Mary Walker LZ Airport (APH)

Mary Walker LZ Airport (APH), formerly known as A.P. Hill Army Airfield, is a strategic military aviation facility located within the Fort Walker installation near Bowling Green, Virginia. In August 2023, the entire post was redesignated as Fort Mary Walker in honor of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War surgeon and the only woman to ever receive the Medal of Honor. The airfield serves as a primary point of entry for military personnel and specialized equipment arriving for training at this massive 76,000-acre reservation. The airport plays a critical role in supporting year-round, all-purpose training for multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. It facilitates complex joint and combined arms maneuvers, often serving as a staging ground for troops entering the installation's extensive live-fire complexes. The facility is also used by various government agencies for specialized training, ensuring that it remains a hive of activity for national defense readiness and tactical preparation. Technically, the airfield is classified as a Landing Zone (LZ) and features a single active runway, designated 5/23, with a turf surface measuring 2,201 feet in length and 100 feet in width. Designed for rugged and realistic military operations, the facility does not provide any of the standard amenities found at civilian commercial airports. There is no public passenger terminal, and all airside operations are strictly controlled by base security. Access is restricted to authorized military and government personnel, with prior clearance and rigorous security protocols required for any arrival. Fort Walker has a storied history as a premier training destination, dating back to its establishment in 1941. One of its most famous historical chapters occurred in early 1942, when General George S. Patton utilized the reservation to train over 26,000 troops for the Allied invasion of North Africa. During the War on Terror, the fort saw an annual throughput of approximately 80,000 troops, many of whom utilized the airfield as part of their pre-deployment training. Today, it continues this legacy as a center for modern warfare testing, including specialized counter-IED and night vision capabilities.