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Owens Field

SC PICTURE PROJECT 5 Comments

SC Picture Project / Richland County / Owens Field

The Jim Hamilton–L.B. Owens Airport, informally called Owens Field, was built in 1929 and served as the area’s primary operating terminal until the 1960s. Located in the heart of Columbia‘s historic Rosewood neighborhood, the airport still serves private, business, and military flights. It was originally named the Columbia Municipal Airport and then later changed to Columbia Owens Downtown Airport following World War II for former mayor Lawrence B. Owens, a municipal airport advocate. In 2008 the name was changed again to honor former airport manager Jim Hamilton.

Owens Field Painting

Harold Branham of Blythewood, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Pictured above in an artistic rendering by Blythewood artist Harold Branham, and in a photograph at the bottom of the page, is a fully-restored B-25 bomber outside the famous Curtiss-Wright Hangar. The painting shows the Curtiss-Wright Hangar as it appeared in the 1940s.

Curtiss Wright Hangar

Bill Fitzpatrick of Taylors, 2012 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The bomber crashed into Lake Greenwood in 1944 and was removed from the lake and restored in 1983. This hangar was the first constructed at the airport and has welcomed many notable visitors to South Carolina including Amelia Earhart and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

B-25 Bomber

Ann Helms of Spartanburg © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The Curtiss-Wright Hangar is listed in the National Register:

(Owens Field Municipal Airport Hangar) The Curtis-Wright Hangar, the first building erected at Owens Field in 1929, represents the contributions of air transportation to the city of Columbia and the state of South Carolina. The hangar grew and changed along with the airport and aviation history. It was first used to house airplanes for passenger and airmail services, then became the headquarters of the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission, later was used as space for the civilian flight training program, and finally was used for general aircraft maintenance. During the 1930s, Owens Field had the distinction of hosting many well-known aviators and personalities, including Amelia Earhart and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The Curtiss-Wright Hangar is a running bond gray brick structure with a metal-clad barrel roof and is similar in style to other airport hangars built in the twenties. The hangar has a main open storage area for airplanes, which is flanked on either side by flat-roofed wings. The central storage area is about two stories in height, and has a clearance of approximately twenty feet beneath the steel roof girders.

Reflections on Columbia Owens Downtown Airport


Contributor Ann Helms writes, “This B-25 was flown by student pilot Col. Dan Rossman in June 1944 when it crashed into Lake Greenwood. It was pulled out of the lake in 1983 and restored. It has been on display at the Curtiss-Wright Hangar ever since. The hangar and other B-25’s were used for training by Lt. Col. James Doolittle and his ‘Raiders’ prior to the bombing raid over Japan in early 1942 following Pearl Harbor.”

Artist Harold Branham shares about his vibrant painting, “I was asked to paint a rendering of the old hangar in order to help raise funds to restore it. The project was delayed due to lack of funds. After much research, I was able to compose this painting incorporating the old B-25 Bomber restored from the bottom of Lake Greenwood. I also included a plane like Amelia Earhart flew into the airfield. There are prints available.”

Add your own reflections here.

Plan Your Trip: Owens Field

Where is Owens Field located?
Address: 1400 Jim Hamilton Blvd, Columbia, SC 29205
GPS Coordinates: 33.974024,-80.998793
What else should I see?
USC Cockaboose 1.8 miles
SC State Fair 2.1 miles
St. Joseph Catholic Church 2.6 miles
Shandon Presbyterian Church 2.7 miles
Show me more like this!
  • Columbia Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Military
  • See other South Carolina National Register
  • See other South Carolina SC Artists
    Owens Field Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. John W. Duffy says

      May 6, 2020 at 3:38 PM

      I was at Owens Field yesterday. It’s still a “little gem” of an airport, so near USC and downtown Columbia. And, the old Curtiss Wright historic hanger has been nicely repurposed as a Hunter Gatherer brewpub offshoot of the “mother ship” location downtown! All this will be so nice once the C Virus passes, and things open up again!

      Reply
    2. Sonia Radcliffe Bell says

      July 6, 2018 at 9:07 AM

      Wonderful article, so much history. Thanks for creating this great information.

      Reply
    3. Guy Johnson says

      July 21, 2017 at 7:56 PM

      Returning from Vietnam in 1968 I was stationed at Owens Air Field. We maintained the Fort Jackson General’s fixed wing. I believe it was a C-45. We also maintained two other fixed wings and about three rotor wings. My last visit about three years ago to the old Hangar was in poor condition. If those walls could talk people would be amazed at what took place.

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        July 23, 2017 at 5:49 PM

        We can only imagine the stories! Thank you so much for your service!

        Reply
    4. Fran Stevens says

      June 28, 2016 at 3:04 PM

      I’ like some info on the open house for Owens Field on July 9th.

      Reply

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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