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. 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

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

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 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. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Florida.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once

Hendricks Field Memorial Park Marker with Flagpole image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, May 29, 2019

2. Hendricks Field Memorial Park Marker with Flagpole

New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Combat Veterans (approx. 4½ miles away); Lest We Not Forget (approx. 4½ miles away); Medal of Honor (approx. 4.6 miles away); The U.S.S. Highlands (APA 119) (approx. 5.9 miles away); Central Station (approx. 6.2 miles away); The Sebring Board of Trade Building (approx. 6.2 miles away); The Roanoke Hotel (approx. 6.2 miles away); The Zachary Building (approx. 6.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sebring.

Also see . . . Hendricks Field Army Air Force Basic Training School. (Submitted on June 4, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)

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 852 times since then and 77 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.