Downtown in Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Langley Field: Creating an Air Force
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, July 31, 2010
1. Langley Field: Creating an Air Force Marker
In Dec. 1916, the U.S. Army purchased land four miles north of here to build an airfield to use jointly with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. During World War I, the Army trained aircrews and tested aircraft there. In 1921, Brig. Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell led bombing trials from Langley to demonstrate that air power could destroy battleships. On 1 March 1935, Air Corps Combat units were realigned nationwide under the GHQ Air Force. Led from Langley by Maj. Gen. Frank Andrews, that combat air command was the forerunner of the Army Air Forces of World War II and marked the first real step toward the U.S. Air Force.Erected 2005 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number WY-96.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World I • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 1, 1935.
Location. 37° 1.467′ N, 76° 20.62′ W.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Langley Field: Discovering Aerospace (here, next to this marker); Ninteenth-Century Hampton (a few steps from this marker); Twentieth-Century Hampton (a few steps from this marker); Dr. Katherine G. Johnson (a few steps from this marker); Hampton (a few steps from this marker); Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson (a few steps from this marker); Eighteenth-Century Hampton (a few steps from this marker); Seventeenth-Century Hampton (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, July 31, 2010
2. Langley Field Markers
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 788 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 1, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
