Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
U-8D Seminole
The US Army began testing off-the-shelf variants of the Beach commercial twin engine aircraft in 1952, the Model D50B proving its worth in the utility transport and liaison roles. Designated the YL-23, the low wing monoplane was powered by twin Lycoming engines. Over the next thirty years, the Seminole would go through several variants, to include this one, the U-8D. Originally designated the L-23D, this aircraft is the equivalent of the commercial Beech E50 Twin Bonanza. Eighty-five new L-23Ds were built for the Army along with over 90 upgraded older models. In 1962, the L-23D was redesignated the U-8D.
The U-8 family of aircraft provided general utility transport service for over three decades and examples of different variants remained in service with the active Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard into the early 1990s.
This particular U-8D ended its operational flying career as a maintenance trainer here at Fort Eustis before coming to the museum in 1978.
Erected by US Army Transportation Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Education •
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Location. 37° 9.853′ N, 76° 34.57′ W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in Fort Eustis. It can be reached from Washington Boulevard just north of Jefferson Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 Washington Blvd, Fort Eustis VA 23604, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Virginias Peninsula, in Hampton Roads, in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: OH-23 Raven (a few steps from this
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 258 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
