ca. 1928. A man with a fuel can stands next to a Red Crown Gasoline truck as two men work at fueling a biplane.

Biplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fuel tanks;

ca. 1929. Two men work at filling a plane with fuel from a truck that has two signs on it that read Red Crown Gasoline. This photograph was taken circa 1929.

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fuel tanks;

ca. 1929. People crowd around to view Harold Bromley's airplane, the "City of Tacoma," at the Tacoma Field. This picture was probably taken on July 19, 1929 when Bromley arrived at Tacoma Field after a flight of 8 hours 17 minutes from Los Angeles in his new bright orange Lockheed Vega monoplane. To the right was the temporary hangar erected for the plane, a wooden framework covered by canvas. The city also erected a new 5400 foot runway for the flight. Bromley and his plane had captured the attention and newspaper headlines of Tacoma. The newspapers rang out "Tacoma to Tokyo!" Bromley was planning, with the backing of Tacoma businessmen, to make the first transPacific flight, a distance of 4,762 miles. It would be the longest flight segment ever flown. Thousands crowded the airfield to see the plane and history in the making. On July 28, 1929, Bromley's roared down the runway from the top of a ramp. It proceeded down the runway before veering off to the left and crashing nose first in the ground. A dazed Bromley descended from the cockpit, now 9 feet from the ground due to the plane's 45 degree angle, unhurt.The plane had crashed when gasoline from the overloaded tanks blinded Bromley. The crowds rushed the plane in a mob, held off by a ring of firemen and officers surrounding the gasoline soaked plane.

Bromley, Harold--Associated objects; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Aeronautics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1928. Young woman wearing 1920s style flight suit and parachute stands on wing of a bi-plane. She may be practicing for a parachute jump. The plane is sitting on the ground, probably at Tacoma Field. The plane has a winged logo that says, "Bergen Bromley Flying Service." Next to the pilots cockpit, on the side of the plane is the name R. N. Bergen. His partner was Harold Bromley, best remembered for his failed attempts to fly from Tacoma to Tokyo.

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bergen Bromley Flying Service (Tacoma);

ca. 1930. Man in suit holding a hat and woman in coat and hat holding a closed umbrella stand at the entrance door to a plane. Man in old style pilots suit and cap crouches next to the plane, sorting what appears to be mail. Word "Pacific" clearly visible on side of plane. The plane is possibly a carrier for Pacific Air Transport, which handled air mail and package delivery from Tacoma in the late 1920's. Man to the right holds what appear to be mail bags.

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mueller-Harkins Airport (Lakewood); Air mail service--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley in cockpit of his Lockheed airplane the "City of Tacoma" prior to his ill-fated July 28, 1929 attempt at a trans Pacific Tacoma to Tokyo flight. The all wood low wing monoplane was painted bright orange. The original design was the Vega, designed for Capt. Hubert Wilkins' Antarctic expedition. It was modified to have a larger engine and to hold enough gasoline for what would be the longest single flight ever undertaken. The handsome Bromley, 29 at the time of the flight, was a dashing Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, a former barnstormer and stunt pilot, who taught aviation at the fledgling Tacoma Airfield. The flight ended in disaster when spewing gasoline blinded Bromley in take off and the plane crashed nose down just off the runway, with Bromley's tail cockpit nine feet off the ground. Three more planes were built over the next 2 years, but Bromley never reached his goal of a record flight. He died at the age of 99 in 1997, after a full life as a pilot, a federal aviation inspector, a grape and date farmer and a real estate salesman. BGN-310J

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley posed in his Lockheed plane "City of Tacoma" at Tacoma Field, preparing for his July 28, 1929 flight from Tacoma to Tokyo. Excitement seized the nation as Charles Lindbergh conquered the Atlantic in 1927 and a flight across the Pacific beckoned as the next great prize. Bromley, then 28, persuaded a group of Tacoma businessmen headed by lumberman John Buffelen to financially support his efforts to make the alliterative "Tacoma to Tokyo" nonstop solo flight, putting their city's name on the aviation map. The "City of Tacoma," the low wing Lockheed monoplane created for the flight, weighed 8,850 pounds including its load, had an open cockpit near the wing, a Wasp 425 horsepower engine, a cruising speed of 150 miles per hour and carried 885 gallons of gasoline. There was a little room left over for three compasses, an inflatable raft, a flare gun and sandwiches. TPL-217

ca. 1930. A large crowd gathers around Harold Bromley's fourth "City of Tacoma" plane purchased by lumberman John Buffelen on July 11, 1930, at a bargain price of $15,000. The three previous "City of Tacoma" planes were Lockheeds; this red, single-engine monoplane was built by Emsco Aircraft of Downey, California, the twelfth Emsco manufactured. It was registered as NR 153W and had a fuel capacity of 1,005 gallons. Harold Bromley had long desired to make a solo trip spanning the Pacific Ocean but after the three Lockheeds crashed, he decided to attempt the journey from Japan to take advantage of tail winds and also hired a skilled navigator and co-pilot, Harold Gatty, to accompany him. On September 14, 1930, the duo took off on a makeshift runway at Sabishiro Beach, 350 miles north of Tokyo, on their way to Tacoma some 4000 miles away. Their exhaust system failed when they were 12 hours and 1,200 miles over the Pacific and they were forced to return to Japan. Sickened by the fumes, Bromley managed to land the plane 35 miles north of their starting point. Navigator Gatty refused to make the flight again and Bromley's Tacoma businessmen backers, facing the Depression, could not afford to finance any more attempts. The plane was stored in Japan and was sold in 1932, its registration number changed, and in due time, scrapped. Harold Bromley continued to live a full life with careers in federal aviation inspection, grape and date farming and real estate; he passed away at the age of 99 in 1997. (Boyne: Best of Wings Magazine, p. 70-71)

ca. 1930. Pilot Harold Bromley, second from right, navigator Harold Gatty, right, and two unidentified men pose next to Bromley's fourth plane, the "City of Tacoma," prior to Bromley and Gatty's September 14, 1930 attempt to cross the Pacific nonstop from Tokyo to Tacoma. Bromley had chosen Australian native Gatty to accompany him as navigator, radio operator and copilot. Gatty, a wiz kid at navigation, devised the ground-speed and drift indicator that forms the basis of the modern day automatic pilot. He helped develop the Weems system of navigation used by the Lindberghs. He would later accompany Wiley Post on his 1931 around the world flight in a record 8 days, 15 hours and 51 minutes. Bromley and Gatty's attempt at a nonstop trans-Pacific flight was foiled by a failed exhaust system on the plane. The fumes almost cost them their lives and Gatty refused to make another attempt at the flight. TPL-8798

ca. 1930. Unidentified man and mechanic pose next to Harold Bromley's Tacoma to Tokyo plane, a single engine monoplane built by Emsco Aircraft of Downey, California. The plane was taken apart and shipped to Tokyo aboard the ship President Lincoln. It was reassembled and prepared for the nonstop 4,779 mile flight from Tokyo to Tacoma. The plane took off with Bromley and navigator Harold Gatty on September 14, 1930. Twenty four hours and 52 minutes later, they landed just miles from their take off point; having been overcome by exhaust fumes during the flight. (Bowen #268)

On July 19, 1929, Harold Bromley arrived at Tacoma Field after a flight of 8 hours 17 minutes from Los Angeles in his new bright orange Lockheed Vega monoplane named the City of Tacoma. Bromley and his plane had captured the attention and newspaper headlines of Tacoma. He was planning, with the backing of Tacoma businessmen, to make the first transPacific flight, a distance of 4,762 miles. The planned flight on July 28th ended in disaster when spewing gasoline blinded Bromley in take off and the plane crashed nose down just off the runway, with Bromley's tail cockpit nine feet off the ground. Three more planes were built over the next 2 years, but Bromley never reached his goal of a record flight.

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)

At approximately 5:30a.m. on July 28, 1929, a figure turns the propeller on Harold Bromley's plane "City of Tacoma," as Bromley prepares to take off on a 4,762 mile solo flight from Tacoma to Tokyo, Japan. A crowd of 25,000 had been gathering since 2 a.m. to watch Bromley fly into the history books. At 4 a.m., the long process of filling the plane with over 900 gallons of gasoline began. The take off was pushed back to after 6 a.m. As the day grew warmer, the gas expanded; and as the plane roared down the 100 foot ramp at dawn, gasoline began to spew from the now overfull tanks onto the windshield. As Bromley leaned to the side to get a clearer view, the gas splashed onto his goggles and as he pushed them up his head, the gas splashed into his eyes. The plane careened off the runway, crashing nose down in a pool of gasoline. Although Bromley was unhurt the crash ended this attempt to fly to Tokyo. BGN-310N

View from ground level, looking up at Harold Bromley's Lockheed monoplane, the "City of Tacoma," poised at the top of a 100 foot ramp prior to sweeping down the ramp on takeoff. The momentum gained in the descent down the ramp was the equivalent to an extra 1,000 feet of runway. Bromley makes a dashing figure in the open cockpit near the tail, in his aviators coat, helmet and goggles. He was attempting to be the first pilot to make a solo, nonstop trans-Pacific flight. His attempts ended in disaster as gasoline from the overfilled tanks blinded him and he crashed the plane. The feat would not be accomplished until October of 1931 by barnstormer Clyde Pangborn and wealthy financier Hugh Herndon, who landed in Wenatchee after departing from Japan. BGN-310B

Harold Bromley's plane "City of Tacoma" after its crash taking off on a proposed nonstop flight Tacoma to Tokyo. The year was 1929 and America was aviation crazy. In 1927, Lindbergh had flown solo over the Atlantic and returned to a hero's welcome. A nonstop Pacific flight was the grand prize to all ambitious pilots. Twenty eight year old Harold Bromley was backed by Tacoma money in his quest to fly Tacoma to Tokyo. On July 28, 1929, his wooden Lockheed Vega monoplane roared down the specially constructed 100 foot wooden ramp designed to give it more lift. Its tanks had been filled early in the morning, as departure time grew nearer, the day grew warmer and the gasoline expanded. As the plane attempted to take off, the gasoline spewed back onto the windshield. As Bromley leaned to one side for a clearer view, the gasoline hit his goggles and then his eyes. The plane careened off the runway to the left and crashed, its right wing crushed and the fuselage cracked in several places. Bromley was unhurt. BGN-724

Last minute fine tuning being done on Harold Bromley's all wood Lockheed Vega monoplane "City of Tacoma," in which he planned to fly solo and nonstop to Tokyo Japan. The plane was financed by a group of Tacoma businessmen headed up by lumber czar John Buffelen. The big orange low wing craft was built in California and designed by Los Angeles aircraft engineer Woody Deeds. It weighed 8,850 pounds including its load. It had an open cockpit near the tail, a 425 horsepower engine and carried 885 gallons of gasoline and 30 gallons of oil. A 5,400 foot runway was completed at "Tacoma Field," the new airport located at South Tacoma Way & Steilacoom Blvd., now a part of McChord Air Force Base. A 100 foot wooden ramp was erected at the beginning of the runway to give the heavy plane additional momentum. BGN-310C

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;

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.;

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;

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

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

A Control Line Model Airplane Meet took place at Tacoma Stadium Bowl. The rescue helicopter from McCord Field made a special appearance at the event. The helicopter arrived and gracefully landed, impressing the large Tacoma crowd. The event was sponsored by the Tacoma Young Men's Business Club (T. Times, 1/27/47, p. 47).

Helicopters--Tacoma; Search & rescue operations; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Military air shows--Tacoma;

US Air Force jet airplane. The pilot can be seen clearly in the cockpit. The jet was stationed at McChord Air Force Base. Ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune.

Airplanes; Fighter planes--U.S. Air Force--1950-1960;

This photograph of a North American F-86D fighter on the runway at McChord Air Force Base was taken in December of 1953 for an article on the history of aviation that appeared in the Tacoma News Tribune. In 1953 the F-86D Sabre was the fastest regulation military aircraft in the world. In July of that year it had set a new world speed record of 715.697 m.p.h. over a 3 km course. The only thing faster was the experimental Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket which by December of 1953 had been clocked at speeds up to 1,327 m.p.h. (Ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune.) (TNT 12/12/1953 p.16)

Airplanes; Fighter planes--U.S. Air Force--1950-1960;

ca. 1950. Copy of customer print. Six Air Force personnel, three of them pilots, pose in front of three jets in an undated photograph. The pilots are equipped with parachutes and holding helmets. These men are probably assigned to the 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. The actual date of the original print is unknown; a print was made on March 25, 1957. Photograph ordered by Munson-Smith Motors.

Airplanes; Military air pilots;

ca. 1950. Copy of customer print. Two airmen, backs to the camera, grip the wing of an Air Force jet in an undated photograph. The plane is a F-102A fighter intercepter. Each serviceman is wearing a flight jacket with a "318th F15" label on the back, along with the same Mach Wave emblem shown on the tail of the plane. The logo consisted of two overlapped chevrons, suggesting space age theme. These men may have been assigned to the 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at McChord Air Force Base. The photograph was possibly part of a set produced by the Public Relations Office when the 318th was upgrading their aircraft from the F-94c two seat fighters to the pictured version. The F-102A fighters were later assigned to the 57th Fighter Group 64th FIS, Paine Field. They were assigned to the Philippine Islands for support during the Vietnam War. Photograph ordered by Munson-Smith Motors. Copy of print was made on March 25, 1957. (information on the fighter and emblem supplied by patron)

Airplanes; Military air pilots;

The dirigible "Shenandoah," commissioned by the US Navy, paid a two day visit to Camp Lewis in October of 1924. A special 165 foot tall striped mooring mast was specially constructed for the visit. The giant dirigible, patterned after a German Zeppelin captured by the French in 1917, hovered silently in the air over gawking spectators and their automobiles. On September 3, 1925, a mere nine months later, the airship was caught in a thunderstorm and torn to pieces over Noble County, Ohio. Miraculously, 29 of its 43 crew members survived. The mast stood at Fort Lewis until 1936. (Richards copy negative)

Airships; Mooring masts; Camp Lewis (Wash.); Military camps--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The St. Joseph Medical Evaluation team prepares to board the waiting FH110 helicopter on January 19, 1971. A temporary helipad, marked with an enormous "H," has been laid on muddy ground. A white ambulance with hatch open is parked nearby. Photograph ordered by St. Joseph Hospital.

Helicopters--Tacoma--1970-1980; Ambulances--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Fort Lewis ground crew holding lines to the new blimp on its first flight since arriving on February 10. The crew is part of the 125 member 3rd Balloon Company. (T.Times 3/11/1938, p.1).

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

Tri-motored Stinson airplane crash at Tacoma Air Field. State Patrol Sgt. Lou Geer, patrolman Mike Wayno, Deputy Sheriff Lyle Lathrop and patrolman Cliff Tolson examine the tangled wreckage that killer 4 and injured 7 sight-seers. (T.Times, 10/25/37).

Accidents - Aircraft Accidents - Airplane Accidents Transportation - Aircraft - Airplanes - Stinson Airplanes