Event Details

"Over Here: WWI Pilot Training in Southwest Florida" (1917—1918)

Time: 2:00 pm til 3:00 pm

Location: Collier County Museum, Naples

Description: America entered World War I in April of 1917. Throughout the summer and fall of 1917, the U.S. Army selected sites, constructed air fields, and sent pilots to 23 facilities throughout the United States to learn how to fly combat missions. That summer a U.S. Army Signal Corps survey team selected land near Arcadia, Flor-ida to build two pilots training fields. In 1918, pilots started to train in JN-4 Jennys and other aircraft over the plains of southwest Florida for future aerial combat over the Western front. Many of the pilots trained at these Florida fields went on to contribute to Allied victory over the Central Powers in the last months of the war. Their success over France began with flight training in Florida. Program by Erik Carlson, author and historian. Program will begin at 2 p.m. Free admission. Reservations suggested. For more information, please call (239) 252-8738.

FPAN is posting this event as a courtesy, we will neither be hosting nor attending this event.