Downtown in Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The First Air-to-Ground and Ground-to-Air Communications

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 9, 2025

1. The First Air-to-Ground and Ground-to-Air Communications Marker

Inscription. The first air-to-ground and ground-to-air radio communications were accomplished by AT&T engineers at Langley Field. AT&T employees watch an early aircraft-radio test. July, 1917.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Communications • War, World I. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1917.

Location. 38° 34.733′ N, 121° 29.258′ W. Marker is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. It is in Downtown. It is on J Street near 14th Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1401 J Street, Sacramento CA 95814, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Sacramento Valley

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1890s Telephone Lineman (here, next to this marker); 1911 Telephone Wires (here, next to this marker); First Transcontinental Telephone Line (a few steps from this marker); 1915 Sacramento Parade Float (a few steps from this marker); 1910 Telephone Operator

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(a few steps from this marker); 1905 Test Board (a few steps from this marker); 1927 Splicer (a few steps from this marker); 1903 Construction Crew (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sacramento.

More about this marker. The marker and photo is one of a set of 29 found around two A&T-owned buildings along 14th, J and 15th Streets.

Also see . . .
1. Ensuring Safe Travel Through Modern Air-Ground Communication. The photograph used on this building in Sacramento is included in this article about technological innovation during the World War I era. (Submitted on February 12, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Library of Congress: The Bell System.

Excerpt: "Within a period of two days, August 18-20, 1917, two way air-ground communication was
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 9, 2025

2. The First Air-to-Ground and Ground-to-Air Communications photo and marker
maintained for the first time and communication between two airplanes in flight was accomplished. During another two day period, August 21-22, 1943, the first No. 4 toll crossbar switching system in the world was put into service at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the first concrete move toward toll dialing."

(Submitted on February 12, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

AT&T Building markers along J Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 7, 2025

3. AT&T Building markers along J Street

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 12, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 12, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.