Linwood in Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Fort Worth's First Flight
In December 1903, the Wright Brothers achieved powered flight, but by 1910, most people still had not see an airplane. In October 1910, John Moisant of Chicago formed a touring aerial demonstration team known as the Moisant International Aviators. A group of aviation enthusiasts led by Amon G. Carter, Sr. paid the aviators to come to Fort Worth. On January 12, 1911, Roland Garros of the Moisant International Aviators, flying a Bleriot XI, became the first person to perform a powered flight in Fort Worth. The flight took place at the Fort Worth Driving Park, a racetrack near Carrol and West 7th Streets.
From this first flight, Fort Worth and North Texas developed into an aviation center. Encouraged by Amon Carter, Ben E. Keith and Louis J. Wortham, the U.S. Army Service constructed three World War I pilot training airfields near Saginaw, Benbrook and Everman by October 1917. The Royal Flying Corps Canada also used the fields for pilot training during the winter months. After World War I, Everman Field became Fort Worth's first municipal airport. Helium was discovered in Texas during World War I and the Navy built a large extraction plant in Fort Worth. The Navy also built a dirigible mooring station nearby and from 1924 to 1929 Fort Worth became a stop on transcontinental airship flights. During the 1930s, Fort Worth became a flight-training center for the civilian pilot training program. Carter not only convinced the Navy use Lake Worth as a seaplane base, but was instrumental in securing a large defense plant to build B-24 Bombers during World War II. The site, known as Air Force Plant #4, has been in continuous use since 1942.
Marker is property of the State of Texas
Erected 2012 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17360.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World I • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1885.
Location. 32° 45.282′ N, 97° 21.292′ W. Marker is in Fort Worth, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is in Linwood. Marker is at the intersection of Carroll Street and Mercedes Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Carroll Street. The marker is located in First Flight Park in Fort Worth's West 7th neighborhood. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Worth TX 76107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Ormer Leslie Locklear (approx. 0.8 miles away); Herbert M. Hinckley (approx. 0.9 miles away); William John Marsh (approx. 0.9 miles away); Eddleman-McFarland House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show (approx. one mile away); Midnight (approx. one mile away); Founding Fort Worth (approx. 1.1 miles away); Masonic Temple Association of Fort Worth (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Worth.
More about this marker. The marker faces away from the road, as the event commemorated happened across the street, which is now a parking lot. The marker dedication ceremony was held on Saturday, January 11, 2014.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2014, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. This page has been viewed 864 times since then and 83 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2022, by Joe Lotz of Denton, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 11, 2014, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. 3. submitted on January 30, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.