Fairfield Air Depot Ohio

Fairfield Air Depot, Ohio

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Wright Field photo
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In 1904-05 the Wright brothers set up their experimental flying field on Huffman Prairie in southwest Ohio. In 1917, Wilbur Wright Field and, adjacent to it in order to provide support, the Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot, were established in the general area. After World War One, the two were merged and redesignated Wilbur Wright Air Service Depot, but was commonly referred to as Fairfield Air Depot. In 1927 the two fields and surrounding area amounting to over 4,500 acres (18 sq.km), was dedicated as Wright Field in honor of the Wright brothers, and became headquarters for the Army Air Corps' Material Division. In 1931 a portion of Wright Field was redesignated Patterson Field in recognition of the efforts of the Patterson family to relocate the mission of the Airplane Enfineering Division of the Army Air Corps from too-small facilities in Dayton, known as McCook Field, to the base. Beginning in the WW II era, and continuing afterwards, the adjacent complexes saw tremendous expansion efforts. On January 13, 1948 Wright Field and Patterson Field, including the original Huffman Prairie site, were officially merged to form Wright-Patterson AFB. See also: History of WPAFB PDF document.


Main menu	Larger image with "hot spots" Wright Field photo Another view of Wright Field	Next Selff photo Selff Menu
In 1904-05 the Wright brothers set up their experimental flying field on Huffman Prairie in southwest Ohio. In 1917, Wilbur Wright Field and, adjacent to it in order to provide support, the Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot, were established in the general area. After World War One, the two were merged and redesignated Wilbur Wright Air Service Depot, but was commonly referred to as Fairfield Air Depot. In 1927 the two fields and surrounding area amounting to over 4,500 acres (18 sq.km), was dedicated as Wright Field in honor of the Wright brothers, and became headquarters for the Army Air Corps' Material Division. In 1931 a portion of Wright Field was redesignated Patterson Field in recognition of the efforts of the Patterson family to relocate the mission of the Airplane Enfineering Division of the Army Air Corps from too-small facilities in Dayton, known as McCook Field, to the base. Beginning in the WW II era, and continuing afterwards, the adjacent complexes saw tremendous expansion efforts. On January 13, 1948 Wright Field and Patterson Field, including the original Huffman Prairie site, were officially merged to form Wright-Patterson AFB. See also: History of WPAFB PDF document.