Ellington Air Force Base at Houston, Tex., was named for a pioneer in aviation, 2nd Lt. Eric LaMar Ellington.
The lieutenant, whose nickname was "Polly", was born to Jesse Thompson Ellington and his second wife, Sallie Williamson Ellington on May 15, 1889 in Clayton, N. C.
Mrs. Ellington died when her son was still a small boy. He then went to live with his oldest half-brother, John O. Ellington, who made his home first in Smithfield and later in Fayetteville, N. C.
Young Ellington attended grammar and high school in Smithfield and was graduated from the latter in 1905. During the summer of that year he was admitted to the U. S. Naval Academy as midshipman. During his years at the academy, Ellington completed cruises on the CLEVELAND and the HARTFORD. In June 1909, he was graduated third in his class and received a bachelor of science degree. He completed his two years of prescribed sea duty and was then commissioned an Ensign in the U. S. Navy on June 5, 1911.
Ellington served as an Ensign until Nov. 7, 1911, when he resigned form the Navy to accept a commission in the U. S. Army as a second lieutenant. Lieutenant Ellington served at Fort Sam Houston, Tex., until December 1912.
He moved to College Park, Md., where he served on the Aeronautical division of the Signal Corps until Feb. 3, 1913. Ellington qualified as a military aviator on Aug. 11, 1913 and served as such until he was killed in an airplane accident at San Diego, Calif., on Nov. 24, 1913 while on flight duty.
Lt. Ellington was buried with military honors in the family plot in Clayton, N. C., a village founded by his grandfather.
Originally designated "Ellington Field," the base was officially opened on Nov. 1, 1917.
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