Old Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
War Games
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, May 24, 2023
1. War Games Marker
Inscription.
War Games. . During World War I, Sacramento secured its first Army Air Corps base, Mather Field. After the war ended in 1918, the base was closed until 1931, when an Army crew reopened Mather Field to undertake the largest military aircraft war game in the Nation’s history. The goals were to train the young air corps in teamwork and to explore air power in defending the Nation. During the maneuvers, the Army Air Corps set high-altitude flying records, experimented with the use of radio, refined bombing exercises, and used aerial smoke camouflage to protect structures such as the State Capitol. Sacramentans rushed out to see the airplane maneuvers involving 80 percent of all the military planes owned by the United States government. Army information officers gave daily progress reports of the mock war to newspapers. Ultimately, the “Blue Army” at Mather Field “prevented” the capture of San Francisco and Sacramento by the “Red Army” which had tried to attack San Francisco by air and Sacramento by land.
During World War I, Sacramento secured its first Army Air Corps base, Mather Field. After the war ended in 1918, the base was closed until 1931, when an Army crew reopened Mather Field to undertake the largest military aircraft war game in the Nation’s history. The goals were to train the young air corps in teamwork and to explore air power in defending the Nation. During the maneuvers, the Army Air Corps set high-altitude flying records, experimented with the use of radio, refined bombing exercises, and used aerial smoke camouflage to protect structures such as the State Capitol. Sacramentans rushed out to see the airplane maneuvers involving 80 percent of all the military planes owned by the United States government. Army information officers gave daily progress reports of the mock war to newspapers. Ultimately, the “Blue Army” at Mather Field “prevented” the capture of San Francisco and Sacramento by the “Red Army” which had tried to attack San Francisco by air and Sacramento by land.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1931.
Location. 38° 34.907′ N, 121° 30.217′ W. Marker is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. It is in Old Sacramento. Marker can be reached from the intersection of K Street and Interstate
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5, on the right when traveling east. The metal marker is along the pedestrian walk where K Street extends under the freeway overpass towards downtown. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sacramento CA 95814, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The marker is part of the Historical Timeline of Sacramento. Inset Image:
Smoke Screen over Capitol, ca. 1931 – from the Sacramento Valley Photography Survey Collection
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Historical Timeline of Sacramento
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, May 24, 2023
2. War Games Marker
Center-left.
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, May 24, 2023
3. Marker Within the Timeline
Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 59 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 3, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.
