Northeastern Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
Northeastern Regional Airport is a public airport
located three miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district
(CBD) of Edenton
, a town in Chowan County
, North Carolina
, USA
. This general aviation
airport covers 734 acres (297 ha) and has two runway
s.
The airport was originally constructed during World War II
by the United States Navy
as Marine Corps Air Station Edenton. In this role, it hosted Marine Operational Training Group 81
(MOTG-81) and its subordinate squadrons. MOTG-81 trained pilots, aircrewmen and ground crews on the land-based PBJ-1
medium bomber, a U.S. Navy / U.S. Marine Corps variant of the U.S. Army Air Forces' B-25 Mitchell
bomber that was operated by Marine bombing squadrons, primarily in the Pacific theater.
Following World War II, the installation was redesignated as Naval Auxiliary Air Station Edenton and was operationally administered by Marine Air Base Squadron 14 (MABS-14), hosting Marine Corps fighter squadrons flying the F9F-2 Panther
and attack squadrons flying the AD-4B
and AD-5 Skyraider
during the Korean War
and early years of the Cold War
. NAAS Edenton was decommissioned in 1960 and turned over to the local government for conversion to a civilian airport.
As a civilian airfield, Northeastern Regional Airport is a general aviation facility. The sole operational runway, Runway 1/19, was originally an 8,000 foot by 200 foot paved surface when control of the air station was reliquished by the military. Although the entire pavement length remains, the approach ends have been displaced and only a 6,000 foot by 100 foot section is currently maintained and usable. A Category I ILS
approach has also been installed on Runway 19, albeit without any precision approach lighting. The former air station's air traffic control tower was abandoned upon the military's departure and has never reopened, leaving the airport as an uncontrolled airport with UNICOM
services only. Several of the other former military buildings have since been converted to multiple civilian aviation and non-aviation uses.
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 miles (5 km) southeast 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"...
(CBD) of Edenton
Edenton, North Carolina
Edenton is a town in Chowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Chowan County. Edenton is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. In recent years Edenton has become a popular retirement location and a destination for...
, a town in Chowan County
Chowan County, North Carolina
- Law and government :Chowan County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of government-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 14,793 people, 5,580 households, and 4,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This 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...
airport covers 734 acres (297 ha) and has two 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...
s.
The airport was originally constructed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as Marine Corps Air Station Edenton. In this role, it hosted Marine Operational Training Group 81
Marine Operational Training Group 81
Marine Operational Training Group 81 was a United States Marine Corps aviation training group that was established during World War II. Squadrons from MOTG-81 trained pilots, aircrew and ground crew on the PBJ-1 medium bomber...
(MOTG-81) and its subordinate squadrons. MOTG-81 trained pilots, aircrewmen and ground crews on the land-based PBJ-1
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...
medium bomber, a U.S. Navy / U.S. Marine Corps variant of the U.S. Army Air Forces' 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...
bomber that was operated by Marine bombing squadrons, primarily in the Pacific theater.
Following World War II, the installation was redesignated as Naval Auxiliary Air Station Edenton and was operationally administered by Marine Air Base Squadron 14 (MABS-14), hosting Marine Corps fighter squadrons flying the F9F-2 Panther
F9F Panther
|-Popular culture:The Panther played a prominent role in the 1954 movie Men of the Fighting Lady . The F9F was featured in the flying sequences in the 1954 movie The Bridges at Toko-Ri, although in the 1953 James A...
and attack squadrons flying the AD-4B
A-1 Skyraider
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was an American single-seat attack aircraft that saw service between the late 1940s and early 1980s. It became a piston-powered, propeller-driven anachronism in the jet age, and was nicknamed "Spad", after a French World War I fighter...
and AD-5 Skyraider
A-1 Skyraider
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was an American single-seat attack aircraft that saw service between the late 1940s and early 1980s. It became a piston-powered, propeller-driven anachronism in the jet age, and was nicknamed "Spad", after a French World War I fighter...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and early years of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. NAAS Edenton was decommissioned in 1960 and turned over to the local government for conversion to a civilian airport.
As a civilian airfield, Northeastern Regional Airport is a general aviation facility. The sole operational runway, Runway 1/19, was originally an 8,000 foot by 200 foot paved surface when control of the air station was reliquished by the military. Although the entire pavement length remains, the approach ends have been displaced and only a 6,000 foot by 100 foot section is currently maintained and usable. A Category I ILS
ILS
Ils may refer to:*Ils , an electronic music producer and DJ*Them , a French horror filmILS may refer to:In Organizations:...
approach has also been installed on Runway 19, albeit without any precision approach lighting. The former air station's air traffic control tower was abandoned upon the military's departure and has never reopened, leaving the airport as an uncontrolled airport with UNICOM
UNICOM
Universal Communications or as known by its abbreviation, UNICOM, is an air-ground communication facility operated by a private agency to provide advisory service at uncontrolled aerodromes and airports.-Description:...
services only. Several of the other former military buildings have since been converted to multiple civilian aviation and non-aviation uses.
See also
- List of United States Marine Corps Air Stations