Philadelphia Seaplane Base: Difference between revisions

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It opened as a training field in early 1917 and was named after 1Lt. Rex Chandler, a student, was killed in the crash on 8 April 1913 on a training flight from [[Rockwell Field|North Island]], San Diego, California, in Curtiss F floatplane, Signal Corps 15, with [[Lewis H. Brereton]] as pilot. Lt Chandler was knocked unconscious in the crash and drowned.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=GpJMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA567&lpg=PA567&dq=chandler+field+pennsylvania+named+for&source=bl&ots=04A8Uev-sY&sig=lm3MMtsaqQCaYdD4Y2PVPSlz1B4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Yq5kUebEKov69gTBjYEg&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=chandler%20field%20pennsylvania%20named%20for&f=false 1LT Rex Chandler]</ref>
It opened as a training field in early 1917 and was named after 1Lt. Rex Chandler, a student, was killed in the crash on 8 April 1913 on a training flight from [[Rockwell Field|North Island]], San Diego, California, in Curtiss F floatplane, Signal Corps 15, with [[Lewis H. Brereton]] as pilot. Lt Chandler was knocked unconscious in the crash and drowned.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=GpJMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA567&lpg=PA567&dq=chandler+field+pennsylvania+named+for&source=bl&ots=04A8Uev-sY&sig=lm3MMtsaqQCaYdD4Y2PVPSlz1B4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Yq5kUebEKov69gTBjYEg&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=chandler%20field%20pennsylvania%20named%20for&f=false 1LT Rex Chandler]</ref>


Chandler Field was used to prepare [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] seaplane aviators. It was closed in early 1918 as inadequate for the Army's needs, it's personnel and equipment moved to [[Gerstner Field]], Louisiana.<ref name="Examiner">Pennsylvania's lost World War I airfield is rediscovered</ref><ref>Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC</ref>
Chandler Field was used to prepare [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] seaplane aviators. Training units assigned to Chandler Field were:<ref name="oob">Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the First World War, Volume 3, Part 3, Center of Military History, United States Army, 1949 (1988 Reprint)</ref>
* Post Headquarters, Chandler Field June 1917-January 1918
* 2d Reserve Aero Squadron, July 1917
: Re-designated as 45th Aero Squadron (II), August-November 1917
* 143d Aero Squadron (Service), October-November 1917

It was closed in early 1918 as inadequate for the Army's needs, it's personnel and equipment moved to [[Gerstner Field]], Louisiana.<ref name="Examiner">Pennsylvania's lost World War I airfield is rediscovered</ref><ref>Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC</ref>
[[File:Chandler field-2.jpg|thumb|1917 oblique photograph of Chandler Field]]
[[File:Chandler field-2.jpg|thumb|1917 oblique photograph of Chandler Field]]
The facility was reopened in 1919 as a flying school. and used by the Navy during World War II as a seaplane base. It was again reopened as a civil facility in 1946.<ref>[http://phillyseaplanebase.com/seaplanebase.html Philadelphia Seaplane Base history]</ref>
The facility was reopened in 1919 as a flying school. and used by the Navy during World War II as a seaplane base. It was again reopened as a civil facility in 1946.<ref>[http://phillyseaplanebase.com/seaplanebase.html Philadelphia Seaplane Base history]</ref>

Revision as of 15:17, 10 October 2013

Philadelphia Seaplane Base
Chandler Field
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerTownship of Tinicum
LocationEssington, Pennsylvania
Elevation AMSL0 ft / 0 m
Coordinates39°51′38″N 75°18′00″W / 39.86056°N 75.30000°W / 39.86056; -75.30000
WebsitePhillySeaplaneBase.com
Map
PSQ is located in Pennsylvania
PSQ
PSQ
Location of Philadelphia Seaplane Base
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11/29 9,100 2,774 Water
Statistics (2008)
Aircraft operations4,500

Philadelphia Seaplane Base (IATA: PSQ[2], FAA LID: 9N2) is a township-owned, public-use seaplane base located one nautical mile (1.85 km) south of the central business district of Essington,[1] a community in Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States.[1] It is situated on the Delaware River, west of Philadelphia International Airport.

Facilities and aircraft

Philadelphia Seaplane Base covers an area of 8 acres (3.2 ha) at an elevation of 0 feet above mean sea level. It has one seaplane landing area designated 11/29 which measures 9,100 by 250 feet (2,774 x 76 m). For the 12-month period ending September 16, 2008, it had 4,500 general aviation aircraft operations, an average of 12 per day.[1]

History

1917 Air service graduating class from Chandler Field

The facility was originally known as Chandler Field, and was operated as an Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps military airfield. The field was one of the first three Signal Corps military training airfields prior to the United States Entry into World War I.

It opened as a training field in early 1917 and was named after 1Lt. Rex Chandler, a student, was killed in the crash on 8 April 1913 on a training flight from North Island, San Diego, California, in Curtiss F floatplane, Signal Corps 15, with Lewis H. Brereton as pilot. Lt Chandler was knocked unconscious in the crash and drowned.[3]

Chandler Field was used to prepare National Guard seaplane aviators. Training units assigned to Chandler Field were:[4]

  • Post Headquarters, Chandler Field June 1917-January 1918
  • 2d Reserve Aero Squadron, July 1917
Re-designated as 45th Aero Squadron (II), August-November 1917
  • 143d Aero Squadron (Service), October-November 1917

It was closed in early 1918 as inadequate for the Army's needs, it's personnel and equipment moved to Gerstner Field, Louisiana.[5][6]

1917 oblique photograph of Chandler Field

The facility was reopened in 1919 as a flying school. and used by the Navy during World War II as a seaplane base. It was again reopened as a civil facility in 1946.[7]

Today, the Chandler Field main building, officer's quarters, hangar foundations, launching ramp and other elements of the base remain. The buildings are closed to the public, however site tours are available. [5]

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for 9N2 PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 8 April 2010.
  2. ^ Airport information for PSQ at Great Circle Mapper.
  3. ^ 1LT Rex Chandler
  4. ^ Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the First World War, Volume 3, Part 3, Center of Military History, United States Army, 1949 (1988 Reprint)
  5. ^ a b Pennsylvania's lost World War I airfield is rediscovered
  6. ^ Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC
  7. ^ Philadelphia Seaplane Base history
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