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Wingfoot Air Express crash...
Wingfoot Air Express crash...
Item # 562520
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July 22, 1919
THE NEW YORK TIMES, New York, July 22, 1919
* Wingfoot Air Express crash
* Blimp - airship - dirigible
This 32 page newspaper has one column headlines on the front page:
* 11 KILLED, 27 HURT IN BLAZING BLIMP'S FALL IN CHICAGO
* Airship Plunges Through Glass Roof of Illinois Trust and Savings Bank
* Employees Enveloped in Fiery Mass--Four Occupants of the Balloon Jump
and more. Tells of the Wingfoot Air Express crash involving an early airship.
Other news of the day. Usual browning with little margin wear, otherwise in good condition. Should be handled with care.
wikipedia notes: The Wingfoot Air Express was a dirigible that crashed into the Illinois Trust and Savings Building in Chicago on Monday July 21, 1919. The dirigible, owned by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company was transporting people from Grant Park to the White City Amusement Park. One crew member, two passengers, and ten bank employees were killed in what was, up to that point, the worst dirigible disaster in United States history.
The craft caught fire at about 4:55pm while cruising at an altitude of 1200 feet over the Chicago Loop. When it became clear the dirigible was lost, the pilot and chief mechanic of the Wingfoot used parachutes to jump to safety. A third person who parachuted from the dirigible broke both legs and later died in hospital.
At the Illinois Trust & Savings Bank building at the northeast corner of LaSalle Street and Jackson Boulevard, 150 employees were closing up the day's business in and around the main banking hall, which was illuminated by a large skylight. The remains of the Wingfoot struck the bank's skylight directly and flaming debris fell through to the banking hall below. As well as the ten employees who were killed, 27 staff were reported injured.
In addition to causing the city of Chicago to adopt a new set of rules for aviation over the city, the crash led to the closing of the Grant Park Airstrip and the creation of Chicago Air Park.
Category: The 20th Century
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