The Aviation History of Greater Riverside (Transportation)

Synopsis

Ever since aircraft changed the scope of theFirst World War, flight became both a passion and business in Riverside. Earlybarnstormers needed places to park, refuel and service their aircraft, soairports started popping up. Alessandro Field became March Field in 1918. ByWorld War II, seventy-five thousand troops were deployed at March. Today’sMarch Joint Air Reserve Base has been a vital wartime training and relayinstallation and a sentinel of peacetime. In 1925, Roman Warren, known as the“Cowboy Aviator,” established Riverside Airport, which later became FlabobAirport. Take to the air with authors Marge and Tony Bitetti as they traceGreater Riverside’s history of flight—from Banning, Corona and RiversideMunicipal Airports to Perris Airport, Skylark Field and others.