Launching Site of First U.S. Army Airplane
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member JimmyEv
N 25° 53.942 W 097° 29.556
14R E 650996 N 2865370
The first U.S. Army Airplane to be shot at by enemy fire took off from Fort Brown in 1915. The enemy fire came from Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa, across the Rio Grande.
Waymark Code: WM2JM1
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 11/12/2007
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member QuesterMark
Views: 38
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Marker Number: 3048

Marker Text:
From Old Fort Brown Cavalry Drill Field, near this spot, was made the first flight of a U.S. Army plane to be fired upon in armed hostilities, April 20, 1915. Two Signal Corps officers, Lts. Byron Q. Jones and Thos. Milling, flew a Martin T.O. Curtiss 75 on the border to spot movements of Mexican revolutionist Pancho Villa. They reached 2,600 feet; were up 20 minutes. Though they did not cross the Rio Grande, the plane was hit by machine gun and small arms fire. Their patrols lasted 6 weeks. Planes were used more effectively in fighting against Villa in 1916.
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