These aren't the oldest photos I have, but I really find
them interesting. Some of you aviators
may also.
These first three photos may be recognizable to you if you have any interest in aviation history. These were taken by my Grandfather at Kelly Field in San Antonio. He was in the Army Air Corp at the time as a mechanic. He never said if he worked on this plane. I think it's a de Havilland.
This was Lt. Jimmy Doolittle's plane on a cross country
flight from Florida to California. He
stopped in to say howdy in San Antonio.
My Grandfather also spent time along the border with
Mexico. His unit was involved in
building airstrips from West Texas to Arizona.
I believe he said these were emergency strips. The aircraft would patrol the border for smugglers and raiders
that had been attacking from Mexico into the US. Some of those raiders had been Pancho Villa's men.
More of the photos he took along the border with an old box
camera that I have next TBT.
One anecdote I remember: During prohibition he and a pilot
friend left Kelly Field and flew to Del Rio.
They went across the border to drink.
Yes, they apparently drank a lot and with not so good judgment flew back
to San Antonio. This was in those open
cockpit two seater bi-planes folks. No
instruments. They were young and crazy. He lived to be 100 years old. Passed away 14 years ago.
I miss you Papa.
Happy Trails.
2 comments:
Those are great! :-) And truly part of the history of our southern border!!!
I see that your grandfather was assigned to the 90th Aero Squadron home based at Kelly TX. I know that because of the "Lucky 7 dice emblem" on the side of the American-built deHavilland DH-4 aircraft. (you can just see the top of the dice in the photo of your grandfathers plane in the desert and clearly on Doolittle's plane.
Doolittle with his DH-4B-1-S, serial number 22-353, during a refueling stop at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, 4 September 1922.
First Lieutenant James H. (“Jimmy”) Doolittle, U.S. Army Air Corps, made the first transcontinental crossing of the United States in a single day when he flew a DH.4B-1-S single-engine biplane, Air Service Serial Number 22-353, from Pablo Beach, Florida to Rockwell Field, San Diego, California, a distance of 2,163 miles (3,481 kilometers). He made one refueling stop at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, which lasted 1 hour, 16 minutes. The total duration of the flight was 21 hours, 19 minutes.
This same airplane, DH.4B-1-S, A.S. No. 22-353, was flown from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border by Lieutenant H.G. Crocker, 26 May 1923.
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