
Hell and Purgatory Airport in Onslow County, North Carolina, is a ghost town. The airport is believed to have been built in the 1940s, 1950s, or 1960s and was used as a training base for pilots during World War II. After the war, the airport was abandoned and has since been left to decay. The owner of the airport is currently unknown, and it is now mostly forgotten, with only a runway, a small parking lot, and a single hangar remaining.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Onslow County, North Carolina, United States |
| Elevation above sea level | 75 ft. (23 m) |
| Satellite coordinates | Latitude 34°58'6"N, Longitude 77°35'9"W |
| History | Built in the 1940s or 1950s-1960s, used as a training facility for pilots during World War II, abandoned in the early 2000s |
| Current status | Overgrown with weeds and trees, with only a runway, a small parking lot, and a single hangar remaining |
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What You'll Learn
- Hell and Purgatory Airport is located in Onslow County, North Carolina, US
- The airport was built in the 1940s and used as a training base during World War II
- It was abandoned post-war and has been decaying ever since
- The airport is named after the nearby town of Hell, which is also abandoned
- The runway is now overgrown with weeds and trees

Hell and Purgatory Airport is located in Onslow County, North Carolina, US
Hell and Purgatory Airport is located in Onslow County, North Carolina, in the United States. The airport is named after the nearby town of Hell, which is also abandoned. Hell and Purgatory Airport has a fascinating history. It is believed to have been built in the 1940s, 1950s, or 1960s, and was once a bustling hub of aviation activity. During World War II, the airport served as a training ground for fighter pilots and the Army Air Corps. However, after the war ended, the airport fell into disuse and was eventually abandoned.
Today, Hell and Purgatory Airport lies in ruins, overgrown with weeds and trees. The only remnants of its past are the runway, a small parking lot, and a solitary hangar. The airport has earned the moniker of being a "ghost town," with only the occasional plane disturbing the silence or the sound of gunfire from the nearby shooting range.
The exact ownership of Hell and Purgatory Airport is unclear, and it seems to have been forgotten by time and those who once used it. Its current state is a stark contrast to its past glory, serving as a reminder of the transient nature of human endeavours.
Located in a rural area of North Carolina, the airport is surrounded by small towns and natural landmarks. The nearest place in the area is Comfort, North Carolina. The airport's coordinates are 34°58'6" N latitude and 77°35'9" W longitude, placing it firmly within the American South.
Despite its ominous name, Hell and Purgatory Airport holds a certain allure for aviation enthusiasts and those intrigued by forgotten places. Its story serves as a testament to the evolution of aviation in the United States and the changing fortunes of small airports across the country.
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The airport was built in the 1940s and used as a training base during World War II
Hell and Purgatory Airport is located in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. The airport is situated at an elevation of 75 feet (23 metres) above sea level and is catalogued as an airport by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The coordinates of the airport are: latitude 34°58'6" North, longitude 77°35'9" West.
The airport has a rich history dating back to the early to mid-20th century. While there are varying accounts of its construction, it is generally believed that Hell and Purgatory Airport was built in the 1940s. Specifically, one source indicates that the airport was constructed in the early 1940s, aligning with the decade mentioned in other sources.
During World War II, the airport served as a crucial training base. It was used as a training facility for the Army Air Corps, playing a role in preparing fighter pilots for their missions. This aspect of its history underscores the airport's contribution to military endeavours during a pivotal global conflict.
However, the airport's existence predates World War II. According to one source, Hell and Purgatory Airport was built in the late 1920s. This earlier construction date suggests that the airport had already been in use for quite some time before it became a training ground for pilots during the war.
Despite its historical significance, Hell and Purgatory Airport has fallen into disuse and disrepair over the years. It was abandoned in the early 2000s and has since been left to decay. Nature has slowly reclaimed the area, with the runway becoming overgrown by weeds and, in some cases, trees. The airport's isolation and state of abandonment have transformed it into something of a ghost town, adding an air of intrigue to its history.
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It was abandoned post-war and has been decaying ever since
Hell and Purgatory Airport in Onslow County, North Carolina, is a ghost town today. The airport was built either in the late 1920s, the 1940s, the 1950s, or the 1960s—sources disagree on this point. During World War II, it was used as a training ground for pilots and the Army Air Corps. After the war, it was abandoned and has been decaying ever since.
The airport is named after the nearby town of Hell, which is also abandoned. Today, the runway is overgrown with weeds, and the buildings are in disrepair. Only a small parking lot and a single hangar remain. The airport is now mostly forgotten, with only the occasional plane landing on its runway or the sound of gunfire from the nearby shooting range to disturb the silence.
Hell and Purgatory Airport is a unique and fascinating piece of aviation history. In the early days of aviation, small airports were popping up all over the country, and Hell and Purgatory was one of them. These airports typically consisted of grass runways and a few buildings. Many of them, like Hell and Purgatory, have now been abandoned and forgotten, left to decay as aviation technology and infrastructure developed and moved on.
The airport is located at an elevation of 75 feet (23 meters) above sea level. Its satellite coordinates are latitude 34°58'6" North and longitude 77°35'9" West. There are 215 places within a 62-mile radius of the airport, including the nearby town of Comfort, North Carolina. Despite its intriguing name and history, Hell and Purgatory Airport has faded into obscurity, becoming one of North Carolina's most mysterious landmarks.
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The airport is named after the nearby town of Hell, which is also abandoned
Hell and Purgatory Airport is located in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. The airport is named after the nearby town of Hell, which is also abandoned. The town of Purgatory, located just outside Hell, is home to a rich aviation history. The airfield was built in the 1940s and served as a training facility for pilots during World War II. However, like the town of Hell, the airport was eventually abandoned and left to decay.
Today, the airport is a ghost town, with only a few remnants of its past remaining. The runway is overgrown with weeds, and the buildings are in disrepair. Despite its current state, the airport still sees occasional plane landings and is situated near a shooting range, ensuring that the area is not completely devoid of activity.
The history of Hell and Purgatory Airport is shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts of its construction and usage. Some sources claim that the airport was built in the 1950s or 1960s, while others suggest it dates back to the late 1920s or early 1940s. It is believed to have been utilised as a private landing strip for a brief period before falling into disuse.
Adding to the intrigue, the airport's original purpose as a training ground for fighter pilots during World War II further emphasises the significant role it played in aviation history. Despite its current state of abandonment, Hell and Purgatory Airport stands as a testament to the evolution of aviation in the region and continues to capture the imagination of those intrigued by forgotten places.
The unusual name of the airport, derived from the nearby town of Hell, only adds to its allure. The town of Hell itself is also abandoned, contributing to the overall sense of mystery surrounding this location. Hell and Purgatory Airport, though now little more than a memory, remains a unique part of North Carolina's history, offering a glimpse into the past and serving as a reminder of the transient nature of human endeavours.
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The runway is now overgrown with weeds and trees
Hell and Purgatory Airport is located in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. The airport is named after the nearby town of Hell, which is also abandoned. The airport was built in the 1940s and served as a training facility for fighter pilots during World War II. However, after the war, it was abandoned and left to decay. Despite being referred to as an "airport," Hell and Purgatory is simply a single airstrip that has been deserted for decades. The runway is now overgrown with weeds and trees, and the buildings are in disrepair. The only remnants of the airport are a small parking lot and a solitary hangar.
The airport's history is shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts of its construction date. Some sources claim it was built in the 1940s, while others suggest the 1950s or 1960s. One source even indicates that it was constructed in the late 1920s. Despite these discrepancies, it is clear that Hell and Purgatory Airport has a long and forgotten history. The airfield is now a ghostly remnant of the past, with only the occasional plane interrupting the silence or the sound of gunfire from the nearby shooting range.
The runway, once a bustling hub of activity, is now a desolate strip of concrete, slowly being reclaimed by nature. Weeds and grass push through cracks, and young trees sprout from the edges, their roots seeking purchase in the asphalt. Over time, the vegetation has grown thicker and taller, spreading across the runway and surrounding areas. What was once a smooth, clear path for aircraft is now a tangled mess of plants, with only faint hints of the underlying concrete visible.
The trees, in particular, have transformed the runway. Their presence is a powerful symbol of nature's resilience and our own impermanence. Once carefully trimmed or perhaps non-existent, they now spring from every available crevice, their branches reaching skyward as if seeking to touch the planes that once passed overhead. The sound of the wind through their leaves has replaced the roar of engines, and the only visitors are the occasional curious explorers or photographers seeking to capture the essence of this forgotten place.
The overgrown runway of Hell and Purgatory Airport serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of human endeavours. What was once a vital training ground for pilots is now little more than a quiet memorial to a bygone era, slowly disappearing beneath the relentless march of nature. The weeds and trees that now call it home are a testament to time's passage and the inevitability of change.
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Frequently asked questions
It is currently unclear who owns Hell and Purgatory Airport. The airport has been abandoned and left to decay since the early 2000s.
Hell and Purgatory Airport is located in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. It is named after the nearby town of Hell, which is also abandoned.
Hell and Purgatory Airport is now a ghost town, with only a runway, a small parking lot, and a single hangar remaining. The buildings are in disrepair and the runway is overgrown with weeds.
















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