Rosecrans Memorial Airport

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Rosecrans Memorial Airport Rosecrans Memorial Airport is a joint civil-military public airport owned and operated by the City of St Joseph, MO. The airport was named in honor of Sgt.

Rosecrans Memorial Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located three miles (5 km) northwest of the city of St. Joseph in Buchanan County, Missouri, USA.The airport is one of two bases for the Missouri Air National Guard and also serves general aviation.HistoryRosecrans Memorial Airport is located on a field that was once referred to as the French Bottoms. It was surrounded by four towns, three of which existed as late as 1979. The northern portion of the French Bottoms was settled first, in the 1830s-50's, and has since washed away. The settlers were French-born and/or descendants of earlier French settlers. In 1877 most of the land that now comprises the airport was located on a river bank on what was called "made land." This land had been formed by river deposits. By this year the French Bottoms contained sixty houses, one church, and two schools. The rich river bottom land, totaling approximately five thousand acres (20 km²), was traditionally used for farming. Some of the descendants of the early French settlers still lived in the bottoms in 1939, when the area was razed to make way for the airport. Guy Wallace Rosecrans "and comrades" of the 153rd Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, 1917-18. Rosecrans was the only St. Joseph airman killed in World War I. The new 1939 flying field was the third airport in St. Joseph to bear the name Rosecrans. In 1922 the first Rosecrans Field was opened at Lake Contrary. The second was Rosecrans Municipal Airport on the waterworks road, abandoned because of its small size and its dangerous proximity to the Missouri River bluffs to its east.

🪂 Keep an Eye on the Sky This Week!Something a little different is happening at Rosecrans Memorial Airport through Thurs...
10/20/2026

🪂 Keep an Eye on the Sky This Week!

Something a little different is happening at Rosecrans Memorial Airport through Thursday.

The US Army Golden Knights are at Rosecrans conducting a tandem jump clinic with a local Army recruiting battalion. While participation in the jumps is not open to the public, visitors may have the opportunity to catch one of the nation's premier parachute teams in action.

If you're stopping by the airport, B&B Runway Cafe is a great place to grab a meal and watch for parachutists descending over the airfield.

We are proud to host the Golden Knights and appreciate their visit to Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

The shorter days of October mean airfield lighting is taking on a more visible role across the airport. From early morni...
10/20/2026

The shorter days of October mean airfield lighting is taking on a more visible role across the airport. From early morning departures to evening arrivals, runway and taxiway lighting help pilots identify the movement areas they rely on every day. As daylight hours continue to shrink through the fall, these systems become an increasingly important part of the airfield environment.

A wide range of organizations rely on Rosecrans Memorial Airport throughout the year. Flight training, agricultural avia...
10/16/2026

A wide range of organizations rely on Rosecrans Memorial Airport throughout the year. Flight training, agricultural aviation, military operations, maintenance activity, and business aviation all contribute to the mix of aircraft seen on the field. Together, these users help illustrate the diverse role the airport plays in supporting aviation across the region.

Most airport infrastructure isn't particularly noticeable when it's working well, and that's usually the goal. Runways, ...
10/13/2026

Most airport infrastructure isn't particularly noticeable when it's working well, and that's usually the goal. Runways, taxiways, drainage systems, lighting, and utilities all work together behind the scenes to support daily operations. As the airport moves through the fall season, these systems continue to support everything from local training flights to military and transient visitors moving through the field.

Darker mornings have given the ops crew a little more time before first light to check airfield lighting and make sure e...
10/09/2026

Darker mornings have given the ops crew a little more time before first light to check airfield lighting and make sure everything is ready for the day. The airport is also beginning its shift from summer mowing toward fall maintenance and early winter prep. These seasonal changes happen quietly, but they set the foundation for safe operations as we move deeper into October.

October opened with a wet start, but clearer skies followed and brought good flying windows across the field. The shift ...
10/06/2026

October opened with a wet start, but clearer skies followed and brought good flying windows across the field. The shift from rain‑soaked pavement to bright fall conditions made for a noticeable change in how the airport looked from day to day. General aviation picked up as the weather improved, and the mix of aircraft on the ramp reflected the return to more typical early‑October flying.

September’s Top 10 Users show a clear picture of how the airfield was used throughout the month. The Sling LSA held onto...
10/02/2026

September’s Top 10 Users show a clear picture of how the airfield was used throughout the month. The Sling LSA held onto the top spot again, driven by steady flight‑training activity. Behind it, the C‑130 community made a strong showing, with three of the ten most active aircraft for the month. Our traffic‑tracking application continues to support this work by giving us accurate, real‑time data on field use, helping us monitor patterns and plan for upcoming needs. The mix of users highlights how many different operations rely on Rosecrans and how often the airfield supports activity that reaches well beyond local general aviation.

The third quarter closes with a mix of activity across the airfield, reflecting both local flying and mission‑driven ope...
09/29/2026

The third quarter closes with a mix of activity across the airfield, reflecting both local flying and mission‑driven operations that moved through during late summer. Seasonal changes, visiting units, and regular GA use all shaped the month, giving a clear picture of how the field was used as we transition into fall. The quarter’s end is a good point to review trends and prepare for the final stretch of the year as we transition from the high tempo of summer mowing to the winter watch.

The past two weeks have brought a broad mix of military aircraft to the airport as units cycle through for training and ...
09/25/2026

The past two weeks have brought a broad mix of military aircraft to the airport as units cycle through for training and mission support. Helicopters, transport aircraft, and international partners have all been on the field, including visitors from New Zealand and the German Luftwaffe. Activity like this is a reminder of how many different missions connect through Rosecrans and how often the airfield supports international work that reaches well beyond local region.

Fall weather is beginning to settle in, and the shift brings a different set of considerations for airport operations. C...
09/22/2026

Fall weather is beginning to settle in, and the shift brings a different set of considerations for airport operations. Cooler mornings, thicker cloud layers, and changing wind patterns all play a role in how the field is managed this time of year. As the focus shifts from summer mowing, crews have been preparing to change equipment, checking areas affected by recent rain, and preparing for the conditions that typically arrive as autumn takes hold.

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100 B NW Rosecrans Road
Saint Joseph, MO
64503

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