The Victory Loan Flying Circus in the Twin Ports, April 20, 1919

g for Dollars yin The Victory Loan Flying Circus Fl in the Twin Ports, April 20, 1919

Alan L. Roesler

A. E. McManus stood before a lun- cheon crowd of war bond salespeople gathered at Duluth’s Hotel Spalding on April 21, 1919. His remarks were brief; McManus was head of Duluth’s Four Minute Men, a national group of volunteer speakers trained during World War I to give patriotic four-minute talks wherever crowds gathered—on street corners, at movie theaters during intermission between films, and at meetings of lodges, fraternal organizations, and labor unions.1 Wartime hostilities had ceased the previous year on November 11. As McManus spoke in April 1919, President Woodrow Wilson was leading the US delegation at the Paris Peace Conference. Meanwhile, the US Department of the Treasury was spending $2 billion a month to support the two million troops remaining in France and Germany, part of the Allies’ Four Liberty Bond drives were issued in 1917 and 1918. After the end of of World War I, 1919’s postwar attempt to turn the French Victory Loan drive raised funds for the military’s postwar expenses. Rhineland into a demilitarized zone. Speaking of the need for “bringing The Treasury Department sought Bonds, were issued in 1917 and 1918. the boys home,” McManus stated, to ride the residual surge of patri- Over the five bond issues, 66 million “No additional argument is needed, otism following the November 11 individual bonds were sold, raising . . . other than that appertaining to an armistice by selling bonds to the $21.4 billion for the federal gov- early return of the men who are now public to finance postwar costs. ernment. Banks, corporations, and standing watch on the Rhine, cold, wet The Victory Liberty Loan Act that citizens bought the bonds in denom- and in the midst of unfriendly faces. McManus was promoting was the inations ranging from $50 (in 2020, If a mother tells you her boy is already fifth, and final, war bond campaign the equivalent of $752) to $100,000. safely back, ask her of the other moth- for World War I. The previous four, Bond sales to individuals were touted ers, whose boys are not yet here.”2 known as Liberty Loans or Liberty “as both an investment and as a patri-

190 MINNESOTA HISTORY otic duty.” For many Americans, this aviators in American and captured was scheduled for 1:30 pm. Superior was their first foray into investments, German [F]okker planes will tour the and Duluth were fortunate to have a and the Treasury Department hoped United States in connection with the Victory Loan parade in Superior on to not only earn postwar funds but Victory Liberty Loan campaign, giv- Saturday, April 19, with the air show also to teach Americans about the ing aerial sham battles and aerobatics on Sunday, before the Victory Loan r Dollars value of savings.3 over fifty leading American cities.” drive officially opened the following fo On Easter Sunday, April 20, 1919, These mock battles were scripted. day. Salespeople did not have to worry ng the day before McManus addressed American Curtiss Jenny planes about the spectacles distracting from yi the crowd at the Spalding Hotel, dropped Victory Loan literature over their efforts to sell war bonds on the l thousands of citizens in the Twin the city, followed by captured German same days, and there would be no F - Fokker planes attacking the Ameri- Ports of Duluth and Superior, Wis excuse for anyone to not comprehend consin, had witnessed a spectacle: can ones after they completed their the importance of the opening of the Victory Loan Flying Circus, an air mission. The American scout planes bond sales on Monday.7 show staged by the US Air Service, in then drove off the German planes.5 partnership with the Treasury Depart- The number and types of air- ment. The Air Service wanted to planes flown in each of the Midwest Bonds and quotas demonstrate its ability and that of its air shows varied from seven to eleven, Dozens of men and women organized Allied air services, which did so much depending upon field and weather in each community to meet Victory to bring about the defeat of the Ger- conditions, as well as the availabil- Loan sales quotas set by the US Trea- mans on the Western Front in France, ity of the airplanes themselves, as sury Department. The quota for the while the Treasury Department sim- the flyers demonstrated their aerial Ninth Federal Reserve District, which ply wanted its three Flying Circuses acrobatics. “Parades will precede the includes Minnesota and northwestern nationwide to stimulate interest in flights. Citizens will be able to see the Wisconsin, was $157.5 million. Within the $4.5 billion Victory Loan drive. machines unloaded and set up in the each district, quotas were further During the first four Liberty Loan morning and knocked down again for divided among the member states, efforts, promotional techniques shipment after the flights,” noted the counties, and cities, presumably included use of celebrities such as Washington Times.6 based upon population. The popula- Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, In each of three US flights (East- tion figures for Duluth and Superior and Mary Pickford to promote bond ern, Mid-West, Far West), the aviators, presented a wide disparity. The quota sales. A US Air Service newsletter planes, and other matériel traveled by for the 26 counties of northwestern noted, “Many schemes are to be used train to put on one air show each day Wisconsin that were part of the Ninth in the raising of the huge fifth Liberty for 30 days. Frank R. Wilson, Treasury District was $9 million, and the share Loan, but one of the most unique Department director of the war loan of Douglas County, where Superior is plans of all is the sending of three publicity campaign, obtained the fleet located, was $1.2 million. With a pop- Flying Circuses over the country.” and aviators for the performances, ulation approaching 40,000 in 1920, Aviation was still fairly new, and the calling it “the greatest flying program Superior was responsible for the lion’s barnstorming era was just beginning. the United States ever has witnessed.” share of the Douglas County quota— The public was fascinated by powered Victory Bond sales were set to open $1.08 million—leaving the rest of the flight and would line up for a chance on April 21, while the flying circus county responsible for only $60,000 to give it a try or just view an aerial was on tour, and close on May 10, worth of bonds. Minnesota’s state show. The Victory Loan Flying Circus 1919, the date the promotional tour quota was $92 million, and Duluth’s was “the world’s first officially sanc- also came to an end. responsibility of that was $6 million. tioned military aerial demonstration The Mid-West Flight, also known Duluth’s 1920 population had sur- team, predating the Navy Blue Angels as Flying Circus No. 2, began at passed 98,000. Thus, Duluth, whose by 27 years.”4 Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, on population was not quite two-and-a- The Victory Loan campaign was April 9. It visited Duluth-Superior on half times larger than Superior’s, had first announced in Washington, DC’s April 20, performing its eighth of 25 to sell almost six times as many Vic- Evening Star on March 13, 1919, fol- aerial exhibitions. After the show in tory Loan bonds to meet its quota.8 lowed by a description on March 19 of Duluth-Superior, Flying Circus No. 2 Minnesota was organized under the flying circuses proposed to sup- arrived the next day in Minneapolis, an allotment system in which all port it: “American, French and British where a performance at Fort Snelling who had jobs and earned an income

WINTER 2020–21 191 Starting from Houston, Texas, on April 9, 1919, the Flying Circus No. 2 stopped in each city one day to provide an aerial exhibition (two days in Chicago), arriving in Superior on April 20, 1919. From Shreveport, Louisiana, on May 6, the entourage returned to Chicago—for the third time—where they staged the final air show on May 10, 1919. were expected to commit a voluntary the Federal Reserve system. Railroad rations or trades, but instead carried minimum amount to buy Victory workers and federal government out a house-to-house canvass.) This Loan bonds, based upon their sal- employees could also buy their bonds setup resulted in Superior women aries. Under the allotment system, under a payroll-deduction plan set up selling almost three times as many a committee was formed in each through Federal Reserve banks.9 subscriptions as did Duluth women county to decide the amount of money to be subscribed to Victory Bonds by each resident of the county. All who had jobs and earned an income were expected Cards were distributed asking for to commit a voluntary minimum amount to buy individual information on size of Victory Loan bonds, based upon their salaries. income, amount subscribed to other loans, indebtedness, and financial obligations. When this information In the Ninth Federal Reserve Dis- (2,626 to 922). But while the Superior was compiled, notices were sent out trict, however, Wisconsin sold bonds women outsold the Duluth women informing residents of the county under the allotment plan for men in total individual bond sales, the the amount they were expected to and under general solicitation for difference in dollars raised was not subscribe in the Victory Loan issue. women. This meant that the Superior as high ($520,000 to $421,000). This They were also given an opportunity men followed the same procedures discrepancy may be because the to protest this amount. People could as their cohorts in Duluth, while the Superior women focused on soliciting go to voting booths to give their sub- Superior women could solicit bond the “poor” unallotted men and Native scriptions to solicitors, or they could sales from whomever they chose. Americans—in other words, sans buy a bond at any bank connected to (Women did not sell directly to corpo- allotment cards, they assured high

192 MINNESOTA HISTORY sales participation by focusing on complete coverage, without any pres- sure to meet their quota. How the bonds worked Women’s bond sales were orga- Victory Loan bonds were sold in two series, both convertible gold notes of nized nationally by the National 1922–1923. Principal and interest were exempt from taxation, with some Woman’s Liberty Loan Committee. exceptions. One series bore interest at the rate of 4.75 percent, the other In Minnesota, “Two weeks before 3.75 percent. The maturity date was May 20, 1923. Bearer notes were the [start of the Victory Loan drive] issued in denominations ranging from $50 to $10,000; 50 percent of all the women’s organization had been Victory Loan bonds were $50 bonds. (Fifty dollars in 1919 would be worth perfected, although because of snow $752 in 2020.) Another third of all Victory Loan bonds sold were $100 and bad roads the difficulties had bonds. been great. Some of the women had Bonds sold for their face value. For example, a $50 bond included eight to travel by ox team to do their cam- redeemable coupons. The first coupon (worth $1.36) was dated December paigns.” Minnesota women booked 15, 1919, with the rest consecutively dated in six-month intervals there- speakers and publicity bureaus and after, up to the last coupon, dated May 20, 1923 (worth $1.02). The other held “large and enthusiastic meetings coupons were worth either $1.18 or $1.19. However, if the bondholder . . . often attended by both men and redeemed their short-term treasury note on June 15 or December 15, 1922, women.” In Duluth, Mrs. Alexander no more coupons could be redeemed thereafter. If the bondholder waited until May 20, 1923, when the bond principal was due, the bondholder W. Hartman acted as chairwoman for sent their certificate back to the issuer, a Federal Reserve Bank or any of the Victory Loan drive, just as she had its many branches throughout America, which were designated as fiscal for the previous Liberty Loan drives. agents of the United States, who then canceled it and returned the certifi- The women’s teams, with 119 work- cate’s par value back to the investor. ers, were headquartered at the Kitchi Gammi Club, 831 East Superior Street. Likewise, Superior had its own branch of the National Woman’s Victory Loan Committee.10 in no way be . . . a holiday but will to select the flying field. Members The Duluth war bond sales- simply be the staging of a sham com- of the Twin Ports Aero Club, all for- force attended an orientation at a bat in battle formation under strict mer US Army aviators, worked with pep rally held at noon on Saturday, military regulation. All the visitors Phillips to make the arrangements April 19, at the Lyceum Theater in are working under the direction of for the Duluth-Superior aerial exhibi- Duluth. There, R. A. Horr, chairman the government and are subject to tion. They selected Billings Park and of the Duluth Victory Loan drive’s strict military regulations.”12 the Superior Country Club located executive committee, trained 600 While Horr was presiding over in Billings Park for the event on the to 700 salespeople on the methods the sales meeting in Duluth, across Superior side of St. Louis Bay. The of selling Victory Bonds. “Go after the bay in Superior, where the flying crew, supporting staff, planes, and your prospects with the same energy circus would be held, a Victory Loan equipment were all transported by the Americans tackled the Huns in parade began assembling to march train, with a railroad representative the Argonne,” Horr exhorted. He down Tower Avenue on Saturday accompanying them to handle all detailed the methods salespeople evening. Contracting firm and ship- travel details.14 should pursue, the time of payments builder Whitney Brothers sponsored A train dubbed the Victory Loan on subscriptions, how to collect, and at least two floats, one in the shape Special arrived in Duluth at 8 am general selling points. (See sidebar of a zeppelin and another that bore on Sunday morning after a 12-hour, for more details on the terms of the a “big ship plate from Whitney yard, 341-mile trip from Madison, Wiscon- bonds.)11 with riveters at work.”13 sin. In addition to the usual dining car Horr concluded by forewarning and three sleeping cars, the special the salespeople about expectations train had nine wide Pullman baggage surrounding the next day’s events: Planes arrive cars with end doors to accommodate “The title ‘flying circus’ has led to In preparation for the Sunday air the disassembled planes. The Mid- a misunderstanding on the part of show, First Lieutenant Donovan R. West Flight had a complement of 26 some Duluthians. The occasion will Phillips arrived one week in advance officers and 50 enlisted men. The

WINTER 2020–21 193 officers included several ace flyers (to be called an ace, a flyer had to have shot down five or more enemy planes in combat). The aces were Americans Major Edgar G. Tobin (six victories) and Captain William P. Erwin (eight victories), as well as two British Royal Air Force pilots: Captain Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor (54 victories) and Captain Thomas C. Traill (eight victories). The commanding officer was Major George E. Stratemeyer. The flight’s 18 planes consisted of five Ger- man Fokker D.VIIs, four Spad S. VIIs, four SE-5s, and five Curtiss Hs—four JN-4H models, popularly known as Jennys, and one JN-6H photo ship. Spare motors and spare parts were sent for all airplanes except the Fokkers. Two each of the Spads and SE-5s and three Fokkers were kept in reserve. (See sidebar on p. 196 for tech- nical information on the planes.)15 Once the train reached the main railyard near Grassy Point in Duluth, it continued another two miles east This portion of the Wisconsin–Minnesota, Superior Quadrangle topographic map (1917), shows across St. Louis Bay and into Superior Billings Park in relation to the north-south Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad to the US Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry viaduct, and the east-west Northern Pacific Railroad tracks crossing St. Louis Bay. The United Company, which had railway sidings States Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry Company building in use at the time was the larger black square southwest of the railroad intersections. The unloading point was the switch closer to the main located south of Winter Street and track and Winter Street, after which the train traveled south along Susquehanna Avenue to west of Susquehanna Avenue. This North 21st Street, and then west to Billings Park. corresponds with a photograph show-

194 MINNESOTA HISTORY The Victory Loan Special train arrives in Superior from Duluth on April 20. In the background (left) you can barely see the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad north-south viaduct. However, the actual unloading point, the “Steel Plant Switch Siding,” was probably closer to where the people in the left background are standing by the curved track, which led to the United States Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry Company (out of view to the left). ing the Victory Loan Special arriving on their undercarriage wheels, with unusually long transport distance on a double track; in the background wings and wing assemblies on sep- from the siding, their later “War is a viaduct for the Minneapolis, St. arate trucks, south on Susquehanna Diary” report commented that the Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad’s Avenue to reach North Twenty-first service provided them was “only fair, north-south line that ended on the Street, and then west to Billings Park. as the truck drivers were donating Soo Ore Dock in St. Louis Bay.16 Perhaps the towing distance (approx- their work to the Victory Loan and Only eight of the eighteen planes imately 1.25 miles) dissuaded Major seemed to feel as though they were were unloaded from the railway siding Stratemeyer from hauling more air- rendering a very personal favor.”18 in Superior. Ideally, the chosen flying planes to the field, but this decision Photographs of the day’s activities field was “suitably located near rail- left the flight crew with no backup show airplanes at both the flat plains way sidings where the least amount to replace an airplane that malfunc- of Billings Park and the Superior of hauling and trucks would be tioned on the flying field.17 Country Club. It appears that the ini- required,” but this was not the case in Once the flatbed trucks reached tial flights to test engines were made Superior. The Superior Victory Loan Billings Park, Flying Circus No. 2 from the Billings Park area in the committee provided flatbed trucks apparently assembled the airplanes morning. That was when the officer to tow the eight airplane fuselages on the flat open area east of the in charge, Major Edgar G. Tobin; First “Boulevard” (now Billings Drive). Lieutenant Clarence J. Moors (engi- facing: Looking northeast, the main Duluth They likely chose this location neer officer); and Second Lieutenant railyard at around 8 am on April 20, 1919, soon because of the short but narrow Fred L. Smith (assistant engineer offi- after the Victory Loan Special train arrived. unpaved road to reach the Superior cer) determined that one of the two The yard appears idle because it is Easter Sunday. The Northern Pacific Railroad viaduct Country Club golf course and Gitchi- SE-5s was inoperable, so it was only crossing St. Louis Bay is barely visible at top nadji Clubhouse, located 2,500 feet exhibited. Lieutenants Charles M. right, on the horizon. west of New York Avenue. Given the Potter, the pilot, and Grafton Wiggins,

WINTER 2020–21 195 Aircraft of the Victory Loan Flying Circus No. 2 The planes flown in the Victory Loan Flying Circus air shows The four Curtiss JN-4H Jennys had Wright-Hispano “A” represented models that had been used in combat or training 150-horsepower motors, maximum speed 93 miles per hour during World War I. The four SE-5s were from the batch of 38 in horizontal flight. On the circus tour, flight instructors from that the US Air Service purchased in October 1918, some of Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, flew these planes, which they which equipped the 25th Aero Squadron in November 1918, had painted in Victory Loan Flying Circus shades of red, white, while others served as single-seat pursuit trainers for the 27th, and blue. While the JN-4H Jennys had stabilizing ailerons only 94th, 95th, and 147th Aero Squadrons during the early 1920s. on the upper wings, the Curtiss JN-6H photo ship had ailerons Built by the Austin Motor Company in Longbridge (Worces- on both upper and lower wings. The equipment for this two- tershire), England, they were assembled by Curtiss Aeroplane man photo ship included a 13 x 18–centimeter handheld De and Motor Company and fitted with Wright Model E 180-horse- Maria camera, which used a small-sized plate and short focus power motors.1 lens to take oblique photos of the cities and towns during the The five Fokker D.VIIs came from a cohort of new machines air show performances. The JN-6H photo ship crew also used manufactured under license by the Albatros factory (Ostdeut- another De Maria semiautomatic plate camera with an 18 x sche Albatros Werke) at Schneidemühl, Germany. In accordance 24–centimeter plate and a 26-centimeter Krauss-Zeiss Tessar with the armistice agreement, the Fokkers arrived at the US Air wide-angle lens for taking low-flying photos and photos cover- Service in Coblenz, Germany, on January 1, 1919. This single-seat ing large areas. A third camera, a Folmer Graflex, was used for fighter was the only aircraft specifically mentioned in the Treaty taking ground photos.3 of Versailles, because the Allies considered the surrender of all Fokker D.VIIs a guarantee that the Germans would not be able NOTES 1. Major General Charles T. Menoher, to Commanding Officer, Ellington to resume hostilities in the winter of 1918–19. Dispatched from Field, et al., Regarding Victory Loan Drive, Mar. 21, 1919, 2, item 4; John F. Romorantin, France, to Norfolk, Virginia, the Fokkers were then Connors, S.E.5a in Action (Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, Air- sent to Ellington Field in Texas in time for the Victory Loan tour. craft No. 69, 1985), 28, 44–46. The four Spad VIIs were single-seat fighters built by 2. Alex Imrie, “Fokker DVII,” Scale Models (Spring 1983): 181, 184; Alan D. Toelle, “Wings Over America: Victory Loan Flying Circus, Far West Flight,” Mann, Egerton and Company. They were sent to the United Over the Front 29, no. 4 (2014): 354. States from England in late 1918. After being fitted with US 3. Peter M. Bowers, The Curtiss JN-4, Aircraft Profile 37 (London and Wright-Martin Model A 150-horsepower motors, they were Watford: Profile Publications Ltd., 1965), 6, 12; Gorrell’s History of the Expedi- assigned to Ellington Field.2 tionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, series G, 1, no. 4, Aerial Photography Equipment, 162, 177–78.

The only Spad VII flown at Billings Park in Superior on April 20, flown by Second Lieutenant Joseph L. Whitney. The north-south Minne- apolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad viaduct is in the background, at the end of the Soo Ore Dock in St. Louis Bay.

Looking east toward the Min- neapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad viaduct, SE-5s C.8747 (the tail of the “Dragon” Jenny in front of it) and C.8745 are being prepared for exhibition at Billings Park. the photographer, made a test flight for the Victory Loan committees in Duluth yesterday. It was calm, sunny, in the Curtiss JN-6H, but after a few Duluth and Superior.19 even hot—a perfect day for the Easter minutes of flying, engine trouble Despite this setback, the Duluth parade, the aerial battle and autoing caused Potter to make a forced land- Herald’s weather summary for April or walking.” The low temperature in ing. With the photo ship thus being 20 proclaimed, “Better weather for Duluth was 35 degrees, while the high out of commission, Wiggins was Easter Sunday could not be imagined was 55, with a 10-mile-per-hour north unable to provide aerial negatives than the brand which was furnished wind blowing down the length of the landing field on the Superior Country Club golf course.20 After test flights from Billings Park, the six serviceable airplanes then landed on this smaller golf course flying field, approximately 325 × 100 yards in size. There, a few local residents got to experience the thrill of flight. At all flying circus tour stops, the schedule included flights for local passengers in the morning, if weather and field conditions were suitable, followed by the air show in the afternoon. The Duluth and Douglas County Victory Loan committees most likely chose the lucky people, who first had to sign their “death warrants,” papers exonerating the government from all blame in

This aerial photo shows the Gitchinadji Clubhouse in the upper right corner, with tennis courts case of accident. Those chosen were below it, St. Louis River in the upper left corner, and spectators in autos parked along the Supe- examined by the medical officer, First rior Country Club golf course. Lieutenant C. E. Brenner, to deter- mine that their hearts and stomachs seemed fit before allowing them to don leather jacket, helmet, and gog- gles. The citizen flyers were Clarence Grace, a Superior banker; Lawrence Moore, a Duluth newspaperman; S. A. Buchanan, a Superior Citizens Recep- tion Committee member appointed by Mayor Fred Baxter to welcome the soldiers home; and Tom Clark of Duluth, chairman of the local Victory Loan publicity committee.21 The three Curtiss JN-4H Jennys were used to take the civilian passengers for rides. Clarence Grace ascended first, flying with Second Lieutenant Edward H. Hill in a Jenny painted like a dragon, with red scales, eyes, and teeth in a dragon motif that

Looking east, the Gitchinadji Clubhouse in the lower left corner, tennis courts just above it, symbolized power, strength, and good St. Louis River just below the lower left wingtip at bottom of photo. The flying field itself, luck for those who flew it. Afterward, surrounded by people and autos, was said to be 100 by 325 yards in size. Grace said he “liked it fine,” even

WINTER 2020–21 197 The “Dragon” Jenny. though he looked “contrary” after the strain, and he thought that any to upset one’s poise, so I kept my landing. “It feels quite funny to be moment the strap holding him in was eyes shut—tight. The pilot was kind touring around head down,” he said, going to break.”23 enough to tell me later that we had while he admitted to starting to feel Tom Clark had the honor of flying floated upside down for three min- sick. According to the Superior Tele- on what was described as “the most utes. I was sure he did not exaggerate gram, “Lieutenant Hill asked [Grace] spectacular” of the citizen flights. at that. . . . if he wouldn’t like to have a few tail Experiencing no ill effects, Clark [T]aking it altogether, I enjoyed it spins and a couple of more miles fly- declared, very much. We were up about 12,000 ing on his back, to which he replied feet and dropped 4,000 feet when that he didn’t care to have the lieu- It was a great experience. . . . the pilot took the nosedive—and all tenant go to all that trouble and that I experienced no fear whatever, and my confidence.24 he had quite sufficient for one day. the sight of the country unfolding Lieutenant Hill laughed and was a as we soared higher and higher good enough fellow to bring him back gave one a feeling of exaltation that The air show to earth.”22 is hard to describe. I could see the The air show began shortly after 2 pm, S. A. Buchanan went up with country for miles in all directions, when Captain Howard H. Powell in First Lieutenant Frank D. Estell in the from Lakeside to the Thomson Dam, the “Dragon” Jenny, First Lieutenant “Black Cat” Jenny, which featured a and from the south range to the Paul A. Smith in the “Black Cat” feline with arched back and raised tail woods north of Duluth Heights. Jenny, and Captain Traill in the Fokker inside a yellow circle, painted below The real excitement began when ascended to a shout of enthusiasm the pilot’s cockpit on the left fuselage we overtook another plane. With from 10,000 spectators near the side, the plane’s lower wings and rear no warning—it is impossible to talk landing field on the Superior Coun- fuselage covered with blue and white with the motor running—the pilot try Club grounds. The three flew in a diamonds. Buchanan reported enjoy- shot straight up and turned over. V-shaped formation across St. Louis ing the portions of the flight when he I had been looking over the side, Bay toward Duluth. They soared was flying on his back, looping the but when things began to happen, higher and higher, at times appear- loop, and surviving tailspins and the I ducked my head back into the ing so small they might be confused other aerobatics of the air. Back on fuselage, shut my eyes, crossed my with the gulls flying about the bay. the ground, he noted to a newspaper fingers and trusted my luck. It was Second Lieutenant Alvin M. St. John reporter that when he was flying on some sensation to glance up and in the “Clown” Jenny, Second Lieu- his back, he “hung . . . for dear life” see the earth skimming along above tenant Joseph L. Whitney in the Spad, and that “his arms got numb from you. Looking at it too long is liable and Captain Beauchamp-Proctor in

198 MINNESOTA HISTORY Mechanics prepare Fokker DVII 8525 for flight at the Superior Country Club grounds (located in Billings Park) on April 20. the SE-5 followed them in the next P.S. We’re glad to be here.” The paste- organizations to demobilize but did formation.25 board bomb messages read: “Liberty not apply to regular army units. Regu- The three Curtiss machines then Bonds kept these from being German lar army divisions were the last to flew over both Duluth and Superior, bombs—Victory Liberty Notes pay return home from France. The new where Lieutenants Smith, Edward H. for peace.” The other side read: “How enlistment process after February 1919 Hill, and Frank B. Estell dropped many Victory notes would you be served to train skilled personnel to aerograms and recruiting litera- willing to buy if these were German take the places of recently discharged ture contained in paper pasteboard Bombs falling on your home?”26 technicians in the regular army, “bombs” across both cities. The Smith, Hill, and Estell also dropped including the Air Service. The Air Ser- aerograms read: “We helped make recruiting cards over both cities, urg- vice sought 15,000 carpenters, Germany quit. You must finish the job. ing men, “Join now and release a man chauffeurs, machinists, mechanics, Invest in Victory Loan Bonds and get who has a job waiting for him.” The metalworkers, motorcyclists, tailors, all the boys back home. (Signed) 103rd US Army’s World War I demobiliza- woodworkers, and untrained men for Aero Squadron, Lafayette Escadrille. tion plan called for entire units and 30 other trades, with good salaries and all expenses paid. The Mid-West Flight Flying Circus recruiting officer, First Lieutenant P. E. MacGregor, facil- itated this process, coordinating his recruiting efforts with Sergeant Oscar Jackson, the Duluth recruiting officer. Their first recruit, Albert Shovein of nearby Proctor, enlisted and left the next day for Jefferson Barracks Mili- tary Post in Missouri.27 The release of the pasteboard bombs was Captain Traill’s signal to “attack” the Jennys and partake in a sham air battle, but the Fokker’s engine was working badly. Suddenly, it stopped running and Traill almost E. P. Streeter (left) and Fred L. Smith pose with Joseph L. Whitney (center), the only Flying Circus collided with the Jenny piloted by No. 2, Spad VII pilot who flew on April 20, 1919. All pictured were second lieutenants. Lieutenant Smith. In great distress

WINTER 2020–21 199 because his engine was dead, Traill The highlight of the air show for those people first thought he would have to try watching from Duluth was seeing Captain Powell landing either in Duluth or on the St. Louis River. But upon his descent, in his “Dragon” Jenny fly through the Aerial the engine started again, and he Transfer Bridge spanning the Duluth Ship Canal. gained enough altitude to make it back to the flying field at the Superior Country Club. A bit frightened, Traill The Superior Telegram also ing a talk by one of the Four Minute observed afterward, “By Jove, doncha reported that one pilot flew under Men, bayonet exercises by return- know it is bad to be that way. First, the Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge, ing soldiers, an act from the Palace I looked at the rocky cliffs and then without specifying which pilot. If Theater, a song and dance stunt by gazed at the nice water, and I decided true, this almost certainly was Cap- former soldiers, and music provided then and there to glide to the water, as tain Beauchamp-Proctor flying the by the post office fife and drum corps. it looked softest.”28 SE-5, its wheels touching the water The Mid-West Flying Circus, however, Captain Beauchamp-Proctor— while going under the bridge. He needed to return to Duluth after dis- flying an SE-5, the same type of was documented to have done this assembling and loading the airplanes fighter he had flown in France, where at other cities on the tour and had a back onto the train. At 10 pm, the Vic- he had achieved 54 victories—showed propensity to fly under bridges over tory Loan Special rolled out of Duluth, the crowds why he was considered water. Lieutenant Whitney brought beginning its 10-hour, 186-mile trip one of the best aerobatic pilots in the the hearts of the spectators to their to Minneapolis. The entertainment world. Later, Beauchamp-Proctor throats when he closed the air show was over, and the next day, April 21, developed his own formation aero- with a hair-raising series of loops and marked the opening of Victory Loan batic team with Number 24 Squadron spins that seemed certain to send his sales. Now it was time for the citizens of the Royal Air Force. During his aer- Spad crashing to destruction on the of Duluth and Superior to step up and obatic maneuvers in Billings Park, he rocks below.31 buy bonds.32 flew so close to the ground that some Shadows were lengthening on of his stunts were around the tops the flying field by the close of the air of bushes, “chasing the other birds show at 4 pm. After the crews loos- Evaluating success of almost from limb to limb.”29 ened bracing wires and detached Victory Loan promotions The highlight of the air show for wings from fuselages, the disassem- No data was reported on that first those people watching from Duluth, bled airplanes on the flatbed trucks day of sales. The chairman of the though, was seeing Captain Powell still faced the journey back to the Duluth Victory Loan drive’s executive in his “Dragon” Jenny fly through the train. Multiple events were scheduled committee, R. A. Horr, reported only Aerial Transfer Bridge spanning the that evening at the Victory Loan sales $850,000 in subscriptions the second Duluth Ship Canal after a low flight booth in downtown Superior, includ- day. In his pep talk following this along the waterfront, as reported in the Duluth Herald: “Captain Powell, to the edification of those clustered about the aerial bridge, whirred twice under the arch of the structure in his flaming red dragon while the [gondola] car was making one trip across the channel, then returned and repeated the performance once more, just to show he had staged no ‘fluke’ exhibition of steady piloting and cool judgment of distance.”30

Captain Howard H. Powell flew the “Dragon” Jenny through the arch of the Duluth’s Aerial Transfer Bridge three times during the show.

200 MINNESOTA HISTORY relatively low total, he accused some The Mid-West Flying Circus’s its inspiration and motivation, Min- salesmen of loafing on the job and airdrop of military recruitment liter- neapolis acknowledged the Duluth not putting in the time they should, ature also was apparently successful. Herald’s claim that the city has “again and he voiced his intention of “rak- More Duluth men enlisted in the proven its reputation as one of the ing some of you over the coals.” The various service branches during April country’s foremost ‘All-American’ very next day, April 23, the salesmen 1919 than during any other month municipalities.”38 responded with a dramatic increase since the signing of the armistice. to nearly $2.5 million in total sub- Most of the recruits, 26 men, enlisted scriptions. April 24 was another big into the navy; 7 joined the army; the day for Duluth, first when subscrip- coast guard accepted 10 men; and Notes tion totals reached $3.25 million by the marine corps accepted 3 men for noon; and then showing civic pride service. In addition, the flying circus 1. Cities all over the country had a chairman whose duty was to see that a trained four-minute that afternoon, when more than brought the Twin Ports face-to- face speaker was ready to give an address at any and 2,500 Shriners marched in Duluth’s with the potential for aviation to all occasions. Superior, Wisconsin’s Four Minute largest Victory Loan parade with a assume its place in the postwar world, Men chairman was W. M. Steele: Labert St. Clair, The Story of the Liberty Loans (Washington, DC: new slogan, Double Your Subscrip- capturing the public’s imagination James William Bryan Press, 1919), 135, 153. tion. On April 25, the end of the as no other event possibly could. 2. Carter Glass, Secretary of the Treasury, first week of sales, Duluth’s sub- “Superior . . . witnessed an exhibition speech to the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, scription total of $5.73 million was of flying that a few years back people Feb. 8, 1919; St. Clair, The Story of the Liberty Loans, 89; “Victory Loan Campaign Is Off for just $270,000 short of meeting its thought could never be a reality,” pro- Whirlwind Finish,” Duluth Herald, Apr. 21, 1919, 2. assigned sales quota.33 claimed the Superior Telegram.36 3. US Inflation Calculator, usinflationcalcula- Whistles blew simultaneously Upon Duluth’s successful comple- tor.com; “The Liberty Loans,” Joe J. Herbstman Memorial Collection of American Finance, in all parts of the city shortly before tion of its loan drive, Horr concluded, https://www.theherbstmancollection.com 11 am on April 26, 1919, proclaim- “I believe the Victory Loan campaign /liberty-loans. According to this page, “The Lib- ing that Duluthians had subscribed to have been the most popular of the erty Loans represent the birth of modern debt $6 million of Victory Loan bonds. five drives.” In actuality, the 15 mil- issuance by the United States, and it is the Sec- ond Liberty Bond Act of 1917 that is the basis for Women working for the National lion national subscribers who bought the sale of Treasury bonds to this very day.” Woman’s Liberty Loan Committee Victory notes placed it only third in 4. “Airmen in Flying Circus Today at 2,” Eve- in Duluth’s residential districts had overall popularity among the five ning Star (Washington, DC), Apr. 13, 1919, 21; “Fly- ing Circus Thrills Thousands of Persons,” Evening solicited 922 of the subscriptions, drives. About 21 million purchasers Star, Apr. 14, 1919, 10; “Midwestern Flying Circus contributing $421,500 to the $6 participated in the fourth loan, 17 Aids Loan Drive,” Air Service News Letter II, V-119, million total sales. With their quota million in the third, 9.4 million in Apr. 12, 1919, 3; page 604 of 1175 of this 1919 Air Force Historical Support Division Newsletter is achieved, Duluth’s Liberty Loan sales the second, and 4 million in the first also available at http://media.defense.gov/2011 organization, which had remained Liberty Loan. A. R. Rogers, chairman /Apr/19/2001330021/-1/-1/0/110420-D-LN615 intact from the four wartime drives, of the Ninth District war loan orga- –002.pdf; Rufus Ward, “Ask Rufus: The Victory ceased operations and disbanded nization, cited Duluth’s success as an Flying Circus of 1919,” The Dispatch (Columbus and Starkville, MS), Apr. 14, 2018, https:// soon thereafter.34 inspiration to the Minneapolis Liberty cdispatch.com/opinions/article.asp?aid=65211. Across the bay at the Victory Loan Loan workers “The announcement 5. “Loan Drive to Run April 21–May 10,” Eve- headquarters in Superior’s Federal of Duluth’s oversubscription at a ning Star (Washington, DC), Mar. 13, 1919, 3; “50 Planes Will ‘Fight’ Over Nation in Loan’s Aid,” Building, City Chairman H. B. Evans meeting of Minneapolis Liberty Loan Sunday Star (Washington, DC), Mar. 16, 1919, 10; and General Chairman J. M. McCabe workers was received with enthusi- “Allied Aces Will Fly for New Loan,” Washington reported more than 3,000 subscrip- asm and helped to put this city ‘over Times, Mar. 16, 1919, 19. 6. This paragraph and next, “Allied Aces Will tion sales totaling $492,050 on the the top.’”37 Fly for New Loan.” April 21 campaign opening day. Anna Both Duluth and Minneapolis 7. “Allied Aces Will Fly for New Loan”; “War Williams Roberts, Superior chair- Victory Loan committees started Diary, Victory Loan Mid-West Flight,” Sheet No. woman of the National Woman’s their respective campaigns in earnest 22, Apr. 22, 1919, Record Group 18, Army Air Forces Entry NM53–135 Air Service Training and Liberty Loan Committee, reported the day following their Flying Circus Operations Group, Training Division, Victory 2,626 total subscription sales. The air shows held near their cities. And Loan Flight Correspondence, 1919–20, boxes 1 $520,000 total credited to the wom- both cities met their respective quo- and 2, stack 190/row 39/compartment 14, Apr. 29, 1919, National Archives, Washington, DC en’s committee amounted to 50 tas in the same number of business (hereafter “War Diary,” followed by the applica- percent of Superior’s sales quota.35 days thereafter. In citing Duluth as ble sheet number and date).

WINTER 2020–21 201 The Twin Cities show, held at the Fort Snel- Frank W. Bailey, Over the Front: A Complete Record Transfer Bridge (1905–29) was converted in ling parade grounds, was reported to have been of Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and 1929–30 to a vertical lift bridge, which is still in the best yet on the Mid-West Tour. The show French Air Services, 1914–1918 (London: Grub operation. exhibited 10 airplanes. Five were flown in the Street, 1998), 37, 76. 31. “Fliers Stage Aerial Drama”; “British Ace morning and nine flew that afternoon; one Spad 16. Grassy Point, where the St. Louis River Goes Under Douglas St. Bridge in Plane,” World was exhibited but not flown. The Curtiss JN-6H meets Lake Superior, was once home to lumber Herald (Omaha, NE), Apr. 29, 1919, 2. photo ship’s right side was repainted in the Fort mills and coal docks. It is now a restored wetland: 32. “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with Snelling paint shops and renamed the “Red https://duluthmn.gov/parks/parks-listing Feats”; “Entertainment at Bond Sales Booth,” Devil.” An elaborate banquet at the Minneapolis /grassy-point/. Superior Telegram, Apr. 21, 1919, 7; “War Diary,” Club attended by Governor Joseph A. A. Burn- 17. Major General Charles T. Menoher, to Sheet No. 20, Apr. 21, 1919. The trip lasted so long quist and Minneapolis mayor J. Edward Meyers Commanding Officer, Ellington Field, et al. because the train was acting as a traveling hotel; was part of the Victory Loan Flying Circus festivi- (Washington, DC, War Department, Mar. 21, there was no point going faster, which would ties. Mayor Meyers was one of the civilians given 1919), Subject: Victory Loan Drive, 2, items 3–4; wake people up. The next day’s air show at Fort a ride in the morning before the air show. Minne- “War Diary,” Sheet No. 20, Apr. 21, 1919, both Snelling was not to start until 1:30 pm, and there apolis’s bond sales quota was $20.7 million and RG18, NAPRA-CP; Sanborn Fire Insurance Map was a sick enlisted man on board with a high St. Paul’s was $13.5 million. from Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin, 1914, fever, who was transferred to the base hospital at 8. Besides Minnesota and 26 counties in Images 1 and 2 (Key and Map 1), Library of Con- Fort Snelling. northwest Wisconsin, the Ninth Federal Reserve gress; “Wisconsin–Minnesota, Superior Quad- 33. “Duluth Urged to Greater Efforts in Loan District is composed of Montana, North and rangle,” topographic map, contour interval 20 Drive,” Duluth Herald, Apr. 22, 1919, 2; “Duluth South Dakota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michi- feet, scale 1/62,500, 1917, Library of Congress. Must Show More ‘Pep’ to Gain Loan Quota,” gan: https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about 18. “War Diary,” Sheet No. 20, Apr. 21, 1919; Duluth Herald, Apr. 23, 1919, 2; “Doubling Sub- -us/the-ninth-district. Superior population, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map 71, Superior, Doug- scriptions Only Way to Gain Loan Quota,” Duluth “Wisconsin,” p. 1163, https://www2.census.gov las County, Wisconsin, 1914, Library of Congress. Herald, Apr. 24, 1919, 2; “Desert Tribe Parades /library/publications/decennial/1940/population North Twenty-First Street was 70 feet wide. City,” Duluth Herald, Apr. 25, 1919, 5; “Duluth May -volume-1/33973538v1ch10.pdf; Paul F. Hunter, “Scenes at Yesterday’s Victory Loan Flying Cir- Subscribe Quota by End of Week,” Duluth Herald, ed., Wisconsin Blue Book (Madison: Democrat cus,” Superior Telegram, Apr. 21, 1919, 5, showed Apr. 25, 1919, 8. Printing Co., State Printer, 1919), 422; Treasury photographs of the country club flying field. 34. NWLLC, 47–48; “Will Again Lead Women Department, “Report of National Woman’s Lib- 19. “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with Workers for Victory Loan”; “Duluth Goes Over erty Loan Committee for the Victory Loan Cam- Feats.” the Top in Victory Loan Campaign,” Duluth Her- paign, April 21st to May 10th, 1919” (Washington, 20. “Unsettled; Slightly Warmer,” Duluth ald, Apr. 26, 1919, 1–2; “Duluth Invests Well Over DC: Government Printing Office, 1920), 47–48, Herald, Apr. 21, 1919, 18. Quota,” Duluth Herald, Apr. 28, 1919, 12. 94 (hereafter cited as NWLLC); “Victory Loan 21. “War Diary,” Sheet No. 20, Apr. 21, 1919; 35. NWLLC, 94; “Victory Loan Campaign Campaign Open,” Superior Telegram, Apr. 21, 1919, “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with Feats”; Open.” 7; “Biggest US Cities: Duluth, Minnesota Popula- “Plan Welcome for Soldiers,” Superior Telegram, 36. “More Recruits Entering Service,” Duluth tion History 1890–2019,” https://www.biggest Apr. 21, 1919, 3, 7. Herald, May 3, 1919, 5; “Riders of the Air Thrill uscities.com/city/duluth-minnesota. 22. “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with Superiorites with Feats.” 9. “Government Helps Its Employees to Buy Feats.” 37. “Duluth Goes Over the Top in Victory Bonds,” Duluth Herald, Apr. 21, 1919, 13. 23. “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with Loan Campaign,” 1; “Fifteen Million Citizens 10. NWLLC, 47–48, 94; “Will Again Lead Feats”; The Curtiss Standard JN4-D Military Tractor Purchase Fifth Loan Notes,” Minneapolis Morning Women Workers for Victory Loan,” Duluth Herald, Hand Book (Milwaukee, WI: Aviation Publica- Tribune, May 12, 1919, 1; “Has Praise For Duluth,” Apr. 19, 1919, 10. tions, 1918), 25. Duluth Herald, April 29, 1919, 3. 11. “Salesmen Get Final Orders,” Duluth 24. “Plane Novices are Given Real Thrills,” 38. “Duluth Goes Over the Top in Victory Herald, Apr. 19, 1919, 20. Duluth Herald, Apr. 21, 1919, 2. Loan Campaign,” 1. 12. “Salesmen Get Final Orders.” 25. “Fliers Stage Aerial Drama,” Duluth 13. “Scenes at Superior’s ‘Victory Loan’ Herald, Apr. 21, 1919, 6. Parade Saturday,” Superior Telegram, Apr. 21, 26. “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with Images on p. 190, Duluth Herald, April 20, 1919, 1; 1919, 7. Feats.” p. 192, 194 (bottom), 195, 196 (top), 198, 199. 14. “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with 27. “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with courtesy of Franklin O. Carroll; p. 194 (top) His- Feats,” Superior Telegram, Apr. 21, 1919, 3; Major Feats”; “First Volunteer Leaves Duluth,” Duluth torical Topographic Maps—Preserving the Past General Charles T. Menoher, Director of Air Ser- Herald, Apr. 21, 1919, 2; “Many Men Wanted for (usgs.gov); p. 196 (bottom), courtesy of Chuck vice, to Commanding Officer, Ellington Field, the Air Service,” Duluth Herald, Apr. 28, 1919, 7. Thomas; p. 197, San Diego Aerospace Museum, Texas, et al. (Washington, DC, War Department, Major Edgar Tobin and 35 of the 50 enlisted men Paul A. Smith album; p. 200, Library of Congress, Mar. 21, 1919), Subject: Victory Loan Drive, 1, item were from the 103rd Aero Squadron, formed LCDIG-det-4a12863. 2. Records of the Army Air Forces, Record Group from the French Chasse Escadrille N124—the (RG) 18, National Archives and Records Adminis- Lafayette Escadrille, in February 1918: John J. tration, College Park, MD (hereafter NARA-CP). Sparrow, History of Personnel Demobilization in 15. Major General Charles T. Menoher, the United States Army, Pamphlet No. 20–210 Director of Air Service, to Commanding Officer, (Washington, DC: Department of the Army, July Ellington Field, Texas, et al. (Washington, DC, 14, 1952), 15–19. War Department, Mar. 21, 1919), Subject: Victory 28. “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with Loan Drive, 2, item 4; “War Diary,” Sheet No. Feats.” 1, Apr. 10, 1919, Sheet No. 20, Apr. 21, 1919, all 29. “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with three RG 18 NARA-CP; Christopher F. Shores, Feats”; Shores, Franks, and Guest, Above the Norman L. R. Franks, and Russell Guest, Above Trenches, 68. the Trenches (London: Fortress Publications, 30. “Riders of the Air Thrill Superiorites with Inc., 1990), 68, 366; Norman L. R. Franks and Feats”; “Fliers Stage Aerial Drama.” The Aerial

202 MINNESOTA HISTORY

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