Airport

        Port Columbus was built in 1929 as an airport for the first transcontinental air/rail service from New York to the West Coast. The service involved riding a train at night and an airplane during the day. That service lasted in various configurations only five years, but it did leave Columbus with an airport.

        In October 1940 the Curtiss-Wright Co. leased 83 acres of airport property for a factory to assemble Helldiver fighter planes. The factory and new runway construction both driven by the approach of World War II were well underway by the summer of 1941 when this photo was taken.

        In 2012 the original terminal and two of the three hangers are still standing. One hanger has the 1920 blue TAT (Transcontinental Air Transport) logo painted over the hanger door.

        For more history of aviation in Columbus click here

1.	Norton Field Airport – 100 acre grass field. During the war it was used to train pilots and navigators. Dave Bunge remembers seeing blimps at Norton field during the 1940s.
2.	Curtiss-Wright Factory – in this photo the factory is still under construction as are runway expansions.
3.	Columbus General Depot – later named the Defense Supply Center, Columbus. During the 1940s and 50’s they had their own switch locomotives, first steam then diesel.
4.	Fifth Avenue
5.	James Road – as the airfield is expanded James Road will be truncated no longer crossing airport property.
6.	Gahanna Southern Road - later to be named Hamilton Road.
7.	Sawyer Road
8.	East Broad street
9.	Port Columbus terminal and control tower
10.	PRR platforms used for 1929 train/plane service. The platforms were removed after the war.
11.	PRR/B&O jointly operated Newark-Columbus Division three track main line.
12.	Railroad siding serving the Curtiss Wright factory. Also in this area along the B&O/PRR main line is a small B&O yard.
13.	T&OC track coming from Truro to the south. It crosses the B&O/PRR tracks at East Columbus Tower to serve industries on the east side of Columbus.
14.	Big Walnut Creek