Coronado in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Birthplace of Naval Aviation

Photographed By James F. Jamison, April 26, 2018

1. Birthplace of Naval Aviation Marker

Inscription. Birthplace of Naval Aviation

In 1910, on the unoccupied brushland of North Coronado Island, inventor and entrepreneur Glenn Hammond Curtiss opened his winter flying school for prospective "aeroplane pilots."Among his first class of students was Navy Lieutenant Theodore G. "Spuds" Ellyson, who would become the first Naval Aviator. In 1917, the U.S. Congress appropriated the island to support World War I effort and two airfields occupied the sandy flats - the Navy's "Camp Trouble" and the Army Signal Corps' Rockwell Field. The Army vacated Rockwell Field in 1935, at which time the Navy expanded its operations to cover the whole island. Many aviation milestones originated from North Island including the first seaplane flight in the United States in 1911.

San Diego, California was designated the "Birthplace of Naval Aviation" by the Armed Services Committee of the United States House of Representatives on 24 March 1961.

Marker Place By
California State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution 2011

Erected 2011 by California State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World I

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. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 32° 41.987′ N, 117° 10.307′ W. Marker is in Coronado, California, in San Diego County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Orange Avenue and 1st Street. Marker is located in Coronado's Centennial Park on the west side of the pedestrian path that leads to the Skyline Viewpoint, just short of the viewpoint. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coronado CA 92118, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Centennial Park (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Coronado Ferryboat Terminal (about 400 feet away); First Firehouse Site - 1892 (about 600 feet away); Carrothers Court (approx. 0.6 miles away); San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge (approx. 0.7 miles away); Charles I.D. Looff (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Stockdale Tribute (approx. 0.7 miles away); Balboa Park (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coronado.

Photographed By James F. Jamison, April 26, 2018

2. Birthplace of Naval Aviation Marker

The USS Midway Museum is visible on the other side of the San Diego Bay from the Birth of Naval Aviation historical marker.

<i>Coronado, Calif. Curtiss ready to fly</i> image. Click for full size.

Photo courtesy of the University of Wisconsin Brittingham Lantern Slides Collection, February 26, 1911

3. Coronado, Calif. Curtiss ready to fly

"Aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss preparing for a flying demonstration. Curtiss made the first publically observed 1 km. flight in 1908. Though he was involved in a protracted legal battle with the Wright brothers over patent infringement, their two companies eventually merged into the Curtiss-Wright Corporation." - Univ. of Wisconsin

<i>Planes over Rockwell Field in flight over San Diego</i> image. Click for full size.

Kearny Photo Service (photo courtesy of California State Library), 1918

4. Planes over Rockwell Field in flight over San Diego

"View from rooftop shows airplanes from Rockwell Field in flight over San Diego. Shows Hotel St. James and other buildings; people gathered on roofs to watch." - CSL

Credits. This page was last revised on April 26, 2018. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2018, by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret) of Coronado, California. This page has been viewed 540 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 26, 2018, by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret) of Coronado, California. 3, 4. submitted on April 26, 2018. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.