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Vilas Flying Boat
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The Curtiss flying boat in which Jack Vilas made the first flight across Lake Michigan. Vilas, a Chicago businessman, was greeted by a crowd of aerial enthusiasts. His achievement was not only the first flight over the lake, but it was also the longest flight to date over water — even longer than Bleriot's crossing of the English Channel. In 1915 Vilas used the same airplane under contract with the state of Wisconsin to spot forest fires.
July 1, 1913
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W013ILC
WHi 10492
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Airplane Watching
Slightly elevated view of a crowd of people standing on boats lined up along a pier to watch a bi-winged airplane flying over the water. Large buildings are on the opposite shoreline.
Airplane Crash in Lake Mendota
July 18, 1944
Dozens of boys at Camp Wakanda on the north shore of Lake Mendota watch rescue work on an airplane which has crashed into the lake near shore. Tom Langlois, 17, 213 North Randall Avenue, was serio...
Kohler Amphibian
1929
A Loening Amphibian, one of three such airplanes in which the Kohler Aviation Company provided passenger service from Milwaukee across Lake Michigan.
First Forest Patrol Flight
1955
Wisconsin Historical Marker near Trout Lake. The marker recognizes the first ever forest patrol flight.The marker text reads:"FIRST FOREST PATROL FLIGHT was made from Trout Lake by Jack Vilas June ...
Airplane Crash in Lake Mendota
July 18, 1944
Rescue of airplane which has crashed into Lake Mendota near the north shore. View of the airplane from the water toward the shore and Camp Wakanda. Tom Langlois, 17, 213 North Randall Avenue, was ...
Curtiss Biplane Over Harbor
July 4, 1911
View of a Curtiss biplane flying over the harbor. The steamship "Three States" are in the center, and several similar ships are in the distance, including one bearing the letter "B." Caption reads:...
