Some history behind Wilcut Airport/Bexar County Airport explored again.

Wilcut Airport/Bexar County Airport is one of the many forgotten airports of San Antonio, Texas which has been long forgotten. Not much is known about this airport or its history. Not much else can be found out about this airport online or offline. Much of its history remains forgotten and unknown.


Bexar County purchased 154 acres of land on Gillette Boulevard for the establishment of a county airport in 1938. Wilcut Airport/Bexar County Airport first opened in 1938.

The earliest Wilcut Airport first appeared on a map was in 1943 according to the June 1943 San Antonio Sectional Chart. This airport would be called Wilcut Airport. This airport served as both a commercial airport and municipal airport. (Ref: http://www.airfields-freeman.com/TX/Airfields_TX_SanAntonioW.htm#bexar)

At first Wilcut Airport only had a single east/west grass runway with 5 small buildings. This runway was a 2,200' unpaved runway. The landing field was a sod landing field. (Ref: April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields)

Flying ground and flight courses were being offered to military personnel and civilians in 1944. Wilcut Airport was chosen for flight course due to the stable sod. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-light-mar-02-1944-p-14/)

A name change of this airport was listed in the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory. The name of this airport was changed from “Wilcut Airport” to “Bexar County Airport”. So from 1945 onwards, this airport was officially known as Bexar County Airport. This airport was still depicted as having an unpaved sod landing field and runways. (Ref: 1945 AAF Airfield Directory)

According to a collection of documents from the Civil Aeronautics Administration dating back to 1945, Wilcut Airport was listed as one of the many airports in the “DESIGNATED LANDING AREAS” during World War II. However this airport served as a landing area during the day only interestingly enough. Take note of the “days only” label for reference. Despite this the airport was still open for civilian use. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth873998/m1/19, Collection of Documents Addressed to Air Men and Civilian Pilots)


Wilcut Airport reverted back to civilian use in 1946. All aircraft carriers were relocated to Lackland Air Force Base. Wilcut Airport was a private airport reserved for civilian use by then.

However tragedy struck as harsh weather destroyed the airport as high winds caused approximately $20,000 damage on the night of Tuesday, February 19, 1946. (Ref: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Page 1, Tuesday, February 19, 1946)

“High winds caused approximately $20,000 damage at the privately owned Bexar County Airport Several planes were destroyed and others damaged A peak velocity of 30 miles an hour was recorded at Brooks Field but no damage was reported there or at Kelly Field.”

Bexar County Airport was listed on the CAA Approved Ground and Flight Schools in 1947. Bexar County Airport was listed as one of the “approved ground and flight schools” in Airman's Guide Volume 7. Of course Bexar County Airport often appeared in the Airman's Guide for some reason. Yet the airport was deleted from the list of “DESIGNATED LANDING AREAS” in the same year as listed in Airman's Guide Volume 9. No significant changes were made to the taxiway or runways. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=7cFp9yje1LcC&pg=RA2-PA6&lpg=RA2)


Bexar County sold the airport property to a couple of private entities in 1949. The strips were then paved. Wilcut Airport was privately owned and operated by 1950. So it was during the 50s that Wilcut Airport became a private airport owned and operated by private interests.

According to an article from San Antonio Light, the hangars at Bexar County Airport were dismantled in 1952 and transported to Stinson Municipal Airport. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-light-may-18-1952-p-4/)

 “According to a lease contract entered into by the city with Joseph H. Amberson, the hangars dismantled at the Bexar County Airport and being transported should be ready for occupancy ported to the city airport on June 1st.”

According to a map from 1953 titled Quadrangle for Terrell Wells, TX 1953, the airport was listed as being abandoned. The airport is just listed as “Airport (Aban’d)”. This airport is still depicted as having a paved sod landing field and 2 runways. Wilcut Airport was depicted as having 2 paved runways with a paved connecting taxiway by 1953. (Ref: https://www.historicaerials.com/topo/view/5495239/USGS-1%3A24000-SCALE-QUADRANGLE-FOR-TERRELL-WELLS-TX-1953)

According to a map from 1959 provided by historicaerials.com, the airport was listed as being abandoned. Despite being listed as abandoned the airport runways were still paved. (Ref: https://www.historicaerials.com/topo/view/5495239)

Both runways were overgrown with trees by 1963. The small buildings still remained on the property. The area around the airport was growing. The Poteet Jourdan Freeway cut through the western portion of the airport property.

The runways still show up on a 1967 topographical map of the area surprisingly. The surrounding area was overgrown with trees and vegetation among natural wildlife. You can see development to the East. (Ref: https://www.historicaerials.com/topo/view/5495241/USGS-1%3A24000-SCALE-QUADRANGLE-FOR-TERRELL-WELLS-TX-1967)

Everything was still abandoned by 1969. Even more trees grew on the runways. A subdivision was built over the airport property in 1971. No traces of the airport were visible by 1973. Everything was already built over and destroyed by then.

Wilcut Airport was listed as the former Bexar County Airport on the Joint Groundwater Monitoring and Contamination Report - 2006 by Texas Commission of Environmental Quality. The grounds were contaminated with metals including chlorinated solvents. (Ref: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/sfr/056_05.pdf)

Today Wilcut Airport is reported to be no longer in existence. (Ref: http://pacweb.alamo.edu/interactivehistory/projects/people/categories/LifeInTexas/GrowingUpInSanAntonio/Smith-Smith/oralhist-template.htm)


Wilcut Airport/Bexar County Airport was located at the corner of Poteet Jourdan Freeway & Gillette Boulevard in San Antonio, Texas, US.