The tragic flight that birthed one of America's oldest military aviation installations
In short: Pope Field began with a fatal accident in 1919, when two Army aviators crashed into the Cape Fear River while searching for airmail routes. Named in honor of Lieutenant Harley Pope, the site evolved from a quiet landing strip into a critical hub for global military operations and airborne training.
The history of Pope Field is inextricably linked to the nearby Fort Bragg, established in 1918. In January 1919, First Lieutenant Harley Halbert Pope and W. W. Fleming departed South Carolina in a JN-4 Jenny biplane, navigating by railroad tracks without modern instruments. Their mission to scout airmail landing fields ended in tragedy when they ran out of fuel and crashed into the Cape Fear River. By April 1919, the airfield was officially renamed in Pope's memory.
During its early years, the facility was so quiet that pilots had to buzz the field to clear grazing deer before landing. However, the 1930s brought significant infrastructure growth, including runway extensions, new hangars, and improved lighting. As World War II approached, the base became a vital center for troop carrier training, helping to integrate air and ground operations for airborne units. This period solidified the base's role in preparing forces for aerial resupply and combat missions.
Following the creation of the independent United States Air Force in 1947, the site transitioned into Pope Air Force Base. Over the subsequent decades, it hosted various tactical reconnaissance and airlift wings, supporting operations in regions ranging from the Congo to Somalia. In 2011, the installation was absorbed back into the Army's Fort Bragg, returning to its original designation as Pope Field. Today, it remains a cornerstone of military aviation history, having evolved from a primitive dirt field into a sophisticated support facility for global deployment.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Pope Field (I-82) | NC DNCR
- Also: Pope Field
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