Russell FSS Interior, 2011

Posted: November 8, 2017


Submitted by Phillip Schulz

Russell FSS Building, Kansas, 2011
Photo of interior after restoration. First door on left leads to the north room (original FSS operations), second door was entrance to the FSS office, third door is entry door to the building, and last door on right is the men’s restroom.  The restaurant was to the right of this room and this room was the dinning area.

The building was designed by an architect with Kansas License # 1. Submitter of this photo requested the city to list this site on the State and National registry of historic buildings but has not had any luck.

World War II Flight Crew Memorial

Submitted by Phillip Schulz

Russell FSS (RSL) World War II Flight Crew Memorial, Kansas, 2011
This memorial (pathways and vertical monument center of photo) was created by Phillip Schulz and others and placed in front of the Russell FSS building where the Bonanza’s used to park.

It is dedicated to the memory of the 27 airmen that lost their lives in a B-17 and three B-29s that went down in Russell County during WWII. They were en route from Walker Army Airfield just 17 miles to the west of Russell. The sidewalks are laid out similar to the three runways at Walker AAF. There is a granite marker at the base of the large limestone marker with their names engraved on it.

Cassoday Airway Beacon #41

Posted: November 8, 2017

Cassoday Airway Beacon Site, #41, Kansas
An aeronautical bulletin was published about the Cassoday airfield which identified it as Site #41 along the airway.  The bulletin further detailed the field as being operated by the Department of Commerce & having 2 grass runways in an ‘L’ formation, 2,600 feet long (see airport diagram).

In the northwest corner of the airfield was a 2-million candlepower 24 inch rotating beacon, which rotated at 6 RPM.  The newly-built field had few amenities (no fuel, repairs, or telegraph) but did have nighttime lights around the boundary of the airfield.

By 1931, the starting point of the airway had been changed from Dallas to Amarillo, and this resulted in a renumbering of the airfields & beacons. Cassoday was changed from Site #41 to Site #34 and, according to the 1931 Bulletin #2 this beacon site was upgraded to a Flight Service Station (FSS), commissioned February 1931, and included course lights and a weather teletype.

Cassoday Airport Diagram, 1928

Posted: November 8, 2017

Cassoday, Kansas, Site #41, Dallas to Kansas City Airway Map, Sep 20, 1928
Department of Commerce Airway Bulletin no. 428, Washington  DC, depicting the airway and the Cassoday Intermediate Field layout (lower diagram). The field was operated by the Department of Commerce using two grass runways in an ‘L’ formation, 2,600 feet long.

In the northwest corner of the airfield was a 2-million candlepower 24 inch rotating beacon which rotated at 6 RPM.  The newly-built field had few amenities (no fuel, repairs, or telegraph) but did have nighttime lights around the boundary of the airfield.

By 1931, the starting point of the airway had been changed from Dallas to Amarillo, and this resulted in a renumbering of the airfields & beacons. Cassoday was changed from Site #41 to Site #34 and, according to the 1931 Bulletin #2, this beacon site was upgraded to a Flight Service Station (FSS), commissioned February 1931, and included course lights and a weather teletype.

Mason City FSS Photos, 1963

Posted: November 8, 2017

Mason City FSS Inflight, Iowa 1963
William Lyons broadcasts weather reports twice each hour

Preflight position

Using Aircraft Orientation, William Lyons and William Short assist a pilot who is lost.

Cleo W. Minker, Mason City FSS Facility Chief, in 1963. Later, Mr. Minker, was assigned Facility Chief of Omaha, Nebraska FSS from the late 1960’s to about 1970.

Montezuma Radio Building, about 1944

Posted: November 8, 2017

Montezuma Radio (KCEV), Iowa 1944-47
Photos submitted by A.C. Miller

Submitted by A.C. Miller

Montezuma Radio (KCEV), Iowa 1944-47

My mother, Gwendolyn Jeanette Miller was an Aircraft Communicator, CAF-5 and CAF-7 in Montezuma, Iowa during WWII, between 1944 and 1947. Submitted by Gwendolyn’s daughter, A.C. (Ace) Miller.
View photo of Gwendolyn’s CAA class photo, 1944

Submitted by A.C. Miller

Montezuma Radio (KCEV), Iowa 1944-47

Efficiency rating for Gwendolyn Jeanette Miller. Aircraft Communicator, CAF-5.