Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Langley Field: Creating an Air Force

By Bernard Fisher, July 31, 2010

1. Langley Field: Creating an Air Force Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

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.)

Location. 37° 1.467′ N, 76° 20.62′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. Marker is at the intersection of South King Street and Settlers Landing Road (U.S. 60), on the left when traveling south on South King Street. This marker is located in Carousel Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hampton VA 23669, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Langley Field Markers image. Click for full size.

By Bernard Fisher, July 31, 2010

2. Langley Field Markers

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); Hampton (a few steps from this marker); Eighteenth-Century Hampton (a few steps from this marker); Seventeenth-Century Hampton (a few steps from this marker); Hampton Is Burned (within shouting distance of this marker); British Approach to Hampton / The War of 1812 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Topics. This marker is included in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World I • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels

Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2020. This page originally submitted on August 1, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 698 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 1, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia.