Columbus in Bartholomew County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Atterbury Army Air Field
Photographed By Duane Hall, March 15, 2013
1. Atterbury Army Air Field Marker (Front)
(Front Side)
Construction begun summer 1942 under Captain Stratton O. Hammon, who used broad authority over laborers, suppliers, and railroad; base in use February 1943. More than 1,000 workers employed during construction. Base was over 2,000 acres, cost over four million dollars, and included more than one hundred buildings, intended to be temporary.
(Back Side)
WWII uses included training B-25, B-26, and glider pilots; by 1944, wounded from Europe received here for Wakeman Hospital. Wounded soldiers during Korean War received here. Renamed 1954 to honor John Bakalar. Base closed 1970. Original building made into chapel; restored and named for Women's Air Service Pilot Jean Lewellen Norbeck 1990s.
Erected 2007 by Indiana Historical Bureau and Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum. (Marker Number 03.2007.2.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Churches & Religion • War, Korean • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1943.
Location. 39° 15.068′ N, 85° 53.696′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Indiana, in Bartholomew County. Marker is at
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Orinoco Furniture Company (approx. 2˝ miles away); Cerealine Manufacturing Company (approx. 3˝ miles away); Our Pioneer Heritage / Bartholomew County Historical Society / McEwen-Samuels-Marr House (approx. 3.7 miles away); Veterans of All Wars (approx. 3.7 miles away); Bartholomew County Courthouse (approx. 3.8 miles away); Bartholomew County Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 3.8 miles away); Bartholomew County Revolutionary War Honor Roll (approx. 3.8 miles away); Bartholomew County W.W. I - Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.
Regarding Atterbury Army Air Field. The following information is provided on the door of the chapel:
This historic building is the Jeanne Lewellen Norbeck Memorial Chapel. The Jeanne Lewellen Norbeck Memorial Chapel is a restored 1942 barracks building converted to a chapel during the Korean War. The chapel is dedicated to the memory of Jeanne Lewellen Norbeck a Women Air Force Service Pilot during WWII. On October 16, 1944 a week after her last visit to Columbus, she was killed instantly when the BT-13 Vultee Valiant airplane she was
Photographed By Duane Hall, March 15, 2013
2. Atterbury Army Air Field Marker (Back)
Also see . . . IHB Annotations. The Indiana Historical Bureau provides annotations for the text of the marker on their website. (Submitted on March 18, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.)
Photographed By Duane Hall, March 15, 2013
3. Jeanne Lewellen Norbeck Memorial Chapel
Photographed By Duane Hall, March 15, 2013
4. Atterbury Army Air Field Control Tower
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 812 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 18, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
