Do you know there was once a aviation field on the 50 acres of land bounded by Beatty and Turner Road and Baltimore Pike and Plush Mill Road. It was known as the Media Flying Field opening in 1922, and was the site of one of nation’s earliest air shows as well as the location of Delaware County’s first airmail flight.
From The Journal – Nether Providence High School – June 1, 1938
The week, May 15 to 21, was National Air Mail Week, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the carrying of mail by planes. Nether Provdience [sic] students left school at one o’clock Thursday, May 19, so that they could witness the only air mail pick-up in the history of Wallingford. An autogiro landed at the flying field to pick up all local mail. Air mail stamps and envelopes were available at both Media and Wallingford post offices, and many school pupils took advantage of this opportunity to send a letter in the first air mail plane flying from Wallingford to Philadelphia.
Thirty letters were autographed by the post masters and pilot. Matthew C. Fox Jr., postmaster of Media, and Stafford Parker, postmaster of Wallingford, were on the welcoming committee.
On 19 May 1938, with much fanfare, mail was delivered for the first and only time from Wallingford. At 2:00 pm, an autogyro landed on Media Aviation Field, located south of Baltimore Pike and west of Turner Road. The welcoming committee consisted of Media Burgess – Crosby L. Smith, Media Postmaster – Matthew C. Fox Jr., Wallingford Postmaster -Stafford Parker.
Twelve parcels of mail were loaded into an Autogiro (a forerunner of the modern helicopter) and flown to it’s destination at the 30th Street Post Office in Philadelphia.
Music at the flying field was furnished by the Media and Nether Providence High School Bands. After the autogyro took off, four Navy pursuit planes encircled the field twice and then returned to Philadelphia.
Unfortunately the trip was less than an unqualified success, since the Autogyro was unable to land on the Post Office roof.
Cancelled Envelope From May 19, 1938 Air Mail Flight
The tract of land that once was Nether Providence’s foray into early aviation was developed into what is today known as the neighborhood of Wallingford Summit in 1953.
Photos courtesy of the Nether Providence Historical Society.
Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA
