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- Promotional Queen Monoplane Owned by Earle Ovington, First United States Post Office Air Mail Pilot, 1911 - Earle Ovington earned a unique place in aviation history when, on September 23, 1911, he piloted the first air mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. The three-mile flight over New York's Long Island was more a publicity stunt than a practical venture, but it previewed a not-too-distant future. Regular air mail services began in 1918.
- 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Promotional Queen Monoplane Owned by Earle Ovington, First United States Post Office Air Mail Pilot, 1911
Earle Ovington earned a unique place in aviation history when, on September 23, 1911, he piloted the first air mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. The three-mile flight over New York's Long Island was more a publicity stunt than a practical venture, but it previewed a not-too-distant future. Regular air mail services began in 1918.
- Policeman Doll, 1905-1909, Earle Ovington's Mascot "Treize" - Air mail pilot Earle Ovington adopted this doll as his personal mascot, carrying it with him on every flight. He named the doll, modeled after a French policeman, "Treize" -- the French word for "thirteen." It was Ovington's lucky number. He had "13" painted on his airplane's wings because, he recalled, no other pilot dared to use that particular number.
- 1905-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Policeman Doll, 1905-1909, Earle Ovington's Mascot "Treize"
Air mail pilot Earle Ovington adopted this doll as his personal mascot, carrying it with him on every flight. He named the doll, modeled after a French policeman, "Treize" -- the French word for "thirteen." It was Ovington's lucky number. He had "13" painted on his airplane's wings because, he recalled, no other pilot dared to use that particular number.
- Earle Ovington Flying a Bleriot Monoplane, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1911 - Earle Ovington is remembered for piloting the first air mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. But Ovington's career went well beyond that September 1911 promotional flight. He was a talented airplane racer and an accomplished demonstration pilot in the pre-World War I "birdmen" era. Ovington is seen here flying his Bleriot monoplane <EM>Dragonfly</EM>.
- 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Earle Ovington Flying a Bleriot Monoplane, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1911
Earle Ovington is remembered for piloting the first air mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. But Ovington's career went well beyond that September 1911 promotional flight. He was a talented airplane racer and an accomplished demonstration pilot in the pre-World War I "birdmen" era. Ovington is seen here flying his Bleriot monoplane Dragonfly.
- Inclinometer Used by Earle Ovington, United States Postal Service's First Air Mail Pilot, 1911 - Earle Ovington piloted the first U.S. Air Mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. On September 23, 1911, Ovington flew over Long Island in a Bleriot XI airplane with a sack of mail tucked into the cockpit. He carried the letters just three miles, but it was enough to earn Ovington the designation "Air Mail Pilot No. 1."
- 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Inclinometer Used by Earle Ovington, United States Postal Service's First Air Mail Pilot, 1911
Earle Ovington piloted the first U.S. Air Mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. On September 23, 1911, Ovington flew over Long Island in a Bleriot XI airplane with a sack of mail tucked into the cockpit. He carried the letters just three miles, but it was enough to earn Ovington the designation "Air Mail Pilot No. 1."
- Trophy Presented to Earle Lewis Ovington, 1911 - Earle Ovington piloted the first U.S. Air Mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. On September 23, 1911, Ovington flew over Long Island in a Bleriot XI airplane with a sack of mail tucked into the cockpit. He carried the letters just three miles, but it was enough to earn Ovington the designation "Air Mail Pilot No. 1."
- April 29, 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Trophy Presented to Earle Lewis Ovington, 1911
Earle Ovington piloted the first U.S. Air Mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. On September 23, 1911, Ovington flew over Long Island in a Bleriot XI airplane with a sack of mail tucked into the cockpit. He carried the letters just three miles, but it was enough to earn Ovington the designation "Air Mail Pilot No. 1."
- Aviator's Safety Belt Worn by Earle Ovington, United States Postal Service's First Air Mail Pilot, 1911 - Earle Ovington piloted the first U.S. Air Mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. On September 23, 1911, Ovington flew over Long Island in a Bleriot XI airplane with a sack of mail tucked into the cockpit. He carried the letters just three miles, but it was enough to earn Ovington the designation "Air Mail Pilot No. 1."
- 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Aviator's Safety Belt Worn by Earle Ovington, United States Postal Service's First Air Mail Pilot, 1911
Earle Ovington piloted the first U.S. Air Mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. On September 23, 1911, Ovington flew over Long Island in a Bleriot XI airplane with a sack of mail tucked into the cockpit. He carried the letters just three miles, but it was enough to earn Ovington the designation "Air Mail Pilot No. 1."
- U.S. Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock Poses with Earle Ovington and the Bag Used to Carry the First U.S. Air Mail, September 1911 - When the Post Office Department sponsored the first official air mail flight on September 23, 1911, it wasn't much more than a publicity stunt. Pilot Earle Ovington carried a sack of mail from Garden City, New York, to nearby Mineola, where he dropped it into a field behind the local post office. Serious air mail operations started in 1918.
- September 23, 1911
- Collections - Artifact
U.S. Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock Poses with Earle Ovington and the Bag Used to Carry the First U.S. Air Mail, September 1911
When the Post Office Department sponsored the first official air mail flight on September 23, 1911, it wasn't much more than a publicity stunt. Pilot Earle Ovington carried a sack of mail from Garden City, New York, to nearby Mineola, where he dropped it into a field behind the local post office. Serious air mail operations started in 1918.
- Earle Ovington in Queen Monoplane Receiving the First Mail to be Delivered by Air, September 23, 1911 - When the Post Office Department sponsored the first official air mail flight on September 23, 1911, it wasn't much more than a publicity stunt. Pilot Earle Ovington carried a sack of mail from Garden City, New York, to nearby Mineola, where he dropped it into a field behind the local post office. Serious air mail operations started in 1918.
- September 23, 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Earle Ovington in Queen Monoplane Receiving the First Mail to be Delivered by Air, September 23, 1911
When the Post Office Department sponsored the first official air mail flight on September 23, 1911, it wasn't much more than a publicity stunt. Pilot Earle Ovington carried a sack of mail from Garden City, New York, to nearby Mineola, where he dropped it into a field behind the local post office. Serious air mail operations started in 1918.
- Map of New York in Roller Case, Used by Earle Ovington, circa 1911 - Earle Ovington piloted the first U.S. Air Mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. On September 23, 1911, Ovington flew over Long Island in a Bleriot XI airplane with a sack of mail tucked into the cockpit. He carried the letters just three miles, but it was enough to earn Ovington the designation "Air Mail Pilot No. 1."
- circa 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Map of New York in Roller Case, Used by Earle Ovington, circa 1911
Earle Ovington piloted the first U.S. Air Mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. On September 23, 1911, Ovington flew over Long Island in a Bleriot XI airplane with a sack of mail tucked into the cockpit. He carried the letters just three miles, but it was enough to earn Ovington the designation "Air Mail Pilot No. 1."
- Promotional Queen Monoplane Owned by Earle Ovington, First United States Post Office Air Mail Pilot, 1911 - Earle Ovington earned a unique place in aviation history when, on September 23, 1911, he piloted the first air mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. The three-mile flight over New York's Long Island was more a publicity stunt than a practical venture, but it previewed a not-too-distant future. Regular air mail services began in 1918.
- 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Promotional Queen Monoplane Owned by Earle Ovington, First United States Post Office Air Mail Pilot, 1911
Earle Ovington earned a unique place in aviation history when, on September 23, 1911, he piloted the first air mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. The three-mile flight over New York's Long Island was more a publicity stunt than a practical venture, but it previewed a not-too-distant future. Regular air mail services began in 1918.