McCook Field was the United States’ first military aviation research facility. Many early aviation innovations were developed here, including free-fall parachutes, protective clothing, closed cockpits, heated and pressurized cabins, oxygen systems, electric ignition systems, anti-knock fuel, the 700-hp, 18 cylinder "W" engine, an air-cooled power plant enhanced with a supercharger, improved navigational aids such as the earth-conductor compass and radios, improved weather forecasting techniques, stronger propellers, advancements in aerial photography, and the design of landing and wing lights for night flying.
McCook Field was bordered by the Great Miami River to the north and west, Keowee Street to the east, and Herman Street to the south. I-75 is now about where Herman Street was. After deactivation, much of the area became an industrial park. Some of it became Kettering Field, a park with athletic fields, some of it became a large housing project called Parkside Homes, now demolished (see my Parkside cache), and some of it became McCook Shopping Center, Dayton’s first modern style shopping center. The shopping center is abandoned now, and the McCook Theater, an adult entertainment business, has gone out of business and been demolished.
The first stop is at the north end of what was once McCook Field. Here you will find a sign with a phrase relating to the size of the field.
The number of words in this phrase will be A.
The number of letters in this phrase will be BB.
Stage two coordinates are: N 39° (38.911 + A.AAA)’, W 084° (09.254 + B.BBB)’
At the second stop you will find a plaque with a map of McCook Field and more information.
The number of years that McCook Field was active is CC.
The day of the month that McCook Field was activated is DD.
The day of the month that Wright Field was activated is EE.
Stage three coordinates are: N 39° [46.211 + (.CC x D.D)]’, W 084° [11.142 + (.DD x E.E)] ‘
Beware of the no parking signs. There is legal parking a short distance to the north.
A new marker has been added along the bike trail not too far from the final featuring a nice photo taken in 1922. It shows the field and also the reason Keowee Street makes that jog. There used to be an oxbow in the Great Miami and a bridge over it. It has all been filled in long ago, but Keowee still follows the same route. Located at:
N39° 46.444', W084° 11.451'