Sandston in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Decoy Airfield

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 16, 2014

1. Decoy Airfield Marker

Inscription. At this location in World War II, the 936th Camouflage Battalion constructed a decoy airfield to protect nearby Byrd Airfield, which was converted to Richmond Army Air Base in May 1943. On 2,400 acres of farmland seized by the federal government, troops cleared land and laid out fake runways matching the orientation of Byrd Airfield. The battalion constructed buildings, airplanes and artillery pieces using cut timber, canvas, plywood and other scrap material. In September 1943, soldiers of the 1896th Engineer Aviation Battalion moved into camouflaged huts at the decoy airfield. In 1955, the National Guard used the site for bombing practice.

Erected 2013 by County of Henrico. (Marker Number HC-35.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1943.

Location. 37° 28.595′ N, 77° 13.961′ W. Marker is in Sandston, Virginia, in Henrico County. It is at the intersection of Portugee Road and Technology Boulevard, on the right when traveling west on Portugee Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sandston VA 23150, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Seven Days Battles (approx. 1.1 miles away); White Oak Swamp (approx.

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1.4 miles away); a different marker also named White Oak Swamp (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Seven Days Battles (approx. 1½ miles away); Poplar Springs Baptist Church (approx. 1.6 miles away); Elko Community Center (approx. 1.7 miles away); 1896 Engineer Aviation Battalion Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Battle of Glendale (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sandston.

Other markers no longer nearby. Seven Days Battles (was approx. 1.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named White Oak Swamp (was approx. 1.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Portugee Rd & Technology Blvd image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 16, 2014

2. Portugee Rd & Technology Blvd

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,510 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 16, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.