Details for Launching Site of First U.S. Army Warplane
Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5061003048
Data
| Marker Number | 3048 |
| Atlas Number | 5061003048 |
| Marker Title | Launching Site of First U.S. Army Warplane |
| Index Entry | Launching Site of First U.S. Army Warplane |
| Address | 98 Taylor Avenue |
| City | Brownsville |
| County | Cameron |
| UTM Zone | 14 |
| UTM Easting | 650996 |
| UTM Northing | 2865370 |
| Subject Codes | aviation; military topics |
| Marker Year | 1966 |
| Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | Yes |
| Marker Location | Fort Brown Reservation on May Street, near intersection of May Street and Taylor Avenue |
| Private Property | No |
| Marker Condition | In Situ |
| Marker Size | 18" x 28" |
| 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. |