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

At dawn on July 28, 1929 Harold Bromley climbed into his Lockheed monoplane, perched at the top of a ramp, preparing for takeoff on his proposed 4,762 mile "hop" to Tokyo. A crowd of 25,000, some of whom had waited since 2a.m., gathered to see the plane take wing. The wooden vessel carried 904 gallons of gasoline and not much else, a flying gas tank. The new Tacoma airport, built with a $30,000 bond issue, had a 5,400 foot airstrip. An additional ramp was added at the beginning of the strip; when the plane rolled off the ramp it would gain momentum equivalent to another 1,000 feet of runway. At 6:08 a.m., the plane roared down the ramp and continued down the runway before swerving sharply and crashing. BGN-310I

Harold Bromley's Lockheed monoplane, the "City of Tacoma, " poised at top of the ramp at Tacoma Field prior to take off. The ramp was designed to give the large plane more lift. The huge orange Vega had a 48 foot wingspan, a open cockpit near the tail and a cruising speed of 150 miles per hour. Bromley was proposing to make a solo, nonstop 4,762 mile "hop" Tacoma to Tokyo. His flight ended in disaster when the overfilled tanks spewed gasoline, blinding him and he crashed the plane. Bromley, unhurt, oversaw the production of three more "City of Tacoma" planes. Two were designed by Lockheed and crashed during test flights. The final plane, designed by Emsco Aircraft of Downey, California, flew for 1,200 miles until fumes forced Bromley to turn back. BGN-310G

Military men and newspaper photographers surround Harold Bromley's plane "City of Tacoma" after it crashed in one of the first attempts to make a solo trans-Pacific flight. After Lindbergh's 1927 solo cross of the Atlantic in the "Spirit of St. Louis," a group of Tacoma businessmen decided to invest in a handsome and dapper Royal Air Force war hero named Harold Bromley who felt he could be the first to cross the Pacific and place their city's name in headlines all around the world. Bromley's first attempt failed in front of 27,000 spectators who had to be held back from stripping the crashed plane for souvenirs. BGN-723

The cargo ship "Tacoma" takes on lumber at the Defiance Mills dock in January of 1927

Harold Bromley's airplane the "City of Tacoma" poised at the top of the ramp prior to its July 28, 1929 take off. Bromley and his plane were financed by a group of Tacoma businessmen, the most voluble being lumber magnate John Buffelen, who wanted to put Tacoma on the map, in the same way that Lindberg made "St. Louis" a household world. The whole city of Tacoma supported the dashing Bromley, even voting a $300,000 bond to build a 5,400 foot air strip. A 100 foot wooden ramp was constructed at the beginning of the runway. The plane was placed at the top of the ramp. When the plane rolled off, it would gain momentum equivalent to another 1,000 feet of runway. At 6:08a.m., the huge monoplane roared down the ramp, veered sharply and crashed about 1,500 feet after its take off.

On July 28, 1929 Harold Bromley's Lockheed Vega monoplane, the "City of Tacoma," failed to take off on his first attempt to fly solo across the Pacific from Tacoma to Tokyo. The huge orange low wing craft was designed specifically for this 4,762 mile flight, with a 48 foot wing span, a 425 horse power engine and tanks that held 900 gallons of fuel.. Bromley, a dashing twenty-nine year old Canadian native, was a former Royal Air Force Lieutenant, a barnstorming stunt man, a World War I hero and a "Tacoma Boy," who now taught aviation at the Tacoma air field. On take off, everything went wrong. The over-filled gas tanks drenched gasoline onto the windshield; as Bromley leaned to the side for a better look, gasoline spewed onto his goggles and into his eyes. The plane veered off the runway and crashed. Bromley escaped from the gasoline soaked vessel unharmed. The insured wreck was followed by two more "City of Tacoma " monoplanes designed by Lockheed, each of which crashed in test flights. The third plane crash, and resulting fire in May of 1930, killed the pilot testing the plane for Bromley. BGN-310L

On July 28, 1929, Harold Bromley took off in his big orange Lockheed monoplane, the "City of Tacoma," planning to fly into history books as the first pilot to make a solo trans-Pacific flight. Instead, overfilled gas tanks spewed gasoline blinding Bromley who crashed the plane. The plane ended nose down with the right wing badly damaged and the fuselage cracked in at least two places; while the left wing, tail and motor remained largely undamaged. The crowd of 25,000 there to view the dawn take off had to be held back, to keep them from stripping pieces from the gasoline drenched plane as souvenirs. BGN-310M

Lt. Commander Richard E. Byrd (later Rear Admiral), the "Conqueror of the North Pole," poses with a Franklin car on February 5, 1927 during his stay as Tacoma's guest. Commander Byrd stands beside the car with Gus Ledbetter at the far right. The man in the center is not identified. He would be speaking on February 5th at the First Baptist Church about his career as a noted aviator and explorer. He was riding a crest of fame created when he and Floyd Bennett proclaimed to the world that they had flown over the North Pole on May 9, 1926. The remainder of his life, after 1928, would be devoted to his exploration of Antarctica. He died in 1957. (TNT 2/5/1927 p.1; Ledger 2/6/1927, pg. 1)

On April 28, 1927, a group of interested businessmen made the first Tacoma to Paradise Valley tourist trip by air. They were inspecting the possibilities of regular tourist flights from Tacoma to "Mount Tacoma" (Mount Rainier), making sights usually available only to climbers possible for the average tourist. Pictured, left to right, are Paul H. Sceva (Assistant to the General Manager of Rainier National Park Co.), Frank E. Roberts (Tacoma News Tribune), Vernon Bookwalter (pilot) and Vern C. Gorst (President of Pacific Air Transport.) The flight was made on a six passenger Fokker monoplane owned by Pacific Air, the coast contract mail carrier. (TNT 4/29/1927, pg. 1)

On April 27, 1928, Miss Franc Hale, local girl made good, returned to Tacoma. She was pictured stepping out of the special Pullman car belonging to the Walker Whiteside acting troupe. She carried an armful of American Beauty roses presented to her by the Chamber of Commerce. Miss Hale appeared as Mr. Whiteside's leading lady in two plays at the Helig Theater in Tacoma. Walker Whiteside was a famous actor whose career spanned 45 years, and material from Shakespeare to the movies. Miss Hale had attended Annie Wright and later acting classes in California and Seattle. She started out with a Portland stock company and later joined the acting companies of May Robson and John Cort. Later Miss Hale vocalized in the syndicated radio show "Jungle Jim," (1935-1954), appearing as Shanghai Lil. (TNT 4/27/1928, pg. 1)

On April 27, 1928, local girl Franc Hale returned to Tacoma on a special Pullman car belonging to her employer and mentor, famed actor Walker Whiteside. Miss Hale was appearing as Whiteside's leading lady in two productions at Tacoma's Helig Theater and Tacoma turned out to welcome their native daughter. Miss Hale poses with an armful of American Beauty roses; to the right is Mayor M.G. Tennent with a beribboned key to the city for her use. On the left is Clinton S. Reynolds presenting a less ornate key to the city to Walker Whiteside. In the center, holding his hat, is John Dower, president of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. Also present were Calvin Helig, head of the Helig Theater Co., and Miss Hale's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Hale. (TNT 4/27/1928, pg. 1)

ca. 1929. Herb Fahey, Lockheed test pilot, presents Harold Bromley with a lucky rabbit's foot prior to Bromley's attempt to fly the Lockheed Vega monoplane the "City of Tacoma" from Tacoma to Tokyo. The woman standing between the men is believed to be Bromley's first wife. The rabbit's foot did not give off much good luck since Bromley was blinded by gasoline spewing from overfilled tanks and crashed during his first attempt at the trans Pacific crossing on take off. Fahey was the test pilot on the second "City of Tacoma" which crashed in September of 1929 during testing. Fahey suffered a broken arm and skull fractures. He recovered but was killed months later test piloting another Lockheed plane. BGN-019

ca. 1929. The first "City of Tacoma" monoplane poised at the top of a ramp designed to give the plane more momentum on take off. On July 28, 1929, Harold Bromley intended to enter the history books as the first pilot to fly solo and nonstop from Tacoma to Tokyo. The early dawn flight was scheduled to take off from Tacoma Field, an area that is now part of McChord Air Force base. The large orange Vega crashed on takeoff. BGN-310K

ca. 1929. Herb Fahey, Lockheed test pilot, presents Harold Bromley with his lucky rabbit's foot prior to Bromley's attempt to pilot the Lockheed Vega "City of Tacoma," shown in the background, from Tacoma to Tokyo. The monoplane crashed on take off July 28, 1929 when the tanks were overfilled and Bromley was blinded by flying gasoline. The plane was insured and Lockheed constructed a new plane, using some of the parts of the original. Fahey was the test pilot when the second plane crashed in September of 1929 during tests in California. Fahey was seriously injured but recovered, only to be killed months later in an unrelated Lockheed crash.

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. 1928. The ship "President Jefferson" lies at dock next to the Sperry Mill probably in July or August of 1928

Cars and trucks line both sides of the 1300 block of Broadway in this photograph from July of 1931. All the buildings on the west side of the street including the Goodwill Store at 1320 Broadway, the Hotel Victoria at 1316 1/2 and the Brenden Hotel at 304 South 13th Street have been demolished. This whole block is currently occupied by the Sheraton Hotel, 1320 Broadway, which opened in 1984. Photograph taken for W.H. Opie & Co. Bowen # 310-266

ca. 1930. Harold Bromley's fourth airplane, the "City of Tacoma, " designed for his Tokyo to Tacoma flight. The red single engine high wing monoplane was built by Emsco Aircraft of Downey, California. It had a 60 foot "high lift" wing and was 35 feet from nose to rudder. The 425 horsepower Pratt & Whitney engine gave it a cruising speed of 115 mph. The plane could hold 1020 gallons of gasoline and 45 gallons of oil and would weigh over 10,000 pounds on take off. Bromley would now be accompanied on his flight by Australian Harold Gatty, serving as navigator, radio operator and co-pilot. The plane could fly 45 hours nonstop. Bromley reversed his trans-Pacific plans, now planning to fly Tokyo-Tacoma to take advantage of winds that would increase the plane's speed. They had the capability to fly 4,840 miles, the distance between the two cities was 4,779 miles, a 61 mile safety margin. (Bowen #269)

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)

ca. 1930. Harold Bromley's fourth airplane, NR153W also called the "City of Tacoma," preparing for his Tokyo to Tacoma flight. The red Emsco single engine monoplane roared off on September 14, 1930 from a 6,800 foot strip of hard packed sand at Sabishiro Beach, 350 miles north of Tokyo. Twenty four hours and 52 minutes later, it landed about 35 minutes north of its starting point. About 1200 miles out, 12 hours after taking off, the plane's exhaust system failed. Sickened by the fumes, Bromley turned the plane back to Japan. With his navigator Harold Gatty comatose, Bromley fought to keep consciousness and land the plane. The pair were discovered on the beach unconscious by Japanese fishermen. Both recovered, but Gatty refused to make the flight again. Bromley recalculated the flight and determined that it could not be made with this slow, heavy plane without refueling. His Tacoma backers, their money flow stalled by the Depression, abandoned the project. TPL-216