Ever wondered about the seemingly random three-letter codes that identify airports worldwide? While some are obvious abbreviations of the city name, others, like ORD for Chicago O’Hare International Airport, require a deeper dive into history. This article explores the fascinating story behind ORD and other intriguing airport codes.
ORD – Chicago O’Hare: A Tribute to Orchard Field
Chicago’s primary airport, O’Hare International Airport, is a major global hub. Its code, ORD, might seem perplexing at first glance. However, ORD is a direct reference to the airport’s original name: Orchard Field Airport. In 1945, the airport began its life on the site of a former Douglas Corporation aircraft assembly plant used during World War II. The “ORD” in the code stands for OrchaRD Field.
The name Orchard Field was short-lived. In 1949, the airport was renamed in honor of Lieutenant Commander Edward H. “Butch” O’Hare, a U.S. Naval aviator and Medal of Honor recipient who tragically lost his life in World War II. Interestingly, Butch O’Hare was originally from St. Louis and never resided in Chicago. According to St. Louis Magazine, his father, Edward J. O’Hare, played a crucial role in Chicago’s history, aiding the IRS in bringing down Al Capone. Butch frequented Chicago before the war. Despite the name change, the airport code ORD stuck, preserving a piece of its initial identity.
FRU – Bishkek: A Soviet Legacy
Travel to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and you’ll arrive at Manas International Airport. Manas is a central figure in Kyrgyz culture, celebrated as a legendary warrior and unifier, immortalized in an epic poem. So, why isn’t the airport code MAN? The answer lies in the past of the Soviet era, when Kyrgyzstan was part of the USSR. During this time, Bishkek was known as Frunze, named after Mikhail Frunze, a prominent Bolshevik leader and Red Army commander born in present-day Kyrgyzstan. Thus, the airport code FRU serves as a historical marker of Bishkek’s Soviet past.
MSY – New Orleans: Remembering Moisant Field
New Orleans’ airport is officially named Louis Armstrong International Airport, honoring the iconic jazz musician. However, the airport code MSY doesn’t reflect this. MSY is a relic from the airport’s earlier days when it was known as Moisant Field, located on the site of the Moisant Stock Yards. Moisant Field was named in memory of pioneering aviator John Moisant, who tragically died near the future airport site. Reportedly, he lost control due to a gust of wind and was thrown from his plane. While many airports are named after aviation pioneers, few are located at the exact spot where they met their end.
OGG – Maui: Honoring Captain Jimmy Hogg
Most Hawaiian airport codes, such as KOA for Kona, HNL for Honolulu, and LIH for Lihue, directly correspond to the city name. OGG is the exception. If you fly through Kahului Airport on Maui, you might notice a small display dedicated to Captain Jimmy Hogg. Although the airport is named Kahului Airport, after Maui’s largest city, Captain Hogg’s contributions to Hawaiian aviation were deemed important enough to be memorialized in the airport code. Hogg piloted the first transpacific flight for Hawaiian Airlines.
TNM – Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica: A Tribute to a Chilean Pioneer
TNM holds a special place on this list as the only airport in Antarctica with an IATA code. This remote airfield serves Villa Las Estrellas, a Chilean research station. The code TNM comes from Teniente (Lieutenant) Rodolfo Marsh Martin, after whom the airport is named. Lieutenant Marsh was an aviation pioneer in Chile during the 1930s who died in a plane crash en route from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas.
IPC – Easter Island: A Spanish Connection
The code IPC for Easter Island’s Mataveri International Airport isn’t rooted in ancient history. IPC is derived from Isla de Pascua, the Chilean (Spanish) name for Easter Island. The indigenous people of the remote island know it as Rapa Nui, its original name before colonization. The island’s history is marked by hardship, including Peruvian slave raids in the 1860s and annexation by Chile in 1888. Despite its turbulent past, the airport, IPC, stands as a modern gateway to this culturally rich and historically significant destination.
Understanding airport codes can unlock fascinating stories about aviation history, local culture, and geographical influences. Next time you see ORD, remember Orchard Field and Lt. Cmdr. Edward H. “Butch” O’Hare, a testament to the rich history embedded within these simple three-letter designations.
