City: Coral Gables   County: Miami-Dade   Year: 2023
Location: Old Cutler Road and Deering Bay Drive

Side One: Chapman Field Park is named for military hero Victor E. Chapman, the first American pilot to give his life in World War I. Chapman was a member of the famed Lafayette Escadrille, an aero squadron composed of brave American flyers who went to France as volunteers to defend democracy before the United States officially joined the war. This French aero squadron, the Lafayette Escadrille, was named after the Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette. Chapman was killed in action flying over the battle of Verdun on June 24, 1916. His final resting place is within the Tomb of the Lafayette Escadrille outside Paris. When the United States officially entered the war in April of 1917, the U.S. Army Air Service created Chapman Army Airfield in memory of his remarkable life. At that time, this land, which is now Chapman Field Park, was used as the US Army’s Cutler Aerial Gunnery Field. On November 15, 1918, it was formally renamed the Victor Chapman Military reservation and used as a training airfield for pilots. The French Air Force maintains an active-duty squadron named the Lafayette Escadrille in memory of the American flyers who served in World War I. Side Two: When World War I ended, military activity subsided at Chapman Field. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leased parts of the airfield for the cultivation of tropical plants. These included the first rubber and mango trees in the United States. During the winter months, parts of the property were used for aerial gunnery practice. The outbreak of World War II revitalized military activity. Women Air Service Pilots (WASPs) provided some of the Army and Navy flight and navigator training to the male cadet pilots. The pilots trained in antiquated Curtiss JN “Jenny” biplanes before moving on to more sophisticated aircraft. Women pilots towed targets for anti-aircraft gunnery practice. It was a dangerous task that led to many pilots being wounded. The renowned aviator Jacqueline Cochran of Florida was their commander and greatest advocate. After 30 years in obscurity, the WASPs won official Veteran status in 1977. In 2009, due in part to the work of United States Representative from Miami, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, these courageous flying women received the Congressional Gold Medal.