Watsonville Airport: Is There An Air Traffic Control Tower?

The Watsonville Municipal Airport, located in Santa Cruz County, California, has a rich history dating back to World War II. Initially opened in 1930 by Watsonville Airport Incorporated, it served as an important defense base for California during the war, with various aircraft stationed there. With the end of the war, the airport changed hands and was renamed, eventually becoming the larger Watsonville Municipal Airport we know today. But does this airport have a tower?

Watsonville Airport's history

The history of Watsonville Municipal Airport can be traced back to the early 1930s. On May 9, 1931, Governor James "Sunny Jim" Rolph officially opened Watsonville's first airport by cutting a ribbon stretched across the field while riding in a Stinson monoplane piloted by WW. Bendell. This event marked Watsonville's entry into the aviation age, and it occurred just over a year after the formation of "Watsonville Airport Incorporated." The airport was established through the efforts of 400 "largely civic-minded citizens" who purchased 5,000 shares of stock to acquire land for the airport's construction.

The original site chosen for the airport was an 85-acre plot southwest of the city, near the junction of Highway 1 and Salinas Road in Monterey County. This location was selected due to its reasonable price. The airport's first president of the board of directors was Harlow Ford, and Claude Wilson served as the inaugural airport manager and flight instructor. Other notable individuals involved in the airport's establishment included Perry Andrews, William Bendell, Pete Calaghan, Basil and Kenneth Clark, and Floyd McFarlane.

In 1938, the Airfield Directory Company published an aerial view of Watsonville Airport in their "Airfield Directory," providing a glimpse into the early days of aviation in the area. By 1939, The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), the forerunner of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), recognized the need for a civil airport in Santa Cruz County. Initially, they approached the City of Santa Cruz with an offer to build an airport if the city purchased the land. However, when Santa Cruz County rejected the proposal, the CAA presented a similar offer to Watsonville, which was accepted.

During World War II, the airport played a significant role in defence and training operations. The U.S. Navy acquired the airport in July 1943, expanding it by purchasing an additional 35 acres and constructing support buildings and a concrete ramp. On October 23, 1943, the airport was commissioned as Naval Auxiliary Air Station Watsonville (NAAS Watsonville), serving as a satellite to Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda. NAAS Watsonville provided training and maintenance for the 12th Naval District, Alameda, California, under the command of Lieutenant John C. Chapman. Various aircraft were stationed at the base, including antisubmarine blimps, Grumman F6F Hellcats, Grumman TBF Avengers, Vought F4U Corsairs, and Douglas SBD Dauntless. These planes were utilised for torpedo, dive bomber, and fighter operations training.

With the conclusion of World War II, operations at NAAS Watsonville ceased, and on November 1, 1945, the base was closed and placed in caretaker status. In 1947, the airport was returned to the City of Watsonville, and it has since become a popular location for instrument training due to its three documented instrument approach procedures. Today, Watsonville Municipal Airport covers 330 acres and boasts two runways, catering to a range of aircraft.

Aircraft stationed at Watsonville Airport

The Watsonville Municipal Airport in California has been home to a variety of aircraft throughout its history, both military and civilian. During World War II, the airport was known as Naval Auxiliary Air Station Watsonville (NAAS Watsonville) and served as a satellite to the Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda.

NAAS Watsonville was commissioned on October 23, 1943, and became known as a "Navy town," with up to 75 combat aircraft and 1,200 men stationed there at any given time. The aircraft stationed at NAAS Watsonville included the Grumman F6F Hellcat with the VF-8 and VBF-8, the Grumman TBF Avenger, the Vought F4U Corsair, and the Douglas SBD Dauntless. These aircraft were used for training in torpedo, dive bomber, and fighter operations. Antisubmarine blimps were also stationed at NAAS Watsonville for the defense of California.

The airport's concrete ramp, built by the Navy, provided ample space for these aircraft and continues to be used today by corporate and private planes. The largest aircraft to ever land at Watsonville Municipal Airport were two C-17 Globemaster IIIs from March ARB, California.

After the war ended, NAAS Watsonville was closed on November 1, 1945, and returned to the City of Watsonville for civilian use in July 1948. Today, the airport covers 330 acres and has two runways. It is uncontrolled, and its CTAF is 122.8 MHz.

The airport's runways

The Watsonville Airport, also known as the Watsonville Municipal Airport, is located in Santa Cruz County, California, about three miles (5 km) northwest of the city of Watsonville. The airport covers an area of 330 acres (134 hectares) and features two paved runways.

The longest runway at the airport is designated as 02-20, measuring 4,501 feet (1,372 meters) in length and 149 feet (45 meters) in width. This runway is primarily used for take-off and landing, accommodating various aircraft, including large planes like the C-17 Globemaster III.

The second runway, known as the crosswind runway, is designated as 09-27. It has dimensions of 3,998 feet (1,219 meters) in length and 98 feet (30 meters) in width. This runway comes into use when winds are favourable and during foggy conditions when fog moves across the field from nearby Monterey Bay.

The airport has a rich history, dating back to its opening in 1930 by Watsonville Airport Incorporated. Initially, the airport featured three 2,300-foot dirt runways arranged in a triangle shape. During World War II, the US Navy leased the airport, utilising it as a base for antisubmarine blimps and various combat aircraft. After the war, the airport was returned to civilian use, and in 1947, the land was sold to new owners, eventually becoming a cattle feed lot.

The airport's closure

The Watsonville Airport, located in California, United States, has a rich history dating back to the 1930s. However, its operations and purpose have evolved over time, and it eventually ceased to be an airport.

Watsonville's first airport was opened in 1930 by Watsonville Airport Incorporated, who purchased 85 acres of land for this purpose. The airport was strategically located at California State Route 1 and Salinas Road in Monterey County. It featured three 2,300-foot dirt runways in a triangular configuration. During World War II, the airport played a defensive role, housing antisubmarine blimps from Moffett Field after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The US Navy leased the airport in 1942, renaming it Watsonville NAAF (LTA), and used it as an auxiliary field.

In July 1943, the Navy further expanded its presence by taking control of the airport, purchasing an additional 35 acres, and constructing support buildings and a concrete ramp. On October 23, 1943, the airport was officially commissioned as Naval Auxiliary Air Station Watsonville (NAAS Watsonville), operating as a satellite to the Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda. Up to 75 combat aircraft were stationed at NAAS Watsonville, including the Grumman F6F Hellcat, Grumman TBF Avenger, Vought F4U Corsair, and Douglas SBD Dauntless. These aircraft were utilised for training classes in torpedo, dive bomber, and fighter operations.

However, with the end of World War II, the airport's military significance diminished. On November 1, 1945, NAAS Watsonville was closed and placed in caretaker status. The Navy returned the airport to Watsonville Airport Incorporated in late 1945, and it was renamed Watsonville Airport No. 2. Subsequently, in 1947, the land was sold to Edwin and Flora Peterson, marking the end of its use as an airport. The site was converted into a cattle feedlot, erasing any traces of its former aviation purpose.

Today, there are no remnants of the original Watsonville Airport, and the larger Watsonville Municipal Airport, located three miles northwest of the city, serves the aviation needs of the region.

The airport's location

The Watsonville Municipal Airport is located in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. It is situated three miles (or five kilometres) northwest of Watsonville. The airport covers 330 acres (or 134 hectares) of land and has two runways. The airport's longest runway is 02-20, which measures 4501 feet by 149 feet. The crosswind runway, 09-27, measures 3998 feet by 98 feet and is used when winds favour it and when fog is moving in from Monterey Bay.

The airport has a rich history, dating back to World War II. It was once known as Naval Auxiliary Air Station Watsonville (NAAS Watsonville) and served as a satellite to the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California. During the war, it provided training and maintenance for the 12th Naval District and was home to various aircraft, including antisubmarine blimps, Grumman F6F Hellcats, and Grumman TBF Avengers. Up to 75 combat aircraft were stationed at the base.

With the end of World War II, operations at NAAS Watsonville ceased, and it was closed and placed in caretaker status on November 1, 1945. The airport was eventually returned to the City of Watsonville in 1947. Today, it is uncontrolled and serves the business aviation requirements and recreational facilities of the City of Watsonville, County of Santa Cruz, and the Monterey Bay Area.

The airport is a popular instrument training area, with three documented instrument approach procedures. It is also known for its surrounding natural beauty, as it is located near Monterey Bay and is often surrounded by fog and low stratus clouds.

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