Moore Army Airfield

Moore Army Airfield
IATA: AYE – ICAO: KAYE – FAA LID: AYE
Summary
Airport type		Army Airfield
Operator		United States Army
Location		Fort Devens, Ayer / Shirley, Massachusetts
Built		1929
In use		1929-1995
Occupants		Army, Navy
Elevation AMSL		256 ft / 78 m
Coordinates		42°34′18″N 071°36′12″W / 42.57167°N 71.60333°W / 42.57167; -71.60333
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
14/32	4,642	1,415	Asphalt
2/20	2,971	905	Asphalt
9/27	2,691	819	Asphalt
13/31	150	46	Asphalt
0/18	150	46	Asphalt
Closed

Moore Army Airfield is located in Fort 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 Airfield 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 (260 m). 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 (1,600 m) 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.^[1]

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 helicopter operations. The air traffic controllers worked in conjunction with their counterparts at the nearby Hanscom AFB. Around 1976 the field was renamed Moore Army Airfield.^[1]

Closure and Redevelopment

The field was closed around 1995 after the Army left. It is now a State Police driver training facility on week days. On weekends the runways are currently the largest and only centrally located venue in southern New England for SCCA Solo II style autocross competitions.^[2] Several other clubs also use the runways for similar competitions. ^{[3] [4][5][6][7][8]} There is now talk of putting an industrial park over the runways of Moore Army Airfield.^[1]

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

See also

• Fort Devens, Massachusetts

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Central Massachusetts
2. ^ New England Region SCCA Solo II
3. ^ ne-svt
4. ^ BMWCCA-Boston autocross
5. ^ Renegade Miata Club
6. ^ Bay State Corvette Club schedule
7. ^ New England Region Porsche Club
8. ^ North Country Porsche Club

External links

• Moore Army Airfield at GlobalSecurity.org