Wallingford Celebrates National Air Mail Week

On 19 May 1938, airmail was delivered for the first and only time from Wallingford. At 2:00 pm, an autogiro landed on Media Aviation Field—south of Baltimore Pike and west of Turner Road, just north of Heatherwold. The welcoming committee consisted of Crosby L. Smith (burgess of Media), Matthew C. Fox Jr. (postmaster of Media) and Stafford Parker (postmaster of Wallingford). Music was provided by the Media and Nether Providence high school bands. (Documents pictured appear courtesy of the Nether Providence Historical Society.

Article from the Nether Providence HS Journal

N. P. Students Witness Air Mail Pick-up

The week, May 15 to 21, was National Air Mail Week, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the carrying of mail by planes. Nether Provdience [sic] students left school at one o’clock Thursday, May 19, so that they could witness the only air mail pick-up in the history of Wallingford. An autogiro landed at the flying field to pick up all local mail. Air mail stamps and envelopes were available at both Media and Wallingford post offices, and many school pupils took advantage of this opportunity to send a letter in the first air mail plane flying from Wallingford to Philadelphia.

Thirty letters were autographed by the post masters and pilot. Matthew C. Fox Jr., postmaster of Media, and Stafford Parker, postmaster of Wallingford, were on the welcoming committee.

Music at the flying field was furnished by the Media and Nether Providence High School Bands. After the autogiro took off, four Navy pursuit planes encircled the field twice and then returned to Philadelphia. (The Journal (Nether Providence High School), 1 June 1938)

Newspaper clipping, unknown source

Letter delivered via airmail from Wallingford to Philadelphia

Letter delivered via airmail from Wallingford to Philadelphia

Photo of the autogiro

Photo of the autogiro: "Stafford [??] Parker, Postmaster Wallingford Pa. -- Matthew C. Fox Postmaster Media / First Flight to Philadelphia May 19, 1938 [??] airport: Phila. Pa." </p>

Program for the 19 May 1938 event

Several neighbors have asked about the location of the Media Aviation Field. The maps below, from the US government publication Airway Bulletin, make it clear that it was located between Baltimore Pike and Plush Mill Road, west of Turner Road.

Location of Media Aviation Field (Department of Commerce, Aeronautics Branch, Airway Bulletin, no. 485 (7 December 1928): 1.

Map of Media Aviation Field (Department of Commerce, Aeronautics Branch, Airway Bulletin, no. 485 (7 December 1928): 1.