History: Payne Field at nearly 100

Payne Field, four miles north of West Point, Miss., is a little-known, but historic air field. It has been called Mississippi's first airport. It was 100 years ago March 10, 1918, that the first squadron of JN-4 "Jennys" arrived at Payne to begin active training for U.S. Army Air Service (AAS) pilots to produce a portion of more than 10,000 overall Signal Officers Reserve Corps officers. Ten years after the Wright Brothers delivered their first aircraft to the newly formed AAS, WWI brought aviation to war-time, and with the need for the first group of military-trained pilots. In 1917, West Point was selected as one of the sites for pilot training. The field was constructed on 533 acres of open prairie. The first squadron arrived March 10, 1918. By May 1, the field was fully operational with 125 flying Jennys. Most townfolks had never seen an aircraft before, and called the planes "buzz wagons," and the aviators "birdmen." (Source: Columbus Dispatch opinion 02/17/18)