From the Archive: Barnstorming the Aerial Bridge

Over the years several people have claimed that World War Two flying ace Dick Bong once flew his P-38 under the top span of Duluth’s famous Aerial Bridge, but did he? Likely not—there is no hard evidence that he ever did. But we do know of others who flew planes “through” the bridge—and once, a helicopter. We’ve collected them all, and a couple photos as well, and assembled them into a story that is this week’s selection from the Zenith City Archive, and you can read it here.

Hugh McKenzie snapped this image of a biplane flying under the aerial bridge, most likely piloted by Wilbur Larrabee in 1918. Larrabee was the second pilot to have flown beneath the bridge’s top span. (Image: Lake Superior Maritime Collection)