Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
BOWEN TPL-6910
Date(s)
- 1929-07-25 (Creation)
Extent
Name of creator
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On July 25, 1929 at Tacoma Field, nine year old Clasina Buffelen broke a be-ribboned bottle of Puget Sound water across the nose of Harold Bromley's bright orange Lockheed Vega, christening it the "City of Tacoma." Assisting her in the ceremony was seven year old Evelyn R. Miyazaki, dressed in a kimono. Clasina was the daughter of John Buffelen, one of Bromley's backers. Evelyn was the daughter of C.S. Miyazaki, secretary of the Japanese Association of Tacoma. The plane that Bromley was planning to fly from Tacoma to "Tokio" had the flags of the United States and Japan on her wings. She was covered with floral tributes from fans, including a replica of the plane formed of flowers. The attempted flight on July 28th was a failure, when gasoline from the overfilled tanks blinded Bromley and he crashed on takeoff. (TDL 7/26/1929, pg. 1-article & alt. photographs)