Nostalgic Interlude- 1930’s Style*

by Tippecanoe Jack*
© 2006-All rights reserved by Tippecanoe Jack
Originally posted (by permission) on this site July 16, 2006

Picture this: It’s the early 1930’s, and you’re waiting expectantly at the Union Airport in Burbank, California, when over the loudspeakers you hear a melodic, modulating bari-tone voice that echoes through the corridors with this announcement: “Ladies and gen-tlemen, your attention paa-lease, Paa-cific Aa-ah Traa-nsport, fa-light num-bah tha-rree, tha-rree zee-rro, is now arriving at gate num-bah one-ah, conn-course Be-ee.” This is welcome news because it’s the flight you’ve been waiting to board for the past four hours that was delayed by a line of thunderstorms moving across its flight path in the San Joa-quin Valley at Bakersfield, and night is fast approaching. Your destination is San Diego, and you’re anxious to get airborne and looking forward to seeing the lights of “LA,” as the initiated inhabitants have abbreviated “Los Angeles.” You also hope to catch a twi-light view of the sunrays licking the wave tops of the Pacific Ocean before it completely disappears below the horizon.

In the near-distant sky can be seen a huge airplane with lights ablaze descending on final approach to the sod runway. It’s a new Ford Tri-Motor fresh off the assembly line of the Stout Metal Airplane Company Division of the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. Its landing lights are each about the size of those trendy Italian Bugatti head-lamps you’ve seen driving around Hollywood lately, and look like they’ve been pressed into the wings. It gently touches down, taxis off the runway and wheels in a half-circle to parallel the front of the terminal with its big plate glass windows. Then, as the captain closes the throttle and pulls the mixture control lever to the “idle cut-off” position, the propeller of the right engine obediently ceases to rotate. The center and the left engine are kept running at idle to save precious time, since the flight is well behind schedule due to the weather.

This long corrugated aluminum box, that’s been dubbed the “Tin Goose” by some wise-crackers, has wings that span a little over 74 feet, and is carrying nine weary passengers who’ve flown since early morning from San Francisco to Sacramento, Fresno, and to Ba-kersfield (where it was delayed), and finally to Burbank. You proceed to walk toward your gate according to the announcer’s instructions, but just as you turn the corner of Concourse B, you get bumped around in a mad rush of newspapermen, armed with Speed Graflex cameras heading for the door of Gate One- your gate!

You’re more than a little put out by the impudence and lack of manners these vultures are showing, but you’re also a little curious, and your attention is immediately drawn to the side of the plane when the co-pilot slowly opens the small passenger door, and steps out, and fastens it into place. He then places a little platform stool beneath the fuselage, so the riders can step more easily out of the plane, and reaches up in the doorway to offer his hand in assistance as the first rumpled passenger steps down. One by one they depart, but as you’re keeping count, only seven have so far appeared. A slight delay in the action causes a hush of anticipation in the nest of hawks, as they recheck the settings on the flash cameras and jockey with each other for what they think will be the best angle for their shots.

Suddenly, there’s a flash, as one trigger-happy cameraman accidentally lights up the air-port ramp; then, quick as lightening from heaven, there’s a burst of blinding light from all directions when the eighth passenger, a dark-haired handsome man, sporting a thin mus-tache, steps out of the plane refusing assistance from the co-pilot. He immediately turns around and holds out his hand to help a beautiful blonde-haired woman as she appears in the doorway. She’s attired in a long white satin dress, and slowly and carefully slips her white high-heeled foot out from the narrow slit in her dress to step on the platform, and reveals more of her curvaceous extremity than a discrete gentleman would admit he had seen. This calculated exposure causes an excited gasp among the “press corps,” and they quickly snap their shutters to capture this sensational view, that again causes her platinum hair to shimmer with bursts of flashing light. As the crowd begins to press closer around them, a chauffeur, driving a deep maroon four-door convertible touring car trimmed with rich cream-colored wheels, dashes up alongside the plane and scoops up their sticker-covered luggage. This glamorous pair quickly jumps inside, and away they go, heading for Beverly Hills! “Who were those gorgeous people,” an unfamiliar stranger asks? “Well, sir,” you reply, ” you may be interested to know they’re the new ‘movie stars’ everyone is raving about out here in Hollywood since their latest picture got released called ‘Red Dust.’ You’ll hear a lot more about them, I’m sure- that was Clark Gable and Jean Harlow.”

Without escort or fanfare, or the privilege of celebrité, you manage to climb on board the big silver bird, and move up the narrow center aisle to your woven wicker seat two rows back from the cramped cockpit. Since all the seats are “window” seats on the Tri-Motor, and quite large at that, you have a great view. When the preflight is completed and all is ready for takeoff, the engines roar with maximum power and the tail wheel quickly lifts off the ground, and the plane accelerates on its main gear. At around 90 miles per hour, the ship rises skyward, and when cruising altitude is reached, you’re still going the same airspeed. Since you’ve flown in it before, you also know that it lands at about the same speed too. As the captain adjusts the throttles for cruise, the drone of the engines be-comes a reassuring sound as he synchronizes their revolutions to that monotonous mono-tone that all multi-engine pilots and sophisticated passengers understand and appreciate. When the ship levels off, the lights of the “City of Angels” spread out across the horizon, and become an electric ocean that takes your breath away. In the night sky, the blue flame of the exhaust streaking out behind the engines beneath those sturdy wings, are confirmation that the correct fuel mixture has been set by the pilots, and now you can re-lax- at least for a little while. Off the left side of the plane you notice a light streak of fog lying between some of the foothills above the dim outline of the Rose Bowl by Pasadena; and beyond that, you glimpse the pale-yellow, full moon peaking over the San Bernar-dino mountains as it begins to rise in the eastern sky, and you promise yourself that you’ll never forget what you’ve seen this day.

*     *     *     *

Fast Forward: It’s Wednesday, June 28, 2006, and we were waiting at Harry Clever Air-port in New Philadelphia, Ohio to witness the landing of a vintage 1929 Ford Tri-Motor Airplane that was scheduled to arrive that morning or early afternoon, but has been de-layed by bad weather around Buffalo, New York. Northwest Airlines Captain Tom Leahy, had called his wife Mary on her cell phone, and told her that they had to land in Jamestown and put the plane in a hanger to protect it from the weather, and they were going to be several hours late. This was disappointing news to the anxious crowd hang-ing around there, as some had purchased advanced tickets to ride this flying antique and were expecting to go up that day. The plane arrived too late though to take any passen-gers on Wednesday and because it is now restricted against night flight. But, early the next morning, the crowd was back, and the flying began. One couple, Mr. & Mrs. Mel Rumbaugh had come all the way from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in their motor home and stayed overnight to get their rides. Mel is a retired corporate pilot with thousands of hours of flying time in just about any kind of plane you can name, but he had never flown in a Tri-motor. He vowed he wouldn’t leave until he got his turn to go up.

Merle Arnold & Family

Eighty-four year old Merle Arnold of Orrville, Ohio had first flown in a Tri-Motor in 1938 in Barberton, Ohio and this time he brought his wife Luella, son John, grandsons Brian and Greg and his daughter-in law Susan to see it and also fly in it with him once again. He recalled that the plane he rode in 1938 “had wicker seats and knobby tires.” His wife Luella, who has flown to Europe with him a couple of times in modern planes, declined the opportunity, but the rest of the family had their rides, and were thrilled! For most of the passengers, money was no object, and some like Russ Paradise of Mechanic-stown in Carroll County, and Dave Johnson of Dover, even paid $100 to ride in the co-pilot’s seat for the 15 minutes the plane was in the air. When asked what his impression of the flight was, Paradise said “Neat man, that’s all that I can say!” All in all there were 24 full flights on Thursday before the plane and crew packed up and flew to their next “gig” in Port Clinton.

Captain Leahy lives in Medina, Ohio and his flying mate Captain Cody Welch is from the Detroit area. Both are Northwest Airline pilots, and between the two have over 52,000 hours of flying time. Even after years of experience flying all makes and models of air-craft, this is how they like to spend their vacations. Mrs. Leahy and their son, “T. J.,” do all the groundwork of booking passenger on the flights, and mechanic Bauken Noak, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin takes care of the planes maintenance.

Tri-Motor Crew

The local Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 1077, sponsored the event with Terry Henry acting as chairman. A cadre of volunteers helped also, including Civil Air Patrol Squadron #277. The national EAA in Oshkosh now owns the Tri-Motor, and have completely rebuilt it after it was damaged on the ground by a severe storm. The money raised now helps to purchase and maintain other vintage aircraft as well. When it left the factory, in 1929, it was originally used as an airliner for Pitcarin Airways who started Eastern Air Transport (Eastern Airlines), and Cubana Airlines in Cuba. It was afterwards employed in various capacities including use by the Forest Fire Service as a fire bomber, and even as a prop in a Jerry Lewis movie.

Dave Shankliln, of Dover completed the nostalgic scenery for us when he brought his 1930 Ford Convertible Touring Car to the airport, and of course it was maroon with cream trim, but Clark and Jean couldn’t make it that day, they had another engagement.

*Revised since publication

© 2006-All rights reserved by Tippecanoe Jack
T-Jack Publications
717 Lake St. NW
New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663
(330) 602-8598
email: tjack@web1.tusco.net



Originally Posted in 1938

Will Take Dozen Passengers at a Time on County Tours

What is expected to be the most spectacular and thrilling air show in Door county will take place Saturday afternoon and Sunday.  August 10-11, when a fleet of planes from Curtis Wright airport, Milwaukee, will put on a program of stunt flying at the Cherryland airport three miles north of this city on Highway 57.

Featured on the program will be Henry Salmon of Detroit, one of the nation’s most sensational delayed parachute performers, who fall 8,000 feet before the parachute opens.  Other features are ribbon cutting, aerial dog fights, and inverted flight acrobatics.

One of the largest planes ever to land on the local field, a 14 passenger Ford tri-motor air liner, weighing 17,000 pounds, will take up passengers, and will specialize in carrying of twelve on sigh-seeing trips around Door county to the tip of the peninsula, returning along the Green bay shore.  The rides will last an hour.

The Ford plane is the only type that President Coolidge ever rode in and is also the same make of ship flown by Byrd in this record long hops over the Antarctic.

It was naturally, also, the first ship to take Henry Ford aloft.  When the plane comes to sturgeon Bay, it will be flown by Colonel E. H. (buck) Leighton, veteran air mail pilot, who has 8,000 hours of flying to his credit and was commander of federal air forces during the Mexican revolution.

There will be six or seven planes I the fleet, all in charge of U. S. government licensed pilots.  E. B. Mulick is the general manager.

The exact time of the stunting program has not yet been determined, but it is expected to be early Sunday afternoon and will take place over the Cherryland airport.

Originally Published in 1932

Scenic flights over St. Paul after nightfall attract hundreds of “joy hoppers” to Holman Municipal airport each evening.  The photograph from the top of the municipal hangar is a snapshot over the floodlight showing a tri-moored transport being prepared for a takeoff with an open biplane in readiness.  Headlights of moving cars mark the road at the edge of the flying field.

(Ford operated by E H Leighton 1932)

Originally Published September 7, 1935

Col. Leighton will stunt in a giant Ford tri-motor all-metal plane, the only ship of its kind that can be put through maneuvers.  Inverted flying, loops and spins are some of the stunts on his program during the afternoon.

Among the distinguished guests who will attend the dedication are Dr. William P. Donovan and two other pilots from the reserve corps will fly here Sunday morning from St. Louis in three army pursuit planes.

As officers in the reserve corps, the three are required to spend a certain number of hours I the air each month.  The trip from St. Louis to Merrill will fulfill their official requirements.

Mayor to Give Address
Mayor W. H. AuBuchon, Merrill, will deliver the dedication address before the opening of the circus.  Others who will speak include Mayor Borowitz, Wausau; Garnett C. Powell, Tomahawk world war flyer, who supervised construction of the airport when it was a SWA project; Mayor Mark Raymond, Tomahawk; Ted Dvorak, Tomahawk, and W. B. Chilsen, Merrill.

Officials from other cities who will take part in the ceremonies include Mayor C. O. Miller, Antigo; City Manager Wardell, Rhinelander, the village president of Eagle River and many others.

Planes of the air circus performers will begin to arrive at the airport this afternoon.  Those from Associated Aviation corporation include a Ford Tri-motor plane, already at the field; a Curtiss-Wright pusher, two American Eagles, two Waco F’s; two fleet airplanes, a Miller special and a Pitcairn Mailwing.
Visiting pilots include Bob Heidl, Col. Leighton, James Hansen, Ben White, Abfalder Rivers, Ralph Brichta, G. Jackson, Herb Holtz, Frank Pettrusha, Irv Miller and Harvey Fielbach.

Novelty Race to Open Show
The show will open with a novelty race over a designated course.  Six entries are expected in this event, including a pilot of the name of Neumann, who is said to have taken a prize at Cleveland.

Pilots Hansen and Col. Leighton will stage an aerial dog fight.

Herman Salmon, 23 years old, aerial stunt performer, will make a delayed parachute jump from an altitude of about 10,000 feet, falling more than a mile before opening the chute.  Since he has been performing with air circuses, Salmon has made over 200 jumps.

Dead stick landing, ribbon cutting and various other exhibitions of precision flying will take place during the afternoon.

E. B. Mulick, general manager of the Associated Aviation corporation, said that the circus will put on as many other stunts and exhibitions as time will permit after the end of the scheduled program.  All planes will carry passengers of flights over the city during the day.

Originally Published September 20, 1938

Eddie Hartfel, secretary of the Wisconsin chapter of the National Aeronautic association, gave the long-awaited order to take off at 3 o’clock Monday afternoon and five planes of the 40 expected in the flight left the Manitowoc Municipal airport on the third annual Wisconsin Good Will Air Tour.  In this picture, Hartfel is starting one of the motors on the Ford Tri-Motor ship piloted by Manager Buck Leighton of the local airport.  Leighton is at the controls.  Other planes joined the group in Milwaukee for a flight to Jamesville.  The “queen” of the tour, blonde Martha Hayes of Lake Delton, is flying in the tri-motored ship.  Leighton is the only Manitowoc pilot in the tour.  Business affairs prevented E. J. Nelson from taking part.

Originally published in Manotowoc, WI, September 16, 1938

Postponed one week because of inclement weather, the air circus and welcoming program for between 40 and 50 state aviators will be held Sunday at the Municipal airport.

The same features as arranged for last Sunday will be offered Milton Boucher, president of the local chapter of the National Aeronautic association, will attempt to break the world record for loops in a Taylor Cub, a small plane.  He will try to make over 48 consecutive loops.

Bud Fisher and Buck Leighton will stunt and there will be a 5,000 foot parachute jump by Harvey Mueller of Cleveland.  Leighton will stunt a big Ford Tri-Motor ship.

Planes will be arriving all day Sunday for the start of the third annual Wisconsin Air Tour, scheduled for 10 o’clock next Monday morning.  Announcement will be made over the public address system as the various fliers comply with the department of commerce regulation requiring them to circle the air field before landing.

Local aviators show will take part in the tour of 14 Wisconsin cities include Buck Leighton and E. J. Nelson.  Mr. Leighton will fly a Ford Tri-Motor and Mr. Nelson his new Fairchild monoplane.

A banquet for the fliers will be held Sunday evening in the hangar.  Mayor Martin Georgenson will welcome the visitors and the response will be given by Howard Morey, governor of the Wisconsin chapter of the National Aeronautic association.

Other speakers will include Edward Nelson, who will act as master of ceremonies, and President of the local flying club.

Scooter rides on the airport will be a feature of the entertainment for the aviators.  There will be many concessions on the grounds.

Originally published in Milwaukee Journal, August 13, 1938

ONE of the newest converts to airplane travel is Mrs. Emmaline Detgen, 94 year old great-grandmother who lives at 2564 N. 80th st., Wauwatosa.  “Flying is wonderful,” she exclaimed when she stepped out of a plane recently after her first ride. 

She is pictured here with the pilot, Elmer (Buck) Leighton.  Mrs. Detgen and her husband, Jacob, are now planning a longer flight.  It will be his first ride.