Near Pike Road in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Taylor Field

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 31, 2024

1. Taylor Field Marker

Inscription. Montgomery's first military flying installation was established 200 yards south of this spot in November of 1917. The facility was named for Captain Ralph L. Taylor, who was killed in an airplane crash at Mineola Field, New York in August of 1917. The primary flying school here included 16 hangars, repair shops, warehouses, quarters, a hospital, and nearly 200 JN-4 and DH-4 aircraft on its 800 acres. One hundred and thirty-nine fledgling pilots completed the eight-week course and some served in France during the First World War. Taylor Field closed in April of 1919 and reopened as Gunter Auxiliary Air Field No. 5 during World War II. It was closed again in July of 1946.

Erected 1993 by the Montgomery Chapter of the Air Force Association and Founders Flight, Order of Daedalians & the Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1919.

Location. 32° 18.579′ N, 86° 7.024′ W. Marker is near Pike Road, Alabama, in Montgomery County. It is on Ray Thorington Road (County Road 75) 0.8 miles west of Pike Road (County

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Road 85), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2150 Ray Thorington Rd, Pike Road AL 36064, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Alabama’s Tri-Counties River Region.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pike Road School (approx. 1.9 miles away); Town of Pike Road Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Ray Cemetery (approx. 2.1 miles away); Antioch Baptist Church (approx. 3.2 miles away); Georgia Washington School (approx. 3.2 miles away); Grace Episcopal Church (approx. 3.4 miles away); Marks House (approx. 3.6 miles away); Ulibahali (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pike Road.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Chantilly Plantation (was approx. 2.6 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry on Taylor Field. (Submitted on February 27, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Taylor Field in background. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 31, 2024

2. Taylor Field in background.

Taylor Field in 1918 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain, circa 1918

3. Taylor Field in 1918

Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 27, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,104 times since then and 93 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 31, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3. submitted on February 27, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.