Untitled Document

Kingman’s Aviation started on an open piece of ground across from the Mountain View Cemetery. Before it became an airplane landing strip, the main use was a cattle pasture. The former Hall Street, now Stockton Hill Road, separated the cemetery and airstrip. This airstrip was commonly known as Wallapai (Hualapai) Field. This is the starting point for aviation history of Kingman and Mohave County.

December 1918—The first use of Wallapai Field, is to test take-offs and landings at the new airstrip, to see if the surface was acceptable. Also see how wind conditions would affect the aircraft. The aviators were pleased with the field. The field size is 1000 by 1800 ft. To handle as many aircraft that would landed on a daily basis. (mcm)

January 18, 1919—Mohave County Field chosen for U. S. Aerial Mail Service Planes, headline on the front page of the Mohave County Miner. Kingman would become a stop on an airmail route, from east to west. Wallapai Field is a link to the Winslow and Needles fields. The Kingman Post Office will become the distributing center for a wide territory. There would be daily flights. (mcm)

February 22, 1919—Army Aviators Spend Several Days in Town, front page article from the Mohave County Miner. Flyers for Ellington Field, Tx made a stop in Kingman. They were flying de Haviland D4s and they were coming from March Field, Ca. They had some trouble with the weather conditions. They all made it to Kingman and were put up by the towns’ folk. They were heading back to Texas. Before heading back, they wanted to fly over the Grand Canyon and take some movie footage of their flight over the canyon. (mcm)

March 1, 1919—Motion Pictures from Aeroplane Grand Canyon, ‘Playground of Gods’, on the front page of Mohave County Miner. Louis Lewyn, official photographer, shot this stunning film with the help of the Ellington Field aviators. The film was shot in the past week. (mcm)

April 26, 1919—Army Aeroplane Pays Hurried Visit to Kingman Field, on the front page of the Mohave County Miner. Captain Appleby and Lt. Sturcken of Rockwell Field, Ca. (near San Diego) were flying back to their home field after visiting Yuma, Phoenix, and Prescott. Kingman was their last stop, they were checking on air currents of each airfield for a study. They also brought an invitation to Prescott Frontier Days for early July, 1919. They also liked Wallapai Field. (mcm)

November 22, 1919—New Air Mail Route Would Take in Kingman, a small article on the front page of the Mohave County Miner. A bill was introduced last Tuesday (Nov. 18) by California Congressman Randall. The new air route is from Chicago to San Francisco, starting at Chicago, Kansas City, Wichita, Albuquerque and Los Angeles. Kingman would be part of the Albuquerque – Los Angeles leg. This route is 266 miles longer than Chicago – San Francisco route, but it avoids the high mountains and blizzards of the northern route. (mcm)

July 10, 1920—Airplane Flight over Kingman Soon, a small article from the front page of the Mohave County Miner. The Chamber of Commerce received a letter from Major Carl Spatz, Air Service. The Letter as follows:

Air Service, Hqrs. Western Dept.

San Francisco, Cal.

July 2, 1920.

From: Department Air Service Officer.

To: Chamber of Commerce, Kingman, Arizona.

Subject: Landing Field for Airplanes.

An airplane flight is contemplated over the city of Kingman, Arizona, in the near future, and at that time it is planned to stop at your city to refuel the airplane. Information is therefore requested as to whether a landing field is available at or near Kingman.
The field should be approximately six hundred yards long in the direction of the prevailing wind, and not less than four hundred yards wide with a smooth surface. The country immediately surrounding the field for a distance of five or six hundred yards should be free from high obstacles such as trees, building, telephone poles and lines, etc. A maker of white cloth in the form of a “T” should be placed on the field, the head of the “T” pointing in the direction from which the wind is coming. This “T” should be placed in the middle of the smoothest patch of ground for landing purposes.
Information is requested by this office as to whether a field such as described above exists in the vicinity of your City and whether it can be prepared in the manner outlined.
An early reply would be appreciated.

CARL SPATZ,

Major, Air Service,

Department Air Service Officer.

October 2, 1920—Aeroplane will Arrive Here Monday, a small article of the Miner. Carl G. Krook received a notice on Thursday that plane would be here on Monday at noon from San Francisco. Gas and oil have been shipped for the aircraft. The aircraft will take pictures of the Grand Canyon and take back to San Francisco. Wallapai Field is being ready for the incoming flight. This is the first major visitor since January 1919. (mcm)

October 9, 1920—Lt. Halverton, U. S. Air Service, arrives from San Francisco. He spent several days in Kingman. On Wednesday, Lt. Halverton and S. Greenwald from Fox (“film man” or cameraman) shot approximate 250 feet of film of the Grand Canyon and snapped six or seven good stills. Some of the film shot was no good for Mr. Greenwald was air sick. The Flyers were unsuccessful because of the rough air currents over the rim of the canyon. They enter at a different point than the previous flyers. Lt. Halverton accessed El Tovar point of the canyon, this was the first attempt by a flyer. (mcm)

August 26, 1921—Air Man Flies from Las Vegas to Kingman, a small article on the front page of Mohave County Miner. Cloyd Clevenger and his new Cleveland aircraft flew in from Las Vegas. He picked up two passengers for a flight over Oatman, Katherine, and Chloride. He also did some stunt flying the other night before dark. (mcm)

December 23, 1921—May Establish Air Service L. A. to Katherine, front page article of Mohave County Miner. A report comes from Sacramento, Ca., that well known aviator E. J. Moffat will try to establish airplane service from Los Angeles to Kingman with a stop at Katherine. He will map a route and make arrangements for such a service. The Katherine field will be important due to it’s location to the future Boulder Dam. Katherine is a mining town north of Hardyville (today it is Bullhead City). (mcm)

April 18, 1924—Motion Pictures of Grand Canyon, Boulder & Black; International Newsreel Being Made. Trip Hazardous One., on the front page of Mohave County Miner. Two de Haviland planes from Rockwell Field, Ca. landed here yesterday. The pilots are Captain Ervin and Lt. Seifert and the cameramen are Greenwald and Brockhurst of International Newsreel. That afternoon, they made an inspection trip over Diamond Creek, they flew for about 10 minutes and returned to Kingman. At 6:30 this morning, they left for Diamond Creek and will film for about 30 miles, staying to the side of El Tovar. Then tomorrow, the cameramen will film the two aircraft flying down the canyon. They will use a car to get them there. They have an advantage point picked out and will film the aircraft flying below the rim. The pilots will have to be careful with the air currents. They do have parachutes. The next day, they will film Boulder and Black Canyons. After this is done, they will head back to Rockwell Field. These aerial views will help in finding suitable site for dams along the Colorado. The film will be released thorough International Newsreel. The planes came in unannounced. They had some difficulty in landing. They circled around a few times to get their bearings by looking for the cemetery. Captain Ervin said to paint a “T” facing the prevailing wind. The airfield in Las Vegas had this done and they landed there the other day. (mcm)

April 25, 1924—Some Fine Pictures of Boulder Canyon, front page of Mohave County Miner. This was a follow-up article of last week article. Captain Ervin and Lt. Siefert and cameramen Brockhurst and Greenwald left for San Diego on Sunday. They shot about 1200 feet of film of Colorado River country. They thanked Ray Dimmick and Willis J. Black for their assistances. The film will be out in a few weeks. (mcm)

January 2, 1925—Commercial Airplane Here, small article on the front page of Mohave County Miner. For the last two days, anybody in Kingman could get a ride from this airplane. If you have the nerve, the money or the desire, anyone could a take a short trip in this aircraft and fly over Kingman and vicinity. The aircraft is unknown and pilot is unknown to the writer of this article. (mcm)

February 20, 1925—Kingman Aeroplane Landing Field to be on Air Route, article on the front page of Mohave County Miner. Bob Hausler, a former army aviator, is looking to establish an air mail route between Albuquerque to Los Angeles. Kingman would be an excellent airfield on the route. He is here to talk to Carl G. Krook and Willis J. Black about the future of the Kingman field. He made some suggestions for the Wallapai Field, by putting up a large K about thirty feet long. Also put up a pole for a windsock, to help show the direction of the wind. The windsock will be ten feet long and made of aeroplane skin. It is arriving on Wednesday. Also Mr. Hausler is looking to provide aerial views of the Grand Canyon. Passengers traveling to California, on the California Limited and other Santa Fe trains could get off train in Kingman and be taken to the airfield and flown over the Grand Canyon. (mcm)

April 17, 1925—Free Airplane Trip to Winslow for some Young Lady, from the front page of Mohave County Miner. A young lady from Kingman could win an all expense trip to Winslow, Az. This contest is being sponsored by Winslow Chamber of Commerce. The contestant has to get the most votes by May 12. She also can get a ride over Kingman (if from she is Kingman). The trip to Winslow will also have airplane circus at the Winslow Field. Bob Hausler was here explaining the contest rules. It is a penny contest. Who ever receives the most pennies wins. He is one of the aviators working on the Kansas City to Los Angeles air mail route. Mr. Hausler will have an inspector with him for the final inspection. Willis J. Black is a member of Airplane Committee. (mcm)

May 8, 1925—Aviators Land Here on Trip over Tri-state Airway, front page article of the Mohave County Miner. Boyd Montieth and Bob Hausler arrived here Wednesday and left the next day. They are on their final inspection of air mail route of airfields. They are flying from Albuquerque to Los Angeles. Mr. Hausler said the new cement “K” will be seen for miles. He said there would be more airplanes using this field in the near future. The Army and Navy will come this way, along with the commercial airplanes. Frank Clarke, America’s most famous stunt flyer, will be here next week. He will take the winner of the “Miss Kingman” for a ride in his airplane. The contest is for a young lady in town. They will fly to Winslow and watch the airplane circus, May 15 and 16. The young women vying for the title is Donelda Sites, Ethel Shell, Francis Kause, Elsie Sweeney and Vera Imus. (mcm)

May 22, 1925—Tri-State Airway Circus Last Week was Big Success, on the front page of Mohave County Miner. The air show was a success for Winslow. Lot of airplanes flew thorough Kingman on the way to Winslow. Miss Kingman was Ethel Shell. She enjoyed the show and other festivities at Winslow. She also represented Kingman with a job well done. After the airplane circus show was over, airplanes did make a stop over in Kingman. Captain Ervin flew thorough here with other pilots. They stop for a brief time to say hi to the local folks who had met him and the others at the Wallapai Field. (mcm)

June 12, 1925—Aerial Exhibition Sunday Afternoon, a small article in the Mohave County Miner. Tex Rankin from Walla Walla, Wa, C. W. Mayse from Safford and E. A. Mounts from Phoenix were here to hold a benefit air circus for the boys and girls of Kingman. Along with the aviators is Ted O. Penney a wing walker. The town folks had a chance to meet the aviators at the high school gym at 7 PM Friday. The Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girls will be in charge of the Wallapai Field. They will receive 15 per cent of the gross receipts, while the admission charge is 25 cents. The four boys and girls who sell the most tickets will get a plane ride. (mcm)

March 5, 1926—Air Officers Here Tuesday on Air Route, on the front page of Mohave County Miner. Captain Gil Erven of the 7^th Aereo Corps stationed at Omaha and C. H. Force, Assistant Superintendant Air Mail Service, Central Division, arrived in Kingman on Tuesday en-route to Prescott, Az. They tried to go to Prescott but the weather was getting bad for them. So they came back to Kingman. They left the following day. They are mapping out future air mail routes to the south. (mcm)

July 9, 1926—Canyon Air Route Ready Two Months, article on the front page of Mohave County Miner. Bob Hausler is working on getting a Fokker plane, which has three engines, so it is “fool proof”. The cost for this airplane is $40,000. It can carry ten passengers. This airplane will be use to fly over the Grand Canyon from Winslow to Kingman. The passengers are from the Santa Fe trains that are heading to the west. He is also looking at flying over the Boulder Canyon Dam or the mines of Jerome, Az. This time around Mr. Hausler has a flying fleet with him. They were coming from Prescott, Az. After doing an air show there, they landed at Wallapai Field for a break before heading to the coast. The aviators with him are Fred Hoyt of Travel Air, Frank Clarke, Leo Nomis, Victor Fleming and Al Johnson. (mcm)

August 19, 1927—Air Service thru Kingman in 60 Days?, front page of the Mohave County Miner. Kingman could be on airplane mail and passenger service line, from New York in the east and Los Angeles in the west. The Associated Press dispatched this article: Wichita, Kansas, August 16—Inauguration of passenger and express service on two new air lines linking Wichita with Los Angeles within the next two months by the Travel Air Service Corporation, was announced here today by J. F. Byrnes of New York, promoter. The National Air Transport has the Chicago and New York connection. The Travel Air Service Corp. has the Chicago and Wichita link. (mcm)

February 3, 1928—Kingman Airport may be One of Bases, a front page article of the Mohave County Miner. Kingman airfield or Wallapai Field has the possibility of becoming a great airport. Because it will be part of the scenic air service for the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon will establish an airfield soon, they will handle the service of ferrying passengers over the Canyon. They will fly farther north to Bryce and Zion Canyons or go east to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest or go west to Vermillion Cliffs and Boulder Canyon. The Santa Fe Railroad is backing the project. For eastbound passengers can fly from Kingman to the Grand Canyon. They will fly over the Grand Canyon and will be able to join the train later as it heads to the east. Or westbound passengers can fly out of Winslow and fly over the Grand Canyon and fly into Kingman. These passengers will board the train and finished their trip to the west. The Mohave County Chamber of Commerce is working on a new airfield. Willis J. Black said the Wallapai Field is small for such endeavors. (mcm)

May 4, 1928—Aero Club at Flagstaff has Own Airplane, page 9 article of the Mohave County Miner. The Coconino Sun first reported the Flagstaff Aero Club will have a plane by May 1. The aero club is based at Kock Field. The plane is an Eaglerock with a 90 horsepower motor. The initial cost of the plane is $2,680. It will cost close to $10 an hour to fly, or learning to fly. Why not an aero club for Kingman? (mcm)

May 18, 1928—Aviators to Play Here on Sunday, May 19, front page of the Mohave County Miner. The players will arrive by plane Saturday Night. These “Flying Ball Players” are from the United State Aero Squadron, they are from March Field, Ca. The airplanes they used to fly in are two Liberty and one Douglas transport. (mcm)

May 25, 1928—Aviators win Easy Game from Kingman, from the sport page of Mohave County Miner. The 47^th Aero Squadron won 20 to 10. The 47^th had 28 hits to 17, what hurt the Kingman team was the 7 errors committed. This was the second game of the season for the Kingman team. (mcm)

June 1, 1928—Aerial Survey of State is On, on the front page of the Mohave County Miner. The Arizona Republican’s aerial survey is taking pictures of the state of Arizona. It is in cooperation with the Arizona Industrial Congress. They are working the southern part of state first. Then start working the northern part of state. The manager of the party is W. A. Morrison, piloted by Mr. Kingsley and photographer is E. D. Newcomer. The survey is for advertising resources of the state. (mcm)

August 31, 1928—Local Boy Flies Own Plane Home, on the front page article of the Mohave County Miner. Bob Manship flew in at 3:45 last Wednesday afternoon. He circled the town and the field a couple of times and made an excellent landing. He was coming in from Los Angeles, Ca. It took him three hours and fifty-five minutes of flying time to make to Kingman. He is the first person in Mohave County to have his own airplane. Bob left the area last January to learn how to fly. Not only did he gain his private pilot license, he was able to obtain a commercial license during his training. Now he can hire out as a pilot who can do sightseeing and advertising flights. He will give rides during the four day rodeo. Then he will leave to attend the National Air Races in Los Angeles.

On Page 9 article, May Run Air Service from Kansas City. The Western State Aero Corporation, a proposed air transport company, with headquarters at Wichita, Ks, was seeking a franchise from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Aeronautics to establish a route between Kansas City to Los Angeles. They would have stops at Amarillo, Tx, Albuquerque and Gallup, NM, Winslow and Kingman, Az. They also petition an air mail with the Postmaster General. This venture is no way involved in the Penn and Santa Fe Railroads venture. The Mohave County Board of Supervisors and Chamber of Commerce Members signed the petition. (mcm)

November 2, 1928—Air Route over U. S. 66 Highway, a front page article of the Mohave County Miner. Byline is St. Louis meeting discusses many important questions concerning this transcontinental highway. Last Tuesday, U. S. 66 Association met in St. Louis for their 7^th quarterly business meeting. The meeting main issue was about air service along Route 66. Mainly starting at St. Louis and going to the west to Los Angeles, also looking at connecting to the Atlantic seaboard. They looked at the cost of building and maintaining a big airport. Kingman needs to look into have a bigger airport. As for services; like scenic service to the Grand Canyon, Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. (mcm)

November 23, 1928—North-South Air Route to Salt Lake City, on page 7 article of the Mohave County Miner. This air route would connect Salt Lake City, Ut. to Phoenix, Az. This line operated by Pacific Air Transport, it is an air mail line. Pacific Air Transport has taken over the interests of the Boeing Airlines. This also includes Western Air Mail service. Al Wood is a representative of the company and chief test pilot. He is looking into the possibility of opening a way between Salt Lake City to Phoenix. This would be a southern route thorough Phoenix to Tucson to El Paso to Fort Worth and Dallas, Tx. Another route to Los Angeles, is Phoenix thru the Imperial Valley, Ca to Los Angeles. Why not Kingman on the air route? (mcm)

December 28, 1928—Plane is in Crash at Air Field, a front page article of the Mohave County Miner. Byline is Quick, Cool thinking of pilot averts fatality to passengers though ship is lost when air current is hit. The pilot, F. M. Durfee of Riverside, Ca. used cool, clear thinking in averting tragic mishap this morning. He was taking off and passed the first set of telephone wires, when the air current changed for him. He could not get over the second set of wires, with the lost of altitude, the airplane came down very heavy and pancaking. His three passengers were J. E. Bolling of Palm Springs, Ca. (Owner of the plane), H. J. and John J. Slocum of Tucson, Az. The airplane was a Curtis K-6 International and was previous owned by Miss Bobby Trout of Los Angeles, well known stunt flier and aviatrix. The K-6 was designed for the U. S. Navy (it was not accepted), it has a six cylinder motor with 150 horsepower. It is doubtful the airplane can be fixed to fly again. Two of the men where here to inspect Arizona Magma properties in Chloride, Az. (mcm)

Kingman Aviation History
Early Avaition History of Kingman and Mohave County, Az

Port Kingman and TWA

Aviation history of Kingman is about to make a great change. Transcontinental Air Transport-Maddux Air will be combined with Western Air Express to form the first big airline service in the country. Postmaster General Folger Brown was the person who combined the two air services together. The two become Transcontinental and Western Airlines. So TWA is about to change so greatly, with introduction of the Douglas Aircraft DC-1 and DC-2 and finally the DC-3 into the air carrier service would eliminate the need for the train service at night. Transcontinental flight will become the normal for air travel. With that improvement in air service, Port Kingman will become a minor stop on the way to Los Angeles or Phoenix. The Berry Field will no longer be used and will disappear.

August 29, 1930—Air Mail Contracts Contested, a front page article on the Mohave County Miner. “Washington – A bid from a newly formed aviation company, the United Avigation Company of Pittsburgh, today lay in the post office department, a silent challenge to at least two policies on administration of the Waters Air Mail Act, and to the Western Air Express and TAT.

The United Avigation Company offer of 64 per cent of the $1.25 per mile maximum was low bid for the new air mail route from New York City to Los Angeles via Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City and Kingman. It was in competition with a 97 ½ per cent joint bid of Western Air Express and Transcontinental Air Transport.

In committee hearings on the Waters bill, Postmaster General Brown

was frank in urging its provisions as a financial aid to the firms al-

ready in the air mail field, many of which offered testimony they had

suffered losses under the old law. The legislation was referred to as

being, in effect, a subsidy for encouragement of air passenger service,

so this country would forge to the front among nations in commercial

aviation.

The bid of United Avigation, charted August 18, a combination of three passenger-carrying companies now operating along the proposed route, put the theory of the precedence of the pioneer concern squarely up the postmaster general for decision.” (mcm)

October 3, 1930—Kingman May get Air Mail; Should get Service Soon, Western Air and T. A. T. May Join Becoming Nation’s Great East – West Line, Fields to be consolidated, according to reports, using TAT, eliminating present Western Air Express field., a front page article on the Mohave County Miner. “New York --- Award has been made of the new transcontinental air mail contract. It was seen as presaging the probable merger of the three aviation companies into what might become the largest passenger, mail and express air line in the country.” The contract is given to both Transcontinental Air Transport-Maddux Air Lines and Western Air Express. The officials at the Pittsburgh Aviation announced that they are affiliated to T. A. T. and would run the eastern leg of the air mail line. TAT-Maddux would go from west coast to Columbus, OH. and Western Air would go from the west coast to Kansas City, MO. So neither line comes all the way to the east. But Western Air Express was looking into the possibility have such an extension to the east. Negotiations have been under way for sometime between TAT and Western Air. Now include the announcement of the Pittsburgh Aviation Company becoming an affiliated you may have the largest air carrier in the country. The TAT officials are keeping silent about this triple merger. “In a special telegram from the news bureau of the Western Air Express to the Miner, it was stated that, “There was no official word as to Kingman getting air mail, however, it seems highly probable as it is a regular point on our schedule.” Kingman and Mohave County will have a stop if there is sufficient volume of air mail. Also TAT-Maddux and Western Air will start using Port Kingman as the main air terminal. Berry Field will be a secondary field. (mcm)

Airline Announces Excursion Rates, a page 6 article in the Miner. Eddie Wallace announced that excursion fare from Kingman to Los Angeles will take effect on October 4. The ship will leave at 2:30 PM for LA. This rate is for 90 days. So you can fly to LA and come back in the time limit. (mcm)

October 10, 1930—Flyers Land Here Seeking Rain Shelter, front page article on the Mohave County Miner. Robert Buck a 16 year old junior transcontinental champion flyer stopped at Port Kingman on his way to the east. He left LA at 7:11 AM; he was making good time even with the severe storms in the area. He landed at 9:47 AM at the air terminal. He stayed the night because of the storms. Another flyer has to stop at Port Kingman, Miss Laura Ingalls. She was trying to shatter the transcontinental west to east air journey for women. Her time was over 2 ½ hours from LA this morning, also being good time with the nasty weather. She has to spend the night here and leave the next day. Along with these two planes, there are five other planes at Port Kingman. Every plane is tied down to weather the storm. Air travel is temporary suspended. (mcm)

October 17, 1930—Combine Air Lines, Move Local Field, Air Mail Starting about Oct. 1^st Reported, front page article on the Mohave County Miner. “New York---Harris M. Hanshue, president of recently combined Transcontinental and Western Air Express, announced during the week the company’s transcontinental air mail service, scheduled to be inaugurated on Oct. 15, had been postponed for about two weeks, to permit completion of the ground work between New York and Columbus.” With the two weeks postponement will help the communication line to be completed. The new service will cover the entire line from New York to Los Angeles. Now that the Pittsburgh Aviation Company is an affiliate this ensures air mail line to the optimal service. Equipment from the Berry Field is moved to Port Kingman, and the same for Holbrook, which is moved to Winslow. (mcm)

October 24, 1930—N. Y. – Los Angeles Air Mail via T. A. T. Opening, front page article of the Mohave County Miner. “Los Angeles --- Another chapter in western aviation is to be written Saturday when, at 5 AM, the first air mail and passenger plane of the Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc., will take off from the Alhambra terminal for the east via Kingman.” A group of postal and civic officials are attending this event. It is headed by Postmaster P. P. O’Brien and other representatives from Los Angeles, Pasadena, Alhambra and Glendale will be there to watch the flight take-off. This plane will carry a load of letters from school children that are written for children in the eastern cities. At 8 PM, another event will take place for an eastbound plane doing the same thing. (mcm)

October 31, 1930—Flying Class of Five Here, front page article of the Mohave County Miner. From Needles, CA; William Randall of Needles’ Air Service will conducted the classes here in Kingman. He is expanding his instruction by two classes, one in Kingman and the other in Las Vegas. He uses the Needles Municipal Airport to teach some of his classes. On Mondays, he will teach five trainees from Kingman at Port Kingman. His other class with be on Thursday in Las Vegas. (mcm)

November 14, 1930—“Air Mail” Service East Available to City and County, front page article of the Mohave County Miner. Postmaster O. D. M. Gaddis has said that there will be faster service even with no air mail service. Kingman will have no direct air mail connection on both east and west. Western Air and TAT still use Port Kingman for refueling. “Air Mail dropped in the local post office by 5:30 PM will be dispatched as follows: East via trains 2 and 24, 24 arriving at Winslow making connection with the air mail plane leaving there as 5:50 AM. No western service is, of course, available.” (mcm)

December 19, 1930—Air Service for Kingman is Suspended, front page article of the Mohave County Miner. As of December 11, air passenger service from Port Kingman is suspended. The order has removed two of the four planes from service to Port Kingman. The Maddux lines had two planes landing at 12:30 and 1:30 PM using Ford Tri-motors. They have been transferred to the Pacific Coast until further notice. The other two planes from Western Air Express are air mail planes. So there is no passenger service from Kingman to the west. You have to go to Winslow to fly into Los Angeles. Port Kingman still has one of the best 24 hour radio services on the line, with four personnel working the facility. The suspension looks to be temporary. (mcm)

Girl Flyer Rides to Record over Lindbergh, page 5 article of the Miner. Ruth Nichols has a new transcontinental record. She set a new Pacific to Atlantic record time to surpass Col. Lindbergh. She made a visit to Kingman, recently. She is one of many famous or near famous people to visit Kingman, in past two years. With Port Kingman not buzzing with aviation activity, it is still useful for the tri-motor pilots to fly down low to see the field from the air to get their bearings. The town’s people are working on getting more work and use out of the air terminal. (mcm)

January 9, 1931—Two Planes Land Here During Storm, page 5 article in the Mohave County Miner. With stormy weather in and around Kingman, Transcontinental and Western Airline planes land at Port Kingman to ride out the terrific weather conditions. Port Kingman is an emergency airfield for TWA as they fly in this area of Arizona. There has been three days of bad weather. The two planes stayed at the airfield for the day and headed out today, because the weather is now clear. Along with the TWA planes were private planes using the airfield as refuge from the weather. (mcm)

January 23, 1931—Air Express Spans Nation in 36 Hours, front page article on the Mohave County Miner. “Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc., has announced an immediate 36 hour coast to coast air express to be developed into world-wide proportions.” The need for speed has increase a need for faster air service for shippers and traffic men. There have been some experiments of California gardenias being flown to New York City daily. The flowers are such good condition, that the florists needing more flowers from California. Also there will be connections with steamship lines and foreign to domestic airlines. (mcm)

February 27, 1931—Radio Range Airway Unit to be Built, on the front page of the Mohave County Miner. The U. S. Department of Commerce, the Airways Division has authorized a new radio station for Kingman. Ora Gruninger has won the contract for the construction. This new station location is at the Berry station near Route 66. The property is leased from Frank Kapp. The cost of the radio range will close to few thousand dollars, but no price tag has been published. The radio range is like the lighted beacon at night. The radio range will stay in constant contact with the planes crews and direct them on the proper flight path. There will be one built in Winslow and two more between Kingman and Los Angeles. (mcm)

March 6, 1931—Air Service is Resumed for Kingman Field, a front page article of the Mohave County Miner. Mr. Baker the manager for Port Kingman stated the regular daily service from TWA is back in service, passenger service to all points along the TWA line from Kingman. Flights three and four (with the Fokker planes) will be in place. The eastbound flight is 7 AM and the westbound is 7 PM. Kingman had no air service for the past couple of weeks. Flights one and two (with the Ford planes) are still suspended. The town’s residents are happy the air service is functioning again. Also an auxiliary power unit was installed at the field. It is there in case of main power failure. (mcm)

March 13, 1931—Kite Contest Holds Stage Here Sunday, front page article of the Mohave County Miner. Kingman’s Second Annual Kite Flying Contest will be held at the old airstrip, Wallapia Field. The Boys’ Work Committee of the Rotary Club is sponsoring the event on Sunday at 2 PM. Fred MacAlpine is the chairman of the event and he made the announcement. All boys and girls of grammar school age of Kingman are invited to complete. So far more than 90 children have signed up. There will be three age groups and two prizes for each group. Hoping for good winds for the day, that one day needed for the event. The grammar school pupils have been coached by Joe Smith the athletic instructor. For every evening dozens of boys and girls are busily practicing for the event in the strong March breezes. Transportation will be available at the drug store corner at 1 PM. (mcm)

Air Fighters May Base Here En Route East, another front page article of the Miner. The War Department has sent word that Kingman will be one of two scores of cities to be visited by the Army Air Corps units. The Air Corps is holding exercises at Dayton, OH. So all the units in the country are flying to Ohio, the exercises are being held from May 20 to 30. More that 670 planes will be involved. The exact time and date is not known and how many will stay in Kingman for the night. Some 335 observation planes, 205 pursuit, 51 attack, 36 bombardment and 56 heavy duty transport will attend the exercise and 740 officers and 631 enlisted men will be involved. This includes Air Corps and nation guard units. (mcm)

Aeronautics Bureau Bulletines Show Kingman Landing, page 5 article in the Miner. “Washington, D. C. --- The Aeronautical Branch of the Department of Commerce has just issued an Airway Bulletin describing the Kingman Field at Kingman, Arizona.” The Airways Bulletins are sent on request to pilots, aircraft operators, and other concerned with air navigation facilities. It is published in a loose leaf form, punched for binding and are issued to all airports. The front page of the Bulletin is divided into upper and lower halves. The upper has a general map of the city and vicinity showing the location of the airport with reference to the city, also including landmarks like highways, rivers, lakes, and principle railroad. The lower has a close-up sketch of the airport showing the dimensions of the usable landing area and positions of hangers and other buildings, the locations and character of the night lighting installation, the location and nature of obstructions, airport markings, and any useful data about the airport. (mcm)

April 3, 1931—Inaugurate Nigth Mail by April 10, page 5 article in the Mohave County Miner. Night air mail will come thru Kingman on April 10. Transcontinental Western Air Company is using a new type of all metal, single engine, low wing Northup plane for this night time air mail route. Emmett Baker the manager of Port Kingman, made the announcement of the air mail service. L. C. Elliott and Hugh S. Souther, of the US Department of Commerce, Airways Extension superintendents, and Charles R. Burnett, airplane mechanician, were traveling over the route for the past week. They were making a survey and location sites for new beacons. They fly over the site, pick the site they want and then drive out to the site for finalization. The new Northup airplane has great speed, by cutting time between Winslow to Los Angeles. (mcm)

April 17, 1931—Test Flight Plane Here, front page article of the Mohave County Miner. A veteran pilot of Transcontinental Western Air, Bill Coyle flew the Northup airplane to Kingman for a stop on the route on Wednesday night. This is the first flight of air mail at night from Los Angeles to New York. The new air mail service will start on Monday the 20^th. Port Kingman will be an occasional refueling stop. The Northup plane has a 600 hp Wasp engine, can cruise at 145 miles an hour, and top speed is 175 miles an hour. TWA has purchased 6 of these planes. With the Northup airplane, TWA can fly the mail in less than 24 hours coast to coast. (mcm)

May 8, 1931—Next Wednesday Kingman Host to Army Air Fleet, Community will be honored by fleet’s stopping and refueling. Caravan of cars to transport aviators to town for dinner. Interesting development of army air service told, front page of Mohave County Miner. On May 13, U. S. Army Air Corps will stop off in Kingman at Port Kingman for a short stay. The Air Corps is on its way to exercises in Dayton, OH. The stop is in Kingman is for the nice weather conditions and a great position on the national airways line. Every plane will be serviced at the airfield. It is the Army’s First Air Division flying thorough and being headed by Brigadier General and Assistant Chief of Air Corps Benjamin D. Foulois. Under his command are 672 planes. (mcm)

Fokker Planes of Two Types are Grounded, another front page article of the Miner. The U. S. Department of Commerce issued an order to ground all Fokker tri-motor airplanes. The two types are F-10 and F-10-A, built in the year of 1929. These are the types of airplanes used by Transcontinental and Western Airlines. The Fokkers will be placed into hangers at the main terminals. The Fokkers have been coming to Port Kingman the last two years. The Ford transports are still flight ready. The order was placed by the Navy. Saying the plane was unstable. Because of last month’s Fokker accident, it killed Knute Rockne and seven others, when the wing fell off the tri-motor. Other air services use the tri-motor for freight and mail. (mcm)

May 15, 1931—Ten Airships Visit Monday, Army maneuvers land here two days ahead of original schedule, front page article of the Mohave County Miner. “Hundreds of pieces of fighting aircraft of the army, navy and marine corps of the United States, groomed for the greatest of air maneuvers ever sponsored by the government, are today winging their way over various portions of the country in search of an “unseen enemy”.” Kingman played host for ten airplanes from Air Corps. The planes were ahead of schedule. They flew in formation over Kingman and landed at Port Kingman. There was a change in the schedule, first learned Friday night when three observation planes stayed the night in Kingman. All planes were serviced at Port Kingman. (mcm)

May 29, 1931—Air Bombing Group to be City’s Guests, Fleet of Thirty Army Plans to Stop off Here Friday, front page article on the Mohave County Miner. A week from today will be the 7^th Bombardment Group of the U. S. Air Corps arrival. Major Joseph T. McNarney commands the group and sent out announcement to Mohave County Chamber of Commerce. The 7^th BG consists of the 9^th and the 31^st Squadrons of March Field, Riverside, CA, the 11^th from Rockwell Field, San Diego, CA, the 208^th from Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX. The 208^th are returning on a different route. Some 30 aircraft, 40 officers and 38 enlisted men will make a stay here for as long as the servicing will take. The group is returning from exercises back east. (mcm)

June 5, 1931—Army Air Fleet Visiting Kingman Saturday Noon, Contingent of over thirty ships to arrive here at 11 o’clock tomorrow morning. Delayed at Wichita one day. Enroute to Pacific home port, front page of the Mohave County Miner. The group was schedule to be here at 11 AM on Friday, due to bad weather, they have been delayed for a day. The public have been officially invited to be out at Port Kingman. LeRoy Root the secretary of the Mohave County Miner will head the group from town. The Standard Oil will supply the oil and fuel for the bombardment group. (mcm)

June 12, 1931—Big Fleet of Planes Visit Local Port, Nine bombers and eighteen observation planes drop in sky harbor here for fuel and food, front page of the Mohave County Miner. “A hearty welcome was extended by Kingman’s citizens on the last Saturday morning at 10:15 o’clock when the planes and personnel of the Seventh Bombardment Group, U. S. Air Corps, zoomed over the local airport in formation and landed here for a two-hour stay and lunch.” There was a huge crowd looking over the aircraft. The aviators were served a hot lunch at the TWA terminal. The 11^th Bombardment Squadron won the distinction of the U. S. Air Corps’ demonstration squadron for the year while participating in aerial war games. (mcm)

Richfield Oil Quits Kingman, another front page article on the Miner. Richfield Oil will withdraw from its local plant here in Kingman. Standard Oil has won the contract from TWA. Ed Hilty the manager of the Richfield Oil Kingman plant made the announcement. Richfield has had the contact with TAT from the start. Standard Oil has purchased the TAT-Maddux fuel truck for their new operations. (mcm)

June 26, 1931—Paul Miller and Buck Kelley Avoid Crash in Airplane, page 8 article in the Mohave County Miner. Paul F. Miller, the editor of the Needles Nugget, and Russell “Buck” Kelley, both of California, took off from Searchlight, NV. While in flight, Mr. Kelley got a feeling about something wrong with airplane. Mr. Kelley is at the controls of the plane. Mr. Miller, the passenger, crawled out on the wing and founded that they has lost the wheel of the landing gear. Instead of bailing out, they decided to fly on to Needles. Ambulances and fire fighting equipment from Kingman went to the Needles airfield. Mr. Kelley landed the plane without causing any major damages except for the lost landing gear. The plane also had the same problem, which lead to a crash just a few weeks ago near Tucson. Mr. Miller and Dr. D. E. Buckley were on board. (mcm)

Air Mail, 2^nd section, Chamber of Commerce of the Mohave County Miner. “The chamber directors have been active in the endeavor to procure air mail service for Kingman at an early date. Likewise the chamber was instrumental in cooperation with the Board of Supervisors in obtaining the local landing field.” The chamber acted as host for the latest of flights of the Army Air Corps at Port Kingman. The chamber has received many commendations from the officers in charge and War Department. (mcm)

July 3, 1931—Famed Flyer’s Wife Visitor Here Tuesday, a front page article of the Mohave County Miner. Mrs. Harold Gatty, the wife of well known aviator, landed at Port Kingman on Tuesday morning, heading to New York to meet up with her husband. Mr. Gatty is flying round the world. They are meeting in New York City, he will finish his trip there and she left Los Angeles and will arrive Wednesday morning. They have kept in touch by United Press and Associated Press dispatches and by cables from her husband. The last time they had contact while he was in Siberia, he used the radio broadcast to talk to her. She was interviewed by a Miner reporter for United Press. She also talked about her flight, so far pleasant and wonderful people on board. (mcm)

July 17, 1931—Will Rogers Meets World Aviators at Home Reception, page 5 article in the Mohave County Miner. Last Monday, Will Rogers flew thorough here on an eastbound Transcontinental and Western Air plane. He was heading home to Claremore, OK. from Beverly Hills, CA. He will be attending a reception for Wiley Post and Harold Gatty. The reception is on Tuesday. (mcm)

July 24, 1931—Many Fokkers Again Flying, page 5 in the Mohave County Miner. The U. S. Department of Commerce, Airways Division ordered all Fokkers to be grounded and under go a rigid inspection, that had been several months now. Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc. has several of these aircraft and was affected by the grounding. The grounding was showing no leniency, until a week ago. So far, most of the Fokkers are passing the inspections and tests. They will be cruising back to Port Kingman in no time. The announcement was made by the Port Kingman Manager at noon today. (mcm)

North Arizona Airfields are Being Graded, another page 5 article of the Miner. “Flagstaff, Ariz., July 24 --- Construction of the three government airplane landing field in Northern Arizona is well under way and is expected to be completed in about 60 days, Frank C. Summers, government engineer, said here today.” After the construction of the airfields, beacon lights will be erected along the route of Albuquerque to Los Angeles. The cost of the three airfields is about $18,000. The locations of the fields are at Garland, 26 miles southeast of Flagstaff, at Holbrook and eight miles west of Winona, between Winslow and here. (mcm)

August 7, 1931—Radio Station gets Praised, front page article of the Mohave County Miner. Lt. Charles H. Howard, commander of the 11^th Bombardment Squadron of Rockwell Field at Coronado, CA., sent at letter to Harry Finklestein the manager of the government radio station here, this week. His letter was giving high praise for the radio system. “As the outstanding contact of the 11^th Bombardment Squadron during the return from the 1931 Air Corps Maneuvers, I want to pay your station a great compliment, both for your unusual clarity of transmission of valuable information to us.” (mcm)

October, 30, 1931—Kingman Named Key Town Stop Air-Bus Lines, page 8 of the Mohave County Miner. Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. and Greyhound Bus Lines have inaugurated a new service on October 29. Kingman was selected for a division point for the transfer of passengers. H. W. Beck, the traffic manager of TWA, stated, “This new service should develop a big increase in air traffic out of this city for the reason that Greyhound buses operating here on frequent schedules will act as feeders to our air line and in turn radiating out of here in many directions will add to the flexibility of the service by making it possible to reach scores of cities and towns in the territory around Kingman.” Mr. Beck added, “Kingman is one of the most important terminal points of both the T&WA system and Greyhound Lines.” He added more, “T&WA operates two flights daily out of here westbound to Los Angeles and San Francisco and two flights daily eastward to Kansas City and New York. All of these flights will be coordinated with one or more Greyhound bus arrivals or departures at Kingman.” A. N. Brion, the traffic manager fo