Hesler-Noble Field
Encyclopedia
Hesler-Noble Field is a public use airport
located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district
of Laurel
, a city in Jones County
, Mississippi
, United States
. It is owned by Laurel Airport Authority. The airport serves the general aviation
community, with no scheduled commercial airline service.
Alarmed by the fall of France in June 1940, Congress funded an increase in the strength of the United States Army Air Corps
from 29 to 54 combat groups. The quickest way for the Air Corps to obtain additional bases was to utilize existing civil airports. The Air Corps signed an agreement to lease Laurel Airport, but because of technicalities in the land transfer, construction did not begin until mid 1942.
Once begun, a large construction program was needed to turn the civil airport into a military airfield. Construction involved runways and airplane hangars, with three concrete runways, several taxiways and a large parking apron and a control tower. Several large hangars were also constructed. Buildings were ultimately utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper. On 18 December 1942, Laurel Army Airfield was opened and assigned to the Third Air Force
. The 473d Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron was the host unit at the airfield
Initially, the mission of the new Air Force field was to fly antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico
, with the 69th Observation Group
flying light aircraft (Douglas O-38
, Douglas O-46, North American O-47
) from November 1942 until March 1943.
In Mid-1943, Laurel AAF's mission changed to training medium and light bomber crews (B-25 Mitchell
, A-20 Havoc) as well as photo reconnaissance units for deployment overseas. Known units that trained at the airfield were:
In early 1944, a phase down of training activity was began, and plans were made to convert Laurel AAF into a specialized storage facility. Most activities at the airfield were moved to Jackson Army Air Base and Laurel was transferred to Air Technical Service Command on 1 July 1944. Large numbers of aircraft were sent to Laurel, both from other training bases, and later from returning overseas units after the War.
Excess aircraft were sent to reclamation facilities after being processed at Laurel. The airfield was placed on inactive status 31 May 1946 and returned to civil control.
Hesler-Noble Field returned to being a civil airport until the early 1970s, when commercial airline service was shifted to Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport
in May 1974. Since then it has served the general aviation community.
of 238 feet (73 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt
paved runway
designated 13/31 which measures 5,513 by 150 feet (1,680 x 46 m).
For the 12-month period ending June 4, 2008, the airport had 27,725 aircraft operations, an average of 75 per day: 96% general aviation
and 4% military
. At that time there were 40 aircraft based at this airport: 55% single-engine
, 25% multi-engine, 13% jet
and 8% ultralight.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Laurel
Laurel, Mississippi
Laurel is a city located in Jones County in Mississippi, a state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,393 although a significant population increase has been reported following Hurricane Katrina. Located in southeast Mississippi, southeast of...
, a city in Jones County
Jones County, Mississippi
-History:Jones County, formed out parts of Covington and Wayne counties, was established on January 24, 1826 and was named for John Paul Jones. There are other counties named Jones, but it appears that this is the only one named for John Paul Jones...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is owned by Laurel Airport Authority. The airport serves the general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
community, with no scheduled commercial airline service.
History
Laurel Airport was first opened in April, 1940, having been constructed by the Works Project Administration, providing commercial airline service to the area.Alarmed by the fall of France in June 1940, Congress funded an increase in the strength of the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
from 29 to 54 combat groups. The quickest way for the Air Corps to obtain additional bases was to utilize existing civil airports. The Air Corps signed an agreement to lease Laurel Airport, but because of technicalities in the land transfer, construction did not begin until mid 1942.
Once begun, a large construction program was needed to turn the civil airport into a military airfield. Construction involved runways and airplane hangars, with three concrete runways, several taxiways and a large parking apron and a control tower. Several large hangars were also constructed. Buildings were ultimately utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper. On 18 December 1942, Laurel Army Airfield was opened and assigned to the Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
. The 473d Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron was the host unit at the airfield
Initially, the mission of the new Air Force field was to fly antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, with the 69th Observation Group
69th Reconnaissance Group
The 69th Reconnaissance Group is an active United States Air Force unit. Its a unit which is part of Air Combat Command stationed at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota...
flying light aircraft (Douglas O-38
Douglas O-38
-References:*The complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, , 1152 pp.-External links:...
, Douglas O-46, North American O-47
North American O-47
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.* Fahey, James C. U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946. New York: Ships and Aircraft, 1946....
) from November 1942 until March 1943.
In Mid-1943, Laurel AAF's mission changed to training medium and light bomber crews (B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, A-20 Havoc) as well as photo reconnaissance units for deployment overseas. Known units that trained at the airfield were:
- 71st Reconnaissance Group, 31 March-24 September 1943
- 416th Bombardment Group, November 1943-1Jan 1944
- 410th Bombardment Group, January-8 February 1944
In early 1944, a phase down of training activity was began, and plans were made to convert Laurel AAF into a specialized storage facility. Most activities at the airfield were moved to Jackson Army Air Base and Laurel was transferred to Air Technical Service Command on 1 July 1944. Large numbers of aircraft were sent to Laurel, both from other training bases, and later from returning overseas units after the War.
Excess aircraft were sent to reclamation facilities after being processed at Laurel. The airfield was placed on inactive status 31 May 1946 and returned to civil control.
Hesler-Noble Field returned to being a civil airport until the early 1970s, when commercial airline service was shifted to Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport
Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport
Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport , nicknamed Airport City, is a public airport located in unincorporated Jones County, Mississippi, near Moselle, and approximately 10 miles north of Hattiesburg and 23 miles southwest of Laurel. The airport covers and has one runway. It is mostly used for...
in May 1974. Since then it has served the general aviation community.
Facilities and aircraft
Hesler-Noble Field covers an area of 1350 acres (546.3 ha) at an elevationElevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 238 feet (73 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
paved runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
designated 13/31 which measures 5,513 by 150 feet (1,680 x 46 m).
For the 12-month period ending June 4, 2008, the airport had 27,725 aircraft operations, an average of 75 per day: 96% general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and 4% military
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
. At that time there were 40 aircraft based at this airport: 55% single-engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
, 25% multi-engine, 13% jet
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
and 8% ultralight.
See also
- Mississippi World War II Army AirfieldsMississippi World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Force established numerous airfields in Mississippi for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
- Air Technical Service Command