Www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org ASPI Board of Trustees Meeting 10 Jun 2011 PAF Aerospace Museum Library, CJVAB, Pasay City

www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org

ASPI Board of Trustees Meeting

10 Jun 2011PAF Aerospace Museum Library,

CJVAB, Pasay City


Site of the First Powered Flight in the Philippines

The site of the First Powered Flight in the Philippines is the subject of much speculation. This is due to fact that the documentary evidence to the exact spot is still lacking.This presentation is an analysis of the pictorial evidence of the people, places and publications surrounding the historic event.


Site of the First Powered Flight in the Philippines

American Aviators, James C. "Bud" Mars and Capt Thomas Baldwin's flew their plane/(s?) as the main attraction for the Manila Carnival which was held from February 21 to March 4, 1911. The Carnival is described as: “…no other event has piqued the interest and stirred a nation’s

imagination more than the fabled Manila Carnivals. Held from 1908-1939, the 2-week fair was organized as a goodwill event to celebrate harmonious U.S.-Philippine relations and to showcase our commercial, industrial and agricultural progress. Spectacular parades, lavish shows, firework displays and the crowning of the Manila Carnival Queen highlighted the "greatest annual event in the Orient".


The Manila Carnival Tower

“As part of a Pacific exhibition tour, aviators James C. “Bud” Mars and Capt. Thomas Baldwin

flew their bi-planes 5,000 feet above the carnival tower, to the sheer delight of the crowds. For his

daring, record-breaking performance, J.C. Mars was awarded a medal and valuable gifts.”

- The Manila Carnival blogspot


The “tower” Bud Mars in Skylark over Manila Carnival grounds

Photo of Bud Mars over Manila Carnival spectators. Note the prominent steel tower in the left of picture.


Manila Carnival entrance

The Manila Carnival tower and the “Torre Electrica del Meralco.” The two towers look uncannily similar or are the same?


The Meralco tower by1925


Manila Carnival grounds, Feb 5, 1931. Note the Carnival tower.


The Postcard

A post card dated March 2(?) 1911 chronicles the flight of “Bud” Mars over the carnival. Some features captured in the background may again

offer some clues as to the area over flown by the intrepid aviators.


Post card photo of the first powered flight in the Philippines. Note the peculiar skyline, especially the smoke stack and the roof tops.

Roof tops in the typical hip roof style

Smoke stack

www.aviationsocietyphilippines.orgPhoto of the Rizal monument taken from the Manila Hotel c. 1920-1930’s. The Manila Hotel was built in 1909 and opened in 1912.

Roof tops in the typical hip roof style

Smoke stackRizal Monument


A closer view of the area

Hip roof style roof tops

Smoke stack Belfry or watch tower


Belfry or watch tower

Hip roof style roof tops


At the “Airstrip”“The Baldwin-Mars party had two fliers, Capt Thomas S.

Baldwin and Mars, two agents, three mechanics, Tod Shriver and his wife. Mrs Mars. It was December when they left San Francisco, an advance agent having gone

ahead to pave the way. Capt Baldwin turned back at Japan, but Mars made the whole circle, flying in all more

than 250 times for the most part in countries that had never witnessed an aeroplane flight before.”

The NY Times, June 19, 1911


Photo of James C. "Bud" Mars in the controls of the Shriver skylark. Note the signature beret hat.


A more “complete” photo of James C. “Bud” Mars, pilot for the first well-documented flight in the state of Arkansas, at the controls of his Curtiss biplane Skylark with his wife; circa 1910.


Flag Pole

Photo of the Shriver skylark with James C. "Bud" Mars and entourage of support crew. The New York Times

Bud Mars with beret


Key FeaturesChurch belfry or sentry tower?

Flag Pole, without the flag

On lookers on roof top

Photo of the same area, presumably after take off because of the on lookers in the roof top.


Legaspi Monument, Luneta c. 1900-1910

Flagpole


Flagpole

Legaspi Monument

Smokestack

Church belfry


Wallace Field

www.aviationsocietyphilippines.orgRizal Monument

Legaspi Monument

Church


Rizal Monument

Army-Navy Club

Manila Hotel

New Luneta

Wallace FieldHoppodrome?

Rizal Monument


Rizal Monument

Hippodrome?Legaspi Monument


Rizal Monument

Army-Navy Club

Legaspi Monument

Wallace Field

Hippodrome


Rizal Monument

Army-Navy Club

Manila Carnival grounds, Feb 5, 1931. Note the Carnival tower.


Rizal MonumentArmy-Navy Club


Conclusion

Exact location of the take-off point for the Bud Mars flight of Feb 21, 1911 still needs more documentary evidence and further analysis. Strong candidates are: Police station along P. Burgos (adjacent to Wallace Field) Along calle Bonifacio (adjacent to the Sta. Lucia barracks)

Location of the Manila Carnival tower is crucial and is supported by pictorial evidence. There is a need to establish where the Carnival was held in 1911 although a strong reference was that it was held in Wallace field or today’s Agrifina circle near the Dept of Tourism.


Finally, a page of history from the National Geographic Magazine c. 1930s, the predecessor of our modern day aviation hobbyists!


Thank You!

Documents

Www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org ASPI Board of Trustees Meeting 10 Jun 2011 PAF Aerospace Museum Library, CJVAB, Pasay City