Ile.
Lease NOy(R)-499, dated 7/20/42, covered 155 acres & the Navy designated the property as Field # 22508.
The lease was renewed on an annual basis. During World War II, outlying fields were used for touch-&-go landings.
Other associated uses sometimes included emergency landings, refueling, and bombing & gunnery.
With regard to Sheep Ranch OLF, a circular aircraft landing mat paved with stone & tar was constructed near the center of the property as a practice landing mat for naval aviators.
There is no evidence or indication that underground fuel storage tanks were installed on the property,
that aircraft refueling operations were conducted, or that the OLF was used for bombing purposes.”
Sheep Ranch NOLF was one of the 16 satellite landing fields which supported primary flight training at Grosse Ile Naval Air Station.
The earliest depiction which has been located of Sheep Ranch Field was a 1942 map (courtesy of the NAS Grosse Ile web site).
It depicted “Sheep Ranch Field 22508" as a rectangular outline, along with many other Grosse Ile auxiliary airfields.
Ron Klingel recalled, “The Sheep Ranch Field name came from the Chapman Farms who had property all over the place, 6th generation sheep ranchers.”
Sheep Ranch Field 22508, as depicted on an October 1943 map of NAS Grosse Ile & its Outlying Fields (from the National Archives, courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
Sheep Ranch Field was not yet depicted on the October 1943 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ron Plante).
The earliest photo which has been located of Sheep Ranch Field was a 2/18/44 U.S. Navy aerial view looking south (from the National Archives, courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
It depicted Sheep Ranch as having a 1,000' diameter circular paved landing mat in the middle of a square grass field.
There were a few small buildings on the periphery, but none appeared to be directly related to the airfield.
Brian Rehwinkel reported, “According to a 1944 Outlying Field Report for NAS Grosse Ile, the [Sheep Ranch] mat was 1,000’ in diameter (bituminous/macadam material).
The Navy’s training focused on landing on a spot - hence the landing circles seen on many of their training fields in WWII -
so the shorter fields were probably just used for touch & go most of the time.
I believe this field was originally a sod field, and the hard surfaced mats were added so the fields could be used all year round - dry & wet seasons.
This airfield was just over 154 acres. The field’s numeric designation was #22508.”
This designation meant that the field was located 08 miles along a 225 degree radial from the parent field (NAS Grosse Ile).
A 1944 U.S. Navy aerial view of Sheep Ranch Field (from the National Archives, courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
According to the Army Corps of Engineers FUDS site (courtesy of Mike Denja), “On 5/25/44 the Navy purchased the property, excepting 2 small parcels, by exercising an Option to Purchase.
The Navy purchased the property from Ida Edwards because of its strategic value to the Navy as a training airfield.”
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Sheep Ranch airfield
was on the June 1945 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Dick Merrill).
It depicted "Sheep Ranch (Navy)" as an auxiliary airfield.
A 1947 Army Corps of Engineers map (courtesy of Mike Denja) showed the "Sheep Ranch (Navy)" airfield
in relation to its parent airfield, NAS Grosse Ile.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Sheep Ranch airfield was on the July 1947 Cleveland Sectional Chart.
It depicted "Sheep Ranch (Navy)" as an auxiliary airfield.
Sheep Ranch Field was evidently closed at some point between 1947-49,
as it was no longer depicted on the 1949 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton).
A 1949 aerial view (courtesy of Mike Denja) showed Sheep Ranch Field to remain intact, but without any indication of recent aviation use.
A 6/1/51 aerial view (courtesy of Mike Denja) showed Sheep Ranch Field to remain intact, but without any indication of recent aviation use.
A 1965 aerial view of Sheep Ranch Field (courtesy of Mike Denja) showed its proximity to Newport OLF.
It showed the circular landing mat of Sheep Ranch Field to remain recognizable, but with significant portions of the pavement having been removed.
A 1973 aerial view of Sheep Ranch Field (courtesy of Mike Denja) showed that the land owner still had not plowed the field 30 years later.
A 2010 aerial view of the site of Sheep Ranch Field (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel).
Brian Rehwinkel observed, “Amazingly, you can still see the outline of the landing mat all these years later.”
The site of Sheep Ranch Feld is located southwest of the intersection of Labo Road & North Dixie Highway.
Thanks to Mike Denja for pointing out this airfield.
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42.22, -83.2 (South of Detroit, MI)
A 1930 photo of an unidentified person in front of an unidentified biplane at Hance Airport (courtesy of Mike Denja).
The date of establishment of this small general aviation airport has not been determined.
The earliest depiction which has been located of Hance Airport
was a 1930 photo of an unidentified person in front of an unidentified biplane (courtesy of Mike Denja).
However, Hance Airport was not yet depicted on the August 1933 Detroit Sectional Chart or the 1936 USGS topo map (according to Mike Denja).
According to Julie Ownby, “I am the great-granddaughter of Joseph Hance, owner of the Hance Flying Service in Wyandotte.
My grandpa said that his father, Joseph Hance, opened the airport between 1938-40. He leased the property & owned the buildings.”
Hance Airport was not yet depicted on the August 1942 Detroit Sectional Chart.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Hance Airport was on the October 1942 Detroit Sectional Chart.
It depicted Hance as an auxiliary airfield.
David Warren reported, “I saw a 2-line ad that advertised Hance Flying Service using a Wyandotte address.”
A circa 1943 photo (courtesy of Julie Ownby), which Julie reported “is my grandfather, Joseph Hance, and his future wife, Rosemary Chateau”, in front of a Piper Cub at Hance Airport.
Julie reported, “Joseph's father owned the Hance Flying Service, also named Joseph Hance.”
A circa 1943 photo (courtesy of Julie Ownby) at Hance Airport, which Julie reported showed “Joseph Hance (owner), his wife Helen Hance, and their son (my grandpa) Joseph Hance.”
According to Jeanie Merckel, the 1943 airports in her father's (Henry Cuthbert) pilot logbook included Hance.
The earliest aerial photo which has been located of Hance Airport
was a 9/12/43 aerial view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).
It depicted Hance as having 3 unpaved runways with a ramp on the north side.
The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Hance Airport
as a 160 acre square-shaped property having 3 clay, loam, and sod runways, the longest being the 3,300' northeast/southwest strip.
The field was said to have 2 hangars, the largest being a 177' x 30' wood structure,
and the field was described as being owned & operated by private interests.
A circa mid-1940s photo (courtesy of Julie Ownby) of Joseph Hance, owner of Hance Airport, in the middle in the leather jacket, along with others in front of an unidentified biplane & a Hance Airport hangar.
A photo by Julie Ownby of the circa mid-1940s Hance Flying Service logo.
The 1947 MI Airport Directory (courtesy of Mike Denja) depicted Hance Airport as having 3 graded runways, with the longest being the 3,300' northeast/southwest strip.
A 1949 aerial photo (courtesy of Mike Denja) depicted Hance Airport at perhaps the zenith of its popularity,
with 22 light aircraft visible parked on the north side of the field near the hangar.
The 1952 USGS topo map misspelled the name as “Hange Airport”.
It depicted the field as having 3 unpaved runways, with a ramp & some small buildings on the north side.
The last photo which has been located of Hance Airport was a 1952 aerial view (courtesy of Mike Denja).
It depicted 10 light aircraft on the north side of the field.
According to Julie Ownby, “My grandpa said that the airport closed around 1952.”
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Hance Airport was on the November 1953 Detroit Sectional Chart.
It depicted Hance as having a 2,800' unpaved runway.
The last depiction which has been located of Hance Airport was on the 1954 USGS topo map (courtesy of Mike Denja).
Hance Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1953-54,
as it was no longer depicted on the May 1954 Detroit Sectional Chart.
The 1967 USGS topo map depicted residential streets covering the site of Hance Airport.
A 5/9/10 aerial view showed houses covering the site of Hance Airport, with no trace remaining of the little airport.
The site of Hance Airport is located southwest of the intersection of Eureka Road & Trenton Road.
Thanks to Mike Denja for pointing out this airfield.
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