What would be the last thing you would expect to see advertised on a airplane?  Tombstones!  Same here.  But that is just what is advertised on a smart looking biplane which uses the Checkerboard hangar as a garage.

The ad sends a slight chill down the spines of lots of folks who go out to the field to take a flight and also is the butt of many more or less witty sallies.  But then the matter is explained it seems reasonable enough.

It seems the airplane is owned by Wilbert W. Haas, 1027 South DesPlaines Street, Forest Park, of the American Vault works.  A branch establishment has been opened at Benton Harbor and Haas has bought his machine and is learning to fly with the intention of making his trips between his shops by air.  And on his airplane he has had painted the following sign:  "American Vault Works.  Wilbert W. Hass, Forest Park, Ill., Benton Harbor, Mich., Maker of Concrete Specialties for Cemeteries."

Who wants to fly with Mr. Haas?

David Behncke, one of the owners of the Checkerboard Aviation Field has a young pupil at the field on Roosevelt Road.  Olive Belle Hamon, aged 10, flies regularly.

The future Ruth Law is the daughter of Jake L. Hamon, Republican national committeeman from Oklahoma and president of the Wichita Falls, Ranger & Forth Worth Railroad, and is a fourth cousin to Senator Warren G. Harding, Republican nominee for president.

The young lady finds no parental objection to her flying because her mother, after a mental review of Olive's escapades on terra firma, believes she is just as safe looping with Behncke.

Olive start to fly a year ago on Chaplin Field in Los Angeles, owned by Sid Chaplin, a brother of Charlie's.  Her mother's first intimation of Olive's aerial leanings was when she looped the loop over a steamer on which Mrs. Hamon was riding in San Francisco Bay.

Although Mr. Hamon's residence officially is in Lawton, Oklahoma, the family lives at 4901 Sheridan Road, Chicago.

Olive hasn't yet reached the point where she can pilot an air boat.

J. Stevens, air pilot of a government mail plane arrived in Maywood last Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock from New York in a trans-continental flight to San Francisco.  he left the eastern city early Thursday morning and arrived in Maywood for this first stop, expecting to arrive in California Sunday Morning.

The JL, an all-steel monoplane sold by Larsen is the machine used and has proved the most successful in long distance flying.

Stevens had with him his mascot, the English bull dog which has carried on most of the other flights he has made.

He spent the night at the Hotel Edward and started early Friday morning for Omaha which was the second stop.  From there he went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, thence to San Francisco.

Larsen planes have arrive at the Maywood field in the past and have been noted for the excessive speed they traveled, their regular speed being above 180 miles per hour.  They are made entirely of metal, light in weight and eliminate the danger of fire which has destroyed many other planes.

Another airplane in the government mail service was wrecked last Wednesday at the field south of Maywood.

The big twin twelve that carries the mail between Chicago and the east crashed on the takeoff wrecking the wings and putting the plane out of commission.  The mail was delayed until another carrier could be put in shape.

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Erwin S. Amberg, pilot on the air mail plane between Maywood and Omaha broke the record last Saturday when he made the flight which is 440 miles.  His actual flying time was 3 hours and 39 minutes which is the fastest time made between the two cities.

The flight was made in a DeHaviland plane equipped with a Liberty motor.  A stop had to be made at the field at Iowa City, Iowa, as the main gas tank sprung a leak and had to be disconnected.  The last fifteen miles before the stop were made under difficulties as gas has to be pumped into the carburetor by hand.

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Flies Over Four Hours

The flight took more then four hours when in normal weather it is made in about 2:15.  The weather in St. Louis was slightly windy but it was not thought to be heavy and no heavy winds were encountered until after St. Louis had been left twenty miles behind.  Then a sixty-five mile gale was encountered that almost held the ship stationary.  A speed of more than ninety miles per hour had to be maintained in order to make any headway.

When reaching Maywood field Pilot Vance was so stiff from the cold he had to be lifted from the cockpit.  The plane was entirely covered with ice and sleet collected on the trip.

Brings Mail Safe

A safe landing was made at the Maywood field although a crash was looked for on account of the heavy wind.  The weight of mail carried was over 150 pounds.  A 160 horse-power eight cylinder Curtiss plane was used for the trip.  At no time during the trip could an altitude of more than 400 feet be reached and Vance stated it was the bumpiest journey he had ever taken.  The wind was so strong at time that it almost threw the plane back.

Other Pilot Stay In

No mail planes left the Maywood field Saturday.  An attempt was made to start the St. Louis plane on its flight but after taking the air it had to make a forced landing on account of motor trouble.

    NEW PLANES SHIPPED TO MAYWOOD FIELD

A second air exhibition was held Sunday afternoon at Checkerboard field south of Maywood. The Sunday before fully 5,000 people, were present when Ethel Dare made her leap from the Canadian Curtiss machine from 2,500 feet in the air.

David L. Behncke, one of the most trustworthy pilots, was at the wheel when Miss Dare cut loose and made the drop last Sunday.

Roosevelt Road is one of the best cement roads loading into the open country surrounding Chicago. Motorists make the drive over this road and time their drive in such manner as to be at or near the Checkerboard Field during the aerial display.

The schedule for Sunday, set the time for the parachute act between 3 and 3:30 p. m., and prior to this main feature, commercial machines were at the service of the public for any person who wanted to take a fifteen minutes spin in the air, away from the motorcycle cops, who have nothing to say about the speed regulations through the clouds.

FLYING SHOW HELD AT CHECKERBOARD

David Behnke Will Challenge Winner Of Speed Races To Determine Championship Of District

A flying show will be held Sunday at the Checkerboard flying field, First Avenue and Roosevelt Road, under the auspices of the Forest Park post of the American Legion.  It was planned to hold the show last Sunday but on account of weather conditions it was postponed for one week.

The show will undoubtedly, by its magnitude, attract the attention of flying fans from all over the country.  It is billed as the "Over the Top Flying Meet", with David Behnke and Bert Flair of the Checkerboard field acting as masters of ceremonies.  The net proceeds will go to the Forest Park post of the American Legion.

Every stunt known to flying will be exhibited and it is expected that it will be the best meet of its kind ever held on any American flying field.  The program will include Gorden Holder, who will jump from one plane to another while flying at high speed through the air, Chick Wheeler in a rube parachute act.

Captain Street, who will jump from a plane and will drop 1,500 feet before he allows his parachute to open.

Shorty Schweder, holder of the world's highest altitude record, will tell how it feels to ascend seven miles and how it feels to fall five miles in almost as many seconds.

Ethel Dare, a favorite with flying fans, will compete in parachute descents.

NO FLIERS KILLED

Past year in Aerial Mail Service Passes Without Fatal Accident

Although routes totaling 820 miles were discontinued during the last fiscal year and only the transcontinental route of 2,680 miles maintained, the air mail service, nevertheless, carried the same amount of mail as it did last year, or 23 per cent more in each airplane load.

"No exigency as yet makes necessary the use of additional planes," declared the superintendent, "but the department should be prepared to maintain its service in the face of any condition."

The Checkerboard airplane field was a hive of activity last Sunday afternoon when the first derby was held.  Legion men, members of the Forest Park post, who were giving the event, swarmed over the field in bunches.  David Behnke, owner of the field, and his assistant Bert Blair were the masters of ceremonies and made and completed all the arrangements for the events which were witnessed by a large crowd.

Both Behnke and Blair are expert pilots and did dare devil stunts and aerial capers.

This was the first event of its kind ever attempted in this vicinity and the committee in charge from the Forest Park post of the American Legion co-operated with Behnke and his assistant to produce a program of thrills.

Gorden Holder, nationally known for his daring, staged his new aerial act "The Ill fated Observation Balloon".  Holder was observer in the balloon and David Behnke, piloting a fast plane threw a projectile that blew the balloon to pieces.  Holder saved himself by the use of a small parachute.  As a thriller he later discarded the parachute and landed with the aid of a parachute the size of a large umbrella.

Other aerial performers including Chick Wheeler in a one act aerial comedy, and Ben Grew dropped one thousand feet before he opened his parachute.

Major Schroeder, one-time holder of the world's altitude flying record, told the people how it felt to be flying seven miles above the earth's surface.  Ethel dare, the aerial artist, furnished the completing thrills to the crowd when she jumped form the wing of one plane to the wing of another.

BILLIG WILL FLY

Maywood Dentist First Person in Village To Buy Airplane for Pleasure Trips

After driving an automobile for many years, Dr. H. C. Billig, who has offices in the Maywood Trust and Savings Bank building, has bought an airplane to be used for pleasure driving.  He is now taking lessons from an experienced pilot and expects soon to be ready to take off himself and fly alone.

The doctor will use the plan exclusively for pleasure and is contemplating taking a number of long trips as soon as he is able to handle the machine.

The largest congress of record holding and nationally known aviators and aerial dare-devil performers were brought together at one time will be at the Checkerboard Field Sunday afternoon.  Some of the pilot who have stated they will be present and compete in the events are:

E. Hamilton Lee, star air mail pilot, holder of the Chicago to Washington flight record of 6 hours.

J. Nelson Kelly, famous Kelly field stunt flier.

Major Schroeder, one time hold of the world's altitude record.

Shirley Short, known as America's most daring stunt flier who flew for Locklear.

Ben Grew will perform the most daring feast known to the flying world, it is claimed, when he will jump from a plane and drop a thousand feet before he opens the parachute.  He will carry the parachute on his back and will open it after he has dropped the thousand feet.

Chic Wheeler, Chicago stunt flier, will demonstrate how the pilot of the modern battle plane escapes death after this plane has been disabled in combat.

Bert Blair, will be one of the entrants in the race as will also be John Schroeder, who was winner of the American Legion Derby.  Other pilots who will endeavor to win new laurels are Tony Yackey, the famous Italian flier will fly his Berguet bombing plane, and David Behncke, manager of the field, who is one of the oldest pilots in the business.

Gorden Holder, who has thrilled people at the local field many times in the past, when he has jumped from one plane to another in the air and done other stunts, will jump from an exploding balloon.

This meet is intended by the promoters to bring together the aerial celebrities from all over the country where they will compete in the events which are being arranged.

The first aerial revue was held at the Checkerboard Field Sunday afternoon and evening.  It was attended by a crowd of more than five thousand persons.  The revue consisted of aerial races, stunts and dare devil acts.  There were eight numbers on the program which was carried out according to schedule, with a few exceptions.

The first action on the program was a long drop parachute drop by Ben Grew.  he was carried to a height of more than a thousand feet and jumped from the wing of the speeding airplane, landing with the aid of a small parachute.  His act followed by a race of twenty miles between six planes.  At times so close were the planes to the ground the set faces of the pilots could easily be seen by people in the crowd.  The race was won by John Schroeder.

Aerial stunt flying by several pilots was next on the program.  At 4 o'clock Chick Wheeler, who in the past has thrilled the crowds at the Checkerboard field, again gave a demonstration of wing walking and rope ladder and trapeze performing.  He also attempted to escape from a balloon which was to have been destroyed in the air by one of the battle planes.  The act was not completed as the balloon did not go to the required height.

During the afternoon and evening a dance was given in the airdome on the banks of the DesPlaines River.

Again Maywood, on account of her superb location, transportation facilities and other desirable features, has been selected as the location for an established enterprise.

The great annual Chicago-Cook County Fair will be held at the Checkerboard Flying Field, Roosevelt Road and First Avenue, August 27 to September 4, inclusive.  For many years this country fair has been held at Palatine but on account of the better location of Maywood, the greater opportunity it gives more people to attend this location, was selected.

This fair is considered the greatest county fair in the world where the city and country meet.  It will be filled with agricultural, educational, recreational, industrial and commercial exhibits and it is believed the attendance will amount to the hundreds of thousands during the days it will be open to the public.

The splendid showing made by the Cook country fair held last year when it had 30,000 square feet of exhibit displays, and the heavy attendance which on one day reached a total of 26,000, the great volume of business enjoyed by the exhibitors who participated has assured the continuance of the fair from year to year.  Realizing the need for a more central and convenient location, a survey of the country was begun to determine a place that would meet transportation requirements from all parts of the county and also from Chicago.  It was also essential that the location have the necessary acreage and topographical requirements and that it must have a name which the public was familiar.

The Checkerboard aviation field, with its three hundred acres, it name known throughout not only the section but the entire United States and Canada was finally decided upon for the new location.

TO CHANGE FIELD

Government Will Move from Checkerboard Aviation Field to New Location on Hospital Grounds

In addition to furnishing the building material the switch track has been in service almost continuously for the purpose of carrying train loads of cinders which will be spread over the landing field to make the ground hard and compact so the planes can make a safe landing.

In the new buildings all the work of the mail service will be performed.  New planes will be built and other shops overhauled and kept in shape.

Despite combined efforts of the Maywood, Oak Park and Forest Park fire departments, fire which was started by the explosion of a barrel of chemical used to coat airplane wings, destroyed a government hangar, six airplanes, tools and machinery and other equipment totaling $200,000, at the United States Aerial mail Field, First Avenue and Roosevelt Road.  The fire started at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon and alarms were immediately turned in to the surrounding village.

Although thousands of gallons of water were poured on the burning structure it was impossible to subdue the flames.  After it was seen nothing could be done to save the building, effort of the three companies were centered on saving adjoining buildings and keeping the flames from a large supply of high test gasoline.

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The public is just beginning to wake up to the possibilities of air mail but it is hard to realize that this service has passed the experimental stage and is settling down, to a daily routine with the pilots covering the distance between New York and Maywood in eight hours and delivering mail at San Francisco twenty-four hours from the time they hop off at the local field.

Mail for the West should be deposited in the Maywood post office about noon as the plane leaves at 6:30 o'clock in the evening, arriving in Omaha at midnight, at Cheyenne, Wyoming at 5:10 o'clock the next morning, at Salt Lake City at 11:05; Reno, Nevada at 3:30 and San Francisco at 5:45, completing the distance in twenty-four hours and forty-five minutes.

From all points as far west as Cheyenne the postage is eight cents.  For any point west of Cheyenne and as far as San Francisco the rate is sixteen cents an ounce.  Airplane mail from new York costs eight cents an ounce and may be mailed on the last mail in the afternoon.  It will leave Maywood at 7:35 o'clock the next morning, arriving in Cleveland at 12:20 and in New York at 3:00 in the afternoon of the same day.  Air mail stamps are provided by any stamp may be used if the letter is marked "By Air Mail".  Parcels as heavy as fifty pounds also are carried.

After more than a year's preparation the aerial mail service, which has its field and hangers south of Maywood at First Avenue and Roosevelt Road, began the night carrying of mail last month when planes from the west and east arrived at the Maywood field and the mail was transferred to other planes which would carry it from one coast to another.  There is now established a continuous service from the Atlantic to the Pacific in addition to the regular service which was suspended while the airplanes here assembled at the various fields ready for the inauguration of the new service.

Leaving New York at ten o'clock in the morning, the westbound plane meets the gathering darkness just west of Maywood and travels in the darkness all the night, guided by a lighted airway of powerful beacons to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where the early morning sun greets and lights the way to San Francisco and the Pacific coast.

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