Airport type Public 7/25 5,000 Elevation 45 m | Elevation AMSL 147 ft / 45 m 5,000 1,524 Code BTN | |
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Serves Bennettsville, South Carolina Location Marlboro County, near Bennettsville, South Carolina Owner Marlboro County, South Carolina | ||
Marlboro County Jetport (IATA: BTN, ICAO: KBBP, FAA LID: BBP), also known as H.E. Avent Field, is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) west of the central business district of Bennettsville, in Marlboro County, South Carolina, United States.
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Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, this airport is assigned BBP by the FAA and BTN by the IATA.
Facilities and aircraft
Marlboro County Jetport covers an area of 175 acres (71 ha) at an elevation of 147 feet (45 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 7/25 with a 5,000 by 75 ft (1,524 x 23 m) asphalt pavement. For the 12-month period ending May 16, 2008, the airport had 3,760 aircraft operations, an average of 10 per day: 98% general aviation and 2% air taxi. At that time there were 13 aircraft based at this airport, all single-engine.
History
The airport opened on 8 October 1941 as Bennettsville Airport. Was renamed as Palmer Field in 1943 in honor of Capt. William White Palmer (1895-1934), Bennettsville native and World War I pilot. Palmer served in the 94th Aero Squadron in France during the war, shooting down three enemy aircraft. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and French Croix de Guerre for gallantry in aerial combat.
During World War II, United States Army Air Forces flying cadets were provided flight training under contract to Georgia Air Service, Inc & Southeastern Air Service, Inc., under the 53d Army Air Forces Flying Training Detachment (later 2152d Army Air Force Base Unit). The airfield was assigned to United States Army Air Forces East Coast Training Center (later Eastern Flying Training Command) as a primary (level 1) pilot training airfield. Had a 4,700' irregular all-direction turf field for landings and takeoffs. May have had four auxiliary airfields, although none have been identified. Flying training was performed with Fairchild PT-19s as the primary trainer. Also had several PT-17 Stearmans assigned.
Inactivated on 16 October 1944 with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program. Declared surplus and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers on 30 September 1945. Eventually discharged to the War Assets Administration (WAA) and became a civil airport.