Saturday, January 26, 2019

1949 REHOBOTH AIRPORT AOPA SUMMER ROUNDUP


REHOBOTH AIRPORT
THIRD ANNUAL “ SUMMER ROUNDUP”
SEPTEMBER 17 & 18, 1949

A Cape Gazette “Viewpoint” photo of 1949 Rehoboth Airport,
recently shows the airport and a lot of 'dot's' that turn out to be small
aircraft, if magnified, parked around the airport runways.

Questioned at Arby's 8 am coffee by Warren Walls, an instant
research has been made.

The Friday, September 9, 1949. Wilmington News Journal reports
that on Saturday, September 17 & 18, 1949, 800 private planes are to converge on Rehoboth Airport for the third annual “Summer Roundup”
of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Edmund Chamberlain, Rehoboth Airport manager, has been
informed by the AOPA that 800 aircraft, bringing some 2000 persons
are expected. The Chamber of Commerce through May Hall McCabe,
the service clubs of town will make overnight preparations and the parking
of the aircraft as they land.

This year is also the 10th anniversary of the AOPA.

Saturday night there were ten bonfires for a beach party dinner.
There was an air show by the Delaware National Guard with the F-47
fighters from New Castle airport.

Also in the picture you will see a larger aircraft on the north to south
runway, a two engine passenger plane, which is more than likely an
All American Airways flight that began to use Rehoboth Airport in
May of 1949 after the Delaware Power & Light, the Diamond State
Telephone Companies relocated overhead service wires, so the large
DC-3 passenger plane could land and take off safely.

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