Beckley in Raleigh County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Airport Hangar and Office

1. Airport Hangar and Office Plaque

Pictured above is a U.S. Navy UC-45J Navigator (Beech 18). The two stars on the engine cowling suggest this aircraft was assigned to a rear admiral (upper half). Courtesy Dan Sessler.

Inscription. Here was located the main hangar of the Beckley-Mount Hope Airport (1937-1952). Hangar appears behind the U.S. Navy Aircraft pictured above. Built by Herbert L. Sessler to house the short-lived Beckley Air Transport Corporation. Sessler, a leading aviation advocate, served as Airport Manager. His flight school trained some 650 pilots. The Airport was replaced by Raleigh County Memorial Airport, and the old site repurposed as Beckley's first shopping Center.

Erected 2023 by Harvey Brothers and Raleigh County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.

Location. 37° 46.789′ N, 81° 10.295′ W. Marker is in Beckley, West Virginia, in Raleigh County. It is on North Vance Drive south of Spring Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 122 N Vance Dr, Beckley WV 25801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s New River Gorge.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pinecrest Sanitarium (approx. ¼ mile away); State Police Radio Station And Barracks (approx. 0.3 miles away); Green Beret Birthplace (approx. half a mile away); Civil War Site (approx. half a mile away); Alfred Beckley / Wildwood

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(approx. half a mile away); The Mysterious Ferguson Rock (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Bluestone Road (approx. 0.6 miles away); Ferguson Rock (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beckley.

Return to Home Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beckley Register-Herald, January 18, 2023

2. Return to Home Field

Jack Clemens, 93, of Beckley, reads the history of the Beckley-Mt. Hope Airport. He learned how to fly there in 1946 when he was 16 .

Undated low oblique aerial of airport with hangar circled. Courtesy Dan Sessler. image. Click for full size.

March 11, 2020

3. Undated low oblique aerial of airport with hangar circled. Courtesy Dan Sessler.

Herb Sessler's original Beckley Air Transport hangar. image. Click for full size.

4. Herb Sessler's original Beckley Air Transport hangar.

Principal Celebrants. image. Click for full size.

August 20, 2023

5. Principal Celebrants.

Seated, L TO R: Tom Harvey, Mayor Rob Rappold, Gene Harvey. Standing: RCHS officers Pio DeFlavis, treasurer; Becky Leach, secretary; Sam Interdonato, historian.

Crash Tragedy. image. Click for full size.

February 20, 1944

6. Crash Tragedy.

Charred remains of two Beckley Civil Air Patrol Squadron members following crash at Beckley-Mount Hope Airport on February 20, 1944. Killed were Second Lt. Russell M. Wilson, squadron executive officer, and Pvt. Anthony J. Slobko. Courtesy Dan Sessler.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2023, by Merle T. Cole of Daniels, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 650 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on October 27, 2023, by Merle T. Cole of Daniels, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 22, 2023, by Merle T. Cole of Daniels, West Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?