EARLY FLIGHT MILESTONES

The history of air travel in the Twin Cities actually goes back to a racetrack. Twin City Auto Speedway, which opened on Labor Day 1915, was located between 60th and 66th Streets and 34th and 46th Avenues on the Mississippi River Bluffs. The speedway was meant to compete with the Indianapolis speedway, which had opened in 1911. 30,000 people showed up for opening day, sponsored by AAA. 14 cars were to go 500 miles, and included drivers Barney Olfield and co-driver Eddie Rickenbacker. Alas the construction was shoddy, the concrete rough, as cars either fell apart or dropped out. After only three more races, the race was run. By the 1920s the concrete had been broken up, and all vestiges of the speedway were gone by 1932. There is a comprehensive article about Twin City Speedway in the Winter 2007-08 issue of the Minnesota History publication of the Minnesota Historical Society.

But the speedway lived on as Wold-Chamberlain Flying Field, which opened in 1923, named after two casualties of WWI. A postcard dated 1946 shows Wold-Chamberlain Field as a brick building with a NWA airplane in front. It is said to be one of the largest air terminals in the U.S. It was also the home of the U.S. Naval Reserve aviation base.

There is a history of Northwest Airlines by Frederick L. Johnson in the Winter 2012 issue of Hennepin History magazine.

Flight Highlights

1903: the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk, NC

1913: Alexander T. Heine flew the first airplane over Minneapolis on January 13.

1919: The Minneapolis Aero Club bought the property, naming it Wold-Chamberlain Field in honor of two local WWI fliers.  The first air passenger service in the U.S. started in Minnesota.

1926: Northwest Airways, Inc., Minnesota's first airline, started operations carrying mail.

1927: Minnesotan Charles Lindberg made his solo flight to Paris May 20-21.  The City of Minneapolis Park Commission took control of the field.

1928: Wold-Chamberlain Airport became Municipal Airport.

1930: Northwest moved to St. Paul’s Holman Field, named after local hero Speed Holman (see below).

1937: Amelia Earhart is lost during her attempt to circle the earth.

1962: The Twin Cities International Airport opened at the site of old Wold-Chamberlain, which cost $8 1/2 million.

2009:  Delta bought Northwest Airlines.

An early local aviator was Charles W. "Speed" Holman, after whom Holman Field in downtown St. Paul was named. As "Jack Speed" he raced motorcycles and did parachute jumps in a flying circus before he took up aviation in 1920, specializing in tricks and loops. In 1926 he became Northwest’s first pilot. By 1929 he was Operations Manager of the company. Holman was killed at an air show in Omaha in 1931 when he hit the ground during an exhibition. The accident could have been due to a failed seatbelt.

Another local pilot was Huck Hembre. This may have been Harry Hembre, a coremaker for Moline, who lived at 5713 Goodrich. Huck was a big promoter of the yearly events at Jimmy Lentz's Driving Range, and gave many a brave Parkite a thrill in the cockpit of his "Flying Jennie."

In June 1942, George A. Wanchena, 6704 Minnetonka Blvd., appeared before the Village Council to propose that his company, Cedar Flying Service, be allowed to put a flying field in St. Louis Park.  Quite an indication that there was still plenty of wide-open land in the Park.  Mr. Wanchna pointed out that the Navy took over all of the air over Wold Chamberlain field and private fliers needed a new field.  The Dispatch:  "The council took no action on the proposal, of course..."  (emphasis added) 

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.