The History of Bolling Field, Anacostia, D.C., 1917-1948

To the occupants of the thousands of cars which daily pass the South Capital Street gate of Bolling Field, the military reservation may represent many things -- a place of former employment 0 a duty station or take-off point during World War II or the Korean episode, the scene of pa.st Armed Forces Day celebrations, a place for the retirement of the great airmen of the past generation, the home of the Air Force band, drum and bugle corps, and drill team, the place your sixth grade class had such fun during a tour of the base, and other events and memories too numerous to mention. However, it is doubtful whether many people associate the Bolling Field area with anything earlier than the twentieth century or prior to the invention of the airplane.