While I was researching my first book: Rosie the Riveter in Long Beach, I came across the wonderful aviation history of Long Beach.
Long Beach made aviation history a number of times including in 1911, when Cal Rodgers landed in the water off Pine Avenue Pier and completed the first transcontinental flight. His plane and the mail bag he carried are in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Because of the municipal airport being established in 1923, Army and Navy fliers frequented our area for many years prior to bases being established here. Thanks to pioneer aviators like Earl Daugherty, Frank Champion and John Montijo, Long Beach was well-known as a center of aviation.
Amelia Earhart came to Long Beach to watch an air circus and then received her first flight from Frank Hawks, a Poly High School graduate and military pilot. Earhart learned how to fly solo and perform aerobatics from Montijo -- who served as one of the first Aviation Commissioners for the City.Other aviators such as Charles Lindbergh and Douglas Corrigan also frequented Long Beach. And our own first woman flier, Gladys O'Donnell beat Ameila Earhart in the Women's Air Derby.
A number of groups have asked me to talk about this book and the Rosie the Riveter book. I have made a video presentation on both which I narrate during my presentation. Please contact my office at: 570 6932 if you would like me to talk to your organization about Long Beach history.
