The Aviator

The Aviator is a bronze sculpture at Clemmons Library on the University of Virginia campus depicting a male figure with outstretched arms cradling wings. The memorial stands upright and occupies a visible space within the central library surroundings.

Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created this memorial in 1918 to commemorate James Rogers McConnell, a former student who died fighting in World War I. The work emerged during the period when young Americans were drawn into the conflict.

The sculpture honors a student who became a pilot and symbolizes the role young people played in aviation and military service during the early 1900s. It sits in a central campus location where students pass regularly, keeping this personal story present in their daily routines.

The sculpture sits outdoors on the university campus at an easily accessible location near the library buildings. Visitors should expect the work to be fully exposed to weather throughout the year.

What sets this memorial apart is the inclusion of a blade carried in a sheath, which distinguishes it from typical war monuments that usually feature obelisks or patriotic symbols. This detail gives the work an unexpected personal and martial quality.

Location: Charlottesville

Inception: 1918

Creator: Gutzon Borglum

Made from material: bronze

Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Rogers_McConnell

GPS coordinates: 38.03637,-78.50580

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:05