Moore Army Air Field

Infobox Airport
name = Moore Army Air Field


image-width = 250px
caption = Moore Army Air Field
IATA = AYE
ICAO = KAYE
FAA = AYE
type = Military: Army Air Field
operator = United States Army
location = Fort Devens, Massachusetts
built = 1929
used = 1929-1995
commander =
occupants = Army, Navy
elevation-f = 256
elevation-m = 78
coordinates = coord|42|34|18|N|071|36|12|W|type:airport|display=inline
website =
r1-number = 14/32
r1-length-f = 4,642
r1-length-m = 1,415
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 2/20
r2-length-f = 2,971
r2-length-m = 905
r2-surface = Asphalt
r3-number = 9/27
r3-length-f = 2,691
r3-length-m = 819
r3-surface = Asphalt
r4-number = 13/31
r4-length-f = 150
r4-length-m = 46
r4-surface = Asphalt
r5-number = 0/18
r5-length-f = 150
r5-length-m = 46
r5-surface = Asphalt
footnotes = Closed

Moore Army Air Field is located in Devens, Massachusetts. It was closed following the closure of Fort Devens in 1995. It is named for Ayer native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Douglas Moore. It is the only Army Air Field named for someone killed in the Vietnam War.

History

Beginnings

The earliest information concerning the construction of the airfield dates to July 1, 1926. It was originally known as Ayer (Camp Devens) Emergency Field. The sod airfield's dimensions were: 2,300 feet 850 feet. It also ran northwest/southeast. Camp Devens Airfield, as it was called later, was operated by the Army. A second runway was extablished the following year. Approximate dimensions were said to be 2,325' x 1,560'. In 1934, it was marked as an auxiliary airfield to the Navy.

World War II

When the nearby fort was expanded in 1940, the airport supposedly "gained" its own airfield. It was described as having a 5,200 foot runway. In 1944 the army withdrew from the airfield and it became known as Ayer Naval Auxiliary Air Station. It was used to support training operations at Squantum Naval Air Station. Carrier Air Groups 4 & 83 were based at Ayer during 1944. The nearby Beverly Airport was used as a bounce field. [ [http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MA/Airfields_MA_C.htm#moore Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Central Massachusetts ] ]

Postwar Years

The Navy discontinued their use of Ayer NAAS for unknown reasons between the years of 1944-1946. As part of the postwar demobilization, the Army deactivated nearby Fort Devens in 1946, but reopened it again in 1948. By 1954, it was known as Ayer AAF. Then it was renamed Fort Devens AAF between 1954 and 1959. It had three operating runways but they were used intermittently on and off throughout the years. The longest runway was listed in 1960 as being 3,745 feet (not including overrun). In the 70's it got an upgraded control tower and it was used for heicopter operations. The air traffic controllers worked in conjunction with their counterparts at the nearby Hanscom AFB. Around 1976 the field was renamed Moore Army Air Field. [ [http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MA/Airfields_MA_C.htm#moore Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Central Massachusetts ] ]

Closure and Redevelopment

The field was closed around 1995 after the Army left. It is now a State Police driver training facility. There is now talk of putting an industrial park over the runways of Moore Army Air Field. [ [http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MA/Airfields_MA_C.htm#moore Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Central Massachusetts ] ]

Groups Hosted

* 152nd Observation Squadron (1941-1943)
* Carrier Air Group 4
* Carrier Air Group 83
* 10th Special Forces Group (Minus the First Battalion) (1968-1995)

Aircraft Hosted

*Aeronca L-16
*R-16/H-16 - Piasecki
*North American BC-1
*North American O-47
*O-49
*O-52 Owl
*O-58
*HU-21 Workhorse/Shawnee
*U-10D Super Courier
*UH-1 Huey
*C-45 Expeditor
*C-130 Hercules
*C-12 Huron

ee also

*Fort Devens, Massachusetts

References

External links

*http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MA/Airfields_MA_C.htm#moore