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USA 1917 WW1 photo postcard New Field (Kelly Field) San Antonio
USA 1917 WW1 photo postcard New Field (Kelly Field) San Antonio
$60.00 CAD
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WW1 RPPC photo postcard early days of New Field (Kelly Field) San Antonio Texas: 3 Curtiss “Jenny" (?) biplanes, nearest one Is numbered “135” and has 3 men beside it (pilot(s)?)
In background smoke from tractor. It appears that the ground is still being cleared
Labeled on negative:AIRPLANES & HANGARS NEW FIELD 52*
Written on back:San Antonio, Texas June 24 1917
On 5 April 1917, four aircraft took off from Fort Sam Houston, flew across San Antonio and landed on the new airfield, which at the time was a cleared cotton field. Tents had been erected as hangars, however, a permanent presence at the airfield was not established until 7 May when 700 men arrived. A week later, the population had grown to 4,000.
Construction of the facility was rapid, with the United States now at war and the mission of the new airfield was to train aviators to be sent to the Western Front in France. The ground was cleared and scores of buildings - hangars, barracks, mess halls, a street system, electrical and plumbing systems, warehouses, machine shops were all constructed during the summer.
