Norton Field
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. History Norton Field was located in an area southwest of present East Broad Street, Fairway Boulevard, and Hamilton Road in Whitehall, Ohio, just south of what is now John Glenn Columbus International Airport. It 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 property, with dimensions of , received a 10-year lease, secured from Jim Lamp and paid for by the Pure