Bloomington Airport History

8/9/2019 Bloomington Airport History

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BLOO J GTO , ILLI 01VI TIO

9 , 93 ,1940

01 piled byarion McClure


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BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOISAVIATION

1920,1930,1940Compiled by

Marion McClure


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1998 by Marion McClureBloomington, IllinoisSecond Edition, 1998

This publication was produced by William P. LaBounty on a PC computer using AdobePageMaker 6.5 for page layout and indexing. All the newspaper clippings and photos werescanned on a Microtek Scanrnaker E3 and enhanced using Adobe Photoshop 4.0. Final outputwas printed and bound from a Xerox DocuTech at StarNet of Bloomington, Illinois.


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INTRODUCTIONThe purpose of this book is to preserve and make the material available to anyone interested. It is

from a collection kept in a desk drawer accumulating over a number of years. Thanks should be given tothe friends who have given it to me...to Fran Carnahan for her husband Art's history, to Alice EllisWhite and Betty J. Herman for their collection of Pantagraph clippings. Betty's came from her mother,Mrs. William Bennet. To the Goff family for their family photo album from which snapshots of the fieldnorth of Normal came. And to Herb Morphew from the talk he gave to the Bloomington Cbapter EAAMarch 21, 1985, and his recollections of the Tilbury Flash as he wrote for the EAA magazine "VintageAirplane" February and March 1991. And Rick McDermott for his Lindbergh Illinois history. I havenothing on local history of aviation before WWI or people who served in WWI aviation. It might be saidthe decades of 1920, 1930 and 1940 were the "golden years" of aviation in Bloomington, IllinoisMarion L. McClureJuly 1998


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CONTENTSPlane over field North of Normal, Kerrick Elevator background Front coverAviation in Bloomington - Art Carnahan 1

Lindbergh in Illinois - Rick McDermott

Unidentified parachutist. Back cover

51929 and 1930 Pantagraph Clippings - Alice White, Mrs. Wm. Bennet.. 13Goff Snapshots - George Goff. 53People Who Flew North of Normal- Herb Morphew 71Super Swallow - Herb Morphew 72Tilbury Flash - Herb Morphew 73Index 83


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AVIATION IN BLOOMINGTONBy Art Carnahan (1950)

Many people seem to believe that aviation in Bloomington started with the establishment of the oldBloomington airport, located north of Normal in the year 1927. To the best of my knowledge, credit forowning the first airplane in Bloomington should go to Harvey Wurzburger, who now operates the Six PointsGarage. Mr. Wurzburger learned to fly in St. Louis, and in May of 1923 his enthusiasm for the sport led tohis purchase of a Curtis JN4D. As there was no airport at that time, he flew his plane from a farmer's fieldlocated south of the city.

Roger Humphreys was another who owned an airplane in the early twenties when they were considereda rare item and before a real airport was established. Mr. Humphreys was extremely active in stimulatinginterest in aviation during the years that he resided in Bloomington, and served an important part in itsadvancement.

Flying activity in about 1925 was conducted from a field six miles east of Bloomington, on Route 9, whichwas known as Sweeney's pasture. There were no hangar facilities, and the owners simply tied their airplanesout in the open. Several fields that were large enough and level enough were used for airplane landing stripsby local flyers and by "barn-stormers". Forman's field was one of these, and was used on occasion byJohn A. Brokaw, who was one of the first military pilots from Bloomington.

In 1925, a barn-storming troupe known as the Gates Flying Circus came into Bloomington. With themwas a pilot named Basil Sims, who remained in this locality and instructed others to fly. It was at this timethat I became interested in flying. Those who remember Basil, will be sorry to learn that his flying career wasended while he was testing aircraft during World War II.

In the spring of 1927, the late Herman A. Will opened that first authentic airport in Bloomington. It wasa 72 acre tract of land, approximately four miles north of Normal. The Bloomington Flying Club wasorganized shortly there after. Among members of this club were Jack Simmons, Jack Bell, CharlesO'Malley, Victor Neirynck, and Mr. Will. They purchased a JNA-4, or "Jenny", as it was more commonlycalled. This was an open cockpit, bi-plane, and powered with an OX5 motor.

Flying activity increased rapidly and many airplanes were in use. James Ingram moved to Bloomingtonbringing with him a Hisso Standard airplane. Vemell "Red" Irwin purchased his own Waco 10 in the latetwenties. Louis Horn bought a Travelair. Ferdinand Schad and Leo Jackson added another Travelair. CarlKlawitter and Clarence Axtell were joint owners of a Super Swallow and Ben Snyder was a Jenny owner.In the summer of 1929, the Pantagraph purchased their first "Scoop", which was a Waco bi-plane. The IlliniAir Transport, owned by Mr. Parkhill added a Stinson SM8A to the group. Archie Baldridge, who is stillactively engaged as a pilot and flight instructor, owned an OX5.

Benny McMillion, Eddie Brooks, Tommy Woods, Wilbur Haker, George Goff, Ray Loomis, HenryCrutcher, Claude "Mullie" Kendall, Walter Young, Lander Van Gundy, J. R. McIntosh, Herbert Parker,and Charles Zweng were among those who either owned airplanes or shared an interest in ownership. RogerHumphreys owned a Waco 10, as did Franklin "Juggy" Kemp. Bill Bennett had a Monoprop. Glen Langdonand Dwight Leeper were owners then who have continued their interest in aviation and own their ownaircraft at the present time. Walter W. Williams added a six-place, closed cabin, Stinson-Detroiter andG. Ermond Mecherle a four-place Monocoach. These were among the first closed cabin airplanes.


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Undoubtedly I have unintentionally overlooked some names in this group, although I sincerely hope not.The Daily Pantagraph, and Mr. Davis Merwin, himself a pilot, are to be highly commended for their

active interest in aviation. Scoop 1, purchased in 1929, was flown by Jack Bell until his death in 1930. 1 thentook over the piloting of Scoop, and continued in this capacity until Scoop the IVth, a cabin Stinson was soldin 1941. Scoop was used in making tours of Central Illinois, and sometimes for the delivery of specialeditions; but principally for aerial picture coverage on major news events in this locality. These pictureswere taken with the Pantagraph' s own equipment, and by staff photographers, which was a record for aerialphotographic coverage that few other newspapers in the world could approach. I do not know the exactnumber, but I am sure that the aerial photographs that Frank Bill, now Farm Editor of the Pantagraph, hastaken would be numbered in the thousands.

In 1930, a glider club was organized under my supervision, with twenty members on the roll. This wasthe first and only non-mechanically powered aircraft in Bloomington. It was quite a novelty at that time, andpresented a new interest in aviation.

Although feminine interest in flying has developed in recent years, the first woman from Bloomington tosolo an airplane was Marguerite Mecherle.

A history of aviation in Bloomington would not be complete that didn't recall the activities of the lateDr. Harry L. Howell. Dr. Howell and Dr. Watson Gailey served as the aviation medical examiners for manyyears and were both interested in the advancement of aviation. Dr. Howell organized the first local chapterof the National Aviation Association and served as its first president. He was a familiar figure at the airportfor years, and often accompanied the pilots on their trips. His ambition to solo an airplane was almostrealized, when illness prevented it.

Bloomington aviation interest was not only making local headlines, but was showing itself nationally inthe early thirties. Owen Tilbury designed a very small racing airplane, powered with a Hendersonmotorcycle engine. He was assisted in the building of the plane by Clarence Fundy, Clarence Rousey, andothers with the interest and the urge to work for fun. This tiny airplane, with a fifteen foot wing span, wasentered in the Chicago All American Air Races. It was a great thrill for those who built it and for myself, aspilot, when it became nationally famous by winning the Polish Trophy. This race, for 115 cubic inchengines, did a great deal toward encouraging the manufacturers to develop small cubic inch engines withlow horsepower.

The Monocoach, owned by G. Ermond Mecherle also made its mark in the national aviation history. Iflew this ship in the Cord Trophy race from Los Angeles to Cleveland, and was accompanied by HerbertMorphew, as mechanic. There were almost 170 contestants, and we finished in third place. Flying this sameairplane I also won the Italian trophy race at the Miami All American Air Faces. The Coach won many otherraces, and exhibition flights but the two I have mentioned were the outstanding national honors received.

Many nationally famous pilots have used the facilities of either the old or present Bloomington airport.Among them are General James Doolittle, Clyde Pangbourno, Roger Q. Williams, Clarence Chamberlain,James Hayslip, Arthur Goebel, Len Povey, Joseph C. Mackey, Roscoe Turner, Frank Cordova, AmeliaEarhart, Arthur Davis, Harold Neuman, Harold Johnson, John Livingston, Benny Howard and MikeMurphy.

In April of 1931, it was learned that Century Air Lines were interested in using Bloomington airport asa regular stop between Chicago and St. Louis. The next few months were busy ones for Mr. Will and the

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aviation committee of the Association of Commerce. Additional acreage had to be obtained and 35 acreswere leased from the Bertram estate, making a total field acreage of 113. Improvements were made on theairport, and passenger service was finally inaugurated in October of that year. Many interested citizensdonated to the fund necessary for the additional land lease. Passenger service continued for several months,with as many as eight stops at the airport daily. Due to a very wet winter in 1931 and 1932, the field becametoo soft for use by the Aviation Corporation, now known as American Airlines. Various improvements inthe field were requested by this new company, and in a final inspection of the facilities it was determinedto be inadequate. As a result of this decision, passenger service was terminated.

As the early thirties were very insecure economically speaking, a great many owners sold their airplanesand flying activity was at a low ebb. Aviation interest was stimulated somewhat, when the presentBloomington Municipal Airport was made possible due to Civil Works Administration, which was a phaseof the recovery program. It encouraged the construction of municipally owned airports. The Association ofCommerce Aviation committee, and John B. Felmley, McLean County CWA chairman; recommended tothe city council that Bloomington take advantage of this plan. Through the efforts of Mayor Wellmerling,the city council, and many, many interested citizens this development became a reality.

The present Bloomington Municipal Airport was dedicated on Sunday, October 28, 1934.60,000 people,one of the greatest crowds in Bloomington history gathered on and around the airport to witness thededication. 83 airplanes took part in the activities, and automobile traffic was blocked for miles in alldirections.

When the airport was dedicated, work had been completed on two diagonal asphalt runways, and thepresent hangar had been completed. Airlines expressed a desire to use the field for passenger stops, and afranchise was held by Chicago and Southern and American Airlines to use the facilities. Apparently themajor airlines have never thought that Bloomington had a sufficient volume of passenger business towarrant a stop, and the field facilities were always determined to be inadequate.

Private flying, as it is called, was showing an increase in activity in 1936 and this continued until justbefore World War II. Among the Bloomington locality residents who owned airplanes during this periodwere Lewis Probasco, David Davis, Walter Williams, the Daily Pantagraph, Robert Davis, Russell Teutsch,Reed Johnson, Charles Zweng, Leo Jackson, Harold Medbery and George F. Dick, III. It would beimpossible to list the many hundreds who took flying lessons during those years.

In 1940, the first flight training program sponsored by the federal government was started. This was calleda Non-College Civilian Pilot Training Program. The Association of Commerce acted as the local sponsorof this program, and David Davis was appointed by them to serve as the coordinator. The ground schooltraining was given at the Bloomington High School, with Harry Adams and Roy Hostetler acting asinstructors. Flight training was given at the airport by Carnahan Flying Service.

Following the Non-College program, a very similar program went into effect, namely the CollegeCivilian Pilot Training Program. Students from Illinois State Normal University and Illinois WesleyanUniversity were enrolled, and the ground instruction was given by university staff members.

In 1942, the government could see that a need for flight instructors was in view, and Commercial PilotRefresher and Flight Instructor Refresher courses were established. The ground instruction for these wasconducted at the airport. Pilots for these refresher courses were sent into Bloomington from other sectionsof the state.

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In August of 1942, a pre-glider flight training program commenced. This was the first program where thestudents were actually inducted into government service. These trainees were trained in elementary flightbefore entering glider training at a regular Army base. An ample supply of glider pilots was obtained in ashort time, and then another type of program went into effect.

A group of Navy V-5 cadets arrived in April of 1943, for their elementary flight training. The first classof cadets was housed and received their ground school training at Illinois State Normal University. Theywere moved to Illinois Wesleyan University within a short time in order to make room for a Navy V-12program at Normal. The V-5 program was under the supervision of War Training Service and the Navy.Navy officers were in residence. Approximately 1000 boys received their elementary flight training inBloomington on these government programs. Flight training for the Navy continued until July 1, 1944.

Following World War II, airplanes were again available for purchase by the private pilot, and the airplanewas seen as a practical means of transportation for people in business. The Paul F. Beich Company, SteakN-Shake, Inc., Lutz Canning Company, and the John Felmley Company were some of the business concernsto purchase their own aircraft. Among the private airplane owners using their planes for both business andpleasure were Arthur Concollo, Franklin Parker, J. J. Woltman, E. W. Gilbert, Dr. B. H. Pickard, OliverLuerrson, Howard Fisher, Wilbur Smith, Helen Greinke, Glen Langdon, James Tuley, David Davis, RobertDavis, Russell Teutsch, Harold Medbery, Emory McClure, Phil Auth, Elmer Bano, George Warsaw, CokeHeller, Gilbert Hines, Glen Bagby, Fred Wissmiller, Dewey Varboncouer, Jesse Barker, Jack Streeper, andDonald Schlosser. While all of these are not residents of Bloomington, they are from the immediate vicinity.There has been a trend during the past few years for farm owners and farm tenants to erect one place hangarsand have their own landing strip on the farm. McLean County has a very active group of Flying Farmers.

In September of 1946, a flight program was offered in conjunction with GI training. Private, Commercialand Flight Instructor courses were all given. Enrollment was good for the first two years, but graduallydecreased until the contract was tenninated in 1949 due to lack of interest by those eligible for the training.

The most recent improvement at the airport was the completion of a concrete runway, and a paved apronin front of the hangar. This was made available through an improvement program sponsored by federal, stateand city government. The city of Bloomington purchased additional acreage to make the runway extensionpossible, and as their share of the expense.

Ozark Airlines have very recently been granted a route which is including Bloomington as a stop forpassenger and airmail service. It is hoped that this service will be available before the end ofthis year, 1950.It will be the first time that the Bloomington Municipal Airport has had airline service, and if it develops asplanned, it will be another step in the advancement of aviation in Bloomington., . . . -

THIS TICKET IS GOODfo rONE AIRPLANE RIDE

This Ticket is Goodon Any Flying Datesponsored by181 ART CARNAHANof Bloomington Ill.

....

..,

THIS TICKET IS GOODfo rONE AIRPLANE RIDE

This Ticket is Good.on Any Flying Datesponsored byN o...... . 182 ART CARNAHANof Bloomington. III

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Lindbergh HistoryApril 1926 - November 1926

Rick McDermott (Grandson of Pete Thompson)6416 Quailwood DriveFloyds Knobs, IN 47119812/923-6074

My grandfather 's name was Pete Thompson. You may not know of him but then you may not be familiarwith the excitement around Covell, Illinois on November 3, 1926. The following is a story of how CharlesLindbergh and Pete Thompson crossed paths and made history.Robertson Aircraft Corporation:

The government had introduced sketchy air mail service in 1918 and had extended it coast to coast in1920. By 1925 the service had added a number of feeder routes. A total of nine such routes crisscrossed thecountry. Brothers William and Frank Robertson (World War I pilots) from St. Louis operated C.A.M. #2,a government contract airmail route between St. Louis (STL) and Chicago by way of Springfield (SPI) andPeoria (PIA). (278 mile route, five round trips a week, beginning on April 15, 1926). The government paidby the pounds of mail carried, often the sacks weighed more than the mail inside. Robertson was one of afew aircraft companies to carry mail only. Most also carried passengers to offset costs.Three Pilots:

Lindbergh, age 24, was hired as Chief Pilot with a salary of $300.00 a month. Thomas Nelson (23) andPhillip Love (23) army buddies of Lindy's, were also recruited. Lindbergh required each pilot carry aflashlight and be equipped with a new type silk parachute (Irving) for emergencies. He promised that nopenalties would be laid against a pilot if he used his chute. There was a saying in the service about aparachute. I f you need it and haven't got it, you'll never need it again. Pilots had to fly in visual contactwith the ground. Some ofthe best pilots were killed when they pushed on into bad weather and fog. Weatherreports were unreliable. There was no verbal communication with people on earth except for a friendlywave. Airports were cow pastures with a wind sock. There were very few rules or regulations to protect thepilot or, for that matter, the people on the ground.Aircraft:The Robertsons purchased four (#109/110/111/112) De Havilland D. H. 4s, a fabric wing, plywoodfuselage biplane with a 12 Cylinder, 400 hp, water cooled Liberty engine. (Top speed 124 mph, range 250miles, normal cruise speed of 90 mph) Designed in England in 1916, the D. H. 4 was a famous single enginebomber in World War I. In 1923 in its civilian incarnation (5000 built under U.S. license), the completelyoverhauled plane proved to be an adaptable mailplane. Landing lights and extended exhaust pipes thatshielded the pilot's vision from the glowing exhaust made the plane a good night flying mail plane. In wartime the pilot flew from the front cockpit with an observer in the back. For civilian use, however, the pilotswapped seats putting the mail in the forward cockpit.

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The open cockpit planes were acquired from Army surplus for $100.00 each, then rebuilt in theRobertson's company maintenance shop. Lindy had serious misgivings when the four D. H. 4s arrived atLambert Field in STL. The planes had been declared unfit for any kind of military use. To make sure theplanes would not fly again, an ax had been applied to the fuselage. The airplanes required almost a completeoverhaul in the Robertson maintenance shop.

Contract Mail Route #2: (C. A. M. #2)The route between STL and Chicago (Maywood, Illinois) operated on a schedule that saved one businessday over train service to New York. A letter mailed in STL before 3:30pm was rushed to Lambert Field bya fast mail truck, transferred to a plane which was waiting with the engine running and flown to Chicago by7: 15pm. In Chicago, themail would connect with mail coming in from California, Minnesota, Michigan andTexas. A Chicago to New York overnight plane (with a stop in CLE) would depart Chicago immediatelyupon the arrival of all of the inbound planes. The mail was in the post office in New York in time for the firstdelivery of the day. During the first five months of operations, 98% of the flights made their connections.Winter was a different story. Only two condit ions would delay air mail: Ice and Fog. Ice comes from visiblemoisture which forms from freezing raindrops or partially melted snowflakes that fall through a belowfreezing layer of air. Ice formation on the wing and/or propel ler greatly affects the performance ofthe plane.Aerodynamics of the wing change when ice forms thus increasing the speed at which the aircraft may stall.A reduction in lift and thrust with a corresponding increase in drag and weight results. I f no corrective actionis taken to get out of this icing condition, there comes a point when the aircraft loses its ability to fly. Thepilot has three options: 1) climb to a colder altitude where ice won't stick, 2) descend to a warmer altitudewhere ice will melt or 3) tum back and go home. Fog is a cloud at or near the earth's surface. Flight visibilityabove a fog layer is usually good. Depending on the thickness of the fog, you can usually look straight downthrough it and see objects quite clearly below. To the surprise of many pilots, the runway seen just secondsearlier has compactly disappeared. Slant or forward visibility in fog is usually near zero. Pilots had to relyon visual references on the ground to land as there were no navigational aids.Sept. 16, 1926, (Aircraft #112)

Lindbergh departed STL at 4:25pm arriving in Springfield at 5:10pm. After picking up additional mail,Lindy departed for PIA landing at 5:55pm. At 6:10pm Lindy started the PIA to Chicago leg. There was alight ground haze with partly cloudy skies. Darkness came at approximately 25 miles northeast of PIA. Alow fog rolled in a few miles northeast of Marseilles, Ill inois at the Illinois River. Fog extended upward to600 feet and Lindy was' unable to fly under it. Flying northeast until 7:15pm, a glow on top of the fogindicated a town below near Chicago (Maywood). After circling for thirty-five minutes with no luck infinding the field, Lindbergh headed west to clear Lake Michigan. Flying westerly for fifteen minutes thenturning southwest, Lindbergh was hoping to find the edge of the fog bank at the Illinois River. To Lindy'ssurprise, the engine started to sputter.] thought the carburetor jets were clogged. There should beplentyoffuel remaininq in my mail fuel tank. ] followed my emergency rocedure and switched to the reservetank. The engine came back to life immediately. The main tank must be dry. At 8:20pm the main fuel tankwas indeed dry and Lindbergh was left with only the reserve fuel. Unable to flOd a break in the fog,Lindbergh was forced to make his third emergency parachute jump. (from an altitude of 5000 feet) Whenthe engine sputtered and died, Lindbergh jumped out of the right side pulling his rip-cord after falling about100 feet. The Irving Parachute (seat type) functioned perfectly. While descending gently to earth, Lindberghheard a dreadful sound. The plane's engine (in a nose down attitude) roared to life as the residual fuel in thelines reached the carburetor. LINDBERGH HAD NEGLECTED TO SWITCH OFF THE ENGINE'SIGNITION SWITCH. It seemed as if the plane was chasing Lindy as he tried to steer his chute away fromthe plane as it spiraled to earth. The plane was 10 a left spiral of about a mile in diameter passing

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approximately three hundred yards away from Lindy, leaving him just outside the circle. Their rate ofdescent was about the same. The plane made several passes at Lindbergh before he landed in tall corn stalks.Lindy walked in the heavy fog to a farm yard where a carload offarmers had gathered to look for the downedairplane. Lindy had to show the farmers his parachute in order for the men to believe that he was the pilot.After a short search, a neighbor found the crashed plane about two miles away from where Lindy had landed.The plane had skidded along the ground for about eighty yards, gone through a fence and came to rest on theedge of a com field about a hundred yards short of a barn. The mail was on the ground intact. The Sherifffrom Ottawa arrived and we took the mail to the Ottawa Post Oflice to be trained to Chicago at 3:30am.

After an investigation into the cause of the crash, it was found that a mechanic had removed the 110gallon fuel tank for repairs and had replaced it with an 80 gallon tank failing to inform anyone of thechance. Instead of being able to return to PIA an d clear skies, Lindbergh ran out of gas while over thefog bank searching for an airstrip.Nov. 3, 1926. (Aircraft #109)

C.A.M. #2 (Contract Air MaiIRoute#2) Lindbergh departed STLat4:20pm and arrived in SPI at5: 15pm.Weather at SPI was 500 feet overcast. After a five minute stop for mail, Lindbergh headed for PIA. Twentyminutes north of SPI, Lindbergh ran out of sunlight. Light snow had started with the ceiling at 400 feet. Duein PIA at 6:00pm, Lindy was flying into an ice storm that blotted out the lights below. Visibility in Pekin(south of PIA) had dropped to a half mile. Lindy flew on towards PIA at 600 feet where visibility was lessthan a half mile with a heavy mist and fog. Twice Lindy could see the lights below at 200 feet, but was unableto land. Circling PIA for thirty minutes, Lindy headed northeast towards the Chicago area. Weather earlierthat day for a previous flight had shown the ceiling and visibility better in the Chicago area.

Having enough fuel for about 1: 10 minutes and :20 minutes of reserve, Lindbergh knew going back toSTL was impossible even if he could navigate directly. The only lights Lindy saw were on the field at PIAbut the fog was just too thick. He flew northeast for thirty minutes at 2000 feet then dropped down to 600feet. There were numerous breaks in the clouds and occasionally ground lights could be seen at 500 feet.Lindbergh passed over the lights of 4 small town and a few minutes later came upon a fairly clear area in theclouds. Climbing to 600 feet, he released his only flare, but the parachute connected to the flare caught theplane's tailskid. The flare, torn away from the parachute, plummeted to earth like a rock. For thesecond time in six weeks, Lindy was left with only one piece of emergency equipment, his parachute.Running low on gasoline (:10 minutes of fuel in the pressure tank) Lindy began climbing heading southtowards the less populated areas out in the country. Lindy decided to leave his ship rather than attempt toland blindly. Lindbergh thought if he could see the stars, he would not mind leaping into the storm. The maingas tank went dry at 7:51pm and the reserve tank dry at 14,000 feet 19 minutes later. At 8:10pm Lindyreported; I rolled the stabilizer at 14,000feet and cutthe switches. (Remembering the previousjump whenhe had neglected to tum of f the ignition.) Pulling the plane into a stall and just about to go out over the rightwing, when it suddenly dropped. Fearing that the plane might strike his parachute, Lindbergh returned to theflight controls. Afterrighting theplane, I gotover on the left side ofthe cockpit. The airspeedread 70 milesper hour with an altitude of13,000feet. (Set Night Jump Record) Lindbergh jumped yanking the rip cordimmediately after clearing the stabilizer. The parachute functioned perfectly. The last I saw orheard oftheplane was when it disappeared into the clouds as just after my chute opened. Lindbergh floated gentlydown through snow then rain before coming to earth. Unfortunately the fog was so thick Lindy was unableto see the ground in time to avoid landing on a barbed wire fence on the Robert Runge farm near Covell,Illinois. He was saved from serious injury by his heavy khaki aviation suit. Seeing lights from a small townless than a mile away, Lindbergh with his parachute underarm, walked towards Covell. Lindy entered the

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Joe Williams General Store to find four men playing cards. Anyone hear a plane crash? No onerecognized the slim aviator.B. K. (Pete) Thompson, a 22 year old farmer, offered his help. Having the only transportat ion available thatnight, Pete and Lindbergh climbed into Pete's father 's Model T Ford to search the country side. Unable tofind the crashed plane, Pete took Lindbergh to his family's farm (Charles and Lillie Thompson) just southof Covell. Lindbergh decided to spend the night at the Thompsons but then felt that getting back to Chicagoto get another plane was a better plan. He feared locating the downed plane from a country road even indaylight would be very difficult and hoped to have better luck searching from the air. Leaving his parachuteat the Thompson house, Pete and Lindbergh piled into the Model T and started for the train station inBloomington, Illinois about ten miles away. Pete drove towards town over the bumpy, mud soaked roads.He recalled of Lindy. For a man ~ h a t hadjust ditched from 13.000 feet, he sure held on for dear life towhatever he could crab onto fo r the bumpy trip to town. Lindbergh and Pete, about the same age talkedmost of the way to Bloomington. Pete remembered Lindbergh had talked about an Atlantic crossing: I t canbe done and I'm thinking of trying it. As they arrived at the train station Lindbergh asked Pete to search forthe plane and guard the mail until he could return the next morning. Lindbergh told Pete; He wouldjind a38 caliber revolver in the cockpit to protect the mail.Nov. 4, 1926:

Pete was awakened the next morning by his mother. While making breakfast, Lillie Thompson looked outher kitchen window to find the fallen airplane less than 500 feet south of the house. The plane's main gearand nose made contact with the ground at approximately the same time. The 12-cylinder Liberty motor hadtom a big hole in the ground. One side of the main landing gear had tom of f on initial impact, bounced overa hedge fence and into an old hog house some distance away. The plane flipped over after the second impactand came to rest on its back. The wings were completely destroyed. The metal frame of the fuselage and tailwas intact except for the motor frame. Had Lindbergh remained in the plane there is a remote possibility hemight have escaped injury. The tin seat had been thrown out of the wreckage and was found several feetaway. The safety straps were in place and the fuselage was practically intact behind the mail compartment.The parachute from the failed flare was found hanging on the tailskid

Pete ran out to the crashed plane to find the revolver; Lindbergh had told him about the night before. Ifound the.38 caliberrevolver, stuck it in my beltand really thought I was somebody. There were three mailbags on board. One from STL was split open and oil soaked evidently from the lubricating oil tank beingcracked open at the same time that the mail bags were thrown from their compartment. A small amount ofmail had scattered in the pasture. Lindbergh arrived around mid morning to find Pete and his neighborspicking up the stray envelopes. Lindbergh was not having a good couple of days. En route back to Covellfrom Chicago, Lindy was forced to land about 15 miles north of Bloomington due to a generator problem.After a quick fix, he continued on his way to the Covel l area to search for his crashed plane. Flying over theThompson farm, Lindy found the wreckage just yards from where he had stopped the night before. Carslined the country road (now called Stringtown) in both directions. Lindbergh landed his reserve plane in thefield next to the crashed plane. After Lindbergh had retrieved the mail, the small crowd of people that hadgathered began to literally tear the plane apart for souvenirs. Lindy and Pete put the mail into the other plane.Then Pete recalled: Lindy and I went up to the house to cat dinner. Pete's mother Lillie had prepared friedchicken dinner with all the trimmings. After a short visit and lunch, Lindy had to get the mail, now twentyfour hours late, back to Chicago. ButLindbergh's problems were not over. His replacement plane thathe hadjust flown in would not start. We spent about two hours trying to get the new plane started. Lindbergh andI kept pull ing the propeller like You did in those days, trying to start it. But it must have been too cold. The

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motor wouldn't turn over. Finally he went back to the house an d boiled about 20 gallons o f water to heatthe radiator. Then the engine kicked right over. Pete recalled. Lindbergh gave a final wave good-bye andwas on his way back to Chicago. That was the last time Pete and Lindbergh met face to face. However, Lindywould buzz over the farm from time to time and rock the wings and wave.

About a week later a maintenance crew from Robertson Aircraft arrived from St. Louis to pick up the restof the wreckage. Pete recalled in a conversation with one of the men: That Lindbergh is a good pilot buthe sure is hard on equipment. The Thompsons received a check a few days later for services rendered.

Frank Bill of the Bloomington Daily Pantagraph was on the job with a camera on November 4th, 1926,when Lindbergh's airplane was found on the Thompson farm. His pictures appeared in the Bloomingtonpaper the next day. A short time later, Lindbergh sent a letter to Mr. Bill requesting a copy of thephotographs. (See photo)History Making Dates:

In 1919 Raymond Orteig issued a challenge to the Aeronautical world by offering $25,000.00 to the firstsuccessful entrant to fly Trans-Atlantic Non-Stop between New York and Paris. Lindbergh stated: I firstconsideredthepossibility o fthe New York to Paris flight whileflying the mail one night in the fall o fJ 926.He talked to Pete of Just that on November 3. 1926.

December of 1926: Lindbergh talked to some men in STL who were interested in financing the trip andwent to New York to get information about planes, motors and details about it.

February 28. 1927: Lindbergh placed an order with Ryan Airlines of San Diego, CA for a plane with aWright Whirlwind J.5 .C. 200 horsepower radial, air cooled motor.

May 20,1927: At 7:52am, Lindbergh departed Roosevelt Field on Long Island. He arrived at La BourgetAirport Paris at !0:22pm (French time) on May 21, 1927. Lindbergh had flown 3600 miles in 33 112 hours.Aviation Trivia:By the time Lindbergh was preparing for his New York to Paris trip he had become a four-time member ofthe Caterpillar Club. Any flyer who jumps from an airplane to save his life becomes a member of this selectgroup. Parachutes are made of silk and silk comes from caterpillars, hence the name Caterpillar Club.Lindbergh 's first parachute jump was as a cadet in the Army Air Service after a mid air crash near Kelly Field(San Antonio, Texas). This marked the first time anyone had ever survived a collision of two planes in theair. The second jump occurred while spin testing a commercial plane at Lambert Field (STL). Lindberghdislocated his shoulder in that jump. The third occurred over Ottawa, Illinois because a mechanic hadremoved a fuel tank and replaced it with another smaller one, failing to inform anyone of the change.Lindbergh's fourth jump was over Covell, Illinois at 13,000 feet. No other man in the country had made somany forced jumps. As a result, Lindy almost got grounded by then head of the Commerce Department,Aeronautics Branch, William P. MacCracken, Jr...I was thinking of grounding you so yo u wouldn't betaking so many chances. MacCracken told Lindbergh. Mr. MacCracken did not ground Lindbergh onlybecause Bill Robertson went to MacCracken's office persuading him to keep Lindbergh flying. They wereso close to getting the last $2000.00 to $3000.00 to build the plane for the Atlantic crossing. I f Lindy losthis license, they would lose their funding.

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Robertson Aircraft; Shortly after the November 3, 1926, crash in Covell, Lindbergh left RobertsonAircraft to devote full attention to preparations for his transatlantic flight. Robertson Aircraft finished itsfirst year wi th a performance record of ninety-eight percent of flights completed. However the operation waslosing money, and the Robertsons eventually sold their routs to another company that later became part ofAmerican Airlines.

B.K. Pete Thompson. Son of Charles and Lillie Thompson. Pete married Sybil Cooke, had two children,one of whom was Myra, my mother, a son Von, and eight grandchildren. Pete retired after thirty-two yearswith Standard Oil as a bulk dealer. Pete died Nov. 13, 1982.

The Thompson Farm: For many years the crash sight was marked by a tower built by CharlesThompson. After years of farming around it, however, the tower was finally torn down.

Historical Marker: An Illinois Historical Marker was placed at the sight of the Covell crash. It reads asfollows:ON A REGULAR MAIL FLIGHT NOVEMBER 3.1926, CHARLES A. LINDBERGH PARACHUTEDNEAR COVELL, IL. HIS PLANE LANDED ON THE CHARLES THOMPSON FARM 500' SOUTHOF THIS MARKER.Dedicated September 25, 1977 by the Corn Belt Philatelic Society.Information sources:Mackinaw Valley News (June 1,1967, pg4) Wayne Warner, EditorBest of Flying; Article from Popular Aviation (May 1938) Written by Charles LindberghDaily Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL. (Nov. 4 & 5,1926; May 14, 1927; July 7,1927; May 19, 1929;

May 1, 1957; Sept. 1977)Time Magazine: Nov 28,1977 The Nation SectionMcLean Co. Historical Society, Bloomington, IL.Corn Belt Philatelic Society, Bloomington, IL.Time Life Books: Flying the Mail (The Epic of Flight) by D. JacksonLindbergh Alone, by Brendan Gill, 1977 Harcourt Brace JovanovichIndividuals:Sybil Gordon (Grandmother), Sharon, Sandy & Valerie Thompson, Theresa & Howard Frank,Mary, Matt, Will McDermott, Garth McDermott, Greg McDermott, Stanley Thompson,Louis & Gary Erisman, Nancy WardPRO LAMINATORS (JOHN REAMES) Sellersburg, IN 812/246-0900Copy Connection, New Albany, IN (Karen Combes) 812/944-1916Ben Franklin Crafts, New Albany, IN (Doug Landenwich) 812/944-1215

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Remains of Lindbergh's airplane at Covell.

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1929 and 1930 Pantagraph ClippingsSaved by Alice White and Mrs. Wm. Bennett

_"'V? ,"I. ItEmpt : non-stop flight to South I'

i Dakota. Herman Hamer, head ofAIRPORTII th e LaSalle-Peru Airways will a t - ,tempt th e same feat in a' cabinNOTES Travel-Air powered with a J- eWright.The Detroit Aircraft corporatlon, In preparation fo r th e flil;ht lr ".. in Monday went to Rantoul to 1one of th e major aeronautical con- have hi s parachute repacked by;

cerns 0 ( th e United States, an- army riggers.lIounces Wednesday the purchaseI ' I,of th e holdin!;s of Oliver Parks. A rt Carnahan, Bloomington avI-,former Minonk boy. in Parka Air: utor, IS manager of th e Pontiac aIr 'college, Parks Airplane Manufac-! rr,eet that IS to be held Sunday a t Ituring company anct Parl(s all .port . l lhe Pont,ac a,rport operated by Jo eO l i v e ~ Parks . with h is brother 6elotte. Mr . Carnahan expects 30IHarvey, is th e principal owner of I ships to compete in th e pro!!'ramthe properties. I tha t Jncludes balloon busting,. . I races a"d dead stick landings as ITh e 100-aere Parks airport IS said i well as other features.to be 45. minutes nearer downtown i Th e majority of the planes atSt . LouIs than Lambert-St. LouIs IB]uomington airport are expec.led 1field. The purchase price for th e I to compete in th e Pont iac ai r meet. Icolle"e. airport an d manufacturing' I'd I Iompany was sa I to exceed on eImillion dollars.Vernell "Rect" Irwin, former II Bloominl:ton FI.,inl:: club instruc- II to r an d no w chief pilot for LaSalle-,IPeru Air w 3,\'s, In c .. will compete 'Monday in the On-To-Sloux F a ] l ~ cross country race. Irwin will pi_lo t " Trn\'el- '\Ir b i p l ~ n e with Wrii 'ht .J-[) in the race. Irwin plans,t o lea"e LaSalle at d


19/102

,, ' - ~ ' v _ " . ~ , >- ,. ~ . :

,"

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1929.IISCOOP, Just as Disappointed as the Rest, Makes I\' Flying Trip to Mendota and Meets Graf ZeppelinIIJourney With

Dear Bloominglon and CenlralIllino!s,I was jus l as rllsappoinledas you were Wednesday when Ilearned that th e world circlingG r a r Zcppe II n ,..._=--:-:=--=-_.,

\ had changed il s V IAcourse and was ""'---.heading direct ' , ----y loward Ch i,eRgo fl'om Kan sa s City,inslcad 'of cominl" by' ',Jwn v of 51 .Louis.S p 'r i n b f ie ld ,B 1 0 D m in)! lon. SCOOPPontiac, Jolie:

I and Chicago, aso n ~ i nally planned.I e 3 p e c i a l l ~ ' wanled to see thisgiant of t.he air, ~ \ ' h i ~ h , although Ino t jus t lIke me, IS In a w a ~ ' , abi g bro the r of th e skies. And when

I it a p p ~ a r e d that the G r a f would; miss Bloomington, my c:,,;linde:"::;mlssed a fe w beats, and my car-lburetcr choh.cd ur, fo r I knew thrnthat my on e chance was gone. rwas scheduled to \ " i ~ l t th e tov;ns ofFl : lnagan. G r a ~ ' m o n t ;mc! Dana todr]I\'C'1' cor ir s of Th c Panlagraplland to takc severa l rcprrsen:allVC'cillZen:3 of cach town li p io!' ridu=. jThc H I I ' to tl](':;(' thrC'(' lownc: W(j.-.;chrduled to {;1l,,(' l ' ~ , - - U : C J U : : : : ' ~ a b l ~ ' , 1 th e tlnJe th e GrSCOOP Sees Big Brother In Skies Near Mendota

( IUV nf ir.;:: ) , i z ~ C ' ~ r (I l l ' i l j" \\':l.;;; f l l ' ()Yided f ( l ~ ' TilC' l\tr;\:l;::::r:1pl!'::; 3 i r p l : l l l c " 'rdnc: : ' - ( ] ; l . " w i w n if ~ Y ; l fln\ ' \ lJ h I : \ ! l ' !Hlo:: l j l. \ Pill ,t .l:llk Br'li \yilh C. "- . (Jl'l..:Il;;, 1 l ) : 1 : \ ; ~ : " : 1 ~ 1 ~ I 'd i l") : ;lllr] \ \ ' i l ] I : I I : ~ I' l ~ ; l j I J l : : ~ I : l t l ' cd( 11 ' .1 . jl:l.


20/102

I ~ ~ ~ u : l ~ : ~ ~ : , ~ ~ ~ h ~ ~ d t ~ ~ o p ; i ~ i ~ n o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : ~ . SCOOP MEETS;::0. But I helli my peace. I knewthat t i le peorle in those [OWll:: : ; Iwanted to .see th e Graf o r nothinP:" I\ V c d n c ~ : w a y . Tha t is, they probably I GRAF IN SKYI would hilYf>: b(len glad to see me .too, If they had bren able to see iI ~ h Grar. but as long as they , Pantagraph Plane Escortscouldn' t se e th e Graf . I was jus t! sure they ' .... auld th ink me a poor I 8ig Brother- -Pictures:'=2conu c!wjce. \Vell, that 's how Iit 5tood. unci by 1 :30 I ha d to make Are Taken., ~ ~ t ~ Y s : ; ; : n ? ! ~ O j U d S ~ ~ ~ \ : a ~ ~ : ; ~ e ; ~ : O t ~ ~ ~ , G t ~ a ~ < l I ~ ~ ; ~ ~ t & . ~ yold.

r,IH


21/102

ITho Grat Is 'ShoL'

Bl:t to go on . (And I'll have to tellyou something about ourselves Inorder to tell \'ou more about lhe.Grar) We fooled around th e bi gship. running along with it , and;zigzagging ourselves, so that Bill iR a I n e ~ ' could take some pictures,of it. But it seemed th a t m ~ strut! ' and \\ ' ings kept ~ c t l l n g inlhe way, so fmally Jack shot meinto a steep climb from which Icame ou t with a sigh of rei Ie:.(Ri;::ht here il mi;:ht be be, t to tell Iyou. though, tha t Jack Bell is justabaci the best pilot )::OIn;:.1 VVell..Jack was up abo\ 'e th e Graf a>:ain.,an a no w EIII could ge t some b e l l e ~ \'ie\\"::;, an d he tine! O"cul: " . s n ( ) ~ " ~ i l t ! C r o . ~ ovr.r an d O\"f:'r agaIn .R\' thl> t ime. fi\'e other liltleplane


22/102

HJgh Cost or Air Transpor t L1eeOSe8 Call J'\r ~ Exams EveryMail Stniee 6 Mootm.Plane cralkxplalned.The t ransport pllot's license is lth e hlgheet oUlclal rating given aflyer by th eUnited States

government. I tmeans that th eholder is qualified to t ake ,c h a r g e of aplan anywherin th e UnitedStates an d un lese revoked Isof permanentnature, Everysi x m 0 n th s,

Art Carnahan however, transport p 1 lot s IImust be examined by a phYSIcian'I sent out by the depar tment ofI commerce.I Art Carnahan, one of Bloomington's veteran flyers, who is now,lofficlally a t ransport pilot, ha s icharge of flying th e StInson-De- I

, ' troiter cabin monoplane and a,I Monocoupe, recently purchased by II Willis Atkinson, He hss also,: soloed a number of th e flyers st l: th e Blooming-ton airport, ,I

SEPTEMBER 10, 1929.=---------------- . : and gold silver wingsnd\ AIRPORT I e m ; : : : ~ : : t o n ai rmen brOUght!I NOT'ES their of prizesom e share from

' the Danville air meet MonJa,', Th e~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ' meet sponsored b" th e Association ITh e latest addition to Blooming-; of Commcrce, was held Saturday, ton ' , fleet of airplanes wa s lande-d and Sunday and attracted a crowd" lo f 20,000 persons,'a t Bloomln;;ton airport early Satur-I ' ' '

I, Jack Bell, piloting Hula Baby,;da y afternoon by Its owner, Rogers , romped off witll second place in!

,Humphreys. pioneer BloomingtonIhe balloon busting contest Salur- , flyer. Humphreys flew th e ship dav and took first place Sunday,clown from Aurora, where he made ISat.urday he entered a ne w air side, the purchase. Iline and made hi s second parachutp

' The new plane is a Waco 90 bi- jump to win second place in aplane, the same type as Hum' l parachute jumping contest. Sun

II phreys formerly owned. It is da y he jumped again and took firstth e third ship he has owned, place, Lewis Horn an d Eddie landing contest landed within th&In purchasing the , plane, Mr . Brooks , also o'f Bloomington. com, designated circle in th e field, The

Humphreys traded In hiS usedl peted in th e pe.rachute contesLlcontest wa s won by Carl Grau ofv.;aco. making the deal with JohnlBel l leaped from his ow n ship, Otlawa flying a Bird biplane.ILiVingston, head of the Midwest Hula Baby. Sunday. I There werc 40 planes a t th 8,Airways, dealers in th e Waco John Livingston of Aurora was I meeting including- si x pursuit plane": planes, second in th e balloon busting con-; from Selfridge field and Chanut ' tTh p Humphrp\ s plane IS of Itest Saturday and Art Chester of fIeld, an al l metal Ford passenger, ~ t n k I n ~ color desll"n, haVing a dark J ohet " a s Ill.st Saturday. FIve Oul ship ann th e Goodyear Rubber COffi re d fuselage, stl lped " I ~ h black of SIX entrants In th e dead stick pany s bhmp.

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IUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1929. !!1 P-8--'-ra-c-h-ut-e-J-um-p-Is-M-ad-e-a-t_C_el_eb_r_at_io_n I'

\i.... , ..

!'l d l 'hr'O,

This photo WIIS snapped at H[\rtsbur;: Thursd[\" [\[I0I'noon .ill"t [\[trr Eddie Bro"\;,,. r ~ r ~ l ' l l l l i e .illI11IIN.Ilnrt lalllleu nnd "'[\Iked o"er to sllake 1 l ~ I l l . l S IYlill ,Ia c\; B,'II. pill'! o[ SCOOP. [1'0111 IYII;'\' J',roll\;' 1111111""1.[ 'art or tilt> crowu l it the Hartsbllr;: field ('an ill' s( 'rn in Iltr ":1(k::lOI11lal of all, Iflyers. Bennet t is emplo\'ed in the ' 8business o[flce d 2 p a r t m ~ n l (,; Th e t

I Daily Pantac:raph. He purchased. hi s ship in Moline eral weeks e' a g ~ ~ " , .. /13D. Ie________.' 0

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L T_r_an_s_po_rt_P_i_Io_t_D_ir_e_c_ts_SC_oo_p _

This is Jack Bell, offidaJ plk>t of th e Panttlgrllph's hiplane, SC()(>p. st8Dllinl': hl'silkbis macbine j l ) ~ t before n takeoN. Bell Is a t r8ns@rt pilot, has flown ::';C()(IP n('[,rJ.'10,000 miles nn d ba s soloed a Dumber of Bloomington aviators. His spare time i, s I ~ ' D t . on books dealing Kith tbNlrHiCllI and prnctical sides of !lying. PaDla.rapb 1'''''''''

SEPTEMBER 8, 1929.,Ing made to have a fourth ship at : tend the show. Ferdinand Schad:AIRPORT Ian d Le o Jackson, owners of a I:Travel-Air biplane. plan to fly. to INOTES

IIDanville Sunday In company wlt.hI IArt Carnahan.

'Vhen A. G. Green, Kansas City, Three Bloomington airplanesfound 11 necessary to basten to ISaturday entered competition held

. Bloomington from Davenport. iin conjunction with the dedicationIowa, be discarded customary iof the DanvIlle aIrport. Jack Bell.means of transportation an d used I lying Hula Baby, Louis Horn atan airplane. Leaving Davenport In the controls of hi s Curtls8. Robi.nan airplane at 11:30 a. m. Satur- an d Franklln Kemp, pllotmg hIS'day, he arrived In Bloomington two Waco biplane, were th e local meh'hours later. Green made the trip 'tat th e meet. Bert Streeper an din an American Eagle piloted by a Eddie Brook. made the trip toDavenport Airways pilot. Green's Danville with Bell and Kemp'lservices were needed here by \BrOOkS Is scheduled to make aBloomington merchants p reparing parachute jump Sunday. Ifor the linnual fall style Ehow. He \is an expert on the renovation ofIwax figures used In wIndow diS-plays. jI C. A. Wright, Curtiss represen-\tallve in this territory, stopped atiBloomington airport Saturday. He:wa s flying a Curt;.;s Robin an d"was enroute (0 Chicago. VI'hile InIBloomington he conferred with (I Charle:; Zweng. president of Bloom' ington Flying club. II With three Bloomington shipsIparticipating Saturday In th e Ievents Incidental to th e dedication,10f Danville airport, plans were be-:

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25/102

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AIRPORTNOTES

Walter WlIIiams took of ! in hi sStinson monoplane shortly beforenoon Saturday for Kenosha, Wis.on a business trip. Mr. Williamswa s accompanied by Mrs. Williamsan d Art Carnahan , pilot. They willbe gone over th e weekend.

Davis Merwin. flying- Th e DailyPantagraph 's airplane, Scoop, flewto Manito. Ill. Saturday on a business mission.

Monday Jack Bell, Archie Baldridge and Elmo Lain will leave byautomobile for Troy, Ohio to flyback to Bloomington in Baldridge'sWaco biplane, The ship was sentto Troy, the town in which th e'Waco plane is manufactured, fo rrepairs. The plane was damagedwhile making a landing a t Bloomington airport. Bell is to be at th econtrols on th e flig-ht to BlOOming-Ito n from Troy.----- .- -

:1 AIRPORTi NOTES1'-- 1:

Da\'is :'>lerwin anel Jack Bell re t u rneu \?i," pdorsd 8 ~ morn i n!Z [ rom,Tn>, ' Ohl'), to \ \ ' ' ' l 0 rp lhp\" had

\ f I O \ ~ ' I ~ in ~ r ( ) n p TIlr ' . : ; ;d8\ ' n1ornlo, ' . ; S rOOE h ( ' n ( ~ \ \ i n r l . : : ; sn drI8\'C'c! t heitr r tU ln IrJP t hn t In r \ " l.'1nrirrt at

i L < 1 F 8 ~ r l ' ( ' . Jnfi and rClnalncd av-'el'UlbllL Tueoday.

20

11


26/102

Wright rVhirlwilld Motor Powers New Pantagraph Plane

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Plinln h\" C'ni!f"l.1.T " ' ~ IS ,\ "HTIHf. OF Tilt-: " , \ \TH;R\J ' I I 'S .... J-;\r PL.\ ... f':. scoop, T,\JiEN :\T TlLOmll:'\(;TO.... ,\IRPOHT LAST\\ '('I 'k wlli lr ' il \\;1-':' l , ( > i l l ~ i l l ":pt ' I ' I I 'd 1 1 ~ ' I ) ; ! \ ' i ~ .\1 I " l ' \ \ ' i 11, r i ~ l l t , J \ r ( ' ~ i l l ( " H a1111 . ~ P I I ( ' r l l l 1111111:I,:.:rr ll f Tl\ l\ ]),lily Ilnllt,1f:T:1ph, :1111[ ,!:If'}.\.1:1'11. kf l , Illt ' ld:IIII",,,,; cdfi" I:11 pi l l l l . Tl l i ' II"'" ,'Ilil' i_ 1'''\\1''''''' I,Y :1 ,1,7 ,1"';,,1,1 II'l,il'1l1'ilill l I l l l l",r c[\p:illie Il f ; t11r('(> ]>1'1','"11'. the biplane Is equIpped to 1Jaudle(":1111"1":1 (>11'11\111'('\11 ";II ' / ' j"l l r I l l :111 rrl\\-.: f l i : : J -:.


27/102

PASADENA STAR-NEWSPASADeNA, CALIFORNIA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3D, 1930

Newspaperman Battles Fog in Speedy Flight HereFroln Bloomington, Illinois on Visit to Parents

, ,.';'. ,~

, ".,,{.. . . ,tvtv

The Aviators Are Shown to the Left of the Plane, Jack Bell to the Extreme Left, and Davis Merwin,Publisher-Aviator, to the Right.SCOOP II AN D ITS FU-OTS


28/102

Flying Publisher Makes FastTrip From Bloomington; NouJVisiting Parents in PasadenaDar.,is !'v1eruJin With Pilot Jack Bell Covers Roule InLess Than Sevenleen Hours; Says Plane

Helps N euJspaper in Ils BusinessFIII"(l l l l1tcring r ~ { j r f ly i l lg weather,

"'itl, ll'e r"ecl'lillil of lo w hang;llgf o ill Illillois rlallt Ilews an d p i e t t l r ~ s attimes where ,peed is a factor ofgeller;" eOllditiolls prcvellt the liseof i,u,,II r. 1\1 er"'111 l ..ok IllS I">t f1YIl1l-:;n"trllction on October 6, 1928, an d,oloed 011 ! 'Io\ 'cmber II of thatyear. 11 e 1l0W ha s aprroximatel ; '216 hour , ill Ih e air. He expectsto


29/102

~ C O O P FLIESTHROUGH PASS1rails T. A. T. Plane OverDangerous Region-Save !

Day's Time in Flight. iIrailing a 14 pasaenger trl-'motored plane through th e samemountain pass t r om ' wbicn aT. A. T.bl p Jost I t . wa y In astorm a' fe w months ag o aoecrashed Into ML Taylor. Davia'Merwin an d Jack Bell. tlylng inScoop, were able to Rave a day'stime an d give tbemselYes th e blggest tbrill of a !l ight trom Bloomington to CalIfornia.Flying- at an altitude of 8.:100rfeet, the Bloomington avlatorBlwerc able to look dowD at the snowcovered sides ot Mt. Taylor andoccasionally in a clearlog could eeedeer runninS" about or grazIng.IAhead tb e trl-motored plane JedIthe way tbrougb th e pass until tbeltw o ships reached th e port at Albul ' luer' lue. which i. 5.300 feet above

j se a level. Radio on the passengertplane prepared field attaches torth e coming- of th e visitor.Tells Story ot F1lgh,.

Here is Bell's ow n story ot theIt r i p :"The first day's short flight ofI three hours to Kansas CHy wa sIuneventfuL One incident at tractedlour attention atter arr ival when a,"Cabin monoplane was reported tohave crashed a. mtle away. ThlsIc a u : e ~ little concern among pilotsas It IS no w an accepted fact thatapproved an d licensed planes ar e. not faulty and tha t the crash Was!; th e result ot human element. This, w a )atpr proven to be true."The second da y we left K a n ~ a s ! City about 10 a. n\ , and landed a t 'Ithe Swallow airplane factory at I; Wichita. Kan. . an hour and 25

I minutes later. \Ve visited th e fac' torY for about 45 minutes and thenihopped of f [r'o}' Amarillo, Texas.After landing at Amarillo twohours later we carefully examinedIweather reports due to increasingcloudiness, \Ve round real c


30/102

uauns LO W 1 IYUll ;lMitor pantap-aph' I wa.s ll i

~ i n l e r at tending ilie homecoming~ ~ l c b r a l l o n . an d Wll.8 . u p p o ~ to b partial ly entertained by ?SCOOP;the P&ntagraph plane. bu t In stead ot being e n t e r ~ n e d I "'lUIquite trlghtenetl. aIM very muchsurprised to se e th e "SCOOP"

soaring down to wIthin 2:1 or 30teet ot th e ball park where therewere 300 OT 400 people cQngregated.Also almost touching th e tree topswhile flying over the local parkendangering th e Ilves a t hundred.of men, women an d children .whowere gathered a t th e park to r th ecelebration.

I f the pilot of th e "SCOOP" Is alicensed pilot, be mOBt cert.ainlyshould have it revoked, and I f heI. Do t a l icensed pilot 1 certainlydo no t think mucb ot The Pantagraph fo r emploj lng him. Y o u nvery truly, .B. B. BUEHRIG.2024 Berwyn Ave,.Chicago. TIl.

Edi tor 's N o l e : - T " e p i lo l o fTh e Po.ntagrap"'s p l a n ~ . SCOOP, is a licen.sed pi lot, hav-in g al ready secured t" e ej rades or th e government li -cense and is now ready to taketests fo r th e f inu l and /o..storade 0/ cert i f icate or com-petency. H e is known a .! acorefu l f lyer, and his record tudate is clear 0/ any acc\dm\t.0 / coUr8e, T h e Pantagraph,would no t employ any at he,.

\. kind 0/ pi lot,

-----.----Jack Bell ReturnsI! Jack Bell, Bloomin",ton. aviator,wh o flew with Davis MerwlD, presIdent of T he D a i l ~ ' Pantag-raph, to\ Pasadena, Calif.. re turned . toI BloomingLon Wednesday. He .madeth e tn p from Glendale, Cahr... to

Clovis, N. M. by T. A. T. plane and1; from t h ~ r e La BloominglOn. by, t ra in . T he T. A. T. plane was lTeld; up a t Clovis by fog.- - - - - . - - - - -

Merwm and tiell Keaetenl instruction of An Caroahan ~ o t l J ac-k Bell.A "'.,"1) Biplone--"onoprpp 1>loDoplane>-TI"ncl) Ta!'


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34/102

I

'Hundrecls of Minier HomecomersGreet SCOOP, Pantagraph Plane; - -------------

Visiting Airmen find Gala iiCrowd 00 Hand for Celebra-,tion--New Schedule Released'

iHundreds of homecomers al.!' t ending th e annual Legion frolic!I t M" S 'a Inler' aturday aflernoC'n de- iI serted a racing progt 'am and ba3e- 'I ball g a m ~ to . hurry to :} nenr " " - V - - ' : : I ~ A - = ~ - ' Iby lIeid WhenSCOOP, 'i ' h P.P II. n t a 15raph'splane, zuomeddown from th eskies, p a IV I' rdived over thefield under th eskillful han-J ufPilo t Jack Bell

I and landed soon'af lerwarJ 5.: Th e ship ar i r:ved more than

,.............'- .....

IISerl m withHula B a b ~ ' to sa y hello to th ",crowd nn d LeWIS Horn, HI,,, M

I Elooming-ton port, pas.",'!! ()'. 0 InIhi s cabin plane, The c ~ i e b r a t i u r ; ' telosI'd Saturda\ ' oig-ht,P!lot Bcll ":ns accomoanirn (')'Minier ' h\ ' \\', F. Raincy. 's tale "cli.to r or Th e P a n t ~ J : : r a p h , This wcel, SCo"op 11M; t h r e ~

i more trips -on it s schedu!'? Tue.sIda y afternoon It "' ill visil L i ~ C O l l l . , landmg' at .h e air'port nonh of tnatI town, ' ..... cnnesday the sroir will g-o;to Lexmgton. WCston And GridJ:,an d Thut-sday i: will visit '>hcki. ' na w lind Deer Creek..----

i Jack be" ~ e t s II J ~ ~ a ~ ~ p . ~ ~ o ! ~ ~ T ~ a ~ ~ I ~

Pantagraph plane. Scoop, Satur-Iday received a message that hehn d passed tests fo r air t.ransportpllot license. th e highest Issued byth e g-overnment. M r. Bell took th e tests Nov. 23, an d js rcported tohave passed wllh an exceptionallyhigh ~ t a . n d i o g .

In 1927 Mr . Bel! began hi s flying-lessons. He took hi s solo flight

II MRrch 11, 1928. His limited com'jmercial pilot's license was a.cquired Iin June, this year. SincE' June I, heI ha s been a pilot for The panta ' i graph.Tests for t ranspor t license In clude both written an d flight tests,IThe 'wTitten test Includes naviga

I tion. meterolog-y, airpla.ne strucI ture. air traffic t ' u l p . ~ an d reguta tions an d licensing- of aircraft,spur t of building activities is 'IAlooked fo r with th e first sr>ell of I: warm weather thou!;h buiJdinj': is! no t e:.:peeted to be heavy untilIspring. _

--Ih 1 ( / ) 0"-' /"1 / ~ r - / j) / -.: '-'AGRAPH, BLOOT\lINGlFlyer Takes \Voman

to Mother's BedsideA B ) o o ~ I n Q ' ( I : n fl\'pr a:lel pla"r

[ ron1 lhl? BI(lool:ni:ton t=llrp()!'! aided Sundrl.\ ' in c a l ' r ~ ' j n : : ,q IJecatu: iWOOlrln nnrl hC'r hu::-band !( ) tn ....bedside of h",' moth, 'r , \\'ho was se'riously ill i" C c n 3 ~ Rapids.Jack Bell. Bloominl(lOn r>il":, rC'turned to Bloomington :\lond l ~ ( ) - n l i : c her In ar . hn,l; ' and:2(' nllnUIC', ': ; .Th p pi lot CnC() l ln l f ' : 'C 'n ,!=!('(>: i=\nrlfo:: ()n lh p rCl\trn lrlr _ \ l ( ) n d M ~ ' .

/1 /13 {/" /29

I


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f f N ~ ~ ~ ~ ' ~ ' ~ ~ ~ ~H. C. ADELMANOPTOMETRIST

HELMETS AND GOGGLESPHONE 200 220 N. CENTER

GREEN GOBLINSWEET SHOP

PHONE 5983 114 NORTH NORMAL

ED. RAYCRAFTCADILLAC-LASALLE DEALERPHONE 2489-X 216 E. FRONT

ULBRICH & KRAFTCLOTHIERS

PHONE 2607-L 114 N. CENTERw .................................................................. _ .o Belts Better Tire Service Inc.PHONE 222

302 EAST WASHINGTON ST . 11 11 1111 11 TEDS LUNCH ROOM

N. w. Corner ofMain and Virgina

".'" 11, 11 1 " . ' 1 1 , 1

SMITH PRINTING COMPANYJOB PRINTING

Order Your Christmas Cards NowNo Job To LargeNo Job To Small

Phone 5776-L

I AIR CIRCUS I BLOOMINGTON AIR PORT

' : SUNDAY, JULY 20, 1930 ~ ; ; STATE FARM

Ci MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE I

INSURANCE COMPANY STATE FARM INSURANCE BLDG. ..... ~ ~ .. ; ~ ~ . ~ . _ ~ ~ ; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .. ~ .. ~ ~ ..."

~ I Passenger 0, 5 Ov", Town $2.00 Over L.ke $3.00 Flight R.di . l Over Town $2.50 Over Lake $3.50

411 S. Main St. Normal, III. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~


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M o n o p ~ a n e -Is Addedto List ,of Ships .at::J..1..k-- 1'1 . , ,0Bloommgton Airport

\YiJIJRm B cnnel l . 1 ~ 0 3 Eas t Jack~ o ::-.trppt, f lew to Blooming-LOnI ~ ; - l t u r < i f \ \ ' ai lernoon from Moline InI hi s n f ' ~ v );1onorJ'ep monoplt lnf ' ,Wrllf'h hp purchased from. th e Mono; , i l (Taf t c-orpnl 'al ion.I Thi' ~ W ( ) I'lac p nnf 'O ("OC'!{p:1 :'=hiri: (ll:::':! l ~ ( ) n : rol l l ' l i .::Inri is rnwr rp( tI h\ (l J:t \OlO \"pllC' . \ 1 - ~ ) motor Which

,ncvelnps. nO h O I " ~ ( ' p o w f ' r . Th p planehu s a lO p speed of 90 mIles anhour .I BenneLt an d Ar t Carnahan wpretaken to Moline by Walter Will iams in his Stins()n-Detroiter. Th ene\\ ' plane. which is th e smal lest att he B looming ton airpor t , will beIf:;l::;ed par t time to th e CarnahanBell Aviat ion :3chool fo r s tuden t

I j n . " : ~ . r u l ~ i o " , n " , , _

It is rer/orced that William Bennet11,1,'; purchc,\-'f'd an aeropiane. "Bi!!.""\1>1 "v w h


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3,000 SEE GIRL IN FA TAL'CHUTE LEAP FROM PLANE

Dies In 2,SOO-Foot PlungePILOT UNABLE !II ! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TO HELP VICTIMII FJoren('e Palmer DavIs. 19.Ship Put Into steep Dive.: o1 :\"ormal. hall. lonJ: bee n an But Fails to Overtake aViation enthu. Slast an d ha dFailing Woman. been a. passenge r in numerous planes. ShePlunging 2 . ~ O O reet with her par- desIred to make. a pa rachu t p . :achute torn an d llse1es...c;., Mrs. F1or- Jump and tried

ence Palmer Davis, a 19 year ol d j it Sunday. Asmother. 01 Normal. was latally in_13.000 p e r 5 n sJured at Bloomington airport early: I:;olked 0, n at0' 00 m eglonSunday evening in he r first attempt: a I r J1 0 r t:. theat an aviation "stunt." Th e young. girl 's ' c h u t ewoman, Jong an avio.tion ent1lusiast .caught on aan d credited with roany hours as Ihandle 01 the.a n ..irplane p",,_enger. leaped with I plane an d wasan exhibition chute trom a cabin torn. Her body_hip. , ': Ihurtled 2, ~ 0Three tbousand persons ~ e r e ~ e e t earthwardgathered at th e .urport t6 witness I m a fatal plunge.th e event. an d murmurs of cheerIMrs. DaVIS Isbecame screams as th e y o un g w o m- s ho w n here withan's body hurtled earthward. Mrs. he r daughter. Davis' f!>ther, Edward Palmer, 1009North Walnut street. Normal; he r .alster. Mary, and brother. Edward IJ r .. were In the crowd which wit- ---, _Degged th e tragedy .

. Jump Once Postponed. nahan . told th e ai r stcry of theThe accident. th e firsl fatality at t ragedy. !th e local aJrport. happened as al "W e ""ere up around 2,500 feel i result of th e shrouds 01 th e para- Eddie (Brooks) got ctDwn on the.chute snagging a handle on th e tall I Ooor of the plnne nnd held tbe sael' .of th e plane. the p arachute being ' contamlng th e parachut . . FJorripped lrom the bottom to the top. ence stood lacinl' us In th e door-f lyers said. I wa y of th e cabin an d when givenTh e girl's body struck th e ground i th e signal went Ot't backwards . As half a mile northeast of t he ' ~ u l c k J y as we couln circle we sawhaogars. ~ o m e t h l n ~ was wron$;' an d dived.;Th e stunt which cost her life had I but she lell so last that th e plnne

Jong been looked lorward to by I couldnt catch her' th e young woman. accordIng to pl-: Cnrnllh:ln T I H ' r ~ l"ir"'t.lots at the airpor t . H er jump w a . : ' \ ~ According- to pIlOlS at th e fiplJ.p O ~ H p o n e d a week ac o because of:, . ,poor f lying weather, c61d at th e field ~ ~ paracnute, known a,s an eXhlbl-!Sunday afternoon sh't w in high I . J O ~ t,\:pe a ~ f ? l d ~ d Intu .:l. sackspir its and anXiOUS to make he r WhICh IS ordInanly fastened to thefirst leap, pllots said. . I~ O l t o : 01 th e plane. snagged on a: A rt Carnah::u:. vlc:-:\n pi lot here,. I f l ln . " handle at the tall of thewa s handling th e plane from whl rh I r an e an d wa s tOrn, Shrecs f romMrs. Dav1s jumped. Accompanying the parachute were fou:1d on thethem wa s Eddlp. Brooks. pilot and, handle.veleran p a r ~ r . . h u t ~ Jumper, ,,.,,no as-I According to Carnanan. who : = p ~ j ~ l s t e d t l ~ c ,t;"irl in p r r r " l r J n ~ fo r lh e to ~ a r T I 1 . lancietl an d wa s th e ~ I r : : a It"ap. Tw o othP.L pl.:.inl"s wC're In to re;.\ch her. the c;:r) plu!'1!:c= f e ~ t the ai r fi t the t i lne of the lrace(h. 1t lownw;\1 ci from ~ h :Hsr:. T ~

Dool' Off fo r ,Jump. . - I boar droppe? into an on t fi ~ ::tnri i lp' : ~ t , , } : Circling- ah('\,'" thp ( l r l o ! rhf" ""\n't hpJlpI:prl:( ' )~ c e n d e d to an alliluup of 2.,')i10 run"d.tf lel brtorp thf", ynunc. wnman O 1 ~ l d . : Mrs. Da\' is wa s.o"...ar...tJen. WI' , . L ~ ! j l l m " . . . Car-, prior to th": !light

33

I ~ : ' l \ ' p ~ l " ' ' ' l ~ . ~ ' I f '


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jump. Ihe ' , ! lccompanled' CarnahaiJan d George ' Got!, alrport manal(er.to Lincoln to obtain t h e ~ ' p a r a c h u te,Cllfford Holt. Bloomington. "whoowned the 'parachute, had used it earlier In tb e a!ternooo for a Successful jump ,at the Logan countyclly,

Mrs. Davis' was born In Normal. Oct. 12, 1910. Sh e W8.6 educatedin th e Normal grade an d hlghschools. 'i,During he r senior year at th e Intter institution sh e was m a ~ ' ried tp John Davis, who residesin North Carolina.

Sh e il l survived by her paren .9,a tw o year ol d daughter ; twa sisters, Mary Ilt home. an d Mrs. 'BenHarr is of North Carolina, and abrother,: Edward Jr., at home, Sh11, ..Iwa., a member at St . Matthew';; IprevaU' o"on, her 'to foregoEpiscopal' church. ,tempt. !..be at

'The funerai tor Mrs, Dnvls,will ber' Arthur Carnahan, 404 East Ernerheld at 2 p. m. 'Tue.sday at th e home, -son street, pHot at th e ship, next1009 North ,Walnut street. Normal. testified, saying that ' the sltlp wasjn charge at !..be Rev. Raymond &1 at . a 2,oO-foot alti tude when th eBrock, rector of St . Matthew's Epis- leap wa s made. H e also told at th ecopnl church. The body will be futile dive he made with th e shiptaken to Leroy fo r burial In !..be, in an efTort to catch th e hurtl ingOak Grove cemetery, Iform and relnted tbat th e para'Accidental D ~ a t h . ' cbute wa s In tlrst class ' condllionwhen taken aloft.Accidental death caused by fall-I' B k T tUilng wnen th e parachute to whihc roo 5 es s.she was fastened caught and tore Edward M. Brooks. 720 Weston the airplane from which she I Monroe street. another p. iot , . wh ojumped was the verdict of a cal'-' said be a:cted as Mrs. DaVIS tn -oner's jury which invesLig-ated Mrs.1 structor. told of glvmg her th e, , Iword to leap after Carnaban ba dDav.s death Monday afternoon. throttled down the' motor of !..be

Coroner Lloyd Shoemaker COD-! plane. He was lying on th e floorducted the Inquest In th e COW1tYlloOking out of the open door andcourt room o f tb e cour thouse. . saw tbe parachute catch on th eTh e f ,rs t w,tness was th e t.rI 's handhold of th e tail of th e monofather. Edward S. Palmer, 1009 plane, LIke Carnahan. he said. th eNorth Walnut street, a housefathcr, tUI': of th e fabric as it ripped On th eat th e Illinois Soldiers' Orphans ' handle coule! be felt. Brooks alsohome. He told of at tempting to said he ha d attempted all winterdiscourag-e hi s daughter from mak- ' to discourage Mrs. Davis tram makinc; th e Jump, but. he said. she wasdetermined an d he was unable to ing- the leap.C. 'IN. Kendall, 1 1 2 ~ North Cottonavenue. 3aid he r ~ " s e d Lhe hal fo rvolunlary conuibul ions ( rQ ln lh especlulors to be ~ l \ ' e n :Mrs. Davl:-;.

Thirtf'f"n dollars were obtained inlh ig wa y anc! he said tha t ~ rg,Davis called out, "That 's my ne wdress," as she cl imbed In lO th e planean d he \Va \led currency at hr-f.Kendall Sfild he knew :Y1rs. Daviso n l ~ ' :l.bout s ix m o n ~ l \ ! : i . b u lh t \ l :-::hphad f rNJuf 'nt ly an d p.nthusia:,q lcalJvmrnLinocc hC'l" JC::IIC to make r::1r;'l('hutE.' j umr

34


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~ J . j J9JCJ-,-----GLIDER MAKES

FIRST TRIPSMotorists Watch MotorlessCraft Sent Aloft in Twi-light Flights.

Four tWill,tht /lights were m ~ d e late Tue8day in th e BloomingtonGIlder clUb's ne w prImary gllMrwhich w e . ~ a ~ s e f T \ b l e d that afternoon at the BJoomJngton aIrport.Art Carnahan, Bloomington s.vlator,Who purchased t he machine for theclub which is to comprise 20 members, made the first tw o nights. theI('lider being sent alMt with a steeltowing cable attached to an Ilutemobile.A larlte crowd of molorlsts~ I l . t c h e d 'the flights from the roadat the north en d of th e airport~ h e r e the g l i < i ~ . r w a etarted be-cause of a south wInd which readIly tUKp:el1 It ll.!l bljlh M 400 feetbefOre th e airmen trIpped loose l h cable.Other 61ghts were made by ElmoLane and Herman Mecherle, alsol11embers of the club, An organl.zaUon meetln>r Ig to be held 800nfo r th e election of officers, Carnllha n aald.

The glider w e i l : h ~ approximately1sr> p o u n d ~ an d Its gllvered wingmeasures a6 feet. The fuselage 13a 1hrilliant orange as Is the rIder'slIeat, th e stiCk an d rudder-har.While gliders are not licensed byth p department of commerce. identlflcat.lon numbers are registereow ll h tb e d e p a r t m ~ n t by th e manufacturers and the number of 'thelocal craft lfi 8S';'\,. Th e machinewa s manufllC,t.urcu hy the 'Nacoeomp:my of Troy, Ohio, m a k e r ~ ofTh e Pan'agraph plane, Scoop, DroLlcost ~ J R 5 , Othcr memuers nf the club eontrih),tin" to th e purchase ,, ( .,hecrall al'e. Davis Merwin. ArchE l l i d r i d ~ e , Bill Bennett. Willis Barris, Geor>ie GotT, Jack Bell. Herman"; i l l , ' , Dr . Watsnn W. Gailev, JeoscG, Lani"'don, Flovci Cn,i>:, Clav Dooley, Leslie HalT; ' ; , \Vnlter J o h n ~ n n , Waller Krsf:. A. H, Belt. nolter ,Humphreys. Walter Willinms. Ra yCarn:lhan flnu F'"luin3nu Schuu.

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AIR CIRCUSSUNDAY, JUNE 22 / q30Bloomington Air PortStunting---Airplane Races

Glider Flights---Parachute JumpsPROGRAM STARTS PROMPTLY AT 1:30 P. M. SHARP

Every Event Will Take Place Promptly as AdvertisedPassenger Ox5 Over Town . . . $2.00; Over Lake $3.00Flights Radial Over Town. $2.50; Over Lake $3.50

PROGRAM1:30 P. M.- -Stunting Exhibition by Art Carnahan2:30 P. M.-Glider Flying-Thrills for Everyone3:30 P. M.-15 Mile Race;H umphreys-Baldridge-Carnahan - Bel l - Wood4:30 P. M.-Stunting Exhibition by Jack Bell5:30 P. M.- Delayed Parachute Jump by Eddie Brooks6:30 P. M.-Parachute Jump by Cliff Holt

This Air Circus Will Be Sponsored ByLocal Pilots and Bloomington Airport

In Case of Rain Circus Will Be Held, June 29Admission 1Dc Free ParkingLunch Room On Field

On Route 2-Five Miles North of Bloomington

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I I afkBloomIngton WA.S repre!lented .}

I DeKalb county a ir meet Frida)l turday and Su n d ay , local pi lottend ing inc lud ing Fra nk l i n KernI,mmie V;oods, Archie Bl1ldridg(lCk Dell an d \Vi l l iam Bennet t .Bell w on tb e Iltunting- con tes t I l .nl4' tree-for-all race in BR.ldridge'pi 'r-wing \Vaco. while Kem p W O J., l ight . p l a D ~ race with a V'v,Il.co.OeKalb county opened liE big ne"rpor t at . ih e meet . EQuipment inw e a .Ii. bIg modern hangar , be an Hght3, f lood light:!! llJ1d boundy lIghtl; . 'a s w",ll 8.J! 'rel! t roomcd ot he r facil i t ies to r pat rons .MOrf' t h an 30 plane'!! t


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r rl l lnl-: lLr. Jt \ ( k:,t r"' ' '1l.nllIl0 l ) r !>

:- ItHJf .' Blnom..,..-If' " ~ f ' -0 nn J:Jn-:1," _ .. - ~ t h? ' -r .

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"

Cra:h Yictim.

JACK BELL, CLIFF HOLTKILLED IN PLANE CRASH

FAIL TO comEOUT OF DIVE

Deaths of Pantagraph Pilotand Student PassengerEnd Mattoon Air Meet.

J'II'l.. n,'!'. 1'1111,1 r ' :;;,()(\P. Tn (T).ltl P"nl i : ' n , , : ' . , HI t11;il l l . :"", .l'l',:l, ! " " , " ~ f " n ; ' : " l . ( ~ J l l r ' l r j l! I) ' :, ~ ~ Io r r ' pl ln( of r-l I n W" I " /(11/ "l ' '4 ' ;anth s' . \ l \ lTf i l l \ ~ I t ' , . . n,I"Tl \...,.,.

< ~ h " ; ; - t"' i j l $"1 : : lpt" l ' \ )1\: ': ".nll ,\ r . ' :h,. =t" l l i l t l I ~ . n . ~ t h,111


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, . ,n:LY 21.HUNDREDS SEE, AIR PROGRAmEtilltf! B r o o ~ s Bruised WIlcn

Plo! M )(01' Stalls i l l! Ship Falls.A, ' : 1""''' ,, ! ,""'I 'ri l l Ilun-h"" i ' r '

H''' ' hl" ... O \." lll('l:."'r;\m of ~ ' X ~ H t t l ~ . J. '1 fI ' l :::;. "-:0, 1 h ; ~ U : 1 ""'; AlII! ("1""'< r. , . , \ ... 1 ".-, 'nr. ~ : u n d . u . ,,-t t h flt,,,:;;Ill:" ' , I ' l l 1\1 ~ l P J ,Lt- ( . q ! ~ .. (' l " ~ " ' I I { ' , : 1' /"0: n.t :n-'",j l l l ' ' ' ' ' ' ' l)" " n ; " ' ~ ' d ~ v 1 P . t ~ . ' hll'I' Jun" ~ ErI ' , l , l t t ( { : .. 'E'\l\ jl"~ , H ' X - : . :'1" \ ~ ( . ~ ! . ~ . l u n ' { I "

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---------------------------------------------------------------------

C n r n 2 h ~ n - - 8 e l l 3 c ~ a o l of ~ v i n t i o n

I , -------------------------------------------------, r e s i d i n gat - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , do h e r e b ~ ~ p p 1 7 fo r en ro l lmen t inthe- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - course of G a r n a h ? n - - ~ e l : ,2et:.ool of ,.c,vi3 t i o n , '1 t Bl:-orcington, Ill. Gnd I agree to pay t h e r e f o rthe su,'"lJ of - - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- -Do l lars ( '3- - - - - - - - -) as follo':"ls:- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - D o l l a r s ( ~ - - - - - - - ) a t the t ime of ex ecu t io n oft h i s app l i c3 t ion and - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - D o l l a r s ( ~ - - - - - - - - - - )

I agree to ab ide by ~ l the r u l e s and regu la t ions of theC a r n ~ h a n - - B e l l School o f ~ v i a t i o n n o o r h e r e ~ f t e r in fo rce .

I hereby re l ea se the C a r n ~ h a n - - B e l l School ,o f ~ v i a t i o n itsand t h e i r successors and ass i g n s from a l l s u i t s , e l a i ~ s o r d e ~ a n d s of eve ry k ind and c h a ra c t e r \'-hich I , o r my h e i r s , ex ecu t o r s , admini s t r a t o r s o r as s ig n s can , s h a l l o r may have , 8 r i s i n g o u of an d / o rby reason of and /or in connect ion ;v i th the course of ins t ru ,c t ionh e re i n ap p l i ed fo r .

It i s unders tood t ~ a t the i n s t ru c t i o n ~ n be t e r ~ i n a t ~ d ~ any t ime by e i t h e r p a r t ~ . in whieh even t . the obl iga t ion o f th e Carn ah an - -Be l l School o f Avia t ion s h a l l be l i m i t e d to a r e ~ j n d o f th eunearned por t ion of the t u i t i o n paid , in accordance ~ i t h t he scheduleon f i l e in the School ' s o f f i c e .

The acceptance of t h i s ap p l i ca t i o n b Carnphan- -Be l l Schoolo f Avia t ion , causes t h i s to become the e n t i r e a ; r e e ~ e n t b e t ~ e e n thep a r t i es and n e i the! ' pa r tv s h a l l be bound o r " f fee ted b:- any s t a t e ~ e n t s or r e p r e s e n t a t i G n ~ not o ~ t a i ~ e d ~ 8 ~ e i n .

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Date - - - - - - - - - - . - -_ . - - N ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - C + . ~ r ; ~ tNo.------------~ l t y ----------------------s tc i l . t ; --------------------Phone - - - - - - - - - - - D ~ t ~ of B i ~ t h - - - - - - - - Q - - - - - ~ i t ~ r - - - - - - - - - - - - - C + Q + . ~ ------------Age----Nea.rlat Relative

No. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ i t y - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ t ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - y ~ ~ r s af ~ r Q d e S ~ r . c ~ l - - - - - - - - - - - - - y . ~ r ~ of S i ~ r . S ~ h o ~ l

- - - - - - - - - - - ~ y e a . r s of Aeronautiaal'T'ralninsS i n g l ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - J ~ a r r 1 p . d - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - P = ~ 3 ~ n t Q ~ ~ ~ r ~ ~ ~ ~ -------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - C ~ 7 I . L ' " 1 U Scho01 .$ 50.00- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - r ~ i V u t d ~ i ~ o t ' e .$ 365.00- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ o ~ 3 r o l ~ 1 Pi lot ' s C ~ ~ r s ~ .$ 965.00

.S ala5 .00r- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ 0 u r ~ d - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 . . . . .

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OCTOBEr- THRce10 NDA ~ _ = = - - = ~ - = = = - - ~ Loon Numerous, but D'lc!-:s: 3 ~ O O O ATTEND and Geese Shun New Lake

: \ " \ l m ~ ' l " O L i ' ' ' : ; ! l ) n n ~ Wf ' rp p l " ( ' ~ e l l tFLYING SHOW 0:1 La),l' ,EiL:1lT1JI1.;ton SIIJHiay.b"Jt 1'"'.0 Juel,s no r g c ~ s P . ap p t ' u n ~ J . nCl 'Oi-dlnc: ' to a fe\\.' mot(lI" l.JO;,lt ( n t h t ~ ~ i . : ' ! S l : i who u t i J l i : ~ dRefueling Trial Fails--Stu ' i ~ l ~ l.::i..:p .:::'u/l':n\" ~ \ l o ~ r hf'i:)'. .ri),I\'" hl', 'n :::i:.;r;1 1)(( :h(' ltd\('"dent Does His / ' () n {hI ' :;H..1;"(, :\ ,;1.0:,::';1 , ...... ~ \ : 1 l : l " ;"l1l0. : I t : ~ J . i - \ r : l , t . ' i ~ : = \ , 'pr ~ l d d . d\il'-lng- th e d a ~ ; an d nl;;hl.First Solo.

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It.., r~ ~ ! : : . - ~ - -O b ~ l O H S 1 : r 1 no 111l11I2r ( ' nl l l r e r o : ' ~ ~ o tV'' 1 ' 1 r 1 . ; p n ' ~ ~ : Pl ' l l i I O : J ~ p.\:::\mnl:,,:.' r . r ~ ~ ;""'nr. r l ' ~ : ; l r u - : , t i o n i:1ciudin:"n1a"l ]) l r; : ; ('If th e ( , : , ; , p ( ' l : 1 ~ i " C ' i n ~ T m('n l h'1('lrd n( n C u r : i ~ ~ R('I('nwnrr! h ~ Lnt;j:::; Horn nhol l t t'.".'"NI.l'S .:log-o A.nn th e f i l i r : ~ o( := :''''''I"e on an Hlu'1' ship. In thf" latl, ~ : _ I : 1 n c " ' . II wn s Si1id. lh " ~ h j , . \\':"Iown. hi l t '''';'\,.-=: h r ( ) l J ~ f " t rl0"; 1 r ( ) m p l l ~ ' whpn th p (i( '(( 'ct ' , "; : I : ' rl ir rn ' ( I ! "p r1 t lnd r r ~ , < : ; 1 1 W,;; or :;illJ i 1;1 r th:pr('\l:lljfJII>.;bitT@' h1:'f'n rflp.ortcd fi t lh p 10(':11 field. "hpll n l l J r ) ! n i J ) ~ ' o l l ;11\11 il,


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GEORGE GOFF AVIATION SNAPSHOTSGates Flying Circus, Visiting "Barnstomer" Planes

Standard J-1

Standard J-1

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WWI trainer,Canadian version ofthe Curtiss Jenny

Roger Humphrey's Waco 954


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AIRFIELD NORTH OF NORMAL

Left to right: Howard, Goff, Kemp, Morphew, Baldridge, Howard, Kendel, and Woods

Left to right: Goff, Young, and Kemp

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Governor's Air Tour

WACO 10

SUPER SWALLOW

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Air


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Travel Air

Air King

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8/9/2019 Bloomington Airport Histor

Documents

Bloomington Airport History