COLORADO!!

THANK YOU!

YOUR PURCHASE OF THESE BOOKS SUPPORTS THE WEB SITES THAT BRING TO YOU THE HISTORY BEHIND OLD AIRFIELD REGISTERS

Your copy of the Davis-Monthan Airfield Register 1925-1936 with all the pilots' signatures and helpful cross-references to pilots and their aircraft is available at the link. 375 pages with black & white photographs and extensive tables

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The Congress of Ghosts (available as eBook) is an anniversary celebration for 2010.  It is an historical biography, that celebrates the 5th year online of www.dmairfield.org and the 10th year of effort on the project dedicated to analyze and exhibit the history embodied in the Register of the Davis-Monthan Airfield, Tucson, AZ. This book includes over thirty people, aircraft and events that swirled through Tucson between 1925 and 1936. It includes across 277 pages previously unpublished photographs and texts, and facsimiles of personal letters, diaries and military orders. Order your copy at the link.

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Military Aircraft of the Davis Monthan Register 1925-1936 is available at the link. This book describes and illustrates with black & white photographs the majority of military aircraft that landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield between 1925 and 1936. The book includes biographies of some of the pilots who flew the aircraft to Tucson as well as extensive listings of all the pilots and airplanes. Use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author, while supplies last.

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Art Goebel's Own Story by Art Goebel (edited by G.W. Hyatt) is written in language that expands for us his life as a Golden Age aviation entrepreneur, who used his aviation exploits to build a business around his passion.  Available as a free download at the link.

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Winners' Viewpoints: The Great 1927 Trans-Pacific Dole Race (available as eBook) is available at the link. This book describes and illustrates with black & white photographs the majority of military aircraft that landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield between 1925 and 1936. The book includes biographies of some of the pilots who flew the aircraft to Tucson as well as extensive listings of all the pilots and airplanes. Use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author, while supplies last.

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Clover Field: The first Century of Aviation in the Golden State (available in paperback) With the 100th anniversary in 2017 of the use of Clover Field as a place to land aircraft in Santa Monica, this book celebrates that use by exploring some of the people and aircraft that made the airport great. 281 pages, black & white photographs.

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I'm looking for photographs and information about Peterson Field to include on this page. If you have some you would like to share, please let me KNOW.

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PETERSON FIELD, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

According to Golden Age reference manuals used by pilots, the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, originally named Peterson Field, was located six miles southeast of the city post office. It was a sod square 5,280 ft. on each side, with the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to the immediate west.

The photograph below, ca. 1933, from this REFERENCE, shows the old Peterson Field with the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the background. The description of the field is typical for the era. Note the availability of only one-way radio. The photo shows no trace of the standard white circle or "... COLORADO SPRINGS embedded in the field."

Colorado Springs Airport, 1933 (Source: Webmaster)
Colorado Springs Airport, 1933 (Source: Webmaster)

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A 1937 Department of Commerce publication describes the Municipal Airport as follows. Note that the description of Colorado Springs Municipal is preceded by a description of Alexander Airport. You may view a video of glider activities at Alexander Airport at the link. Alexander Airport is at about 1:30 minutes into the film.

Airport Description, 1937 (Source: Webmaster)
Airport Description, 1937 (Source: Webmaster)

Note that by 1937 the airport had two oiled asphalt runways rather than just sod, and a taxi strip.

The contemporary Colorado Springs Municipal Airport is now spread over and beyond the area of the original Peterson Field. Below, a contemporary Google Earth view from approximately the same orientation.  The more extensive infrastructure of buildings and runways of the Municipal Airport stretch into the distance. The foothills remain significant at the horizon.

Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, CO, 2012 (Source: Google Earth)
Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, CO, 2012 (Source: Google Earth)

Regarding Alexander Airport. About six miles north, more in the center of Colorado Springs, lay the Alexander Airport. Many arrivals and departures at Peterson Field were to and from Alexander Airport. A large number of Alexander-Eaglerock aircraft visited Peterson (at least 63) , because the Alexander Aircraft Company was based at the Alexander Airport. Below is a contemporary Google Earth view of the location of the old Alexander Airport. It lies approximately at what now is the corner of Commerce St. and Route 85. The property now appears to be industrial with no trace of the old airfield remaining.

Alexander Airport, Current Location, 2012 (Source: Google Earth)
Alexander Airport, Current Location, 2012 (Source: Google Earth)

Both Peterson Field and Alexander Airport were featured in an article that appeared in Aeronautics magazine (forerunner of the contemporary Flying magazine) for September, 1929. The vagaries of high-altitude flying were nicely summarized in the article.

Aeronautics Magazine, December, 1929 (Source: Web)
Aeronautics Magazine, December, 1929 (Source: Web)

The Pikes Peak Flying School president was Davis-Monthan Register pilot "Red" Mosier. Page two of the article follows with another aerial photograph of Peterson Field. Compare this photo with the one at the top of the page.

Aeronautics Magazine, December, 1929 (Source: Web)

 

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THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 06/13/13 REVISED: 06/12/14