DETROIT NEWS "AIR FORCE"

EARLY AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, 1912      Here we have Walter Brookins, surrounded by a maze of flight and engine instruments, at the controls of W. E. Scripps 1912 Burgess-Curtiss flying boat, with William Kuenzel, Detroit News photographer, at his side. This team made the first aerial photos of Detroit--in 1912. Kuenzel is still with The News. from CHIRP - SATURDAY AUGUST 17, 1935 - DETROIT MICH. courtesy of Steve Remington - CollectAir

 

LOCKHEED VEGA 5, NC32M - 1929

 

LOCKHEED ORION 9D2, NC799W - 1933 This Early Bird Flies On Its Own Power      James V. Piersol, Detroit News aviation editor (left), and W. E. Scripps, publisher of The Detroit News, talk it over at the airport after a flight in The News Lockheed Orion, the "Early Bird." This 200-mile-an-hour plane will be at the disposal of Early Birds at the Cleveland reunion Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. from CHIRP - SATURDAY AUGUST 17, 1935 - DETROIT MICH. courtesy of Steve Remington - CollectAir

 

Two Early Birds to Cleveland, 1935      EB President W. E. Scripps looks over The Detroit News plane, "Early Bird," before making ready for the hop to Cleveland for the national EB reunion and the National Air Races. James V. Piersol, News aviation editor will fly the ship from CHIRP - SATURDAY AUGUST 17, 1935 - DETROIT MICH. courtesy of Steve Remington - CollectAir

 

ONLINE RESOURCES      If you search for "Detroit Newsmen", using the Google search engine, (2-7-04), you will find about 6 links. Perhaps the most helpful is the following.

 

Those daring Detroit Newsmen in their flying machines      This page from the Detroit News "REARVIEW MIRROR" online section offers a very nice summary of William Scripps and the use of airplanes in service to the News from 1912 to June 1960. It is illustrated with four photographs including one of William and one of the "Detroit Air Force." You can access the page by clicking on the title above.

 

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