San Emidio near Taft in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Gardner Field
WWII Army Airfield
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 10, 2025
1. Gardner Field Marker
Gardner Field
1941 to 1945
985 Acres
350 Civilians Employed
3050 Soldiers Trained
8,916 Cadets Trained
Honoring Major John H. Gardner
Dedicated to the memory of John H. Gardner, Major, Air Corps.
Born at Alamo, Calif, May 30, 1896.
Died at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, October 15, 1938.
Presented October 26, 1941.
Erected 1995.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military • Notable Places • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.
Location. 35° 6.075′ N, 119° 18.836′ W. Marker is near Taft, California, in Kern County. It is in San Emidio. It is at the intersection of Basic School Road and Gardner Field Road, on the right when traveling north on Basic School Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Maricopa CA 93252, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley, specifically in the Central Valley, and in the Sierra Nevada. 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lakeview Gusher No.1 (approx. 5 miles away); Lakeview Gusher #1 (approx. 5 miles away); Tulamniu Indian Site (approx. 5.4 miles away); Wooden Pacific Pumping Unit (approx. 5.6 miles away); Maricopa's Jail (approx.
this page online
Regarding Gardner Field. Gardner Army Airfield is a former U.S. Army Air Force World War II field. It was named for Major John H. Gardner, a World War I aviator hero.
Gardner AAF is historically significant as Major General Charles "Chuck" Yeager first learned how to fly an airplane here.
Today, only the remnants of the parking apron remain.
There is a plaque located at the site of the base's former entrance, at the intersection of Gardner Field Road and Basic School Road.
Additional keywords. Gardner Army Airfield, Chuck Yeager,
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 10, 2025
2. Gardner Field Dedication Plaque - 1941
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 10, 2025
3. Gardner Field Marker and Plaque
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 10, 2025
4. Gardner Field Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 15, 2025
5. Gardner Field Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 10, 2025
6. Gardner Field Ruins
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 10, 2025
7. Gardner Field Ruins
courtesy USAF
8. Gardner Field
courtesy USAF
9. Gardner Field
courtesy USAF
10. Chuck Yeager
In front of a BT-13A during his primary training at Gardner Field in 1942.
courtesy USAF
11. Gardner Field
courtesy USGS
12. Gardner Field
The concrete ramp/aircraft parking area is still visible today.
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 11, 2025
13. Marker Dedication - 1995
Display in West Kern Oil Museum.
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 11, 2025
14. Gardner Field Items
Display in West Kern Oil Museum.
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 11, 2025
15. Gardner Field History Room
Display in West Kern Oil Museum.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 146 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 6, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3, 4. submitted on October 10, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on October 16, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6, 7. submitted on October 10, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 8, 9. submitted on October 6, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 10. submitted on October 11, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 11, 12. submitted on October 6, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 13, 14, 15. submitted on October 11, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
