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Charles D. Wiggin was airplane mechanic for Calbraith P. Rodgers, when Rodgers left Sheepshead Bay, Long Island on
September 17, 1911, on his famous 49 day flight in a Wright model B aeroplane to Pasadena, Calif. This was the first trans-continental
flight. A special train, consisting of three coaches, one of which was fitted up as a machine shop, followed the Rodgers flight all the way
from Jersey City,N.J. to Pasadena, to render any assistance or repairs that might be required in order to complete the flight. Charles
D. Wiggin was the mechanic assigned to the job and the flight was a success, in spite of many delays caused by damage to
the plane and bad weather. Cal Rodgers was killed a few months later when his plane crashed on the beach near Long Beach. Charles
D. Wiggin married the widow of Cal. Rodgers some time later. Wiggin later decided to learn to fly himself on a Wright machine and on
October 2, 1912, F.A.I. Airplane Pilot's Certificate #175 was issued to him.
He participated in the Chicago Air Meet in 1912. Flying his EX Wright biplane, he appeared at Aledo,
Illinois; Vassar, Michigan and Bellaire, Michigan in September 1914, making exhibition flights in each place.
On January 21, 1913, Wiggin raced his Wright aeroplane with a motorcycle at Tampa, Florida and was
nosed out on the home stretch.
On July 4, 1914, he made a 29-mile cross country flight from Streator to Peru, Illinois, via La Salle,
giving exhibition flights at each place.
Charles D. Wiggin died at Center Moriches, Long Island, N. Y., on November 8, 1964, after a
lingering illness. He is survived by his wife and a married daughter, Mrs. R. F. McCarson, 10121 S.W. 40th Terrace, Miami 55, Florida.
From The Early Birds of Aviation CHIRP, December 1964, Number 71
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