Norton Field
Encyclopedia
Norton Field was an aviation landing field, located in Columbus, Ohio
, that operated from 1923 until the early 1950s. It was the first airport established in Central Ohio, and was named for World War I pilot and star Ohio State University
athlete Fred William Norton, a Columbus native. Lieutenant Norton, of the 27th Pursuit Squadron
, died of injuries suffered when his Nieuport 28
was shot down in northern France
by anti-aircraft artillery in July 1918. Although he managed to land safely behind Allied lines, it took two days to transport him to medical care during which time he contracted pneumonia, dying on 23 July 1918.
, just south of what is now Port Columbus International Airport
, was dedicated on 30 June 1923, in a ceremony attended by top American ace and Columbus native Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. The flying field was established at the urging of Aero Club of Columbus, who lobbied the War Department for its creation. The 100-acre property, with dimensions of 2,000 X 2,250 feet, received a 10 year lease, secured from Jim Lamp and paid for by the Pure Oil Company, according to "Ohio Aviation News" (Fall 2000). This property was then provided to the War Department. "For $1 a year as the community’s part of the deal, Norton Field was equipped by the War Department with 2 steel hangars, a fueling dock & a beacon light on a tower." The first delivery of air mail to Columbus occurred on the day of its dedication. Norton Field became the headquarters for the 308th Observation Squadron, made up of local reservists, many of whom were members of the Aero Club.
Many of aviation's early notables, including Charles Lindbergh
, William “Billy” Mitchell, and James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle
, flew from Norton Field. Curtis LeMay
, later Air Force Chief of Staff and head of Strategic Air Command
, trained here in 1931-1932. Norton Field served as headquarters for the red forces in the 1929 Army Air Corps maneuvers, known as the Great Ohio Air War. This mock war demonstrated the effectiveness of long-range bombing and aerial refueling as well as the first extensive use of radio in both air-to-air and air-to-ground communication.
Charles Lindbergh visited Norton Field on 29 May 1928 as a Technical Advisor for Transcontinental Air Transport
, surveying a cross country train-plane route. He found the field to be too small for TAT’s needs and recommended the city find a larger facility adjacent to the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad
. This brought about the construction of Port Columbus in 1929. The U.S. Army relocated its operations to Port Columbus in June 1931.
During World War II, Norton Field served as a pilot training field with a civilian flight school operated by Mid West Aviation Corporation and refueling and overnight stop for Women Airforce Service Pilots
(WASPs).
Following World War II, it continued to serve as a general aviation airport until its acreage was sold for residential development in the early 1950s.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, that operated from 1923 until the early 1950s. It was the first airport established in Central Ohio, and was named for World War I pilot and star Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
athlete Fred William Norton, a Columbus native. Lieutenant Norton, of the 27th Pursuit Squadron
27th Fighter Squadron
The 27th Fighter Squadron ' is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 1st Operations Group and stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia....
, died of injuries suffered when his Nieuport 28
Nieuport 28
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Cheesman E.F. Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, UK: Harleyford Publications, 1960, pp. 98–99....
was shot down in northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
by anti-aircraft artillery in July 1918. Although he managed to land safely behind Allied lines, it took two days to transport him to medical care during which time he contracted pneumonia, dying on 23 July 1918.
History
Norton Field, located in an area southwest of present East Broad Street, Fairway Boulevard, and Hamilton Road in Whitehall, OhioWhitehall, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,201 people, 8,343 households, and 4,930 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,681.9 people per square mile . There were 8,997 housing units at an average density of 1,725.2 per square mile...
, just south of what is now Port Columbus International Airport
Port Columbus International Airport
Port Columbus International Airport , commonly shortened to Port Columbus, is a Class C international airport located east of downtown Columbus, Ohio, USA. It is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which also oversees operations at Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field...
, was dedicated on 30 June 1923, in a ceremony attended by top American ace and Columbus native Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. The flying field was established at the urging of Aero Club of Columbus, who lobbied the War Department for its creation. The 100-acre property, with dimensions of 2,000 X 2,250 feet, received a 10 year lease, secured from Jim Lamp and paid for by the Pure Oil Company, according to "Ohio Aviation News" (Fall 2000). This property was then provided to the War Department. "For $1 a year as the community’s part of the deal, Norton Field was equipped by the War Department with 2 steel hangars, a fueling dock & a beacon light on a tower." The first delivery of air mail to Columbus occurred on the day of its dedication. Norton Field became the headquarters for the 308th Observation Squadron, made up of local reservists, many of whom were members of the Aero Club.
Many of aviation's early notables, including Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
, William “Billy” Mitchell, and James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle
Jimmy Doolittle
General James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle, USAF was an American aviation pioneer. Doolittle served as a brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general in the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War...
, flew from Norton Field. Curtis LeMay
Curtis LeMay
Curtis Emerson LeMay was a general in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of American Independent Party candidate George Wallace in 1968....
, later Air Force Chief of Staff and head of Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, trained here in 1931-1932. Norton Field served as headquarters for the red forces in the 1929 Army Air Corps maneuvers, known as the Great Ohio Air War. This mock war demonstrated the effectiveness of long-range bombing and aerial refueling as well as the first extensive use of radio in both air-to-air and air-to-ground communication.
Charles Lindbergh visited Norton Field on 29 May 1928 as a Technical Advisor for Transcontinental Air Transport
Transcontinental Air Transport
Transcontinental Air Transport was an airline founded in 1928 by Clement Melville Keys that merged in 1930 with Western Air Express to form what became TWA....
, surveying a cross country train-plane route. He found the field to be too small for TAT’s needs and recommended the city find a larger facility adjacent to the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. This brought about the construction of Port Columbus in 1929. The U.S. Army relocated its operations to Port Columbus in June 1931.
During World War II, Norton Field served as a pilot training field with a civilian flight school operated by Mid West Aviation Corporation and refueling and overnight stop for Women Airforce Service Pilots
Women Airforce Service Pilots
The Women Airforce Service Pilots and its predecessor groups the Women's Flying Training Detachment and the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron were pioneering organizations of civilian female pilots employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of the United States Army Air Forces...
(WASPs).
Following World War II, it continued to serve as a general aviation airport until its acreage was sold for residential development in the early 1950s.