Douglas O-2K 29-179, Location Unknown
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Douglas O-2K 29-179 landed three times at Tucson. The first
two times it was flown by H.A. Sutton on what appeared to
be a quick visit to the west coast. Sutton was based in Dayton,
OH at Wright Field. On March 2, 1929 he flew westbound through
Tucson from El Paso, TX to March Field (Riverside, CA). On
March 8, 1929 he returned eastbound from Clover
Field, Santa Monica, CA through Tucson on his way back
to El Paso and probably east from there.
The third visit by 29-179 was on November 2, 1929. This
time the airplane was flown by Lt. L.S. Stranathan. He carried
one VIP passenger, Congressman (Melvin) Maas. Based in Washington,
DC at Bolling Field, Stranathan was carrying the Congressman
from Rockwell Field in San Diego, CA to Ft. Bliss in El Paso,
TX. There was no reason given for the trip.
Passenger Minnesota Congressman Maas (May 14, 1898 – April
14, 1964), however, was a Marine Corps officer and had a
long political career beginning in 1926 and lasting through
WWII. He was a watchdog of things military, and his opinions
and statements have a modern ring (see, for example, this link,
this one,
and this one).
He is buried at Arlington
Cemetery.
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THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 09/30/07 REVISED: 12/01/10
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