Near Oshkosh in Winnebago County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

S. J. Wittman

Aircraft Designer • Race Pilot • Inventor

Photographed by Keith L, October 28, 2007

1. S. J. Wittman Marker

Inscription.
For 38 years America's premier air race pilot, S. J. Wittman served as manager of this airport. Since 1924 he has designed and built aircraft for which he has achieved national recognition.

One of his planes "Buster" is in the Smithsonian Institution. He designed the very popular Wittman Tailwind and V-Witt Homebuilt aircraft and a commercially-used landing gear.

Mr. Wittman has long been recognized as one of America's foremost air race pilots. For 50 years, 1924 to 1974, he participated in more closed course air races than any other person in the world. He has raced in every "National Air Race" from 1928 to 1971 and still holds 2 world records.

His dedication to aviation has focused worldwide attention upon Oshkosh and Winnebago County. This airport was named in his honor July 24, 1969.

Erected 1975 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 211.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 24, 1969.

Location. 43° 59.736′ N, 88° 33.342′ W. Marker is near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in Winnebago

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County. It is on West 20th Avenue (Alternate U.S. 41) east of McCurdy Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is at the north edge of Wittman Regional Airport. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oshkosh WI 54902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Wisconsin’s Fox River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Smith–Buckstaff (approx. 0.7 miles away); Oldest House (approx. 0.8 miles away); Oshkosh Korean and Vietnam War Memorials (approx. 0.9 miles away); Oshkosh World War II Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Grand Opera House (approx. 1.7 miles away); Civil War Monument (approx. 1.7 miles away); Webster Stanley (approx. 1.8 miles away); North Main Street Historic District (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oshkosh.

Additional keywords. Sylvester Joseph Wittman

Photographed by Mark Moxley-Knapp, July 26, 2023

2. S. J. Wittman Marker

Wittman Midget Racer "Buster" image. Click for full size.

courtesy Smithsonian Institution

3. Wittman Midget Racer "Buster"

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2007, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,953 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 29, 2007, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on August 3, 2023, by Mark Moxley-Knapp of Columbus, Ohio. 3. submitted on June 1, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.