NAS Columbus
Airfield Identification
July 1929 to present
United States of America
CITY: Columbus, OH
IATA/ICAO CODES: CMH / KCMH
OTHER NAMES: NAS Columbus (1942-1959), Port Columbus International (present)
Commando Operations
Port Columbus Airport, located 11 km east of downtown Columbus, OH opened for operation on 8 July 1929 when Transcontinental Air Transport began service. TAT's service was part of the air and rail route that reduced the travel time from New York to Los Angeles to 48 hours. Under the air-rail route, TAT flew the passengers during the day and the railroads carried the passengers at night. By December 1932, TAT began flying the route at night and reduced the New York to Los Angeles trip to 24 hours.
In 1941 after taking over the airport, the US Navy lengthened and widened Columbus's four runways, the longest one reaching 1,500 meters. In 1944, station complement consisted of 375 officers, 850 enlisted and 118 civilians with barracks accommodation for 99 officers and 775 enlisted. The National Air Traffic Service also set up a terminal at Columbus during the war. Following the war, Columbus became a Naval Air Station as part of the Naval Air Reserve Command.
The naval station closed in 1959, giving way several years later to the Port Columbus International Airport.