Elevation 249 feet, Fairfax County, Virginia GPS 38º46'20.40"N : 77º4'54.07"W
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Beacon Field Virtual Museum
The Groveton Observation Postof the Army Aircraft Warning Service (AWS)
was one of the 7500 civilian posts in the nationwide warning service
network that was manned 24 hours a day during the heightened security
period of WWII. When W.F.P.Reid was appointed to the Civilian Defense Council in July 1942 (6), it is likely that he also granted permission to the AWS to install the observation post on his airport, Beacon Field. Recent eyewitness account places the Observation Tower on the Beacon Field property. Recently acquired AWS armband, identification card and wings below.
In the early 50's photo below on the left, a WWI Army Biplane Jenny Hub rests on the Beacon office file cabinet over the shoulder of Mr. Al Steidel. In the photo on the right, the same Jenny Hub has survived another 50 years and will celebrate its 90th birthday not far from that very site.
Mr. Al Steidel
Beacon tower ladder lock
This heavy hardened brass padlock embossed with the CAA identification was installed on the base of the ladder that extended up through the beacon tower. The lock prevented "unauthorized access" to the US Government beacon station. When the goverment dismantled the tower, Harry J. Lehman recovered the lock and key for Beacon Field posterity.
During World War II, Harry J Lehman served as a RAF Wing Commander, Director of Training at Clewiston, Florida, part of the US support program for the United Kingdom. The Clewiston facility trained RAF who later became fighter, bomber, and torpedo flight personnel. Harry corresponded with many British pilots following the war.
This CAA Region One wood sign hung outside off the front porch of the CAA building at Beacon for many years and survived.
The
sign has unique artwork with the Wright flyer above the beacon light
tower beaming across the United States on a crest of wings.
The LINK TRAINER building was the primary simulator facility that was located adjacent to the Beacon Field Office. Edwin A. Link invented the Trainer Simulator (ANT-18BIT) in 1929 as a safer way to teach pilots flying under instruments. BIT stood for BASIC INSTRUMENT TRAINER. Link hailed from a New York family involved in Nickelodeon and Organ production. Knowledge of pumps, valves, and bellows provided a great foundation for the his creation of a simulator that pitched, bumped and rolled. During WWII, Link produced 10,000 units, 1 every 45 minutes to support the war requirements.
To save this Link Trainer building, Harry J. Lehman contracted house movers to relocate the 20 by 40 foot cinderblock facility (shown below) to his residence. The ANT-18BIT was sold. The building has been reroofed and is actively used today.
---Link Trainer Building THEN (1950s in snowstorm)
.... Link Trainer building NOW
Alexandria-Virginia Airport, Incwas alarge commercial aviation training program established in 1944 in support of the post WWII
GI Bill and later the Korean War GI Bill. This business performed all aspects of the FBO operations at Beacon Field Airport including gas sales, rentals, airport maintenance and facility management.
Original Watercolor by Jim Crawford depicting Post Office No. 253 US Mail DeHavilland DH-4 biplane, with a 500 pound mail carrying capacity. The mail was stowed in the front compartment.
May 15, 1955 training receipt for 1 hour of dual instruction at Beacon Field in N82146.
Courtesy of John Samuels: "1.00 (hr) of Dual -- $10 "
Courtesy Emrico Family
Open cockpit flying required special aviator eyeware. Below are four pairs of aviator goggles worn at Beacon Field including the Mark IVB that has a "flip down" sun visor.
USAC Goggle TYPE B-7
A M Goggles MARK IV B
AN6530 Goggles
MK II Goggles ---Courtesy of Emrico Family
Copyright 2010 Friends of Beacon Field Airport at City View and beaconfieldairport.com, no part of
this website including sound or text content may be copied, reproduced
or used for any other purpose without express written permission of the
beaconfieldairport.com website owner. Beacon Field Airport® is a registered trademark of the website owner.
