Page 60 - Demo

F-140%u2014%u2014September 16, 1933%u2014%u2014Marion%u2014%u2014Marion Airport%u2014%u201420 pieces cancelled.Cancelled on September 16, 1st day of the two-day event. Addressee, William T. Wynn Jr., received the Gus Lancaster Award in 1975 from the Metropolitan Airmail Cover Club (MACC) for his dedication to the advancement of aerophilately. No backstamp.It was in August 18, 1927 that Marion%u2019s Junior Association of Commerce ( JAC) formed a committee to determine the feasibility of establishing an airport. This was the Golden Era of Aviation, and Clyde Ice, a commercial pilot from nearby Fairmount, Indiana helped them create what became the area%u2019s first airfield%u2014the JAC Airport. Dedicated on July 29, 1928, it consisted of a small grass airstrip on the south side of town, and over 13,000 people paid 10%u00a2 each to visit the what was billed as the JAC Circus. Hollywood stuntman Sig %u201cDaredevil%u201d Smith was the main attraction with aerial aerobatics, wing walking, and parachute jumping. Esther Wagner, who had never flown before, was named the Daredevil Queen after she dangled from Smith%u2019s plane by a pair of silk stockings. Wisely, she had the good sense to wear a parachute.On August 15, 1933, George Brumfel and Myron Templin took over the airport operations. It was dedicated again on September 16 and 17, 1933, when the covers in this collection were postmarked. Five days later, ownership of the facility was transferred to the City of Marion, and it became the Marion AirportBy 1945 Marion had a second airport on the west side of town. At that time the original airport became known as South Field. What was known as the West Side Airport was bought by General Motors in 1955 and its operations were moved to the South Side Airport. That%u2019s when planning commenced for a new airport on the south side. The initial work on the new airport was completed on October 29, 1955 at a total cost of $1,288,279.85.