NORFOLK REGIONAL AIRPORT




A Capital Airlines DC7 and Piedmont DC3 parked in front of ORF at some point in the 1950s.

Norfolk Municipal Airport opened its new terminal to great fanfare in 1951, replacing a facility that had been in use since the 1920s. Despite back-and-forth competition with nearby Newport News' Patrick Henry Field, city officials felt that the new building would give Norfolk the edge in attracting new service applications from airlines.

The building was designed with a sort of nautical motif - porthole windows, terraced catwalks and a vast elevated lobby gave it the appearance of a ship. Like most terminals of its day, it was laid out very simply: ticket offices and baggage reclaim were on the ground floor, while a restaurant and airline offices were on the mezzanine. A new control tower was positioned on the top floor.


The ORF terminal nears completion in 1951. These views show the airside (left) and landside (right).


A newspaper headline heralds the opening of the new ORF in 1951.

The three airlines serving Norfolk - Capital, Piedmont and National - could choose from five parking positions on the newly laid apron. Passengers walked outside to board their aircraft through a central boarding gate.


The ORF terminal in the late 1950s, with Captial and National aircraft on the apron.
Courtesy of James Kruggel

Jet service began at ORF in 1965, when United and National began 727 flights. Around the same time, the terminal building was extended in both directions to add much-needed circulation and office space. The single boarding gate was replaced by a semi-enclosed wooden arcade, accessible through one of four gates. Allegheny was granted Norfolk routes in 1966.


A postcard from the early 1960s, showing the new additions on each side of the old ORF.


This 1968 ad for garbage cans depicts the northern end of the ORF terminal. Visible in the foreground, and in the far right distance, are the two extensions added in the mid-1960s. The original terminal building and control tower are at center.

Despite the extensions, the increase in jet traffic quickly overwhelmed the small facility, and ground was broken for a replacement complex in 1970. It was opened in February 1974 on a site immediately north and west of the 1951 terminal.


A view of the 1951 Norfolk terminal, taken from a pamphlet celebrating the opening of the current facility in 1974. The original structure is at center, flanked by the two later additions. The wooden enclosed boarding arcade is also visible.


This 1973 aerial view shows the 1951 terminal (at right) and the new terminal (left) nearing completion. The difference in size between the two complexes is clear. Reprinted from Airport Services Management magazine

At that time, the old terminal was renamed the "South Terminal" and was renovated to handle ORF's very infrequent international, charter and VIP flights. It was finally demolished in the mid- to late 1990s to make room for more apron space.


The old Norfolk terminal is shuttered in these 1988 photos. The east wing of the building has been demolished, but the rest of the terminal is still standing.
Photos by Blaine Peters


Two postcards from the 1980s show the old terminal in the right corner. It appears to be falling into disrepair - note how faded and empty the ramp appears to be.
Courtesy of Jim Kruggel


Side-by-side satellite views from 1996(left) and 2001(right) show the old ORF before and after demolition. Today the site is empty and has been paved over.

Back to the Index