1917: Rantoul Gets a Field

Although the United States had been the birthplace of powered flight, the Army Signal Corps paid little attention to it. Even as the Great War progressed in Europe, America did little to build its air strength. In April 1917, the United States was woefully weak in the air. The United States possessed only one fully manned and equipped aero squadron, and about 250 aircraft outfitted the Aviation Section of the Army's Signal Corps. In comparison, France began the war with over 1,500 aircraft.

To meet the demand, Congress appropriated $640 million to build up the Air Service. The War Department immediately opened ground schools at eight colleges and established twenty-seven flying fields to train pilots. The War Department selected Rantoul because it was one of the few level sites in Illinois in close proximity to the Illinois Central railroad and the ground school at the University of Illinois. The village of Rantoul would also be a source for electricity and water. Chanute Field was completed by July 1917 at the cost of $1 million. On July 4, the first airplanes arrived at the new facility.