Description

Over image of a wind sock, an airplane, and an aerial view, radio traffic between an operating airplane and the Lindbergh Field tower is heard before Corita Gravitt's voice announces the beginning over the title frame picturing a biplane with a pilot in boots leaning on one wing. "We used to refer to pilots and flyers," a man states as he speaks about what flying used to be like, over images of airplanes of the early 20th century. Many of those interviewed, according to accompanying information, are not named, while others have intertitles with their names: these people come from many backgrounds, but were connected in some way with early aviation: pilots, barnstormers, wingwalkers, mechanics, builders, and just observers of the changing aviation scene. Interviewees include: Vincent Burke, Walter Ballard, Ed Morrow, Ken Kirkwood, Philip Myers, Martin Jensen, Lillian Boyer Werner, George Coath, Joe Jessop, and Larry Springer. Gravitt speaks about pilots from World War I "trying to scratch a living from the air any way they could." One of the earlier men speaks again, over a photograph of him standing with his airplane, this time about barnstorming with a wing walker. Werner speaks about her experience over a photograph of herself under an airplane propeller, then several photographs of herself as a wing walker in the air on a biplane. She says, "I just loved it," although it was "like deadly poison: one drop'll kill you." Another man speaks about his flying experience, starting a tour of the United States in 1925, starting in San Diego. Another pilot recalls using regular gasoline from an automobile service station when he ran short of fuel, then about having to land for lack of supplemental oxygen. Landing sites in 1925 are discussed by the next speaker (before there were many airports). Another pilot talks about the difficulties of finding one's location without guidance. Over photographs of his accident, a pilot talks about his experience of a crash that killed a passenger. Speaking over photographs of their airplanes, pilots continue to tell their stories. Oral histories of Jensen, Morrow, and Ballard are available in this database, listed under "Related Materials." The sound quality is poor.