Arizona Abandoned Airfield, USAF training military base, old drag strip Froggy Bottom / Perryville

Arizona, Goodyear Auxiliary Army Airfield #6 was built in 1943 as one of a large number of satellite airfields for the United States Air Force, which was the largest single-engine advanced training base in the world during World War Two. According to a 1992 Army Corps of Engineers Report, the Goodyear Auxiliary #6 property consisted of a total of 1,159 acres.

According to the "History of Luke AFB" (obtained by David Brooks from the public affairs office at Luke AFB), Goodyear Field (#6) had three 4,000' x 300' runways, and the construction costs for its airdrome was $263,000. Among Luke's auxiliary airfields, "Fighter & Goodyear Fields boasted the most facilities, each having separate buildings for crew chiefs, operations, supply, barracks, pit latrine, crash truck shed, generator shed and a control tower." The earliest depiction the Goodyear auxiliary airfield which has been located was on the March 1945 Phoenix Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

A 1949 aerial photo (courtesy of John Arthur) depicted the Goodyear Aux #6 airfield in its original configuration, with 3 runways & a parking ramp on the southeast side. Several small buildings were just east of the parking ramp.

The site was declared excess & deeded to the State of Arizona in 1949, but was then reestablished & expanded by the Air Force later that same year. It was last used for emergency landings, dart target launchings, and as an emergency drop zone for flight training missions from Luke AFB. "Luke AF #6" was depicted as an active airfield on the 1956 Phoenix Sectional chart (courtesy of John Voss), which described the longest runway as being a 5,300' hard-surfaced strip. The Army Corps of Engineers indicated that the site was declared excess in 1957.

However, "Luke AF #6" was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1966 Phoenix Local aeronautical chart (courtesy of John Voss). Luke AF Aux #6 was evidently closed at some point between 1966-71, as it was labeled "closed" on the August 1971 USAF Tactical Pilotage Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). At some point between 1966-71 the primary runway was apparently lengthened to its ultimate configuration of 6,200'. That may indicate that it was used at a relatively late period in its history for jet aircraft, as 6,200' is longer than the typical runway of a WW2 era training field.

You can clearly see the numbers "312" and a red scorpion painted on the pavement during this video footage. It is told that the 312thTFTS FS "scorpions" role was training and was disbanded in 1991. Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located at the time of this video.

Was recently made aware that this was used in the 70's & 80's as a drag strip and was given the name "froggy bottoms".

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Goodyear
• AZ
• Arizona
• Abandoned Airfield
• airfields
• airstrips
• f16
• jets
• WW2
• The Army Corps of Engineers
• Luke AFB
• air force
• Buckeye
• verrado
• perryville
• Luke AAF
• 312 scorpions
• active airfield
• satellite airfields
• TFTS
• drag racing
• drag strip
• old arizona drag strip
• long forgotten drag strips
• dragstrips in arizona

[commando602]

I just went there today, Didn't get any footage because I could not find a way to get in there. All I have is a little corolla plus there were 3 cop cars parked on Yuma (just my luck). Where is the Scorpion located? closer to Yuma or Airport road?

[ArizonaAdventures]

@commando602 You could walk to it if I remember right it's just North if your walking or driving on Yuma right after the homes end. Once your in the brush you can probably see better, but it's on the more wide section of strip, (you'll see some skinny trails). I'll try and get you some google gps cords and PM them to you if you'd like. The old footings from the buildings are off airport rd. about 100 yards North of Yuma. Be careful of the Police :)

[commando602]

@ArizonaAdventures - Thanks, I see on google earth that the closest point to access by foot is the South West corner by the home. That's my neighborhood by the way. I live in the Windmill neighborhood. I'm just gonna walk out into the field in the next few day's. Don't think the cops would give me a hard time but you never know these day's. They might body slam me, kick me in the ribs a few times, pepper spray me then ask questions.

[ArizonaAdventures]

@commando602 yeah the SW corner exactly, sounds like you should find it no prob. I love that windmill by the way! To bad more communities don't add great features like that it seems, very cool! In fact I think I looked for a geocache there once but it was gone. oh yeah lol the cops...yeah they might think it was black friday at walmart all over again hahaha

[commando602]

Awesome video - I'm gonna go have a look at this abandoned airfield this week sometime. Very cool! 

[ArizonaAdventures]

@commando602 hey thanks! It will be cool to see what you find out there these days.

[DarkEgnimatic]

@danthman114 You probably have heard of the Glasgow Airforce base in Montana? They converted that into some kind of housing complex. Not sure how well that went.

[ArizonaAdventures]

@danthman114 sure are :)

[danthman114]

these are all over arizona...

[ArizonaAdventures]

@eeriojas I'm so glad you left that comment, because your the first one to tell me about froggy bottom :) I bet you have some great stories of trotter park too, yeah :)