Louisiana Aviation: An Extraordinary History in Photographs

3. Skies Fit for a Kingfish: Shushan Airport

beginnings 47 chapter three SKIES FIT FOR A KINGFISH SHUSHAN AIRPORT Governor Huey P. Long hoped to achieve his ambition to win the White House in the 1936 presidential election. As a means of achieving this goal, he intended to transform Louisiana into a symbol of post-Depression recovery, an advanced utopia where “none should be too poor and none should be too rich, and every comfort and convenience known to man would be provided.” A number of options for building a state-owned public airport in the city of New Orleans were explored. Governor and Senator-elect Long made it clear to the residents of the Crescent City that while he fully supported construction of a much-needed modern airport, he had no intention of allowing the New Orleans–based anti-Long factions access to its control. Folklore suggests that Abraham L. Shushan, one of Long’s closest confidants and president of the Orleans Levee District, pledged to the governor that an airport could be built on “reclaimed land” pumped from the bottom of Lake Pontchartrain to create a state-owned peninsula, thereby depriving the city’s administration of any authority in operating the facility or reaping its revenues. Impressed with his lieutenant’s ingenuity, Long instructed him to make it a masterpiece, and to name it the Shushan Airport. 48 louisiana aviation Construction of the massive Shushan Airport seawall (1930). (Photo courtesy of the Abe L. Shushan Collection, Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans) skies fit for a kingfish: shushan airport 49 Although New Orleans mayor Semmes Walmsley was bombarded with petitions from the local business community to build a public airport closer to New Orleans, he dismissed Shushan’s proposal that a landfill project currently under way creating Lakeshore Drive could be expanded to accommodate a new airport, preferring instead to have the facility built within city jurisdiction. Other anti-Long opponents also objected, citing original legislation that divided the lakeshore into five zones, known as “reaches,” and prohibited work on more than three of the zones at any given time to prevent congestion. Long called a special session and had the legislation amended to allow work on the airport to begin immediately. A triangular-shaped landfill within an approximately one square mile area was created from earth pumped out of the lake bottom and encased in a concrete seawall peninsula extending off the southeastern shore of the lake. Sparing no expense and under the direction of Governor-turned-Senator Long, Shushan ensured that the magnitude of the landfill was matched by the beauty of the terminal building and hangars constructed on it. Each structure was ornately crafted and adorned in art deco splendor. Eight aviation murals by the artist Xavier Gonzalez were commissioned and displayed on a second-floor balcony promenade in the terminal building. Every corner of the building was crafted by WPA artisans , featuring designs within the molding, ironworks, the centerpiece compass rose, and the accompanying marble staircase. Abe Shushan’s initials were prominently engraved in many of these features. A sculptured “Fountain of Four Winds” and an Olympic-size public swimming pool were also planned and later built in front of the two hangars. Following years of construction, Shushan Airport was officially dedicated the week of February 9, 1934. Abe Shushan and Governor Oscar K. Allen, successor to Long, flew to the field from the Baton Rouge Airport and received an artillery salute upon arrival. As part of the festivities, the Pan American Air Races were established and planned as an annual event on the field. The inaugural race lasted through the following Sunday, February 18, and featured several famous racing pilots including Jimmie Wedell, who flew to victory in the 100-kilometer competition with his new aircraft the 45. Retired racing pioneer James Doolittle participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The opening ceremonies were not without incident. Thunderstorms delayed the events. While landing following a stunt-flying exhibition , pilot “Captain” Merle Nelson crashed on the new runway. Nelson survived the impact unscratched but was trapped in the wreckage . During Nelson’s attempt to escape, the aircraft exploded, burning him to death in full view of the shocked spectators. On the final day of the races, February 18, parachute jumper Ben Grew, and his pilot, Charles Kenily, were killed when Grew’s chute opened prematurely and became tangled on the tail of the airplane...