AeroKnow 1940s Aircraft Gallery
This page was most recently updated Tuesday, June 26, 2007
In December 1942, the pilot of this Douglas A-20 Havoc made an emergency landing
on what is now the highly developed Dirksen Parkwaqy, but was at the time part of Route
66. The airplane was repaired and successfuly flown off the two lane road after traffic
was stopped. This picture was reprinted with the permission of the Illinois State
Journal-Register. It was featured in an SJ-R Springfield retrospective exhibit at
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. A member of the SJ-R staff contacted AeroKnow for
help in identifying the airplane.
The picture above was taken by The Mercury Studio and
loaned to AeroKnow by George Weber. Included in this picture somewhere is George's father
Early Weber who had a thriving aviation insurance business in Springfield and active
private pilot. Look for sections of this picture to be published enlarged at this page in
the hope that AeroKnow visitors will identify people shown here.
What we know
about Springfield, Illinois aviation-related businesses. aviators from Springfield and
Springfield area airports. If you have history that should be shared here, please contact
AeroKnow so that we may borrow, carefully copy your pictures or documents and return them.
We also want to interview anyone who worked at Springfield area airports or had careers in
flying or other parts of aviation for our oral history recording effort. Please
contact us if you have a story to tell or know of someone with a story to tell.
All pictures except the one at the top of this page have
been thumbnailed for faster loading. Click on any for a larger image and "Back"
to return to this page. For information about how to obtain larger, higher definition
copies of these pictures, please write atc@aeroknow.com
Visitors are welcome to copy these pictures but
we request that if any are published, that photo credit will be given to the photographer
via AeroKnow (for example Jim Pearsall via AeroKnow). A key to photographers on
this page is provided at the bottom of the page. AeroKnow supporters may obtain
higher-resolution, larger renditions of any of these photos by writing atc@aeroknow.com
If you would like to support this website by sharing pictures you took
of aircraft from this or any other era, please e atc@aeroknow.com
1. Capital
Airport was dedicated on November 2, 1947. This is the original terminal. |
2. Dr. Mark and Joan Foutch pose with her Vultee BT-13 in the
early 50s. Mark owned a P-51, and the couple often flew to fly-ins and airshows together.
We will have pics of his P-51 here soon. |
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5. Southwest Airport in 1946 was Springfield's primary flying
field, though there were at least two small strips on the outskirts of the city as well.
Here, Earl Weber posed with a Civil Air Patrol Stinson. |
6. Stinson Voyager outside the main hangar at Southwest
Airport off Chatham Road on Springfield's southwest side. This picture was taken about
1948. |
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From Paul Foutch, grandson of Mark and stepgrandmother Joan Foutch . . .
"I understand Mark and Joan met at the old Fleck's field. He said
that on
the way back from the Pacific in September 1945, he was discharged in St.
Louis, took a detour to an Arkansas air base where they were selling
war-surplus Stearmans for $35, bought one and followed old Route 66 back to
Springfield, marched into the office at Fleck's field, where Joanie was
working the reception desk. They were married a year later and flew off to
their honeymoon in Peoria in the Stearman.
"In fact, that was one of the many stories he
embellished. They met at
Fleck's field because they were both taking flying lessons at the same time,
his sister says now. He didn't own a plane till much later. He probably took
a bus from St. Louis to Springfield. They did indeed fly off in a Stearman
to their honeymoon, but it was borrowed from a friend named Merle Green.
"My grandfather was the best grandfather anybody could ever
have, and I wish
he was still here to tell his stories."
Key to photo credits (letters in parenthesis)
AK = AeroKnow - some supporters request
anonimity, and we respoect that.
GW = George Weber
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