Hudson Bay in Vancouver in Clark County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
The 321st Observation Squadron (1923-1941)
Photographed By Kevin W., June 12, 2008
1. The 321st Observation Squadron (1923-1941) Marker
Inscription.
The 321st Observation Squadron (1923-1941). . Although the U.S. Army allowed civilian aircraft to land at Vancouver Barracks beginning in 1905, military aircraft began operating here in 1921, when the U.S. Army Air Service established a landing field for an aviation forest patrol. The patrol was a cooperative forest fire spotting effort by the U.S. Army and the U.S. Forest Service. Two years later, the 321st Observation Squadron arrived at Vancouver Barracks, with three biplanes initially stationed at the field., The 321st was a reserve training unit which participated in war games and reconnaissance operations, and even mobilized for emergency crop dusting in Oregon when apple orchards were faced with infestation., Improvements in the form of hangars and the grading of the grass field occurred from 1924-1926, under the supervision of famed aviator Lt. Oakley Kelly. In September, 1925, the field was dedicated as Pearson Field, in honor of Lt. Alexander Pearson, Jr., an Army aviator who had been killed in 1924., The 321st continued training operations into the 1930s, and was called to active duty in December, 1941, after which military flight operations were curtailed at Pearson Field.
Although the U.S. Army allowed civilian aircraft to land at Vancouver Barracks beginning in 1905, military aircraft began operating here in 1921, when the U.S. Army Air Service established a landing field for an aviation forest patrol. The patrol was a cooperative forest fire spotting effort by the U.S. Army and the U.S. Forest Service. Two years later, the 321st Observation Squadron arrived at Vancouver Barracks, with three biplanes initially stationed at the field.
The 321st was a reserve training unit which participated in war games and reconnaissance operations, and even mobilized for emergency crop dusting in Oregon when apple orchards were faced with infestation.
Improvements in the form of hangars and the grading of the grass field occurred from 1924-1926, under the supervision of famed aviator Lt. Oakley Kelly. In September, 1925, the field was dedicated as Pearson Field, in honor of Lt. Alexander Pearson, Jr., an Army aviator who had been killed in 1924.
The 321st continued training operations into the 1930s, and was called to active duty in December, 1941, after which military flight operations were curtailed at Pearson Field.
Erected by Vancouver National Historic Reserve.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space
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• Military. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1925.
Location. 45° 37.45′ N, 122° 39.437′ W. Marker is in Vancouver, Washington, in Clark County. It is in Hudson Bay. Marker is on E. 5th Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is at the Pearson Air Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1115 E 5th St,, Vancouver WA 98661, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The background picture is, "A lineup of the 321st Observation Squadron’s Curtiss JN-4 “Jennies,” taken at Pearson Field in the early 1920s." The photo is provided for the marker courtesy of Pearson Air Museum.
Photographed By Kevin W., June 12, 2008
2. The 321st Observation Squadron (1923-1941) Marker
Photographed By Kevin W., June 12, 2008
3. The 321st Observation Squadron (1923-1941) Marker
Pearson field was named for Lt. Alexander Pearson, Jr., who was raised in Eugene, Oregon and was a graduate of the University of Oregon. Pearson was one of the most famous Army Air Service pilots of the 1920s, held several speed and distance records, and was the first pilot to fly into the Grand Canyon. Pearson was killed on September 3, 1924, while testing a new aircraft in preparation for a race. Courtesy of Pearson Air Museum.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,508 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 19, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.