“It stinks, like bad medicine going down, it’s a hard thing to swallow, but I think overall it is going to pay back 10-fold.”

So stated a Casper City Councilman about extending an additional $400,000 to SkyWest Delta to anchor the flight to Salt Lake City from Casper for at least a while.

I'm glad they did.  I don't know if it stinks, but losing the flight certainly would.

Blog Mirror: Casper WWII Pilot Flew B-29 Bomber With Nose Art Drawn By Walt Disney

 

Casper WWII Pilot Flew B-29 Bomber With Nose Art Drawn By Walt Disney

Sunday, April 6, 1924. The launch of the around the world flight.

The United States Army Air Service launched its around the world flying expedition from Seattle, Washington, although as previously noted, it could be argued the party had commenced several days prior by flying to Seattle.

Chicago, the lead Douglas World Cruiser.

Around the World in 175 Days, 1924: Department of State Contributions to the U.S. Army Aerial Circumnavigation: Part I

Lex Anteinternet: Monday, March 27, 1944. Knock Out Dropper.

Lex Anteinternet: Monday, March 27, 1944. Knock Out Dropper.:   

Monday, March 27, 1944. Knock Out Dropper.

 

The B-17 "Knock Out Dropper" flew its 75th mission, the first American bomber to reach that mark.  It would have had multiple crews in reaching that goal.

Lex Anteinternet: Wednesday, March 22, 1944. Vesuvius destroys the 340th Bombardment Group and the XP56.

Lex Anteinternet: Wednesday, March 22, 1944. German defeat in the B...: 

80% of the B-25s of the 340th Bombardment Group were destroyed by volcanic boulders from Vesuvius.

The only example of the Northrup XP-56, the first one having been destroyed in a crash, was photographed in anticipation of its first flight the following day.

Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet (s/n 42-38353) on the ground at Muroc Army Air Field, California, March 22, 1944.

The weird aircraft was not a success.

Last prior edition:

Tuesday, March 21, 1944. Dear John.

1940s, 1944, Aircraft, Churches, Continuation War, Kamikaze, Miles City Montana, New Guinea, Operation Margarethe, Operation U-Go, The relationship between men and women, The written word, World War Two

Blog Mirror: Frustrated Natrona Commissioners Call $650K SkyWest Guarantee ‘Extortion”

Frustrated Natrona Commissioners Call $650K SkyWest Guarantee ‘Extortion”

21–25 April 1944. First Helicopter Combat Rescue

21–25 April 1944

Friday, March 19, 1909. Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company forms.

 

Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, the first dedicated airplane manufacturing company, was formed by Glenn Hammond Curtiss and Augustus Moore Herring in Hammondsport, New York.  In 1929 it would merge with the Wright Aeronautical to form Curtiss-Wright Corporation, which still exists.

Lex Anteinternet: Monday, March 17, 1924 First Around The World Flight Commences

Lex Anteinternet: Monday, March 17, 1924 Telephones and grim news.: 

Monday, March 17, 1924 Telephones and grim news.

The first around the world flight attempt was commenced by the United States Army Air Service.  The aircraft consisted of four Douglas World Cruisers.

The initial leg of the trip was from Santa Monica, California, to Seattle, which was the actual departure point.

Lex Anteinternet: Monday, March 6, 1944. "Black Monday"

Lex Anteinternet: Monday, March 6, 1944. "Black Monday": 

Monday, March 6, 1944. "Black Monday"

The first large scale daylight bombing raid on Berlin occured.  The raid, remembered as Black Monday, involved 814 bombers and 944 fighters from bases in southern England.  69 bombers were lost.

Miss Donna Mae II sustaining damage after the B-17 drifted under another B-17 dropping its bomb load. The plane would go down with all eleven crewmen.

P-51 pilot Donald Blakeslee would fly the first such aircraft over the city.  An early American fighter pilot, he first joined the RCAF in 1941, he served in the USAF until 1965 and passed away in 2008 at age 80.

For those watching Masters of the Air, it is depicted in Episode 7.

 

Casper One Of Three Finalists To Land National Air Championship Races