College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Army Aviation School
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 16, 2018
The first Army Aviation School set up operations at the airfield in 1911, with 5 new aeroplanes (2 Wrights, 2 Curtiss, 1 Burgess-Wright) and 4 hangars adjacent to the road.
Several of the civilian hangars had to be relocated to be in line with the Army hangars. Instructors included Captain Charles deForest Chandler, Captain Paul Beck, and Lieutenants Henry "Hap" Arnold, Thomas Milling, Roy Kirkland, Leighton Hazelhurst and Lewis Rockwell.
Several important achievements in aviation occurred in 1911 and 1912
• Army altitude record for Hap Arnold (6,540 feet)
• Development and testing of a bomb sight (Riley Scott)
• Early aerial photography testing from a military plane
• First machine gun fired from a plane
• First enlisted man to die in an aviation accident (Cpl. Frank Scott)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Education • Military • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 58.857′ N, 76° 55.613′ W. Marker was in College Park, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker could be reached from Corporal Frank Scott Drive north of Litton Drive, on the left. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1909 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park MD 20740, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. America's Military Takes Flight (here, next to this marker); College Park Airport (within shouting distance of this marker); Flying the Mail (within shouting distance of this marker); Arthur "Al" Welsh, 1881-1912: Pioneer Aviator (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Taliaferro House (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named College Park Airport (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cory House (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named College Park Airport (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in College Park.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 16, 2018
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 16, 2018
Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 3 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 16, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.