New Book Highlights the History of Fort Wayne Aviation

Dec. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is Fort Wayne Aviation: Baer Field and Beyond by local authors Roger Myers, Geoffrey Myers, Larry Myers and Martin Kraegel III. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images, giving readers a unique opportunity to reconnect to the history that shaped their community.

Fort Wayne is the hometown of Lt. Paul Baer, who flew with the French forces in World War I and was the first US pilot to achieve ace status. Fort Wayne is also the hometown of Arthur “Art” Roy Smith, who was one of the pioneer acrobatic fliers in the pre–World War I era. Smith made several trips to Japan and is credited with inspiring the Japanese to develop their own aircraft in the period between the two world wars.

Prior to the onset of World War II, the US Army Air Corps purchased over 600 acres southwest of Fort Wayne and built Paul Baer Army Air Field. Today, Fort Wayne International Airport covers about 3,500 acres and has the second-longest runway in Indiana, almost 12,000 feet in length.

Highlights of the book include:
•   Recounts the development of Baer Field Army Air Base.
•   Features numerous photographs never before published.
•   Highlights many of Fort Wayne’s flying aces.
•   Chronicles Fort Wayne’s military and commercial achievements.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or www.arcadiapublishing.com.  

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.

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With more than 7,500 local history titles published to date, Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Widely recognized sepia books feature hundreds of vintage historical images.