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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…
RAC78 Woodrum Field Dedication
A crowd gathers for the dedication of Woodrum Field. The plane in the background is an American Airlines DC-3.
RVNH40459 Woodrum Field
Woodrum Field with the Cannaday home and control tower.
RVNH40458 Clifton Woodrum
Congressman Clifton Woodrum, Sr. stands in front of his Fairchild 24. Woodrum soloed in 1942
RVNH40454 Cannaday House
The Cannaday home with the control tower on top.
RVNH40453 Control Tower
The first "control tower" at Woodrum Field, an 8-foot square shed built on top of the Cannaday home, could be accessed by going onto the roof.
RVNH4047 Eddie Rickenbacker
Famous aviator, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker (left foreground), who was president of Eastern Airlines, came to Roanoke for Eastern's inaugural flight to Woodrum Field. He was greeted by business leaders and others.
RVNH4043 Navy Pilot Cadets
A class of Navy pilot cadets pose in front of a Douglas C-47 at Woodrum Field. Ground school was conducted at Roanoke College.
RVNH4042 Frantz Flying Service
Frantz Flying Service opened in 1948 at Woodrum Field. It was owned by T.E. "Boots" Frantz (right); Wes Hillman (left) was an employee.
RVNH4041 Woodrum Field
Woodrum Field terminal building.
RVNH4036 Woodrum Field
Aerial view of Woodrum Field showing A-configuration of runways.
RVNH4035 Woodrum Field
Aerial view of Woodrum Field taken during its dedication weekend. The photographer was Lambert Martin of the Roanoke World-News.
RVNH4034 Woodrum Field
Runway construction at Woodrum Field. The airfield was expanded when it became classified as a national defense project.
RVNH4033 C-47
A Douglas C-47 takes off from Woodrum Field.
RVNH4032 Crash Truck
Woodrum Field's first crash truck was a 1939 Cadillac that was modified at the city's garage..
RVNH4031 Sikorsky
A Sikorsky helicopter hovers as spectators look on at Woodrum Field.
RVNH4029 Woodrum Field
Looking toward Tinker Mountain from Woodrum Field.
RVNH4028 CAA Tower
A close-up view of the Civil Aviation Authority control tower on top of the Cannaday farmhouse.
RVNH4027 CAA Tower
A Civil Aviation Authority control tower on top of the Cannaday farmhouse at Woodrum Field.
RVNH4026 Mason-Dixon Airlines
A Mason-Dixon Airlines passenger plane at Woodrum Field.
RVNH4024 Yellow Cab
Yellow Cab began offering limousine service on 20 July 1947, under contract with American and Eastern Airlines. Seen next to this Desoto limousine at Woodrum Field at Mae Williams (left) and Margaret Franklin (right).
CS 177
Unknown group portrait outside a Piedmont Airlines plane
PC 134.0 Woodrum Field
"Woodrum Field, Roanoke, Virginia. Located just outside the city limits of Roanoke, Virginia is the municipal terminal for three major airlines: Piedmont, Eastern and American - with a total of 50 flights daily. This ultra-modern airport serves as…
IRB 30 Administration Building
This is a one story building of cinder block construction with a metal roof on wood boards on metal truss, concrete floor, electric lighting, stove heat. Occupancy: Offices, waiting room and restaurant. Valuation: The sound value of this building is…
IRB 29 Quonset Hangars
Four Quonset hut buildings of similar construction. Buildings of all metal on concrete dwarf walls, asphalt floors, electric lighting; no heat. Buildings new and in good condition. Occupancy: airplane storage. Valuation: Each hangar is valued at…
IRB 27 Hangar 2
This is a one story building of cinder block construction, all metal roof, concrete floor, electric lighting and steam heat. Occupancy: airplane hangar and supplies storage. Valuation: The sound value of this building is approximately $25.5K
IRB 26 Nose-In Hangar
This is a one-high story building with roof of gypsum plank on unprotected steel, cinder block walls, concrete floor. One side is open. Building of recent construction and in good repair. Occupancy: Nose-in hangar and office. Valuation: The sound…
IRB 25 Hangars A&B
Two buildings of similar construction. Each building of cinder block walls with large frame doors, wood joisted roof covered with composition, concrete floor, electric lighting; stove heat. Buildings recently erected and in good repair.
IRB 23 Municipal Airport
A two story and basement and part one story and basement brick building, metal roof, wood floors except basement which is earth, plastered interior finish, electric lights and steam heat; fair condition. Occupancy: Office and apartments. Valuation:…
Davis2 62.1342 Airmail Service
Local officials celebrate the inauguration of airmail service to Roanoke.
Davis 62.16 Roanoke Municipal Airfield
Grading improvements being made to the runway at Roanoke Municipal Airfield.
Davis2 62.152 Roanoke Regional Airport
A view of the terminal at Woodrum Field, now Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport.
Davis 62.1401 Anchor Post Fence
Anchor Post Fence Company plane at Roanoke Municipal Airfield.
Davis 62.133 AA Mail Plane
American Airlines airmail plane at Roanoke Municipal Airfield.
Davis 62.1312 VPA Biplane
Volunteer Pilots Association Waco biplane at Roanoke Municipal Airfield.
Davis 62.124 Biplane
Clayton Lemon (left) and an unidentified man stand next to a Waco aircraft.
Davis 62.123 Biplane
An unidentified man poses next to a biplane at Roanoke Municipal Airfield.
Davis 62.121 Biplane
Clayton Lemon poses next to a biplane.
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.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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.
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…
RAC69 RRA Terminal
Postcard depicting the current terminal at Roanoke-Blackburg Regional Airport. The terminal opened on 13 September 1989.
RAC68 Woodrum Field
Postcard depicting Woodrum Field.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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).
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,…
RAC50 Woodrum Flying Service
An advertisement for Woodrum Flying Service, which offered flying lessons, charters, and rentals.
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,…
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…
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…
RAC46 Woodrum Field
Woodrum Field buried under snow.
RAC45 Jeep Crash Truck
Seen here is a Jeep Forward Control crash truck that was added to the emergency fleet at Woodrum Field.
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…
RAC43 Playboy
This DC-9 was purchased by Hugh Heffner in 1970 as the Playboy airplane, known as Hare Force One.
RAC42 Eastern DC3
An Eastern Airlines DC-3, part of the "Great Silver Fleet" takes off from Woodrum Field.
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…
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…
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…
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…
RAC36 2013 Aerial
An aerial view of Roanoke Regional Airport.
RAC35 1967 Aerial
An aerial view of Woodrum Field. I-581 opened in 1965 and can been seen at left of the airport.
RAC34 1953 Aerial
An aerial view of Woodrum Field.
RAC33 1947 Aerial
An aerial view of Woodrum Field.
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…
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…
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…
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…
RAC28 1937 Aerial
Aerial view of Roanoke Municipal Airfield.
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…
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.
RAC23 Military Aircraft
Unknown military aircraft.
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…
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…
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.
RAC19 Private Aircraft
Unknown private aircraft
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…
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. …
RAC15 Roanoke Municipal Airport
An aerial view of Roanoke Municipal Airport.
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…
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.
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.…
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).…
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…
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).
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…
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.
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…
MP 19 Cannaday House
Cannaday House, also known as Waverly Plantation was purchased by Woodrum Airport in 1934. The house was used as a weather station and terminal for the remainder of the 1928s. It was razed in 1955 to make room for growth of the airport.
CPC 21b Trout Field
Located adjacent to and east of Fairview Cemetery along Melrose Avenue, Trout Field was Roanoke's first airfield.
CPC 21a Trout Field
Located adjacent to and east of Fairview Cemetery along Melrose Avenue, Trout Field was Roanoke's first airfield.
Davis 62.1631 William Stribling
William Stribling (1904-1933) was a professional heavyweight boxer from Georgia. Seen here at Roanoke Municipal Airfield, Stribling was also an avid and accomplished aviator.
Davis 62.161 Baltimore Airways
An unidentified couple poses next to a Baltimore Airways plane in front of the Cannaday Farm. The Cannaday Farm would become Roanoke Municipal Airfield, then in 1941 Woodrum Field. It is the current location of Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. …
Davis 62.15 Roanoke Municipal Airfield
View of Roanoke Municipal Airfield.
Davis 62.14 Roanoke Municipal Airfield
View of Roanoke Municipal Airfield.
Davis 62.134 AA Mail Plane
American Airlines Airmail plane at Roanoke Municipal Airfield.
Davis 62.1 Modern Air Transport
Modern Air Transport plane parked at Woodrum Field. Modern Are Transport commenced commerical operations in 1946.