Aviation Art: The Lighter Side
In wartime, a customized Zippo was part of an airman's identity.
- By Rebecca Maksel
- AirSpaceMag.com, September 07, 2011
NASM
A 1931 New York to Istanbul non-stop flight is commemorated with this combination cigarette case and lighter. Russell Boardman and John Polando, two car mechanics from Massachusetts, flew their Bellanca, named the Cape Cod, from New York to Istanbul and earned a world record.
To get to Istanbul, the pilots had to carry some 728 gallons of fuel; their first takeoff attempt was abandoned when their tail-wheel-less aircraft proved too unwieldy and they had to ditch most of their fuel over New York City and return to the airport. Boardman and Polando's flight was the 14th successful crossing of the Atlantic; when they landed in Istanbul, they had 15 minutes of fuel remaining. The 5,011.8-mile flight took 49 hours and 8 minutes.
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Comments (4)
The Cowboys were next to us Taipans at Camp BearCat...we had a few brawls with them...ahh...youthful testosterone
Posted by Snake on September 8,2011 | 02:46 PM
I still have mine & will not part with it. Prior to my shipping to 'Nam' on 5 May 69, I was assigned to the Returnee-Reassignment Center @ Ft.Lewis, Wa. We processed Vets returning from Nam, got them clean Class A uniforms to travel home in, saw to it they got a steak dinner, tickets for flights, buses etc. & transportation to Seatle. Once they showered, ate & boarded trans to Seatle-Tacoma Airport, we would kick through the discarded combat fatigues they had traveled from Nam in. Kicking through those uniforms is where I got my Zippo. I took that Zippo to 'Nam' for my tour, 69-70 with the 1st Aviation Brigade in 2 Corps & that well traveld Zippo did a second tour of 'Nam'!~I watrch for them @ estate sales & garage sales.
They are treasured items from a difficult time in our National history.
Posted by MARK on September 21,2011 | 08:01 PM
The Zippo with The Association's song title, "Never My Love" on the cap, and Snoopy on the body really got to me. These are two, very personal messages on probably the one item that soldier was allowed to personalize. It's my favorite Zippo in your collection.
Posted by Mark W. on September 22,2011 | 11:45 PM
I enjoyed the pictures.
Wish that I had known that Rebecca was collecting pictures of these.
My crew had a Zippo engraved for me before I left Vietnam from my first tour in 1967-68.
It is one of my most prized possessions.
If Rebecca is still collecting photos, I'd be glad to send one.
Posted by Steve Cover on November 4,2011 | 07:23 PM