College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
College Park Airport
"Oldest Continually Operated in the World"
First Military Airfield in the United States
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 7, 2012
1. College Park Airport Marker
The following notable events occurred on this airfield:
1907 – Early aeronautical experiments by Rex Smith and others
1908 – Oct. 8, Wilbur Wright instructed first flying officers of the Signal Corps, U.S. Army
1909 – Oct. 29, Mrs. Ralph H. Van Demon first woman passenger in America
1911 – July 3, First army flying school established
1912 – First flight surgeon, Lt. John P. Kelly
1912 – First group cross country flight originated here, first long distance flight – 42 miles, destination, Chevy Chase, MD.
- First bombs dropped from an aircraft utilizing a bombsight
- First machine guns fired from an aircraft
- Early experimentation with radio signals sent from an aircraft
- Altitude records set by Lt. “Hap” Arnold, 6450 feet.
1918 - Aug. 12, Washington terminus, first regular airmail service
1920 – Early helicopter experiments by Emile Berliner
1922 – First successful flight of a helicopter by Henry Berliner
1933 – First “blind flying“ cross country flight by James Kinney
Photographed By Adam Margolis, August 27, 2018
2. College Park Airport Marker
this page online
Prince Georges County Historical Society
Funded by National Aerospace Educational Memorial Center, Inc., 1976
Erected 1976 by Prince Georges County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Communications • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is July 3, 1791.
Location. 38° 58.806′ N, 76° 55.435′ W. Marker is in College Park, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker is on Corporal Frank Scott Drive north of Paint Branch Parkway. Marker is at the end of Cpl. Frank S. Scott Drive - on the lawn near the flag pole, north of the airport parking lot and west of the College Park Aviation Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1909 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park MD 20740, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named College Park Airport (within shouting distance of this marker); Arthur "Al" Welsh, 1881-1912: Pioneer Aviator (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Flying the Mail (approx. 0.2 miles away); America's Military Takes Flight (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named College Park Airport (approx. 0.2 miles away); Michael Singer (approx.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, November 2, 2012
3. College Park Airport Marker
Regarding College Park Airport. ... The Army's Signal Corps Aviation School relocated the Curtiss airplane group from its original location at College Park, Maryland, to North Island [San Diego, CA.] during November to December 1912 instead of to Augusta, Georgia, as it had the previous winter.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Also see . . . College Park Airport. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on June 15, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional keywords. Corporal Frank S. Scott; U.S. Army College Park Flying Field; Lt. Lewis Rockwell.
Photographed By Adam Margolis, August 27, 2018
4. College Park Airport Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 747 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on December 15, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on November 3, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2. submitted on January 9, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 3. submitted on November 3, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4. submitted on January 9, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
