This page from a historical publication on Scott Field, Illinois, traces the base's origins to 1917, when the U.S. military recognized the growing importance of air power and established the site for pilot training. It later served as an experimental lighter-than-air base in the 1920s, complete with a massive airship hangar. The accompanying photograph of an AT-6 Texan trainer reflects Scott Field's enduring role in training generations of American airmen through World War II and beyond. Project: 218127