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.
Norton Field. .
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 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.
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 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
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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.)
Location. 39° 58.503′ N, 82° 52.989′ W. Marker is in Whitehall, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in Norton Field. Marker 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.
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);
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2009
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2009
3. Fred William Norton
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2009
4. Norton Field
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 Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,709 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 28, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
