Under the direction of Governor Huey P. Long stalwart Abe Shushan, the Orleans Levee Board built a state-of-the-art airport
at a cost of $3 million on a filled-in area of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans. It was the FIRST COMBINED LAND AND SEAPLANE
AIR TERMINAL IN THE WORLD. The new facility, called Shushan Airport, hosted the Pan-American Air Races as part of its opening
ceremonies in February 1934. Just before the races started, officials barred women from competing, a controversial move. On
the first day of contests, a crash claimed the life of a stunt pilot. A parachute jumper and a pilot died three days later
after the jumper's chute caught on the tail of the plane. These races demonstrated once again the risks of air stunts. Jimmie
Wedell entered the races and flew the '45' to a new 100-kilometer world speed record of 266 miles per hour. The '45' was expected
to be his most spectacular speed ship, the basis for his successful bid to the United States Army for a pursuit-plane design.
Source:
State Museum online exhibit--Louisiana Aviation since 1910
http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/museum/aviation/wedell3.htm
Linen Era Postcard of the Administration Bldg.
PUBLISHER Genuine Curteich, Chicago
CARD SIZE: 3-1/2? x 5-1/2?
'C.T.
Art Colortone'
Reads on back:
Combined land and seaplane base located on a peninsula on Lake Pontchartrain.
This
dual picture card is part of the 'New Orleans - America's Most Interesting
City' series.
Airliner at Shushan Airport
Source:
http://store.corbis.com/search/about_pic.asp?imageID=11432028&alphaimageid=LW002476&navid=decorate/prints/
Administration Building postcard. Date unknown.
Lindberg Hanger
Shushan Airport -
view of the swimming pool built by WPA with hanger in back which had work
done
by WPA.
Postcard shows Shushan (now 'Lakefront') Airport--notice the camps to the
left of the airport.
Fountain of the Four Winds--Enrique Alvarez. Circa 1938
