Hey there, blimpie boy...
Both slides are undated, but seem to be from the very early 50's, or maybe even the late 40's. I am reasonably sure that they are both from Southern California; one friend thinks that the location is Baldwin Hills (part of South Los Angeles) - due in part to the numerous oil derricks that can be seen dotting the hills in the background. And who am I to argue? Knowing my brainy readers, they will be telling exactly where this is anyway, so I'm not going to sweat it. Check out the old car. And what is that airplane with the twin tail? It reminds me of a shrunk down P-38 Lightning. Oh yeah, and there's a blimp too!
Kudos to our photographer for also getting this stunning (in my opinion) panorama looking down on the airfield, with its quonset huts and blocky buildings; a blue sky and puffy clouds (must be winter in Los Angeles) add to the picturesque scene. And hey, there's a blimp!
Kudos to our photographer for also getting this stunning (in my opinion) panorama looking down on the airfield, with its quonset huts and blocky buildings; a blue sky and puffy clouds (must be winter in Los Angeles) add to the picturesque scene. And hey, there's a blimp!
Sorry, Maj; I am gorging on the gorgeous color and weather in these slides and your lovely scan and cannot imagine where this might be, if not Paradise.
ReplyDeleteI think before the Goodyear Blimp was based in Carson, it was based in Torrance alongside Pacific Coast Highway (near the Torrance Airport). I have a pic of my brother and me posing in front of it in that location. But this doesn't look like Torrance, so I would also like to know where these were taken!
ReplyDeleteThey are super pics, wherever it was!
Those are very lovely and peaceful.
ReplyDeleteChiana, all the credit goes to the photographer!
ReplyDeleteTM!, I remember seeing the blimp in a field when I was a kid (my family lived in Huntington Beach at the time), but I was so young that I couldn't tell you where that field was! It must have been Carson.
Thufer, I know, there's just something about a blimp.
Could it be Long Beach ? Long Beach Airport. I seem to remember that there were some oil derricks on Signal Hill. I am not sure. I am just throwing it out there.
ReplyDeleteHey Major. We lived in Huntington Beach as well.
Orange Co - I thnk you are correct. Because of the proximity of the oil derricks, I think we are looking at Long Beach Airport with Signal Hill in the background.
ReplyDeleteOC Native and 210Frwy, I thought of Signal Hill (because it is famous for the oil derricks), but my friend suggested Baldwin Hills. He's a lot more informed about SoCal history than me!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I can do some Google searches and see if I can find any photos that seem to match up with the hills and mountains. Thanks for your input!
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that perhaps this is Fullerton Airport.
ReplyDeleteHa, just as I was thinking, "Maybe this IS Long Beach airport", Anonymouse chimes in!! I didn't even know there WAS a Fullerton Airport? ;-)
ReplyDeleteOf course, It could even be the El Monte Airport......
ReplyDeleteMajor, I also thought Signal Hill when you first mentioned oil derricks, but when I looked at the pics, your friend's theory makes more sense because of the mountain range that is behind those hills with the oil derricks.
It's NOT Fullerton. Been in and out of there many times, and worked at Hughes (just next door). Not Long Beach either. The major hills in the wide shot do not match.
ReplyDeleteThe airplane is a Ercoupe. It was first manufactured by the Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) shortly before World War II; several other manufacturers continued its production after the war. The final unit was completed in 1968. Lacking rudder pedals, the Ercoupe was flown using only the control wheel. A two-control system linked the rudder and aileron systems, which controlled yaw and roll, with the steerable nose wheel. The control wheel controlled the pitch and the steering of the aircraft, both on the ground and in the air, simplifying control and coordinated turning and eliminating the need for rudder pedals. A completely new category of pilot's license was created by the CAA for Ercoupe pilots who had never used a rudder pedal. It was called the "car of the air".
I think you are right CoxPilot. After taking a look at Google Earth I’ve changed my mind. Signal Hill appears to be more south of the Long Beach airport which would not reveal mountains in the distance.
ReplyDeletebeautiful!! look at those colors!!
ReplyDeleteTM!, now you're just messing with me!
ReplyDeleteCoxPilot, thanks for all the info about the Ercoupe... are you a pilot of full-sized planes? Or just interested in aviation in general?
210Frwy, the photos I found weren't very helpful, but the mountains did appear to be somewhat different to me.
Hi Nancy!
Yep, sorry Major! But there is an El Monte Airport.
ReplyDeleteMajor, I just found an article online stating that for "many years" prior to being located in the cities of Torrance and Carson, the blimp was based in a field near Goodyear's plant at Florence and Central Avenues in Los Angeles. I'm going to send you the link to the article because it includes some other interesting info about the blimp.
ReplyDeleteMajor, Here's more info from that article which can be seen: here. After being located in Los Angeles, the blimp was moved around in the mid-50's to various local airports including the Torrance Municipal Airport and also at the Orange County Airport (now John Wayne Airport). It was then moved to an area near Alameda and the 405 fwy where it stayed from 1962-1966. After an accident in 1966, it was moved back to Torrance. And in 1968, it was moved to it's current location near the 405 and 110 freeways in Carson.
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, I've already sent you an email, but you have gone above and beyond the call of duty with all of your research.Thanks a lot!!
ReplyDeleteMajor: My original flight training was at OC airport at the Glenn Martin School. Flying has always been a passion, but now I'm way past those day of real flying, but still have the interest. Private flying was somewhat cheep in those days ($20 /hour), and is SUPER expensive and VERY technical today. I spent many an hours in a piper tri-pacer, and later with the US NAVY in Helos at NAS Los Alamitos. Good days.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I almost like popping in a couple of days late, just to read all the comments! Great photos, Major.
ReplyDeleteWhat Connie Said.
ReplyDeleteAlso What Cox Pilot Said.
I recognized the plane as an Ercoupe, but CP has the real data. One of my Dad's friends had one hangared down the aisle from our Cessna. It was a cool little plane, very distinctive look.
Also great old coupe with wheels parked next door.
Great photos, great thread. Thank you Major.
JG