This letter, one of hundreds of documents used in River of January, marks Chum’s first discharge from the Navy in 1933. This letter speaks highly of the young man who five months later would prevail in the “Darkness Derby,” continental air race.
Gail Chumbley is the author of the memoir, River of January. Available on Amazon and Kindle.
Thursday, May 12th River of January meets the Boise Public Library.
Join Gail for a lively, multimedia look at the archive that became the memoir,
The program begins at 7pm in the third floor’s Marion Bingham Room.
“This history could be lost” had she not known the story. Janet Juroch~The Idaho World
My secret weapon.
Gail Chumbley is the author of River of January, a memoir. Also available on Kindle
You’re on vacation! Kick back and read River of January on Kindle!
In May, 1940, as British and French troops gathered on the beaches of Dunkirk waiting for a miracle, America remained lulled in complacency. Mont Chumbley, the primary figure in the memoir, “River of January: Figure Eight,” continued his sales flights for Waco Aircraft Company. The war came to the US a year and a half later.
This is Mont Chumbley’s logbook, recorded in early May, 1940. Two fellow pilots appear in this ledger, inscribed nearly 76 years ago. First, HC Lippiatt of Los Angeles, was best known as the largest aircraft distributor on the West Coast. Lippiatt specialized in Waco airplanes, and that fact frequently brought Waco sales representative, Chumbley to Lippiatt’s Bel Air “Ranch.” Another historic figure was Hollywood director, Henry King, best known for films such as “Twelve O’Clock High,” “The Sun Also Rises,” and “Carousel.” Chum explained that he sold King a Waco plane, and in the transaction the two men became fast friends.
For one week in May of 1940, Chum spent time with both airplane enthusiasts.
Henry King (with Tyrone Power & Patsy Kelly) The grand “ranch” of HC Lippiatt
The story behind this logbook entry appears in “River of January, The Figure Eight,” part two of the story, out this summer.
Gail Chumbley is the author of River of January, a memoir. Also available on Kindle. River of January: Figure Eight, part two of the story can be found at www.river-of-january.com
Chum’s logbook for September 13, 1933. Note the comment CC for cross country, then the added notation, stunt.
Piloting his Waco C, Chum performed above President Roosevelt’s spectacular National Recovery Act Parade in New York City–the flagship agency of the President’s New Deal.
(Click below for a street level view of the 1933 parade)
Read River of January, a memoir by Gail Chumbley. Also available on Kindle.
“We must entertain each other in brotherly affection. We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of others necessities. We must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience, and liberality. We must delight in each other; make others conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”
Governor John Winthrop, Massachusetts Bay Colony 1630
Happy Thanksgiving.
Gail Chumbley is the author of River of January available on Kindle and at River of January
So it’s only four minutes of fame. I’ll take it.
GC
Gail Chumbley 