WALTER WELLMAN 1858-1934

"WALTER WELLMAN AND MELVIN VANIMAN" WHO WILL CROSS THE ATLANTIC IN THE AIR-SHIP AMERICA © 1910 BY GEO A. MCKEAGUE CO. ATLANTIC CITY      This photo was taken at the hangar of Airship America at Atlantic City prior to his Trans-Atlantic attempt. Photos & legend from Jerry Blanchard, 9-7-07

 

America Rescued by Trent - 1910 Library of Congress Collection, 12-5-07

 

1910 Proved Banner Year in History of Early Birds By ERNEST JONES, EB      On Oct. 15, Walter Wellman and crew left Atlantic City in the airship "America" the largest at that time. A rip panel popped open. A steamer rescued the party some 800 miles at sea the following day.

 

Camp Wellman in Spitzbergen Library of Congress Collection, 12-5-07

ONLINE RESOURCES      If you search for "Walter Wellman", using the Google search engine, (9-7-07), you will find about 797 links! A good place to start is the following. If time permits, you may want to sample many of them.

Polar Pioneers      This article by P. J. Capelotti offers a very helpful, if concise, biography and a detailed resumé of his attempts to reach the North Pole. It is illustrated with four photographs, three of them being of Camp Wellman, Virgo Bay, Danes Island, Spitsbergen. You can access the site by clicking on the title above.

 

Walter Wellman's Aerial Age      This website offers the full thirty two chapters of his book, in their entirety. It is a remarkable resource and well worth your attention. You can access the site by clicking on the title above.

 
 

Walter Wellman died in 1934

 

Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this Early Bird, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper     Back