Condron Army Air Field

Military conversion and obsolescence. The primary reason for Condron AAF's closure was its replacement by the larger and more modern Stallion Army Airfield (part of the White Sands Missile Range), which was better equipped to handle larger, faster aircraft like jets. The original Condron AAF site was then repurposed for ground-based missile testing activities, fully integrating it into the range's primary mission.

The site of the former Condron Army Air Field is no longer an airport and is not used for any aviation purposes. It has been completely absorbed into the active testing area of the White Sands Missile Range. Satellite imagery shows that the original runway and taxiway layouts are still faintly visible, but they are now overlaid with various test structures, launch support facilities, sensor arrays, and access roads. The area is part of a highly restricted, active military installation and is inaccessible to the public.

Condron Army Air Field was the original primary airfield for the White Sands Proving Ground (WSPG), which later became the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). Established around 1945-1946, it was critically important during the dawn of the American rocketry program and the Cold War. Its operations included:
- Logistical Support: Transporting personnel, including German rocket scientists from Operation Paperclip, VIPs, and sensitive equipment to the remote test range.
- Test Observation: Serving as a base for chase planes (like B-17s, B-25s, and later T-33s) that would fly alongside and photograph missile tests, including the famous V-2 rocket launches.
- Target and Drone Operations: Supporting the launch, control, and recovery of target drones used for missile system testing.
- Range Surveillance: Conducting aerial patrols and surveillance of the vast, restricted military range.
In essence, Condron AAF was the essential air logistics and support hub for the foundational years of U.S. missile and space exploration development.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Condron Army Air Field. The site has been physically and permanently repurposed for ground-based military testing. The aviation needs of the White Sands Missile Range are fully met by Stallion Army Airfield and the nearby Holloman Air Force Base. Re-establishing an airfield at this location would be operationally redundant and would require the removal of critical, active missile range infrastructure.