The Aviator - Wheeling, West Virginia - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

Note: This sculpture is on the campus of a private Middle and High School - Best to visit during non-school hours.

From Smithsonian Art Inventory:

A full-length standing male figure, dressed in a World War I aviator uniform, with wings attached. The aviator wears a leather helmet with goggles pushed up on his forehead, and a thigh-length, belted coat with the collar turned up. He wears trousers tucked into boots which lace up to the knee. Two large, bird-like wings are held onto his arms with straps. His proper right arm is down at his side, and the lower tip of the proper right wing touches the ground at his feet. The proper left wing is held at shoulder-height. The aviator stands with his weight on his proper right leg, his proper left leg is forward.

On front the granite base is inscribed:

Ready To Serve

To The Glorious Memory
Of All Americans
Who Sacrificed Their
Lives In The World War
1914 1818

On the back is mounted a bronze tablet inscribed:

Gift Of Mrs. Louis Bennett
Whose Only Son
Louis Bennett Jr. "Yale 1917"
Was Captain Of The West Virginia
Flying Corps Which He Organized
At Wheeling West Virginia
He Was Killed in Action
August 24th 1918 While Serving
As Lieutenant 40th Squadron
Royal Air Force In France
His Record August 15th-24th Being
3 Enemy Planes 9 Balloons
Destroyed (4 In One day)
"And Thus This Man Died Leaving
His Spirit As An Example Of Able
Courage, Not Only Unto Young
Men But Unto All The Nation"

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: The Aviator Figure Type: Human Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Augustus Lukeman Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 1924. Dedicated Nov. 11, 1925. Rededicated Nov. 11, 1975 Materials used: Figure: bronze, burnished gold; Base: marble or polished granite. Location: Linsly School

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