Boonton in Morris County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

General James H. Doolittle

Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 20, 2015

1. General James H. Doolittle Marker

Inscription. General James H. Doolittle 1n 1929 at this site of the Aircraft Radio Corporation Airdrome in Boonton Township, Lieutenant James H. Doolittle of the Army Air Corps conducted extensive acceptance tests of the Aircraft Radio Corporation Type B Beacon Receiver and the Type C Code Transmitter. With the aid of these excellent radios, this brilliant engineer was able to take off, fly and land his airplane for the first time in aviation history by reference to instruments alone without looking out of the cockpit. This historic flight revolutionized aviation which had been greatly limited in usefulness, because flights in conditions such as darkness, clouds and fog, which obscured the pilot’s vision, had been impossible. By demonstrating instrument flight, James H. Doolittle assembled a large section of the solid foundation on which the United States aerospace industry stands supreme in the world. Dedicated on the 60th Anniversary
Of This Historic Achievement of the
First Instrument Flight
September 24, 1989
In the 93rd Year of James H. Doolittle’s Life
by
The Citizens of Boonton Township
and
The Yankee Air Force

Erected 1989.

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.

Location. 40° 56.024′ N, 74° 25.732′ W. Marker is in Boonton, New Jersey, in Morris County. It can be reached from Powerville Road (County Route 618) 0.1 miles west of West Hill Road, on the left when traveling north. Located in the Rockaway Valley Aerodrome Fields. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 353 Powerville Road, Boonton NJ 07005, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Jersey

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Boonton Township 9/11 Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Dixon Homestead (approx. half a mile away); Rockaway Valley United Methodist Church

Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 20, 2015

2. General James H. Doolittle Marker

(approx. half a mile away); Adam Miller House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Boonton Township Veterans Memorial (approx. one mile away); Morris Canal (approx. 1.1 miles away); Decker-Kincaid Homestead (approx. 1.8 miles away); Boonton Historic District (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boonton.

Regarding General James H. Doolittle.
In the fall of 1927 the Aircraft Radio Corporation was formed to pioneer the development of aircraft radios and electronics. A flying field was established at the facility to aid in engineering and testing. The airport remained in use until the mid 1980s. The grass runways are now used for recreation athletic fields. Lt. Doolittle had an office here and flew from this site many times, but the epic flight took place at Army Air Corps Mitchel Field in Long Island, New York.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 20, 2015

3. General James H. Doolittle Marker

The playing fields were the grass runways of the airport

Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 20, 2015

4. General James H. Doolittle Marker

Doolittle’s Landing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 20, 2015

5. Doolittle’s Landing

Metal windsock next to the marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2015, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 1,473 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 21, 2015, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.