Ruth Haines
Rosecrans Memorial Airport, located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of St. Joseph in Missouri, USA, has a history of flooding. The Great Flood of 1951 changed the course of the Missouri River, cutting off the airport from the city of St. Joseph. The airport's history is marked by several instances of flooding and subsequent reconstruction, with access roads and bridges impacted. The airport is named in honour of Sgt. Guy Wallace Rosecrans, the only St. Joseph airman killed in World War I.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Rosecrans Memorial Airport |
| Location | 3 miles (5 km) northwest of the city of St. Joseph in Buchanan County, Missouri, USA |
| Access | No access roads or bridges over the Missouri River to the airport. The only access point is over a bridge in Elwood, Kansas. |
| History | The site was once called the French Bottoms and was settled in the 1830s-50s by people of French descent. The airport was named in honor of Sgt. Guy Wallace Rosecrans, the only St. Joseph airman killed in World War I. |
| Flooding | The Great Flood of 1951 damaged temporary World War II airport buildings and changed the course of the Missouri River, cutting off the airport from the rest of St. Joseph. The Great Flood of 1993 destroyed the City Administration Building and the Cockpit Cafe, which were later rebuilt. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Great Flood of 1951 changed the course of the Missouri River, cutting off Rosecrans Memorial Airport from St. Joseph
- The airport is in Missouri, but the only access is via a bridge in Elwood, Kansas
- The airport is named after Sgt. Guy Wallace Rosecrans, the only St. Joseph airman killed in World War I
- The site of the airport was once called the French Bottoms, settled by French-born people and their descendants in the 1830s-50s
- The airport has been used for crop spraying, charter cargo services, and nightly mail delivery
The Great Flood of 1951 changed the course of the Missouri River, cutting off Rosecrans Memorial Airport from St. Joseph
The Great Flood of 1951 was one of the worst floods in the history of the United States. The flood caused extensive damage to the states of Kansas and Missouri, with the Missouri River changing course and causing widespread destruction. The floodwaters rapidly moved downstream, affecting several towns and cities, including St. Joseph, Missouri, and cutting off the Rosecrans Memorial Airport from the city.
The Rosecrans Memorial Airport, located just 3 miles (5 km) northwest of St. Joseph, was particularly impacted by the flood. The airport was established in 1939 and was named in honour of Sgt. Guy Wallace Rosecrans, the only St. Joseph airman killed in World War I. During World War II, the airport was used as an Army Air Forces base, and several improvements were made, including the construction of temporary buildings.
However, the Great Flood of 1951 damaged many of these temporary structures beyond repair. The floodwaters changed the course of the Missouri River, and the airport was cut off from its land connection to St. Joseph. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers formalized this change by dredging a cut-off channel for the river between the airport and the city. This channel modified the bends in the river and separated the airport from St. Joseph, requiring visitors from Missouri to go through Kansas via the Pony Express Bridge and Elwood, Kansas, to reach the airport.
The Great Flood of 1951 had a significant impact on the region, and its effects were long-lasting. It led to the construction of levees and reservoirs throughout eastern Kansas and Missouri to prevent future flooding. The flood also highlighted the need for a national system of flood disaster insurance, and while the bill at the time did not pass, it led to the Federal Flood Insurance Act of 1956. The Rosecrans Memorial Airport, despite being cut off from St. Joseph, continued to operate and underwent various construction projects over the years, including the addition of new buildings and runways.
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$483.4
![Historic Framed Print, [D.C. - Wash. - Airport - flood waters around hangar and airplanes. 1923], 17-7/8" x 21-7/8"](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41VUzOkH8iL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The airport is in Missouri, but the only access is via a bridge in Elwood, Kansas
Rosecrans Memorial Airport, located in St. Joseph, Missouri, is a unique airport with an interesting history. Despite being situated in Missouri, the airport's sole access point is a bridge in Elwood, Kansas, making it a true "stranded airport." This peculiar situation came about due to a combination of geographical changes and human interventions.
The airport's story begins with its construction in 1939 as a municipal airport for the city of St. Joseph. It was named in honour of Sgt. Guy Wallace Rosecrans, the only St. Joseph airman who perished during World War I. During World War II, the federal government established an Army Air Forces base at Rosecrans, making several improvements between 1942 and 1943.
However, the airport's connection to the Missouri River would prove to be a challenge. The Great Flood of 1951 significantly altered the course of the river, cutting off the airport from the rest of St. Joseph. The Missouri River changed course, and the resulting oxbow lake was named Browning Lake. This natural disaster damaged many temporary World War II airport buildings beyond repair and left the airport isolated.
To address this issue, a bridge and highway were constructed to reconnect the airport to the city. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers formalised the river's course change by dredging a cut-off channel, further separating the airport from downtown St. Joseph. Today, visitors from Missouri must travel through Kansas via the Pony Express Bridge and Elwood to reach the airport, adding a unique twist to their travel experience.
Despite the challenges posed by its location, the Rosecrans Memorial Airport continues to serve general aviation and as one of two bases for the Missouri Air National Guard. The detour through Kansas is relatively short, about four miles, and there are no border restrictions, making it a convenient option for private pilots and travellers alike.
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The airport is named after Sgt. Guy Wallace Rosecrans, the only St. Joseph airman killed in World War I
Rosecrans Memorial Airport, a joint civil-military public airport, is located 3 miles northwest of St. Joseph in Buchanan County, Missouri, USA. The airport is named after Sgt. Guy Wallace Rosecrans, the only St. Joseph airman killed in World War I.
Sgt. Rosecrans was a member of the 153rd Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, from 1917 to 1918. He was the only son of St. Joseph to be killed in the war. A photograph of Sgt. Rosecrans hangs inside the airport's terminal building. The airport was the third location in St. Joseph to bear his name.
The first Rosecrans Field was opened in 1922 at Lake Contrary and was, as the name suggests, simply a field. The airport moved to its second location in 1925, remaining there until 1935. This location was closed due to its proximity to bluffs, which posed a danger to aircraft. The current airport was built in 1939 and was developed by the city as a municipal airport. It has been used for various purposes over the years, including crop spraying, charter passenger and cargo services, pilot training, and nightly mail delivery.
The Great Flood of 1951 damaged many of the airport's buildings beyond repair and caused the Missouri River to change course, cutting off the airport from St. Joseph. The Great Flood of 1993 also caused significant damage to the airport, destroying the City Administration Building and the Cockpit Cafe, as well as several aircraft. Despite these challenges, the airport has continued to adapt and is still in use today.
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The site of the airport was once called the French Bottoms, settled by French-born people and their descendants in the 1830s-50s
Rosecrans Memorial Airport, located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of the city of St. Joseph in Buchanan County, Missouri, USA, is the only airport in St. Joseph that is currently in operation. The site of the airport was once called the French Bottoms, settled by French-born people and their descendants in the 1830s-50s. The northern part of the French Bottoms was settled first and has since washed away. In 1877, most of the land that now makes up the airport was on a river bank, formed by river deposits. By this time, the French Bottoms had sixty houses, one church, and two schools. The rich river bottom land, totaling about five thousand acres (20 km2), was traditionally used for farming.
The airport is named in honour of Sgt. Guy Wallace Rosecrans "and comrades" of the 153rd Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, 1917–18. Sgt. Rosecrans was the only St. Joseph airman killed in World War I. The current airport in St. Joseph is the third in the city to bear the name Rosecrans. The first Rosecrans Field was opened in 1922 at Lake Contrary, and the second was Rosecrans Municipal Airport, which was abandoned due to its small size and dangerous proximity to the Missouri River bluffs.
The new Rosecrans Memorial Airport was developed by the city as a municipal airport in 1939, with two three-thousand-foot (910 m) runways and a hangar built east of the runway intersection. During World War II, the federal government established an Army Air Forces base at the airport, making numerous improvements, including doubling the length of the diagonal runways and adding a 5,500-foot (1,700 m) north–south runway.
The airport has experienced several floods over the years, the most significant being the Great Flood of 1951, which damaged many of the temporary World War II airport buildings beyond repair. The Missouri River changed course during this flood, cutting off the airport from St. Joseph. As a result, visitors from Missouri had to go through Kansas via the Pony Express Bridge and Elwood, Kansas to reach the airport. Another major flood was the Great Flood of 1993, which destroyed the City Administration Building and the Cockpit Cafe, and led to the demolition of the oldest centre hangar.
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The airport has been used for crop spraying, charter cargo services, and nightly mail delivery
Rosecrans Memorial Airport, located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of St. Joseph in Buchanan County, Missouri, USA, has been used for a variety of aviation services, including crop spraying, charter cargo and passenger operations, and nightly mail delivery.
The airport's history with crop spraying is unclear, but its location in a rural area suggests it may have been a convenient base for agricultural aviation. Charter cargo and passenger services have likely been a part of the airport's operations since its early days, providing private and personalised travel options to individuals and businesses in the region.
Nightly mail delivery is an interesting aspect of the airport's operations. Mail delivery by air has long been a critical component of the postal system, ensuring timely and efficient transportation of mail across vast distances. Rosecrans Memorial Airport's role in nightly mail delivery indicates its importance in facilitating communication and commerce in the region.
In addition to these services, Rosecrans Memorial Airport has also been utilised for pilot training by Trans World Airlines (TWA) until its acquisition by American Airlines. The airport's history as an aviation hub is further highlighted by its use during World War II, when it served as an Army Air Forces base with numerous improvements made between 1942 and 1943.
Despite its rich history and ongoing operations, the airport faces a unique challenge due to its geographical location. The Great Flood of 1951 caused the Missouri River to change course, cutting off the airport from the rest of St. Joseph. As a result, travellers from Missouri need to detour through Kansas via the Pony Express Bridge and Elwood to reach the airport. This detour, however, is relatively short, adding only about four miles to the journey.
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Frequently asked questions
The Great Flood of 1951 changed the course of the Missouri River, cutting off the airport from the rest of St. Joseph. The airport was also affected by the Great Flood of 1993, which destroyed the City Administration Building and the Cockpit Cafe.
The airport is located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of St. Joseph in Buchanan County, Missouri, USA. While the airport is in Missouri, there are no roads or bridges over the Missouri River to the airport. Visitors from Missouri go through Kansas via the Pony Express Bridge and Elwood, Kansas.
Commercial airlines haven’t served this airport since the 1960s. The airport has been used for crop spraying, charter passenger and cargo services, pilot training, nightly mail delivery, and until its acquisition by American Airlines, pilot training by Trans World Airlines (TWA).
