Atlantic City Weekly

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The Atlantic City Air show is just a month away, Wed., Aug. 18. To whet your appetite for this marvelous event, this columnist will take some of this space to inform you about some of the history of Atlantic City and aviation. According to Frank Butler's Book, The Boardwalk, the first air activities in Atlantic City were carried out along the beach and by flying boats at the inlet.

Starting on July 2, 1910, the Atlantic City Air Carnival, one of the earliest air meets in history, lasted 10 days and produced several air records. It was held along the beach, between old Young's Pier and the Million Dollar Pier. Walter Brookins set an altitude record of 6,175 feet; Glenn Curtiss made another world's record for flying 50 miles back and forth in view of beach crowds in 1 hour and 14 minutes.

The first demonstration of 'bombing' from an airplane was made by Glenn Curtiss, during the Air Carnival. He dropped oranges from a height of 100 feet, dropping them close to a yacht and splashing the passengers. Later, he dropped more fruit within a small circle on the beach, showing the possibility of bombing from the air. An Army general watching the 'bombing' observed that the trial absolutely showed that the day of the battleship for attack of foreign cities was nearing its end.

On May 2, 1919, the Pan-American Aeronautical Congress met on Steel Pier and spent the month stunt-flying and participating in aerial contests from the newly created Atlantic City Airport. Lt. Rohlff won the $500 Pulitzer Prize for flying to Atlantic City from New York in two hours and 10 minutes. One pilot landed eight consecutive times in a 15-foot circle. A crate of eggs was dropped from a plane by parachute with none being broken when they landed. The eggs were bought for 25 cents each as souvenirs.

Joseph Shinn, editor of the Atlantic City Press in the early 1900s, was credited with "the first news bulletin from the air" when he dropped 10,000 cards from an airplane announcing the arrival of Naval Plane NC-4, on its way back from a trans-oceanic flight.

On Sat., Oct. 15, 1910, Walter Wellman, polar explorer, made the first attempt in history to cross the Atlantic Ocean by air. The dirigible America was prepared for the flight from Atlantic City. When a heavy storm arose about 1,000 miles at sea and the dirigible became unmanageable, it was abandoned and Wellman and his crew were picked up by a steamer and returned to New York City.

On July 1, 1912, the dirigible Akron was the second airship to attempt to cross the ocean. The ship rose to a height of 2,000 feet over the Atlantic City Inlet and an explosion dropped the wrecked airship and its crew into the sea, all being killed.

On June 4, 1933, a local stunt flyer flew the first rocket glider in aviation history from Steel Pier. Only a single rocket was used and it carried the glider 1,000 feet at a height of 100 feet to a perfect landing. The machine was built as a pier attraction.

The source for the above information was Frank Butler's The Boardwalk. James Mason, a historian of Aviation and of Atlantic City and Ventnor, provided the information from Butler's book in addition to the following historical facts:

Amelia Earhart, one of the world's most noted female aviators, and former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Gene Tunney posed under the wing of a bi-engine plane at AC's Bader Field in the early 1930s.

Mason has a cancelled envelope citing the 25th anniversary of America, the first airship to attempt to fly across the ocean. It shows a map tracing the dirigible's path from Atlantic City to the site where it crashed 412 miles east of Cape Hatteras.

Mason has another cancelled envelope denoting the Commemoration of the Army Air Corps Demonstration in Atlantic City. It was held on Air Defense Day, May, 1931. Few would believe that a total of 672 planes of the U.S. Air force flew into Atlantic City and that 787 officers and 687 enlisted men participated in this spectacular event. Just think of trying to stage an event like that today. By the way, the envelope bears the signature of Harry Bacharach, Atlantic City's Mayor at that time.

Jim also has cancelled envelopes denoting the first flight of Air Mail Route 97, All American Airmail, dated April 11, 1949, that has Atlantic City on its route.

General Benjamin Foulis, credited with starting the United States Air Force, retired after 56 years of service to his country, in Ventnor City, from 1938-1958.

Atlantic City and aviation have a long and wonderful history together. Hopefully this information will serve to whet your appetite to see the Second Annual Atlantic City Air Show that is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 18. The air show is free to the public on Atlantic City's beachfront.

AC 150th Birthday Update

Here is the line-up of the nationalities that will participate in Atlantic City's 150th Birthday Celebration ethnic dancing on Wednesday nights and the motion pictures that will be shown at dusk every Sunday evening at Kennedy Plaza: