Airplanes--Tacoma; Airplane equipment; Air pilots--Tacoma;

Airplanes--Tacoma; Airplane equipment; Air pilots--Tacoma; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Drawing of an airplane with the propeller behind the cockpit and two wings that point towards the back after coming straight out to the sides of the craft.

Aircraft; Industrial design;

Evelyn Burleson beside her airplane, "Miss Liberty", at Mueller-Harkins Airport. On October 1, 1941, the Tacoma aviatrix flew her pictured Taylorcraft monoplane nonstop from Vancouver, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico. She arrived on the morning of the 2nd at 7:30a.m., completing the 1700 mile flight in 16 1/2 hours, 3 hours ahead of schedule. The plane was painted especially for the flight in white with red and blue stripes, a torch bearing Liberty and emblazoned with "WAD" (Women Also Defend.)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Monoplanes;

Aerial views of Evelyn Burleson in her airplane, "Miss Liberty," in flight from Canada to Mexico in October of 1941. Tacoma Times photographer Bob Richards and pilot Vernon Hubert met up with her over the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. yards and accompanied her as far as Kelso, snapping these pictures enroute. (T. Times 10/2/1941, pg. 1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

Aerial views of Evelyn Burleson in her airplane, "Miss Liberty," in flight from Canada to Mexico in October of 1941. This picture was captured by a neighboring plane as she passed through Pierce County. (T. Times)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

Aerial views of Evelyn Burleson in her airplane, "Miss Liberty," in flight from Canada to Mexico. The Taylorcraft monoplane was painted especially for the trip: white with red and blue stripes, a depiction of Miss Liberty and the letters "WAD," for Women Also Defend. (T. Times 10/2/1941, pg. 1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

On October 1, 1941, Mrs. Evelyn Burleson flew her Taylorcraft monoplane, the "Miss Liberty," nonstop from Vancouver, B.C., to Tiajuana Mexico. She arrived on the morning of the 2nd at 7:30a.m., completing the 1700 mile flight in 16 1/2 hours, 3 hours ahead of schedule. (T. Times 10/2/1941, pg. 1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

On October 1, 1941, Tacoma aviatrix Mrs. Evelyn Burleson took off from Vancouver, B.C. for a solo nonstop flight to Tijuana, Mexico. She flew a petite Taylorcraft monoplane called "Miss Liberty." The plane was painted white with red and blue stripes, a torch bearing Liberty and emblazoned with "WAD" (Women Also Defend.) The plane usually held 12 gallons of gasoline, but 80 gallon tanks were installed for the flight. Tacoma Times photographer Bob Richards and pilot Vernon Hubert took to the air over Pierce County to snap these pictures. They communicated with Mrs. Burleson by sign language as she carried no radio due to weight restrictions. Thursday morning, October 2nd, 16 1/2 hours after leaving Vancouver, she arrived in Tijuana, a 1700 mile flight. (T. Times 10-2-1941 p.1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

Aerial views of Evelyn Burleson in her airplane, "Miss Liberty," in flight from Canada to Mexico. (T. Times)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

Aerial views of Evelyn Burleson in her airplane, "Miss Liberty," in flight from Canada to Mexico. Tacoma aviatrix Evelyn Burleson was influenced by aviation pioneer Ruth Elder. She learned to fly in 1928 in Lincoln, Nebraska and embraced aviation as her career. At the time of this October 1, 1941 flight, she was a freelance pilot but she was previously a flight instructor in Oregon. (T. Times 10/2/1941, pg. 1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

On October 1, 1941, Mrs. Evelyn Burleson, of Tacoma, took off from Vancouver, B.C. for a solo flight to Tijuana, Mexico. Flying the tiny "Miss Liberty", she flew the 1,600 miles non-stop in 16 1/2 hours. This photograph, by Tacoma Times photographer Bob Richards, was taken as her plane passed over Pierce County. (T. Times 10-2-1941 p.1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

Lt. Col. Charles W. Goodwin is pictured arriving by plane in Seattle on Northwest Airlines on February 9, 1941. He will travel from Seattle to Tacoma, where he is taking over the command of the 103rd Anti Tank Battalion. The 103rd is composed primarily of Tacoma men and is the last reserve unit to be inducted into regular Army service. The military men are, left to right, Capt. M.B. Benjamin, Capt. Lawrence J. Nelson, Lt. Col. Goodwin, Capt. Jesse Haire and Capt. T. Hadley St. Claire. (T. Times 2/10/1941, pg. 2)

Airplanes--1940-1950; Goodwin, Charles W.;

On October 3, 1939, Beulah Eskildsen (left) and Janet Hatch received instruction from Ben Barry about the instruments in a small mono-plane. Mr. Barry was a commercial pilot at the Mueller-Harkins Airport where the students of the federal government pilot training program, the Civilian Pilot Training Program, received their in-flight instruction. Imitating European countries, America had instituted the Civilian Pilot Training Program (1938-44) to increase the number of civilian pilots and our military preparedness. The program provided new opportunities in aviation for women and Afro-Americans. Women were trained under the program at a ratio of about 1 woman to 10 men, until war preparation demanded that all graduates enlist. At that time, women were excluded from the program because they were not allowed to fly in the military. But by mid 1941, the program had already trained around 2,500 women, many who became Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs.) (T.Times 10-05-1939 p.12; www.nationmuseum.af.mil)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flight training--Tacoma--1930-1940; Monoplanes; Eskildsen, Beulah; Hatch, Janet; Barry, Ben; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Mueller-Harkins Airport (Lakewood);

Girls from the College of Puget Sound interested in government training for pilots. Ben Barry, instructor, discusses the propeller operation with Beulah Eskildsen, left, and Janet Hatch. Radiators are mounted on each side to the nose of the airplane.These co-eds are part of the 400 nationwide taking the federal government up on its offer to train women as student pilots. (T. Times 10/5/1939, pg. 12)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flight training--Tacoma--1930-1940; Monoplanes; Eskildsen, Beulah; Hatch, Janet; Barry, Ben; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mueller-Harkins Airport (Lakewood);

Crowds view the crumpled remains of the Boeing Stratoliner, which crashed near Alder, Washington, 30 miles southeast of Tacoma, on March 18, 1939. Close-up of wrecked airplane debris. The experimental craft, costing $500,000, and weighing 20 tons, was designed to revolutionize cross country transportation by air. March 18th was supposed to be uneventful "Test Flight #19," however the aircraft inexplicably crashed, killing the crew of ten. The Air Safety Board in June of 1939 ruled the accident was due to structural failure. The plane went into an inadvertent spin, subsequent to a stall at an altitude of approximately 11,000 feet. The board felt that the failure of the wings and horizontal tail surfaces were due to excessive loads, cause by air pressure. The loads were in excess of what the wings and tail were designed for. (T. Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1; 6/2/1939, pg. 2)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

View of cracked fuselage. On March 18, 1939, people living near Alder, 30 miles southeast of Tacoma, looked-up to see this Boeing Stratoliner fall to earth in a fatal tailspin. The four-engine aircraft, designed to revolutionize cross-country transportation, broke apart as it fell and crashed into Nisqually Canyon. All ten men on-board the test flight were killed. The Air Safety Board of the Civil Aeronautics Authority immediately ventured to the scene to investigate the tragedy. (T. Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

Stratoliner crash at Alder, Washington, March 18, 1939. Close-up of wrecked airplane debris from the Boeing experimental craft. The ten member crew was killed, possibly instantly, when the 20-ton aircraft plunged two miles into the rural hillside. The crew was composed of experienced test pilots, Boeing employees, and two representatives from the Netherlands. The plane, preparing to be licensed for commercial flying, was to be tested on Monday, March 20, 1939, on a governmental inspection flight. Instead, both wingtips and part of its tail broke off while in the air. The Air Safety Board of the C.A.A. would be investigating the accident which occurred under excellent flying conditions with clear visibility. (T.Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

Stratoliner crash near Alder, March 18, 1939. Four men have the grim task of carrying a body on a stretcher to a road near the wooded accident site. Killed were: test pilots Harlan Hull, Julius Barr, Earl Ferguson and William Doyle; Boeing staff John Kylstra, Harry West, Ralph Cram and Benjamin Pearson, as well as Dutch representatives Peter Guilonard and A.G. Von Baumhauer. Escaping death was Bob Bush, Boeing engineer, who had been scheduled to be on the flight but was left off because there was no more room. (T. Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner; Litters;

Boeing Stratoliner crash at Alder, Washington, on March 18, 1939. A large crowd gathered around airplane wreckage manage to get very close to the smashed craft. The experimental craft had its cigar-shaped fuselage cracked wide open in three places. Both of its wingtips and part of the tail had broken off without warning, causing the plane to plunge directly to the hillside two miles below. The tragedy was viewed by many residents of this rural community, far away from normal flight paths. On Sunday, March 19th, crowds driving out to view the sight of this tragedy clogged the Mountain Highway. Parking was not available for a mile in either direction. (T. Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

Looking more like a crumpled soda can than an airplane, the experimental "sub-stratosphere" Boeing plane, the "Stratoliner," lies where it crashed on March 18, 1939 in the Nisqually Canyon, 1/4 mile from Alder. In nearly ideal flying conditions, the half million dollar plane, designed to revolutionize cross country flying, took off on its 17th test flight. It carried 10 people; test pilots for Transcontinental and Western Airlines, Boeing test pilots, engineers and executives and 2 representatives of the Royal Dutch Airline. Shortly after 12 noon, the four engine plane, all engines running loudly, took a nose dive and plunged to the hillside about two miles below, wing tips and tail structure breaking off enroute, and killing everyone on board. The tragedy was witnessed from the ground by at least 20 individuals. (T. Times 3/18/1934- 3/30/1934, pg. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

State Patrol officer Joe Sladek's head juts from the wreckage of the experimental aircraft, the Boeing Stratoliner, which crashed near Alder on the afternoon of March 18, 1939, killing everyone on board. The 33 passenger aircraft was intended by Boeing to revolutionize cross country air travel. The plane had already logged in sixteen successful test flights and was to receive government inspection, preparatory to being licensed for commercial travel, in just a few days. However, on routine "Test Flight #19," the plane, all four engines roaring, lost its wingtips and tail section and smashed into the hillside 2 miles below. The accident was witnessed by over 20 rural residents. As word of the accident got out, police were required to keep the crowd back. Even so, spectators managed to carry off several essential pieces of the debris. (T. Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner; Sladek, Joe;

Boeing Stratoliner crash at Alder, Washington, 30 miles southeast of Tacoma, on March 18, 1939. Close-up of wrecked airplane debris. The experimental craft, costing $500,000, and weighing 20 tons, crashed and killed a crew of ten on Saturday afternoon, March 18, 1939. Both wingtips and part of the tail broke off without warning, plunging the aircraft to the hillside two miles below. Flying conditions were excellent and there was clear visibility. The Stratoliner was preparing to be licensed for commercial flying and was scheduled for a governmental inspection flight on March 20, 1939. It had already logged in twenty flight hours. The plane's crew was composed of several experienced Boeing pilots and two Dutch representatives. (T. Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

Stratoliner crash at Alder, Washington, March 18, 1939. A large crowd gathered around the wrecked airplane which had unexpectedly broken up and plunged two miles into the rural hillsides near Alder, 30 miles southeast of Tacoma. There were no survivors among the ten member crew. The tragedy would draw people from all over the state, necessitating the deputizing of several local residents to handle crowd control. Despite additional police help, avid souvenir hunters made off with bits of debris from the Boeing craft. The $500,000 airplane weighed twenty tons and its cabin was constructed to carry 33 passengers when completed. It was designed to fly "sub stratosphere," 5-6 miles above earth, in the "no weather" zone. It had already logged in 20 hours of flight time prior to the accident. (T. Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

March 18, 1939, Boeing Stratoliner crash at Alder, Washington. Large crowd standing on and around the wrecked airplane. Pierce County Sheriffs and police from surrounding communities had to move the crowd back from the crushed aircraft. 3000 gallons of gasoline had spilled under the plane and the danger of explosion was present. The accident occurred approximately 1:21 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, 1939, when the experimental craft lost its wingtips and part of the tail and plunged into the rural hillsides near Alder. Ten men lost their lives, including two representatives from the Netherlands. The four-engine aircraft was supposed to revolutionize cross-country transportation and had already logged in twenty hours of flight time. (T.Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

View of cracked fuselage. On March 18, 1939, people living near Alder, 30 miles southeast of Tacoma, looked-up to see this Boeing Stratoliner fall to earth in a fatal tailspin. The four-engine aircraft, designed to revolutionize cross-country transportation, broke apart as it fell and crashed into Nisqually Canyon. All ten men on-board the test flight were killed. The Air Safety Board of the Civil Aeronautics Authority immediately ventured to the scene to investigate the tragedy. (T. Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

Airplane crash at Mueller-Harkins Airport. Group of people checking out airplane.

Accidents - Aircraft Accidents Transportation - Aircraft - Airplanes Transportation Facilities - Airports - Pierce County - Lakewood - Mueller-Harkins Airport

ca. 1939. Airplane accident at Mueller-Harkins Airport circa 1939. About a dozen people looking at crashed single-prop airplane whose wings have separated from its body. Cockpit appears empty.

Aircraft; Aircraft accidents--Lakewood--1930-1940; Mueller-Harkins Airport (Lakewood);

Artistic view of hanger, blimp and crew. Special hanger built at Fort Lewis to house the new 105 feet long airship.Men from across the United States make up the 125 member 3rd Balloon Company under Major M. E. McHugo. (T.Times, 3/11/1938, p.1).

Balloons (Aircraft)--Fort Lewis; Balloonists; Air pilots--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.);

Close-up of portrait of Army Air Corps blimp pilot Master Sergeant A. E. Miller seated in the two-man motorized undercarriage of the blimp. (T.Time, 3/11/1938, p. 1).

Balloons (Aircraft)--Fort Lewis; Balloonists; Air pilots--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.); Miller, A.E.;