Winona in Montgomery County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Ensign William Devotie Billingsley

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 2015

1. Ensign William Devotie Billingsley Marker

Inscription. A graduate of Winona High School and the United States Naval Academy Class of 1909, Ensign Billingsley was one of the "Bird Men" — the pioneers of naval aviation, the pioneers of the test pilot generation, and the grandfathers of the astronauts. He was the first U.S. naval and military aviator to die in the line of duty when he perished in an aircraft accident over the Chesapeake Bay on June 20, 1913. Ensign Billingsley is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Winona.

Erected 2011 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters • Military. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 20, 1913.

Location. 33° 29.241′ N, 89° 44.741′ W. Marker is in Winona, Mississippi, in Montgomery County. Marker is at the intersection of Mission Road and Middleton Road (Mississippi Highway 182), on the right when traveling north on Mission Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 701 Middleton Road, Winona MS 38967, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Winona Confederate Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Roebuck "Pops" Staples (approx. half

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a mile away); Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway (approx. 0.6 miles away); Immanuel Episcopal Church (approx. ¾ mile away); Winona Jail Site (approx. 0.9 miles away); Montgomery County Confederate Monument (approx. one mile away); The "Final Spike" (approx. 1.1 miles away); Applewhite Cemetery (approx. 8.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winona.

Also see . . .
1. Early Aviators. (Submitted on October 24, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. Patriots Point article on Ensign Billingsley. Includes photo of a similar plane flown by Billingsley. (Submitted on October 24, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Grave site of Ensign Billingsley image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 1951

2. Grave site of Ensign Billingsley

Located in the Oakwood Cemetery, on Summit Street, in Winona 0.3 miles south of marker.

Ensign William Devotie Billingsley (Far right, standing) image. Click for full size.

Public Domain, 1913

3. Ensign William Devotie Billingsley (Far right, standing)

View of marker looking south on Mission Road. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 2015

4. View of marker looking south on Mission Road.

View of marker looking east on MS-182 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 2015

5. View of marker looking east on MS-182

The view west on Middleton Road. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 2015

6. The view west on Middleton Road.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 375 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 24, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.