Early Aviation Photography on view in the Library
Currently on display in the Library, a small group of photographs features early flight tests of the Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” aircraft, one of the most widely used training planes in the United States during and after World War I. The photographs were taken in 1918 at Scott Field in Belleville, Illinois, and donated to the Club by Major General Earl S. Hoag (1895–1968).
Currently on display in the Library is a small group of photographs documenting early flight tests of the Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” aircraft. The Jenny was one of the most widely used training planes in the United States during and after World War I. The images on view were taken in 1918 at Scott Field in Belleville, Illinois, and come from a larger collection donated to the Club by Major General Earl S. Hoag (1895–1968).
At the time these photographs were taken, Hoag was serving at Scott Field as post adjutant and commanding officer of the 50th and 88th Observation Squadrons. The photos—available in full by request in an archival binder—typically show pilots and planes just before takeoff, followed by the aftermath of a crash. While not combat images, they reflect the day-to-day risks of military flight training during wartime.
Hoag began his military career in 1917, enlisting in the Signal Reserve Corps and training at Curtiss Flying School in Miami, then Rockwell Field and Kelly Field. Commissioned later that year, he would go on to serve in both world wars and rise to the rank of major general.
About the Jenny
The Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” trained more than 95% of American military pilots during World War I. While it played a major role in shaping early U.S. aviation, it was also notoriously unforgiving to fly. With a 90-horsepower engine, cloth wings, and wooden frame, the Jenny was underpowered and fragile. Controls were sluggish, stalls difficult to recover from, and landing gear prone to nose-overs on soft or uneven ground. Maintenance demands were high, and breakdowns frequent.
As a trainer aircraft, most Jennies were flown by students with minimal experience. Unsurprisingly, accidents were routine—even in controlled test environments like Scott Field. The photos on display bear witness to this reality: a pilot standing beside a tidy plane before takeoff, followed by images of splintered struts and twisted canvas in the aftermath.
These photographs offer a rare and candid record of early military aviation, capturing both the danger and determination of the first generation of American military pilots.