“Square outline.” That’s how a 1938 map depicted Rosedale Landing Field. Today nothing remains. We are standing near the former site of Rosedale Landing Field. It is located northeast of Mt. Abernathy Avenue and Balboa Avenue. Let’s turn back time.
Rosedale Landing Field’s construction date is unknown. The earliest map showing Rosedale Landing Field dates back to June 1938. It was a map showing locations of leased auxiliary landing fields. The Naval Operating Base San Diego map depicted “Rosedale Field” as a square outline.
During World War II Rosedale NOLF served as an auxiliary airfield. It was one of at least 12 attached to San Diego NAS. That’s North Island today.
A 1943 topo map depicted the “Rosedale Landing Field” with an irregular boundary. A 1944 aerial view showed the field’s shape roughly square. Several cut-outs existed on the north side. An olive grove remained there for years. No buildings or improvements appeared on the airfield.
Around 1944, the airfield configuration changed. Rosedale Field now had a 1,500-foot adobe runway. It was Runway 9/27. This runway was on the southern portion. The northern part was no longer a landing area. NAS San Diego used Rosedale Field for administration and maintenance.
By 1945, the San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart labeled it “Rosedale Navy.” In 1949, the San Diego Sectional Chart described “Rosedale Navy” as having a short 1,000-foot unpaved runway.
We don’t know if Rosedale was reused for civilian flying. It closed between 1949 and 1950. The 1950 USGS topo map didn’t show it. The March 1951 San Diego USAF Sectional Aeronautical Chart didn’t depict it.
An aerial photo from 1953 showed the airfield remained clear. However by 1964, redevelopment had begun. A 1964 aerial photo no longer showed the airfield. The area had been densely redeveloped between 1953 and 1964.
Today, Rosedale Landing Field is gone. An aerial view shows a densely developed area. No trace remains of the former airfield. As you leave today remember Rosedale Landing Field and its contribution during World War II.