The June edition of Long Beach Magazine (on the shelves at Barnes and Nobles and Borders Bookstores) includes a very nice review of my latest book on the history of Long Beach: Early Aviation in Long Beach.
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.
Notice: This is not a City of Long Beach site.
Dear Readers: Please note that this is not a City of Long Beach website and is not paid for nor maintained by taxpayer funds.
If you contact Gerrie Schipske through this site on any matter pertaining to the City of Long Beach, a copy of your contact will be forwarded to her official city email as an official public record.
Save Station 18
Popular Posts
-
Thanks to my colleagues for supporting an item I sponsored with Councilwoman Rae Gabelich that approves Long Beach Fire and Police departmen...
-
On Tuesday, December 3, the Long Beach City Council on a 7-1 vote (Schipske voting “no”) approved spending over $1 million to hire a consu...
-
The Water Treatment plant was filled to capacity tonight as residents came to listen to information on many subjects impacting the 5th Counc...
-
The City of Long Beach is launching an innovative homebuyer financial assistance program. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) F...
-
Happy 4th of July! After you recover from this day and night of celebration, settle down and read several documents given to me down at City...
-
Long Beach Municipal Band 1925 I have several pieces of good news concerning the future of the Long Beach Municipal Band. As you kno...
-
Long Beach Police Department (California) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) 12/12/2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE #2012 Subje...
-
Barbara Boxer, United States Senator from California (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Dianne Feinstein, member of the United States Senate. (Photo...
-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Mark Hedlund May 2...
-
I will have to pull the video on the debate. I could swear that we were told during the discussion that stores such as Target, Walmart and K...