Share your memories

Aviation Brutus
Help us celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Ohio State University Airport in 2017! Are you a customer, student or former student, past or present employee, or community member with a memory or story about the airport that you would like to share? If so, please fill out the survey below with a brief description of your memory and submit it, along with a photo if possible. If your story is selected, we will post it on this website.  Contact Cindy Overly at overly.23@osu.edu if you have questions.

1942: “An Excellent Flying Field” is created

The history of aviation at Ohio State dates back 100 years to 1917, when World War I pilots were trained on the main campus.  Construction of The Ohio State University Airport was approved by the university’s board of trustees in 1942. Described at the time as “an excellent flying field,” the airport provided flight training, instructional, and research opportunities.

Opening day, 1942
Opening day at the airport, November 5, 1942
Opening day at the Ohio State University Airport, November 5, 1942 (left to right) Julius F Stone, emeritus chairman of the board of trustees, Dr. Howard L Bevis, President of Ohio State University, Major George Stone, Civil Air Patrol, and John W. Bricker, governor of Ohio. Major Stone, a Columbus manufacturer and one of the nation’s leading sportsman-pilots, was the first chairman of a state aeronautics governing board formed to control airfields. (Columbus Citizen, 12-16--46)