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

A Base Renamed

Hanger 9

Photographed By James Hulse, October 9, 2022

1. A Base Renamed Marker

Inscription. Brooks Air Force Base was originally named Kelly Field No. 5. In 1918, it was renamed to honor Sidney J. Brooks, a San Antonio pilot whose plane went down during his final training flight, resulting in his death.

Erected by Brooks City Base.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.

Location. 29° 20.614′ N, 98° 26.668′ 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. A Few Good Men (here, next to this marker); Dropping By (here, next to this marker); The Jenny (here, next to this marker); Sidney J. Brooks Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Sidney J. Brooks (a few steps from this marker); A Century Turns (a few steps from this marker); Making History (within shouting distance of this marker); Aerial Revolutions (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

More about

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

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 . . . 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 17, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Additional keywords. Sidney J. Brooks

A Base Renamed Marker is the left side marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, October 9, 2022

2. A Base Renamed Marker is the left side marker

The view of the markers (far left side) in front of the Brooks Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, October 9, 2022

3. The view of the markers (far left side) in front of the Brooks Memorial

Sidney J. Brooks image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - US Air Force, circa 1917

4. Sidney J. Brooks

Sidney Johnson Brooks, Jr., the first flying cadet to lose his life in San Antonio in 1917 during training prior to participation in World War I.

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 84 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 17, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.