History of Eaker Field
Eaker Field is located about eight miles south of the main SOSU
campus. It is easily accessable from highway 75 as well as from
South 9th Street in Durant.
The airport is named in honor of SOSU alum General Ira Eaker. General
Eaker was a 1917 graduate of Southeastern and served in both World
War I and World War II. During WW II General Eaker was commander
of the Eighth Air Force in England and led several historic bombing
missions against Nazi targets in occupied Europe and Germany.
The City of Durant named an airfield west of the town in honor
of then Captain Eaker in the 1930's. The U.S. Navy built the current
airfield as an auxilary field during WW II and it became Durant
Municipal Airport after the war. Later it was renamed Eaker Field
in honor of now General Eaker.
Points of Interest on the Field
There are two memorials on Eaker Field. The first honors Lt.
Commander John Waldron, USN, and the men of Torpedo Squadron
Eight (VT-8). On the 4th of June, 1942, VT-8 was involved in the
epic Battle of Midway. On that day the VT-8 attacked the Japanese
fleet without fighter support. The entire squadron of Douglas TBD
torpedo bombers was shot down during their attack. Every member
of VT-8 was killed except for Ensign George Gay, who survived the
battle and the war. However, by drawing Japanese fighers down to
a low altitude VT-8 allowed American dive bombers with fighter support
to successfully attack the Japanese fleet. Ultimately, the Japanese
suffered the loss of four large aircraft carriers and one curiser
and withrew from the battle. (Read
the U.S. Navy Press Release, June, 1942)
The second memorial honors two SOSU students who lost their lives
in an aircraft accident in February of 2001. Jake
Marcum, a CFI, and Lynn Mathew were
flying a Cessna 150 near the eastern shore of Lake Texoma on a training
flight when they collided with a Cessna 172. The Cessna 150 crashed
just off the shore, killing Jake and Lynn. The Cessna 172 was able
to land safely at Sherman Municipal Airport. The pilot and his passenger
were not injured. To honor the memories of Jake and Lynn a memorial
pavillion was erected next to the ASI building adjacent to the flight
line. Jake had originally suggested such a pavillion where students
could relax and watch airplanes. In April of 2003 a DC-3 propeller,
painted in the school colors of blue and gold, along with two plaques,
were dedicated to Jake Marcum and Lynn Mathew.
This page last updated: 12 August,
2003
