Bowman Army Airfield

Bowman Field
IATA: LOU ICAO: KLOU FAA LID: LOU
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA)
Serves	Louisville, Kentucky
Elevation AMSL	546 ft / 166 m
Coordinates	38°13′41″N 085°39′49″W / 38.22806°N 85.66361°W / 38.22806; -85.66361Coordinates: 38°13′41″N 085°39′49″W / 38.22806°N 85.66361°W / 38.22806; -85.66361
Website	www.flylouisville.com/bowman-field/
Map
LOU Show map of Kentucky LOU Show map of the US Location of airport in Kentucky / United States
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 6/24 4,326 1,328 Asphalt 15/33 3,579 1,091 Asphalt
Source: Federal Aviation Administration

Bowman Field Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
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Location	Taylorsville Rd. and Peewee Reese Blvd., Louisville, Kentucky
Area	15 acres (6.1 ha)
Built	1929
Architect	Wischmeyer & Arrasmith; Russell, J.F., & Co.
Architectural style	Moderne
NRHP Reference #	88002616
Added to NRHP	November 10, 1988

Bowman Field (IATA: LOU, ICAO: KLOU, FAA LID: LOU) is a public airport five miles (8 km) southeast of downtown Louisville, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. The airport covers 426 acres (1.7 km²) and has two runways. The FAA calls it a reliever airport for nearby Louisville International Airport.

Bowman Field is Kentucky's first commercial airport and is the oldest continually operating commercial airfield in North America. The airport has played a vital role in the growth of the country's aviation industry. It was founded by Abram H. Bowman, who was drawn to aviation by the interest generated during World War I.

Bowman found an outlet for his enthusiasm after meeting and forming a brief partnership with Louisvillian Robert H. Gast, a pilot and World War I veteran of the Royal Flying Corps. Bowman leased a parcel of land east of Louisville from the U.S. Government in 1919 to operate the airfield, which opened in 1921.

The first business ventures began with the aerial photography business in 1921, and the 465th Pursuit Squadron (Reserve) began operations at Bowman Field in 1922.

Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis at the airport in 1927, viewed by 10,000 spectators.