Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Topeka Aviation

Airports (1940s and before generally) George Hersch--Topeka Airport at NE Quincy Street and Walnut Grove Buena Terra--north Pauline--roughly at Forbes where the Air National Guard Building is Allen--21st and Wanamaker Westboro--west of 15th and Stratford/Tom Crosby's Huntoon Airport. It was, I believe, on the southeast corner of Huntoon and Urish. It was there for only a few years, in the mid-1940s, and was operated by Ed Harrington and Bob Shideler. 965-66 the KU parachute club used an airstrip West of Topeka called Sky ranch. I jumped 5 times before our plane burned in a hangar fire Currently: Buena Terra Airport - 33KS 5919 NE Shaffer Rd Mesa Verde Airport - 3KS1 5225 NW 62nd St Starshire Farm Airport - 2KS9 4525 SE 89th Sunset Strip Airpark Airport - 90KS 4624 SE Paulen Don't forget the heliports at the three area hospitals. 14SN Colmery 21KS KU Med/St Francis 3KS0 Stormont Vail

Sunday, January 5, 2025

Topeka Aviation--Howard Athon

Howard Athon. There are a few photographs of him and his airplanes in Kansas Memory. Howard, originally from Quenemo, was in the Navy in World War I. He took advantage of military surplus after the war and he and his brother Fred started a barnstorming service in Lyndon. Howard soon moved to Olpe then to Topeka to work. In Topeka he flew out of Billard. He was flying with a trainer over the Kansas River just north of Topeka in 1931, in the passenger seat, with A.J. McKimmon at the controls. They were conducting some daredevil moves under the power lines and crashed into the river. McKimmon was ejected and died in the crash. Howard was severely injured but survived. His wife never flew again, and kept her children out of the cockpit after that. Howard always claimed it was the tough webbed seatbelt that held him in the cockpit and he kept that for many years. He continued to fly out of Billard, then when Allen Airport opened along 21st Street and Wanamaker Road in west Topeka, he moved his planes there.

Topeka Aviation History---the Meisingers

The Meisinger Mansion at 5 way intersection of Westover, 15th and Stratford is one of the legends of the city. According to he historic resources inventory at KSHS, the Gatsbyesque manison was built "According to the owner, construction of the home began with John Morrel, a meat packing industry executive. It is unclear if this individual was associated with the John Morrell & Co meat packing plant in Topeka. Morrel died before the home was completed and its construction was resumed by Daniel L. Meisinger (1915-1997), who was Morrel’s former private pilot. In 1940, Meisinger married Morrel’s widow, Pauline Connelly (1917-1996). The home was completed the prior year, in 1939. Meisinger was born in Naperville, IL, attended the Dallas Aviation School, and briefly traveled the country as a barnstormer and flight instructor. He established the Topeka Aircraft Company in 1938 at Billard Airport in Topeka. In 1945, Meisinger began a 60-year career as an executive at Beechcraft Aviation. Meisinger maintained this residence in Topeka until his death in 1997, when it was sold to his son, John “Jack” D. Meisinger (1944-2019), who maintained the home until his death." Legend always had it that there was airfield/stip in back. But I have never found solid documentation of it. I doubt that I can say it better, but here are the listings on Dan Meisingers from the National Air and Space Musuem. https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/daniel-l-meisinger-sr and on Jack Meisinger https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/jack-arthur-meisinger Remembering the Meisingers--" I remember seeing Dan Meisinger at Billard in the 1950s. Thrilling. All of it. He offered charter flights, I do believe. When I saw him at Billard, I was a child. My mother pointed him out, saying, "See that man carrying that other man's bag to the plane? That's the richest man in town." Her point was that she admired him for humbling himself to give full service when he was hired for a job. It was a life lesson for me that a job well done matters more than rank, status, or privilege."