Sebring in Highlands County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Hendricks Field Memorial Park
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 29, 2019
1. Hendricks Field Memorial Park Marker
Inscription.
Hendricks Field Memorial Park. . This original 72’ flagpole at the Sebring International Raceway marks the geographic center of Hendricks Field, a United States Army Air Force (USAAF) base that operated under the jurisdiction of the 76th Flying Training Wing from 1942-1945. Construction of the base began in July 1941, and it was named in honor of First Lieutenant Laird W. Hendricks in January 1942. Hendricks was a native Floridian and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, who had been killed while training with the Royal Air Force in England before the United States entered World War II. The first B-17 Flying Fortress arrived at the base in January and Hendricks Field grew rapidly to accommodate the several thousand soldiers to be trained as combat crews, ground support personnel, and in other jobs essential to the war effort. Many Hendricks Field graduates paid the ultimate sacrifice in the European and Pacific fronts. The base was deactivated in January 1946, following the end of World War II. The airfield was turned over to the City of Sebring in May 1946, to become the Sebring Air Terminal. This site has been designated Hendricks Field Memorial Park to honor those who served here.
This original 72’ flagpole at the Sebring International Raceway marks the geographic center of Hendricks Field, a United States Army Air Force (USAAF) base that operated under the jurisdiction of the 76th Flying Training Wing from 1942-1945. Construction of the base began in July 1941, and it was named in honor of First Lieutenant Laird W. Hendricks in January 1942. Hendricks was a native Floridian and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, who had been killed while training with the Royal Air Force in England before the United States entered World War II. The first B-17 Flying Fortress arrived at the base in January and Hendricks Field grew rapidly to accommodate the several thousand soldiers to be trained as combat crews, ground support personnel, and in other jobs essential to the war effort. Many Hendricks Field graduates paid the ultimate sacrifice in the European and Pacific fronts. The base was deactivated in January 1946, following the end of World War II. The airfield was turned over to the City of Sebring in May 1946, to become the Sebring Air Terminal. This site has been designated Hendricks Field Memorial Park to honor those who served here.
Erected 2016 by The Sebring International Raceway, Sebring Regional Airport, City of Sebring, Hendricks Field
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Memorial Park, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-918.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Sports • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1941.
Location. 27° 27.341′ N, 81° 20.996′ W. Marker is in Sebring, Florida, in Highlands County. Marker can be reached from Midway Drive, 0.2 miles east of Hayward Taylor Boulevard, on the left when traveling east. Marker and flagpole are located in the middle of Sebring International Raceway. Access is restricted. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 113 Midway Drive, Sebring FL 33870, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Hendricks Field Memorial Park Marker with Flagpole
Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 435 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 4, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
