Hangar 9, San Antonio, Texas
historic place
Hangar 9, located in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, is a significant historic place. It was built in 1918 as one of sixteen wooden hangars at Brooks Field. These structures were hastily constructed to support pilot training during World War I. Hangar 9 housed Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" biplanes, which were essential for training thousands of American pilots. Aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh trained here in 1924. The hangar also saw innovations in flight instruction, such as instrument flying and early parachute experiments. By the 1960s, Hangar 9 was the only one of its kind remaining. It was saved from demolition and underwent restoration, completed in 1969. A more recent renovation was completed in 2017. Hangar 9 is recognized as the oldest U.S. Air Force aircraft storage and repair facility. It is also the only surviving wooden World War I-era hangar still in its original location. It holds designations as a National Historic Landmark from 1976 and a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark from 1967. Today, Hangar 9 serves as a community event venue. This site represents a crucial period in American military aviation history.