Oscura Army Air Field Auxilary Airport

Post-WWII military drawdown. With the end of the war, the extensive training programs for bomber crews were drastically scaled back. As a result, this auxiliary field, along with many others like it, was no longer required to support the operations of the main base (Alamogordo Army Air Field) and was decommissioned.

The site is completely abandoned and in a state of decay. The distinct 'X' layout of the runways is still clearly visible from satellite imagery, but the asphalt surfaces are severely cracked, weathered, and partially reclaimed by desert vegetation. There are no standing buildings or any remaining infrastructure. The airfield sits in a remote, undeveloped desert area and appears to be on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It has no official current use and exists as a historical relic.

Oscura Army Air Field, officially designated Alamogordo Army Air Field Auxiliary #3, was a vital component of the WWII pilot and crew training infrastructure in the United States. Constructed between 1942 and 1943, it served as a satellite field for the main Alamogordo Army Air Field (now Holloman Air Force Base). Its primary role was to provide a practice area for heavy bomber crews, including those flying the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, and the B-29 Superfortress. The field consisted of two large, 7,000-foot paved runways arranged in an 'X' pattern, designed to handle the large aircraft for repeated takeoffs, landings, and emergency procedure drills, thus de-conflicting training traffic from the main base.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airfield. The complete lack of infrastructure, the severe deterioration of the runways, its remote location, and its proximity to the restricted airspace of the White Sands Missile Range make any potential reactivation for aviation purposes logistically and economically infeasible. The site is expected to remain an abandoned historical landmark.