About May 1919 a French made airplane came to Troy for a War Bond Drive, which was to raise funds for the U.S. Government to pay off the costs of World War One. The pilot by the name of Cooper, flew in from Scott Field to do some stunts over the city fairgrounds. While here he enlisted the help of a talented local mechanic, Louis Walton to help him with his plane. When he was ready to leave, he started his engine and Mr. Walton warned him the engine did not sound right. The pilot arrogantly told him what would a hick like him know about airplanes? Needless to say Mr. Walton was correct and when the pilot tried to take off, he failed and landed in the city pond. In the photo you can see the result. The onlookers seem to be having the last laugh!
The side of the plane has a sign on it that says, "Enlist now in the Air Service! Ask the pilot." I bet they did not get any recruits.
The plane had to be dismantled and hauled from Troy on the Short Line Railroad.
There were quite a few souvenirs taken off the plane. The is an old Troy Free Press article written in the 1950's discussing the event and it mentions several people in Troy who got a piece off the plane.
One of these plane souvenirs survives to this day. A local Troy resident allowed me to take a picture of the propeller that was off the plane in the photo. He acquired it as a teenager many years ago from a man who lived right by the city fairgrounds.
I have tried to identify the plane model but so far have not had any luck. It is a quite early airplane, the propeller manufactured by the Paragon Propeller Company in about 1912 and at the time was located in Washington DC. My best guess it may be a Curtiss JN-4 commonly known as a Jenny. They were popular barnstormer planes in the 1920's.
Planes and engines of this early era were quite unreliable. The pilots were brave daredevils in my opinion. This is one of my top favorite historic photos of Troy.
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The side of the plane has a sign on it that says, "Enlist now in the Air Service! Ask the pilot." I bet they did not get any recruits.
The plane had to be dismantled and hauled from Troy on the Short Line Railroad.
There were quite a few souvenirs taken off the plane. The is an old Troy Free Press article written in the 1950's discussing the event and it mentions several people in Troy who got a piece off the plane.
One of these plane souvenirs survives to this day. A local Troy resident allowed me to take a picture of the propeller that was off the plane in the photo. He acquired it as a teenager many years ago from a man who lived right by the city fairgrounds.
I have tried to identify the plane model but so far have not had any luck. It is a quite early airplane, the propeller manufactured by the Paragon Propeller Company in about 1912 and at the time was located in Washington DC. My best guess it may be a Curtiss JN-4 commonly known as a Jenny. They were popular barnstormer planes in the 1920's.
Planes and engines of this early era were quite unreliable. The pilots were brave daredevils in my opinion. This is one of my top favorite historic photos of Troy.
*Tips: best benchtop drill press