First Air Express Round-the-World Shipment
Three different elements came together in early 1939.
1. Air Express
Early aviation promoters were always looking for practical uses for the airplane. One idea was
to use them as carriers of freight. The first practical demonstration of air freight occurred
in November 1910 when a department store shipped a bolt of silk by air from Dayton to
Columbus, Ohio.
2. Kellogg's Corn Flakes Company
Will Keith Kellogg invented the first cereal flakes. In 1898 at Battle Creek, MI, they became
known as "Kellogg's Corn Flakes." Early on he got ripped off by his competitors. He
countered with clever ad blitz's, to become the champion of breakfasts.
3. Howie Wing Radio Program
The airplane had greter impact upon our popular culture after the sky battles of WW-I over
Europe. The Howie Wing Radio Program was created by Wilfred G. Moore and aired from 1938 to
1939. Wing was a 21-year-old "junior pilot" whose adventures were typical for aviator fiction
of the time. He was taught by Captain Harvey, a WW-I ace. Howie's girlfriend was Donna
Cavendish. A fellow pilot was Zero Smith, one of the best "tough weather pilots" but cranky,
devious, and generally disagreeable, and often suspected of working for the Germans. The
villain of the show was Burton York, who posed as an insurance agent to discredit Captain
Harvey.
Coming Together
In 1939 Kellogg's Corn Flakes sponsored the Howie Wing Radio Program. Airlines had bridged
both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the public's interest in aviation was peeking. To
stimulate interest in the Howie Wing program, Kellogg's chose to sponsor the First Air Express
Round-the-World shipment.
They prepared two suitcases. One would be sent by air Round-the-World in an easterly direction
and the other to the west. It would be a race to see which suitcase would win its
Round-the-World trip. The suitcases would travel on:
Eastern Airlines
American Airlines
Pan American Airways
Air France
KLM Airlines
Imperial Airways
United Airlines
Transcontinental & Western Airlines
Chicago & Southern Airlines
Schedule:
02/22/39 Suitcases departed Battle Creek, MI
03/06/39 At 11:30 AM the suitcases crossed paths while on KLM planes flying between
Calcutta and Allahabad, India.
03/18/39 West suitcase arrived back to Battle Creek, MI
03/22/39 East suitcase arrived back to Battle Creek, MI
Results:
Winner: West Suitcase went Round-the-World in 25 Days
Loser: East Suitcase went Round-the-World in 29 Days
Details:
Each Suitcase made approximately 75 different stops while traveling 31,188 miles Round-the-World.
