Aero Memorial to World War I Aviators in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Paul Manship

memorial

The Aero Memorial in Philadelphia, created by Paul Manship in 1948, honors Pennsylvania aviators who died in World War I. The gilded bronze sculpture is shaped like a celestial sphere with zodiac figures, symbolizing the connection between aviation and the heavens. Commissioned by the Fairmount Park Art Association and donated to the city in 1950, it is located at 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway near the Franklin Institute. Manship is also known for other notable sculptures including Duck Girl and Prometheus.