Mason City Airport Dedication

Those MAGNIFICENT men in their flying machines! In recent weeks we in Clear Lake have been listening to the sound of many airplanes flying overhead. In some cases, it almost sounds like a P-51 Mustang from World War II, practicing dives. The World Aerobatics Championships will be held at the Mason City Municipal Airport just outside of Clear Lake from August 23rd-September 2nd. There will be pilots and amazing aircraft coming from seven foreign countries as well as the U.S. There will be a Parade of Nations and opening ceremony for the championships in Clear Lake City Park at 6:30 pm on Sunday, August 23rd. Spectators are welcome to attend all events free of charge.

This is not the first special aerobatics event to be held at the Mason City Municipal Airport. Travel back to a weekend in late August of 1927. It was time to dedicate the new airport, and an air show was to be held. (The first airport was outside of the Mason City city limits near the corner of Taft and HWY 18. It was moved to its current location outside of Clear Lake in 1942.)

Let’s link this up to Clear Lake history. Colonel Hanford MacNider had a lovely summer cottage on the shores of Clear Lake. He was the acting U.S. Secretary of War for the United States in 1927. Col. MacNider also had a very good friend by the name of Col. Charles A. Lindbergh. MacNider personally invited Lindbergh to the dedication of the new facility.

Lindbergh flew into the new airport, made a smooth landing on the grass runway, received a spontaneous ovation from the crowd in attendance, enjoyed the day and stayed at the MacNider home in Clear Lake after the dedication ceremony. While in Clear Lake, “Lindy” made time to trying to “pilot” a boat around the lake.

Lindbergh had only 3 months before he would make his famous flight across the Atlantic Ocean in his “Spirit of St. Louis”. One of the photos included with this story highlights Lindbergh at the airport in front of a dirigible airship.

People were thrilled to see Lindbergh in person and the crowds roared when he climbed out of the plane he piloted to Mason City. The airshow included U.S. Army Pursuit biplanes, a Fokker transport aircraft and U.S. Army’s Largest dirigible airship. Several pilots of the Selfridge Flyers attended and displayed their precision flying skills and aerobatics. It was a magnificent day for all. Included are photos from that August 28th. Try to make time to enjoy the Word Aerobatics Championship beginning August 23rd.

For more about Charles Lindbergh including his visit to Clear Lake, read the article by Paul Juhl HERE.