<P> After inspecting several sites , the U.S. War Department agreed to the lease June 14 , 1917 . Congress appropriated $10 million for its construction , and 2,000 laborers and carpenters were immediately put to work . The layout of Scott Field was typical of aviation fields built during World War I. Construction began in June 1917 . The government gave the Unit Construction Company 60 days to erect approximately 60 buildings , lay a mile - long railroad spur , and to level off an airfield with a 1,600 foot landing circle . Construction was underway when the government announced , on July 20 , 1917 , that it would name the new field after Corporal Frank S. Scott , the first enlisted service member killed in an aviation crash . Scott had died after an unexpected engine failure had brought down the aircraft that Lieutenant Lewis Rockwell had been giving him an orientation flight in at College Park , Maryland , on September 28 , 1912 . </P>
<P> After inspecting several sites , the U.S. War Department agreed to the lease June 14 , 1917 . Congress appropriated $10 million for its construction , and 2,000 laborers and carpenters were immediately put to work . The layout of Scott Field was typical of aviation fields built during World War I. Construction began in June 1917 . The government gave the Unit Construction Company 60 days to erect approximately 60 buildings , lay a mile - long railroad spur , and to level off an airfield with a 1,600 foot landing circle . Construction was underway when the government announced , on July 20 , 1917 , that it would name the new field after Corporal Frank S. Scott , the first enlisted service member killed in an aviation crash . Scott had died after an unexpected engine failure had brought down the aircraft that Lieutenant Lewis Rockwell had been giving him an orientation flight in at College Park , Maryland , on September 28 , 1912 . </P>
who is scott air force base named after
who is scott air force base named after
Corporal Frank S. Scott
Corporal Frank S. Scott