Norton Field in Whitehall in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Norton Field

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2009

1. Norton Field Marker (Side A)

Inscription. Side A:
The first airport in central Ohio, Norton Field was named for World War I pilot and star Ohio State University athlete Fred William Norton, a Columbus native. On July 2, 1918, Capt. Norton led the 27th “Eagle”Pursuit Squadron in one of the earliest significant American air engagements of World War I. He died from wounds after his Nieuport 28 was shot down in northern France less than three weeks later. Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker attended the dedication ceremonies for Norton Field on June 30, 1923, as Columbus received its first air mail delivery. Norton Field became the headquarters for the 308th Observation Squadron, made up of local reservists, many of whom were members of the Aero Club of Columbus that had lobbied for the establishment of the airport by the War Department.

Side B:
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

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red forces in the 1929 Army Air Corps maneuvers. 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. During World War II, Norton Field served as a pilot training field and refueling and overnight stop for Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs). It continued to operate as a general aviation field until its acreage was sold for residential development in the early 1950s.

Erected 2000 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, City of Whitehall, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 31-25.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection, and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is June 30, 1923.

Location. 39° 58.503′ N, 82° 52.989′ W. Marker is in Whitehall, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in Norton

Norton Field Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2009

2. Norton Field Marker (Side B)

Field. It is on Broad Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is about 500 feet east of intersection with Yearling Road, and about 200 feet NE of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Columbus OH 43213, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Scioto Valley

and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Columbus Depot (approx. 0.6 miles away); Original Port Columbus Airport Terminal (approx. one mile away); The Underground Railroad (approx. 1½ miles away); Whitehall Tavern (approx. 1.7 miles away); Forest Lawn Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); A Brief History of Eastmoor / Eastmoor Polo Field (approx. 2 miles

Fred William Norton image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2009

3. Fred William Norton

away); Livingston Heights Place / Dr. Roberto Villalon (1925-2008) (approx. 2.3 miles away); Holocaust Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Whitehall.

Norton Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2009

4. Norton Field

Norton Field Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2009

5. Norton Field Marker

Looking west along Broad St toward Yearling Road. Holy Spirit Church in left background.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,940 times since then and 121 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 28, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.