In April 1930, a two-day air show at newly inaugurated Robinson Field, two-and-a-half miles east of Millersburg, ended when one of the planes was forced to land when one of the supports for the landing gear broke off when the plane took off. The plane landed safely for those aboard, including the pilot, but the undercarriage of the plane was damaged badly.
Advance notice of the air show was reported in area newspapers, but the crash landing got more local attention due to the fame of those aboard as well as the huge throng of people who witnessed the show.
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 17 April 1930:
Millersburg Airport Planning Celebration
Celebrating in a fashion the State grant of its license, the Millersburg Airport will hold a two-day program of stunt flying and parachute jumps Saturday and Sunday of this week. The flying field lies three miles each of Millersburg, on the Pottsville highway.
Marion Gilbert, who is accumulating licenses of various sorts as a pilot, will do the stunting, along with Howard “Howdy” Rittenbaugh, of Pottstown, who has a long record as a stunter and parachute jumper.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 17 April 1930:
‘CHUTE JUMPER AT MILLERSBURG AIRPORT SUNDAY
All plans have been completed for two parachute jumps, this week end at Robinson Field, Millersburg Airport, west of Rife. The first jump is scheduled for Saturday afternoon and the other, the following afternoon, Easter Sunday.
Howard E. “Howdy” Reittenbaugh, of Pottstown, will make the jumps from the plane piloted by Marion U. “Hops” Gilbert. Gilbert, a Millersburg boy, is the operator of Robinson Field.
Reitenbaugh is not a stranger to the air-minded people of this vicinity, having made a jump from Gilbert’s plane on November 24, 1929 at a field near Millersburg. A throng of approximately 3,000 people witnessed this aerial performance and because of the many requests for a similar exhibition. Gilbert has again engaged the jumper.
Reitenbaugh, who was formerly employed by the Gates Air Circus, Pennsylvania Flying Circus and the old Jones outfit, on Saturday and Sunday, will ride with Gilbert to an altitude of approximately 3000 feet, to step off the wing of the plane and go tumbling into space. After a drop of about 1,000 feet “Howdy” will pull the rip cord to sail gracefully to earth.
When making parachute jumps Reitenbaugh wears two parachutes, thus complying with the Pennsylvania Aeronautics Code. The one chute is of the back-pack type and the other, to be used in case of emergency, is fastened about his chest.
During the afternoon of both days Pilot Gilbert will make passenger flights from the field in his Wright Whirlwind motored Fairchild KR-34 bilplane. There is adequate parking space for hundreds of automobiles at the field.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, 18 April 1930:
Parachute Jumps At Millersburg, Saturday
[the same article, as above from the Elizabethville Echo].
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From the Lykens Standard, 25 April 1930:
LANDS PLANE SAFELY WITH DAMAGED UNDERCARRIAGE
Following the two parachute jumps at Robinson Field, Millersburg Airport, 2 1/2 miles east of Millersburg, Sunday, attended by a crowd of spectators estimated at over 6,000 an additional thrill unsuspected by all in attendance was given, when during the last flight made by Pilot Myron U. “Hoops” Gilbert who at the time was flying his Fairchild plane, injured the undercarriage of the plane in the takeoff, letting but one wheel intact and successfully landed the craft.
Carrying two passengers the name of one which is unknown and the other Paul Troutman of Millersburg, Pilot Gilbert in the takeoff in some manner injured one of the wheels of the landing gear and bent it in a position which rendered it useless in landing.
The injured undercarriage noticed by two other pilots who were present at the day’s activities, and who flew planes from Lancaster and Harrisburg, immediately took their planes aloft to inform Pilot Gilbert of the accident.
In their effort to transfer the information to Gilbert they displayed a tire and which was later learned Gilbert translated as meaning the loss of a tire.
To substantiate the correct translation of the message, Pilot Gilbert flew over the landing field several times in an effort to locate the lost tire.
Being unsuccessful he decided to attempt landing and did so quite successfully with a two-point landing, although the complete undercarriage was torn from the craft and one wing injured.
The two passengers and Gilbert escaped uninjured.
Because of a similar accident occurring to a plane piloted by Colonel Lindbergh several months ago in which he sustained an injured shoulder, we believe Pilot Gilbert is to be complimented for the excellent manner in which he landed his craft and the fact that no injuries were sustained by any of the occupants.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 24 April 1930:
LANDS PLANE SAFELY WITH CRIPPLED GEAR
An un-advertised thrill that was not a thrill to Pilot Marion U. Gilbert, operator of the Millersburg Airport, was his. Easter Sunday afternoon, when he brought two passengers safely back to the landing field, although the landing gear of his plane was “washed out” in landing.
A crowd numbering more than 5,000 persons were on the field to witness “Howdy” Reitenbaugh, well known Pottstown parachute jumper make his leap that afternoon. Alton E. Eaton of the Beckley Aviation Field, was on his way to Lock Haven in a Travel-Air plane and stopped off at the airport. Richard Beckley, with a Waco 10 biplane from the Lancaster Airways, also flew to the Millersburg field for the day. The three aviators were taking passengers for rides during the afternoon.
It was Gilbert’s second trip, following Reitenbaugh’s leap, with Paul Troutman of Millersburg, and a man whose name could not be learned, as passengers. As the plane took off, the strut supporting the right landing wheel, snapped off at the fuselage. The damage was noted when Gilbert flew over the crowd, and immediately Beckley too off in his plane to warn Gilbert.
Gilbert was not aware of any trouble when Beckley’s plane drew alongside his, but an interchange of signals left him with the impression that his fellow flyer was waving “good-bye” and was returning to his home port. However, Beckley persisted, and when he pointed to the undercarriage of Gilbert’s plane, the Millersburg pilot realized that his plane had been damaged or perhaps that he had lost a wheel or tire, This impression was gained when he saw someone near the hanger hold a tire aloft. Cutting his motor, he called to the crowd: “Which on?” and in in receiving motions it was the right wheel, Gilbert prepared to land his plane on it left.
He zoomed, and after reaching a safe altitude, he again cut his motor to permit speech with his passengers and apprizing them of the danger, he told them to tighten their safety belt and brace themselves with their hands.
“Hops” himself took precautions by removing his goggles, and taking the stick in his left, braced himself with the right, and started his plane in a long glide. The plane in landing, settled on the left wheel and tail skid and was brought about in a half circle as finally the left strut also gave way. But the plane did not turn over and except for a shaking-up, Gilbert and both his passengers were not injured.
The damage included a broken landing gear, damaged left wing and both wing struts broken. It is believed that faulty welding at the connection of the strut and fuselage, was the cause.
“Hops” was complimented for his coolness in emergency, and for the ability with which he brought his plane in, without injury either to the passengers or to himself , and for averting a serious crash.
Earlier in the the afternoon the three aviators had flown over sections of the valley and engaged in stunts and flight formations.
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News stories from Newspapers.com.
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