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Chapter 4 Local Aviation between the Wars Afamiliar truism after World War I was that after American farm boys became doughboys and viewed a larger world—Gay Paree or elsewhere—they really did not want to go back to the farm. For this and other reasons many men who returned from the war to be discharged in Fort Worth never left there. Others who enjoyed flying remained in the military until 1920 when all three local airfields shut down completely. These young fliers often accepted invitations to do exhibitions for country fairs and other events simply to maintain public interest in the Army Air Service.The popularity of airplanes after the war was a direct result of their increased use by the military during the war. Their continued popularity and progress in the Fort Worth area during the two decades between the world wars inspired a much greater emphasis on military defense activity later. Immediately following World War I and as late as 1923, most aviation fields in the United States remained military bases. The U.S. government created what they called the Model Airways System as an experimental project to link military bases. The first connection came in 1920 linking Washington, D.C. to Dayton, Ohio, St. Louis, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, and finally San Francisco. Later, officials proposed a northsouth route from St. Louis to San Antonio. The ongoing rivalry between Fort Worth and Dallas became an issue, and Fort Worth’s Aviation Club persuaded the Army to include Fort Worth on the route. Organizers solved the problem of pleasing both cities by making Dallas the stop on the flight north, and Fort Worth the stop on the flight south.1 Some returning World War I fliers created a short flight airline service in Fort Worth in 1919. Russell Pearson, K. C. Braymen, and D. H. McClure formed the Fort Worth Aerial Transportation Company and purchased thirteen surplus JN-4s.They made their first flight from River Crest Country Club with a plan to specialize in transporting gift packages from manufacturers like Fort Worth’s Pangburn Candy Company to mayors of neighboring cities. They apparently tried to be too specialized, for their 59 Local Aviation between the Wars company closed after only a few months. Despite their failure, this pioneering effort in commercial aviation would not be Fort Worth’s last.2 In order to encourage commercial aviation, Congress passed the Air Mail Act of 1925 (also known as the Kelly Bill), which authorized the postmaster general to contract for airmail service. This began the process of turning over government airmail routes to private contractors and marked the beginning of commercial aviation. In 1926 the Air Commerce Act gave the secretary of commerce responsibility for fostering air commerce through the establishment of airports and navigational assistance, and authorized the registration of aircraft and the certification of pilots. The Air Corps Act authorized the continued existence and expansion of the Army’s Air Service over a five-year period, changing the name from Air Service to Air Corps. The act authorized 1,518 officers, 2,501 cadets, 16,000 enlisted men, and 1,800 aircraft.3 These were part of the reason the Army sent Air Service Staff Sergeant William G. Fuller from Love Field in Dallas to Fort Worth to find a suitable site for military landings. The former Barron Field location southeast of Fort Worth seemed appropriate. However, military and city officials ultimately chose an area closer to Fort Worth near the abandoned Taliaferro Field. Located four and a half miles due north of Fort Worth (on North Main Street) the new field originally was called Fort Worth Airport when it opened in 1925, and the United States Army became its main user. The city of Fort Worth assumed control from the Army on April 1, 1926, and in 1927 city officials changed the name to Meacham Field in honor of Mayor H. C. Meacham who had urged its creation. Fuller, after his Army enlistment ended in 1927, became airport manager, a job he held with the city of Fort Worth (except while he was on active duty during World War II) until his retirement in 1961.4 Fort Worth leaders continued their love affair with air flight, holding regular meetings of the Fort Worth Aviation Club that had begun in the mid-1920s. The club was a legacy of the Southwestern Aeronautical Association , which city leaders formed in 1909. The Model Airways program was not...

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