Troy in Miami County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Clayton Brukner
Pioneers of Aviation
— WACO Aircraft —
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 2, 2019
1. Clayton Brukner Marker
close up of marker, one of three on the site
Inscription.
Clayton Brukner. Pioneers of Aviation. Clayton Brunkner was one of the founders of the WACo Aircraft Company which relocated to Troy from Medina, Ohio in 1923. WACO quickly became the largest commercial builder of aircraft in the world. The original plant was on Union St, near the train station. Final assembly and flight took place just to the west of this site which is the present location of the Troy Public Park and Troy Memorial Football Stadium. Charles Lindbergh was employd by a WACO distributor to deliver airplanes to buyers around the US. In 1928, in order to keep WACO from moving, the citizens of Troy purchased and gave to the company 115 acres of land. In the early 1940s, WACO produced trainers for the Army as well as producing large troop and cargo carrying gliders used in the June 6, 1944, D-Day landing. WACO employed more than 2,600 workers during so- called “Glider Years” and built nearly 1,100 military gliders. Clayton Brukner purchased and developed the Brukner Nature Center and also donated funds for the Brukner Wing at Stouder Memorial Hospital. Brukner once said “I made my money in Troy and I am going to give all of it back.” Brukner was inducted into the Troy Hall of Fame and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1997.
Clayton Brunkner was one of the founders of the WACo
Aircraft Company which relocated to Troy from Medina,
Ohio in 1923. WACO quickly became the largest commercial
builder of aircraft in the world. The original plant was on
Union St, near the train station. Final assembly and flight
took place just to the west of this site which is the present
location of the Troy Public Park and Troy Memorial
Football Stadium. Charles Lindbergh was employd by a
WACO distributor to deliver airplanes to buyers around
the US. In 1928, in order to keep WACO from moving, the
citizens of Troy purchased and gave to the company 115
acres of land. In the early 1940s, WACO produced trainers
for the Army as well as producing large troop and cargo
carrying gliders used in the June 6, 1944, D-Day landing.
WACO employed more than 2,600 workers during so-
called “Glider Years” and built nearly 1,100 military
gliders. Clayton Brukner purchased and developed the
Brukner Nature Center and also donated funds for the
Brukner Wing at Stouder Memorial Hospital. Brukner once
said “I made my money in Troy and I am going to give all of it
back.” Brukner was inducted into the Troy Hall of Fame and
the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1997.
Location. 40° 2.591′ N, 84° 12.029′ W. Marker is in Troy, Ohio, in Miami County. Marker is at the intersection of North Market Street (Ohio Route 55) and West Staunton Road (County Route 14), on the left when traveling north on North Market Street. marker is in front of the Troy Senior Citizens Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 134 N Market St, Troy OH 45373, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2019, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 395 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 6, 2019, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
