Browse Items (74 total)
- Collection: Roanoke Aviation Photograph Collection
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RAC1 Mason, George H.
An early Roanoke aviator who used flight for commercial success was George H. Mason, shown here in 1929 with his Waco. Mason sold textbooks throughout Virginia, the Carolinas, George and Florida. He would circle a town, drawing attention, and then…
RAC10 Airport Terminal
Customers at Woodrum Field pose in front of the soon-to-be-demolished terminal building. Shown here, from left are Mike Davis, June Carr, Parker Smith (behind the scope), Lou Urquhart, and Jo Hambrick. Note the American Airlines and Piedmont logos…
RAC11 Woodrum Field
The progress made at Woodrum Field is seen here in 1971. Among the facilities shown are the terminal dedicated in 1953, the nose-in hangar (left of center, top), general aviation hangars and the service hangar for Piedmont Airlines (upper right).…
RAC12 Piedmont Airlines
January 1967 saw the introduction of the Boeing 727 by Piedmont Airlines to its routes. The first 727 to visit Woodrum Field is seen here. Just a few months earlier, in November 1966, Piedmont Airlines had opened routes through Roanoke to New York.…
RAC13 Hillman, Wes
Wes Hillman sits in his Waco "F" in front of the terminal at Woodrum Field. At left is a Pan American DC-4 (most likely a charter, as Pan Am did not serve Roanoke). A Piedmont Airlines DC-3 can be seen in the distance at right.
RAC14 Woodrum Field
This photograph was taken three days before the dedication and renaming of Roanoke Municipal Airport to Woodrum Field. The airport is receiving a final inspection, having just undergone a $400,000 multifaceted construction project as a WPA Certified…
RAC15 Roanoke Municipal Airport
An aerial view of Roanoke Municipal Airport.
RAC16 Terminal Construction
Starting in the fall of 1950, construction began on the first modern terminal facility at Woodrum Field. It was designed to house commercial air service, administrative functions and government services such as weather and air-traffic control. …
RAC17 Piedmont Airlines
This promotional photograph shows a Piedmont Airlines Boeing 727. Piedmont began using the 727 in January of 1967 in Roanoke. The following year, Piedmont placed the Boeing 737 into service in Roanoke.
RAC18 Woodrum Field
The main facilities at Woodrum Field are seen here as they existed during much of the 1940s. From left to right are Clayton Lemon's hangar, the hangar leased to Martin O'Brien Flying Service (which trained naval cadets until 1944), the terminal…
RAC19 Private Aircraft
Unknown private aircraft
RAC20 C-17 Globemaster
With Tinker Mountain as a backdrop, a C-17 Globemaster sits on the north ramp at Roanoke Regional Airport. This aircraft, one of the US Air Force's largest transport planes, has significant operational flexibility.
RAC21 Air Force One
Roanoke Regional Airport was host to this Boeing 757, and on that date the aircraft was designated as "Air Force One" because President Barack Obama was on board. Air Force One pilots have often used Roanoke Regional Airport as a site for "touch and…
RAC22 Stearman
A 1942 Stearman bi-plane is parked on the south ramp at Roanoke Regional Airport. The tower stands in the background. Restoration of these vintage planes has allowed new generations to relive aviation history. Such planes used to be seen regularly…
RAC23 Military Aircraft
Unknown military aircraft.
RAC24 Airport Managers
The first three managers of the airport are shown in this image from the 1970s. From right to left is Bob Dunahoe, manager from 1937-1945; Marshall L. Harris, manager from 1945-1974; and Bob Poole, manager from 1974-1991. In 1991, Jacqueline L.…
RAC25 Rotorway Executive
Warren and Hassie Gilbert are pictured beside their Rotorway Executive helicopter that was assembled by Warren Gilbert at their home. The aircraft was registered with the Federal Aviation Administration around the time this photo was taken.
RAC26 Cannaday, Charles
This photo is of Charles "Chuck" Cannaday, grandson of Dr. A.A. Cannaday who once owned the land where the Roanoke Regional Airport is located today. He is pictured in his Pitts special "Cloud Dancer". This airplane was the star of the movie by the…
RAC28 1937 Aerial
Aerial view of Roanoke Municipal Airfield.
RAC29 Horton Field
This 1937 aerial photograph shows the location of Horton Field, which was on the Horton Farm near the present-day intersection of 24th Street and Melrose Avenue. It is believed that the first plane to land at Horton Field in 1919 was a barnstormer…
RAC30 Shrine Hill
This aerial photograph shows the area where Patrick Henry High School is located today. During the 1920s, the pasturelands served as an early airfield known as Shrine Field. The land was owned by the Shriners in hopes of erecting a large Masonic…
RAC31 Trout Field
Trout Field is directly in the center of this aerial photograph. Fairview Cemetery is the rectangular area at top with the teardrop-shaped driveway in its center. This view illustrates why a cemetery served as a good navigational point for early…
RAC32 Williamson Road
In this aerial photograph, Williamson Road runs along the left side. The small structure in the open space at center is the present-day location of Breckenridge Middle School, formerly William Fleming High School. In 1921, the federal government…
RAC33 1947 Aerial
An aerial view of Woodrum Field.
RAC34 1953 Aerial
An aerial view of Woodrum Field.
RAC35 1967 Aerial
An aerial view of Woodrum Field. I-581 opened in 1965 and can been seen at left of the airport.
RAC36 2013 Aerial
An aerial view of Roanoke Regional Airport.
RAC37 Civil Air Patrol
A Cessna 172, one of 500 Cessna aircraft owned by the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is seen here. These aircraft are rotated periodically among active stations, including Roanoke Regional Airport. The CAP was established in 1941 to serve as a civilian…
RAC38 Cook Field
This photograph shows the location of the Appalachian Power substation adjacent to the rail line where Cook Field was formerly located. Cook Field was leased by Frank Reynolds and Clayton Lemon to provide an airstrip for local fliers in the late…
RAC39 Lifeguard
A recent promotional photograph depicting Carillion Roanoke Memorial Lifeguard 10, 11 and 12 in front of Carillion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
RAC4 Woodrum, Martha
Martha Anne Woodrum displays her trophy for winning a trancontinental air race in 1950. She and her Beechcraft Bonanza were sponsered by Johnson-Carper Furniture of Roanoke.
RAC40 Entrance Sign
The main entrance sign for the Roanoke Regional Airport off of Aviation Drive. The innovative sign, designed by URS of Baltimore, Maryland, incorporates the mountains, the Mill Mountain Star and a very unique 'R' to the left, the center of which is…
RAC41 Fire Trucks
These huge vehicles represent the evolution of fire-fighting and emergency service equipment needed by airports as the number of flights increased and the size of the aircraft became larger. Both trucks are shown at Roanoke Regional Airport. They…
RAC42 Eastern DC3
An Eastern Airlines DC-3, part of the "Great Silver Fleet" takes off from Woodrum Field.
RAC43 Playboy
This DC-9 was purchased by Hugh Heffner in 1970 as the Playboy airplane, known as Hare Force One.
RAC44 Landmark Aviation
This photograph shows a privately owned, fully restored DC-3 being refueled by Landmark Aviation at Roanoke Regional Airport. The appearance of such a vintage aircraft in restored, flying condition has become increasingly rare with limited air shows…
RAC45 Jeep Crash Truck
Seen here is a Jeep Forward Control crash truck that was added to the emergency fleet at Woodrum Field.
RAC46 Woodrum Field
Woodrum Field buried under snow.
RAC47 Wind Indicator
This is a close-up view of the tetrahedron wind-direction indicator installed at Woodrum Field. The device allowed pilots to visually determine the wind direction prior to landing in order to choose the best runway. The device became obsolete as…
RAC48 American Airlines
American Airlines restored air service, notably passenger and airmail, to Woodrum Field in the 1940s. This photograph appears to have been taken at Woodrum during World War II. The statement painted on the rudder of this DC-3 reads, "Buy War…
RAC49 USAF C97
This photograph shows a US Air Force Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter parked on the ramp at Woodrum Field. Only sixty of these planes were built. The Roanoke airport has been and remains important to the military subce World War II, either for training,…
RAC50 Woodrum Flying Service
An advertisement for Woodrum Flying Service, which offered flying lessons, charters, and rentals.
RAC52 Terminal Snow
The airport engages in regular winter activity for Southwestern Virginia, snow removal. In the early days of the airport, snow would cause major delays in operations, measured in days, not hours. In later years, airports, including Woodrum Field,…
RAC53 Virginia Airmotive
This is an advertisement for Virginia Airmotive Service and Supply, a business owned and operated by W. Clayton Lemon at Woodrum Field. The aircraft are identified as a Beechcraft (left) and a Stinson (right).
RAC54 Landmark Aviation
This building houses the fixed-base operation (FBO) of Landmark Aviation at the Roanoke Regional Airport. FBOs have evolved from very simple operations to full-service onces that provide fuel, maintenance, pilot support services and more. The…
RAC55 Plaque
Mounted inside the Roanoke Regional Airport terminal is a plaque placed in the airport as a tribute to those aviation pioneers and advocates who had the vision and fortitude to make air service a reality in the Roanoke area. The names upon the…
RAC56 Air Show
George Mason, like many early aviators, conducted air shows as a means to both entertain and earn income. This undated poster promotes an air show at Moomaw Field in Elliston, Virginia, with Mason billed as the "Nationally Known Flying Salesman and…
RAC57 1928 Map
This 1928 city map shows the area where the airport would be located, noting the location of the airfields. With the development of a municipal airport, particularly under the management of Frank Reynolds and Clayton Lemon, interest in aviation…
RAC58 1930-33 Map
This blueprint of the Roanoke Municipal Airport illustrates its development between 1930 and 1933. According to data on the blueprint, the Cannaday farm was recommended as the site for a municipal airport by the Department of Commerce in February…
RAC59 1934-35 Map
This blueprint of the Roanoke Municipal Airport shows its phases of development from 1934 through 1935.
RAC60 1936-37 Map
Development of the Roanoke Municipal Airport by 1937 is seen in this blueprint.
RAC61 1938-39 Map
This blueprint of the Roanoke Municipal Airport shows its phases of development from 1938 through 1939.
RAC62 1940-41 Map
By 1941, the Roanoke Municipal Airport had seen tremendous development, as evidenced by this 1940-1941 map.
RAC63 1942-43 Map
This blueprint of the Roanoke Municipal Airport shows its phases of development from 1942 through 1943.
RAC64 1944 Map
This blueprint of the Roanoke Municipal Airport shows its phases of development in 1944.
RAC65 RRA Tower
This photograph shows the control tower at Roanoke Regional Airport that wsa commissioned in 2004. The large hangar at left was built bby Piedmont Airlines in the 1960s, and the emergency services facility (foreground) was placed into service in…
RAC66 Trussmark Field
The current Trussmark field in Salem. The field is located along the Roanoke River adjacent to an industrial complex. This was the early location for the Salem auxiliary field used by naval aviation cadets enrolled at Roanoke College. The shorter…
RAC67 Trussmark Field
The current Trussmark field in Salem. The field is located along the Roanoke River adjacent to an industrial complex. This was the early location for the Salem auxiliary field used by naval aviation cadets enrolled at Roanoke College. The shorter…
RAC68 Woodrum Field
Postcard depicting Woodrum Field.
RAC69 RRA Terminal
Postcard depicting the current terminal at Roanoke-Blackburg Regional Airport. The terminal opened on 13 September 1989.
RAC7 Lemon, Clayton
This image shows Clayton Lemon standing in front of the hangar that housed his company, Virginia Airmotive, at the time. Lemon was one of the first pilots in Roanoke to fully understand the "business" of aviation and had a long career at Woodrum…
RAC70 Piedmont Airlines
This unusual photograph illustrates the increased traffic of Piedmont Airlines in and out of Roanoke and the transition from propeller aircraft to jets. The prop aircraft landing is a Martin 4-0-4; the aircraft at lower left is a Nihon YS-11; and the…
RAC71 Marine Corps
Aircraft from the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point , North Carolina are lined up at Woodrum Field during the hurricane evacuation in September 1945.
RAC72 Woodrum Field
Roanoke Municipal Airport became Woodrum Field at a dedication ceremony on 13 October 1941. The new airport received a class 3-A rating and American Airlines reestablished passenger service, which had been abandoned in 1937.
RAC73 Control Tower
The first freestanding control tower at Woodrum Field, completed in 1943, is seen here. The tower was critical to the airport's operations. In 1943, due to the training of Army and Navy pilots at Woodrum Field, the total number of official…
RAC74 Woodrum Aerial
This aerial photograph shows the separation of private aviation (left) and commercial aviation at the front of the terminal. Note the layout of the new parking lot behind the terminal. More passengers began leaving their cars at the airport for…
RAC75 Woodrum Aerial
This west-facing photograph shows the configuration of runways. There is construction work at right, indicating the extension of runway 5/23. Still noticeable are the rural surroundings of Woodrum Field. Visible at the bottom is the internal road…
RAC76 Woodrum Aerial
A south-facing aerial view of Woodrum Field. In the upper left of this photo, Crossroads Mall can be seen under construction.
RAC77 VANG Ad
An advertisement for the Rice Bottling Company depicting the Virginia Air National Guard Fighter Squadron.Organized in 1946, the Virginia Air National Guard flew the P-47 Thuderbolt.
RAC78 Woodrum Field Dedication
A crowd gathers for the dedication of Woodrum Field. The plane in the background is an American Airlines DC-3.
RAC79 Woodrum Field Dedication
Hostesses gather for a group photograph at the dedication of Woodrum Field. Front row, left to right: Jean Fishburn, Claudine Pendleton, Louise Frantz, Evelyn Correll, Dot Donahoe. Back row, left to right: Mae Williams, Marion Elliott, Jessie Mae…
RAC8 First Flight
The first flight of an aeroplane in the Roanoke Valley occurred at the Great Roanoke Fair, when aviator Eugene Ely flew his Curtiss Pusher biplane from a hill in South Roanoke. Ely flew across the Roanoke River and circled the fairgrounds, where he…
RAC80 Woodrum & Donahoe
Martha Woodrum and R.J. "Bob" Donahoe at Woodrum Field.
RAC9 Airport Dedication
Many types of military aircraft were present in Roanoke at the dedication of the airport. Among them were the Douglas B-23 Dragon (left) and the Douglas B-18 (right).