The North Island Flying School

December 8, 1912 the Signal Corps flying school at North Island was officially established, following the arrival of the "Curtiss Contingent" from College Park, Maryland. It originally had only five flyers assigned.

The "Wright Contingent" arrived from Texas City, Texas. By the end of the year, there were 20 officers on aviation duty at San Diego and that facility was formally designated the "Signal Corps Aviation School," the Army's first permanent type flying installation. At the time the Aviation School was established at North Island, most of the Signal Corps' airplanes are the original pusher type.