Title
I Remember Old Tuscaloosa, August 5, 1971
Subject
History--Tuscaloosa (AL)
Maxwell, Fred R. (Fred Richard), 1889-1988
Airports
Description
Fred Maxwell wrote "I Remember Old Tuscaloosa" for a weekly newspaper in Tuscaloosa called The Graphic from December, 1970 through December 1971. The Graphic was founded, owned and published by Maxwell's daughter Camille Elebash and her husband Karl Elebash beginning in 1957. It was sold to The Tuscaloosa News in 1976 and ceased publication sometime later.
To see the complete article enlarged click on the image.
To see the complete article enlarged click on the image.
Creator
Fred Maxwell
Source
Camille Elebash
Publisher
The Graphic
Date
August 5, 1971
Contributor
Brenda Harris (Description)
Tuscaloosa Public Library
Type
Document
Identifier
1936
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Text
(Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of last week’s column on the airfields of Tuscaloosa.)
Tuscaloosa’s first aviation landing field “Druid Field” was officially closed about May 1925, but transient small planes continued to use the shrinking runway for two or three years longer.
In looking for a location for a new landing strip for airplanes it was noticed that a North-South strip of land between the M&O tracks and the Columbus road (Highway No. 82) laying just east of the current Tuscaloosa Airport – Van de Graff Field, although limited in size had some very desirable characteristics of location topography and drainage. It was noticed how quickly surface rainwater disappeared. It is now evidenced by the huge gravel pit that underlaid the field and has been deeply excavated to secure the gravel for market.
Permission was granted by the heirs of the Van de Graff estate to use this area gratis for a municipal aviation landing field provided we would vacate the property on request.
The surface of this field was given a smoother finish by the City and County of Tuscaloosa as was done for Druid Field. A 50 foot circle of white gravel was placed in the center of the landing strip as a marker to identify it from the air.
This field was dedicated on May 28, 1928 as Maynor Field. It was named for Eldridge (Doggy) W. Maynor who was the third University of Alabama student to be killed in W. W. I. He left the University in 1917 to join the 101st Field Artillery unit in the aviation (spotter) department. His diploma was granted post-humously. Notice of his death came in cablegram dated June 9, 1917.
The “log” for Maynor Field for May 28, 1928 shows the first entry as Eugene Maynor, brother of “Doggy” who flew in from Birmingham in a Curtis aeroplane.
The 106th Observation Squadron of Alabama National Guard took a prominent part in the dedication. Fly-ins by visitors included guests from Anniston, Birmingham and Meridian. Among the fly-in guests are: Wallace Aderholdt, Knox Ide, W. P. Aker, Jr., E. C. Lloyd, Bob Alston (all from Anniston); Lt. E. M. Rutz, Bobby Gill, John Gill, Lt. Lloyd Barnett, Asa Roundtree, Jr., Lt. O. C. Beatty (from Birmingham); L. C. Pope and Frank McDonald (from Meridian); Mark Hodo – President and Charlie Brelam – Secretary of Birmingham Junior Chamber of Commerce; Dick Merrill – U. S. Airmail pilot; A. J. Carroll – Manager St. Tammany Gulf Coast Airways, Inc.
Subsequent fly-in visitors include: Lt. Gross – U. S. Air Service, Montgomery; Lt. Berry – 106th Observation Squadron; D. Davis – Alabama Power Co. Advertising; Major Sumter Smith – Commanding Officer of 106th Observation Squadron; L. Poole – U. S. Post Office Department; Captain K. D. Brabston – 106th Observation Squadron; Lt. George R. Bynum Jr. – 106th Observation Squadron; Universal Flyers, Inc. – Flying Circus; Gates Flying Circus – Paterson, N.J.; E. R. Klow – Montgomery School of Aeronautics.
The last entry in the Maynor Field log was made as of March 15, 1928.
(Editor’s Note: To be continued.)
Tuscaloosa’s first aviation landing field “Druid Field” was officially closed about May 1925, but transient small planes continued to use the shrinking runway for two or three years longer.
In looking for a location for a new landing strip for airplanes it was noticed that a North-South strip of land between the M&O tracks and the Columbus road (Highway No. 82) laying just east of the current Tuscaloosa Airport – Van de Graff Field, although limited in size had some very desirable characteristics of location topography and drainage. It was noticed how quickly surface rainwater disappeared. It is now evidenced by the huge gravel pit that underlaid the field and has been deeply excavated to secure the gravel for market.
Permission was granted by the heirs of the Van de Graff estate to use this area gratis for a municipal aviation landing field provided we would vacate the property on request.
The surface of this field was given a smoother finish by the City and County of Tuscaloosa as was done for Druid Field. A 50 foot circle of white gravel was placed in the center of the landing strip as a marker to identify it from the air.
This field was dedicated on May 28, 1928 as Maynor Field. It was named for Eldridge (Doggy) W. Maynor who was the third University of Alabama student to be killed in W. W. I. He left the University in 1917 to join the 101st Field Artillery unit in the aviation (spotter) department. His diploma was granted post-humously. Notice of his death came in cablegram dated June 9, 1917.
The “log” for Maynor Field for May 28, 1928 shows the first entry as Eugene Maynor, brother of “Doggy” who flew in from Birmingham in a Curtis aeroplane.
The 106th Observation Squadron of Alabama National Guard took a prominent part in the dedication. Fly-ins by visitors included guests from Anniston, Birmingham and Meridian. Among the fly-in guests are: Wallace Aderholdt, Knox Ide, W. P. Aker, Jr., E. C. Lloyd, Bob Alston (all from Anniston); Lt. E. M. Rutz, Bobby Gill, John Gill, Lt. Lloyd Barnett, Asa Roundtree, Jr., Lt. O. C. Beatty (from Birmingham); L. C. Pope and Frank McDonald (from Meridian); Mark Hodo – President and Charlie Brelam – Secretary of Birmingham Junior Chamber of Commerce; Dick Merrill – U. S. Airmail pilot; A. J. Carroll – Manager St. Tammany Gulf Coast Airways, Inc.
Subsequent fly-in visitors include: Lt. Gross – U. S. Air Service, Montgomery; Lt. Berry – 106th Observation Squadron; D. Davis – Alabama Power Co. Advertising; Major Sumter Smith – Commanding Officer of 106th Observation Squadron; L. Poole – U. S. Post Office Department; Captain K. D. Brabston – 106th Observation Squadron; Lt. George R. Bynum Jr. – 106th Observation Squadron; Universal Flyers, Inc. – Flying Circus; Gates Flying Circus – Paterson, N.J.; E. R. Klow – Montgomery School of Aeronautics.
The last entry in the Maynor Field log was made as of March 15, 1928.
(Editor’s Note: To be continued.)
Original Format
Newspaper