This Day in Aviation: April 4th, 1933 Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com Balloons are fun! Even the big ones…the gargantuan ones. Even their names are fun. Dirigible. Airship. Zeppelin. Blimp. Seeing one of these gigantic machines lazily (apparently lazily…but not really…as there’s much work in designing, building, and flying them) floating by. And while…
Aviation History Twofer: Okinawa and the Royal Air Force Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com While most of us are probably too “mature” to put salt in the sugar bowl, cigar loads in dad’s cigar, or tell your spouse with a straight face that you’ve decided to sell everything and become a Tibetan Monk…and then…
On This Day in Aviation History: Iwo Jima Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com When we think about Iwo Jima, we typically (and rightfully) think about the USMC infantry that slogged their way through horrific battle conditions to wrest the island from the hands of its Japanese defenders, with tragic consequences for those killed and…
On this day in aviation history: Pancho Villa and the First Aero Squadron Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com Being the first at something is a pretty special accomplishment. Being named “the First” and then actually “being” the first is really unique. Except, I suppose, for being first-born in my family, I’ve never been…
This Day in Aviation History: Aunt Effie and Outdoors Play Time Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com When I was a kid, we experimented a lot with launching things into the air. We found a pipe that was just the right diameter to have a golf ball slip down. Jammed into the ground at an…
Tuesday Twofer Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com Happy Leap Year in two days! Speaking of leaping, we’re going to leap between yesterday’s aviation history and today’s aviation history in our “Tuesday Twofer”. First, today’s aviation history. Being the very first at something in our great, big country is a goal many might pursue. But…
On this day in aviation history: German zeppelin L-4 Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com My Aunt Ann who died recently in Fort Smith at age 93 was our family matriarch, my mom’s sister, and one of two daughters of my maternal grandfather, Theophil Tröhler, his first name Americanized to Ted when he immigrated to…
A February 13th Twofer Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com It is said that, “To the victors go the spoils”. According to a web search on Bing, this term is a “proverbial expression that means the winner of a contest not only wins the subject of the contest, but receives all additional benefits as well.…