Tuesday, April 20, 2021

First Plane To Land In Selinsgrove, Guarded By The Boy Scouts

Selinsgrove residents posing with the first plane to land in Selinsgrove, April 1920

On April 20 1920, one of three government aircraft mapping out a route for an international air race, made an unexpected landing on the farm of Luther C Smith on the Isle Of Que, Selinsgrove.
It was the first aircraft to land in Selinsgrove.  The local Boy Scout troop camped out around the plane to guard it overnight, while the crew stayed at the home of H.C. Schnee.

The Zimmerman Airport, Selinsgrove's first airport, opened 8 years later, very near where the plane landed in 1920.

AVIATORS FORCED TO LAND BY RAIN
 Forced to earth by adverse weather conditions, Lieutenant Colonel H. E. Hartney, and Captain H. T. Douglass of headquarters, - American . Air Service, Washington, landed at Selinsgrove late yesterday afternoon, making their second stop in an important flight from Ottawa, Canada, to Washington.

 The plane, a big De Haviland 9, a double sealer of the bombink type used, overseas, landed in a field on the farm of Luther Smith on the Isle O'Que about 4,.30o'clock yesterday afternoon.

The landing was made without accident. Lieutenant Colonel Hartney and Captain Douglass were entertained over night a the home of H. C. Schnee at Selinsgrove. remaining until noon today when they "hopped" off for Middletown, after having received instructions from aero headquarters at that place. They will then depart for Washington. 

The men are engaged in mapping out a route for an international air race. Later they expect to take in a "rainbow" flight across the continent and a proposed flight to Alaska. They left Ottawa at 11 o'clock yesterday morning and landed in Ithica. New York, in an hour and fifty minutes. Leaving that place they made no stops until forced to descend at Selinsgrove. 

Their plane was guarded overnight by Boy Scouts.

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Stories & History From Selinsgrove, Pa

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