Seymour Field

Seymour Field
Name	Seymour Field
Type	Military airfield
Owner	United States Navy
Location	Near Mount Vernon, Washington
Coordinates	48°25′N 122°19′W
Elevation	40 ft
Opened	1942
Used	1942–present

Seymour Field is a United States naval air facility located near Mount Vernon, Washington, established during World War II as an auxiliary landing field. The installation has transitioned through roles supporting United States Navy patrols, United States Marine Corps training detachments, and civil aviation liaison, while interfacing with regional entities such as Skagit County, Bellingham Municipal Airport, and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Its strategic position in the Pacific Northwest connects Seymour Field to broader operations involving Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Joint Base Lewis–McChord, and historical logistics corridors used during the Aleutian Islands campaign.

History

Seymour Field was commissioned in 1942 amid expansion driven by the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the Pacific theater needs of the United States Navy. The field served as an auxiliary to Naval Air Station Seattle and provided relief for seaplane operations tied to the Bremerton Navy Yard and Ketchikan Naval Air Station logistics. Postwar realignments involving the National Defense Authorization Act and Base Realignment and Closure processes shifted Seymour Field toward reserve training and transient support for squadrons from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. During the Cold War Seymour Field supported surveillance activities related to the Soviet Pacific Fleet presence and facilitated coordination with Air Force Reserve Command units operating from nearby installations. Its timeline includes periods of civilian use under leases with Skagit County and episodic reactivation during contingency operations such as mobilizations tied to the Gulf War.

Facilities and Layout

The field comprises two paved runways, taxiways, apron areas, and a modest control tower adapted from a World War II-era structure. Support buildings include maintenance hangars, aviation fuel storage compatible with Jet A and JP-5, ordnance storage segregated per Department of Defense explosives safety standards, and a small administrative compound that houses liaison offices for Naval Air Systems Command personnel. Onsite navigation aids historically included non-directional beacons and later a tactical Instrument Landing System installation interoperable with aircraft from Carrier Air Wing deployments. Perimeter infrastructure provides vehicle access via state routes linking to Interstate 5 and rail access proximate to freight corridors used by BNSF Railway for logistics support.

Operations and Tenants

Primary tenants have varied across decades: reserve squadrons affiliated with the United States Naval Reserve; transient detachments from Patrol Squadron xx operating P-3 Orion aircraft; and Marine Corps rotary-wing units from Marine Aircraft Group xx. Civilian tenants have included fixed-base operators collaborating with Federal Aviation Administration oversight and regional aero clubs associated with Skagit County Aviation initiatives. Seymour Field also hosts joint exercises with units from Washington Army National Guard and coordination events involving United States Coast Guard cutters operating from nearby bases. Military liaison programs with Northwest Seaplane Pilots Association and emergency response drills with Skagit County Fire District have been documented in base activity logs.

Aircraft and Equipment

Aircraft types historically operating at Seymour Field include Consolidated PBY Catalina seaplanes during World War II, Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft in the late 20th century, and various rotary-wing platforms such as the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and Bell UH-1 Iroquois for training. Short takeoff and landing craft and utility aircraft like the Cessna 172 and Beechcraft King Air appear in transient movements. Ground equipment inventories have included avionic test benches procured through Naval Air Systems Command contracts, diesel mobile power units from Defense Logistics Agency stock, and ordnance handling gear compliant with Nuclear Regulatory Commission-mandated safeguards when applicable.

Accidents and Incidents

Seymour Field's safety record includes a handful of notable events. During World War II a forced landing involving a Consolidated PBY Catalina resulted in no fatalities but prompted improvements in emergency response coordination with Skagit County Sheriff’s Office. In the 1960s a Lockheed P-3 Orion experienced a landing gear collapse while operating from a nearby runway, leading to temporary runway resurfacing and revised maintenance protocols aligned with Naval Air Systems Command directives. Civilian incidents, including a light-aircraft collision during a packed fly-in event, spurred revised airshow coordination standards in concert with the Federal Aviation Administration and Experimental Aircraft Association.

Environmental and Community Impact

Environmental assessments have addressed issues such as fuel storage contamination investigated under Environmental Protection Agency procedures and remediation coordinated with the Washington State Department of Ecology. Wetland mitigation efforts have involved partnerships with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local conservation groups like the Skagit Audubon Society to protect migratory bird habitats influenced by airfield operations. Community relations initiatives include noise abatement programs negotiated with Skagit County commissioners, outreach with Mount Vernon High School STEM programs, and emergency planning integrations with Skagit Regional Health.

Future Developments

Proposed plans for Seymour Field have ranged from infrastructure modernization under military construction authorizations to expanded civil-military partnerships with Port of Skagit and regional economic development agencies. Potential projects include runway rehabilitation funded through Department of Defense appropriations, enhanced joint-use agreements with Federal Aviation Administration to increase capacity for general aviation, and environmental restoration programs in conjunction with the Bonneville Power Administration and regional conservation trusts. Long-term scenarios contemplate continued role as a tactical auxiliary supporting Pacific Northwest operations tied to Carrier Strike Group deployments and homeland security taskings.

Category:Airfields in Washington (state) Category:United States Navy installations