| Marker Number |
2815 |
| Atlas Number |
5329002815 |
| Marker Title |
John Valentine Pliska |
| Index Entry |
Pliska, John Valentine |
| Address |
Texas & Baird St. |
| City |
Midland |
| County |
Midland |
| UTM Zone |
13 |
| UTM Easting |
776528 |
| UTM Northing |
3543758 |
| Subject Codes |
inventors and inventions; aviation |
| Marker Year |
1970 |
| Recorded Texas Historic Landmark |
No |
| Marker Location |
SW corner of Texas Ave. & Baird St., Midland |
| Private Property |
No |
| Marker Condition |
In Situ |
| Marker Size |
18" x 28" |
| Marker Text |
Mechanical genius who made and flew first locally-owned aircraft. Born in Austria, Pliska came with parents to Texas, and after 1903 followed blacksmith trade in Midland. He built (1912) and flew at intervals up to 15 minutes an aeroplane of his own invention. (plane now in museum at Midland-Odessa air terminal.) Pliska was a master Smith. Gen. John J. Pershing had U. S. Army horses shod here during border trouble prior to World War I. Branding irons for a large west Texas area were also made here. Pliska married Louis Hundle. They had seven children. |
