Southside in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Dropping By

Hanger 9

Photographed By James Hulse, October 9, 2022

1. Dropping By Marker

Inscription. The portable parachute was engineered at Brooks by Erwin Nichols, resulting in the world's first parachute drop and countless saved lives. It also heralded the concept of airborne operations, dropping men and equipment out of planes and onto the battlefield.

Erected by Brooks City Base.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space.

Location. 29° 20.616′ N, 98° 26.672′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Southside. Marker is on Inner Circle Road, 0.1 miles south of South New Braunfels Avenue, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located south of Hanger 9 with other historical markers. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8081 Inner Circle Road, San Antonio TX 78235, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Jenny (here, next to this marker); A Few Good Men (here, next to this marker); A Base Renamed (here, next to this marker); Sidney J. Brooks Memorial (here, next to this marker); Sidney J. Brooks (a few steps from this marker); Making History (a few steps from this marker); A Century Turns (a few steps from this marker); A Presidential Act (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

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More about this marker. Brooks Air Force Base was renamed in 2002 to Brooks City Base when it was repurposed through the Brooks Development Authority as a science, business, and technology location.

Also see . . .
1. Brooks Air Force Base. Wikipedia

Brooks Air Force Base was named to honor San Antonio aviator Sidney Johnson Brooks Jr (not to be confused with Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Brooks) who died on November 13, 1917 when his Curtiss JN-4 nosed down as he prepared to land after his final training flight at Kelly Field, Texas, possibly because he had blacked out in reaction to the inoculations they had been given shortly before the flight. Brooks was one of the first to volunteer at the call for men for the American Flying Corps; he was about to complete his training for a commission as a military aviator. He was awarded his wings and commission posthumously.

(Submitted on October 16, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. Pioneers and Parachutes: Brooks Air Force Base Old Hangar 9. ASCE Library (Submitted on October 17, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Additional keywords. parachute

The Dropping By Marker is on the left side of the two markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, October 9, 2022

2. The Dropping By Marker is on the left side of the two markers

The Dropping By Marker on the right side in front of the Brooks Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, October 9, 2022

3. The Dropping By Marker on the right side in front of the Brooks Memorial

Brooks Field Parachute Jump image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - US Air Force, 1924

4. Brooks Field Parachute Jump

Two paratroopers are shown strapped to the top of the wings of their plane at Brooks Field.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 81 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 17, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.