1929 Our Flying Ambassadors and Their Routes
DESCRIPTION
This striking promotional map, titled Our Flying Ambassadors and Their Routes, was created by C. S. Hammond & Co. in the late 1920s and published in a variety of newspapers, this example coming from The Newark Ledger, out of New Jersey.
The map was designed to celebrate and publicize the achievements of America’s pioneering aviators during the Golden Age of Flight, a period when aviation feats captured the public imagination and symbolized modern progress. Serving both as a piece of visual journalism and an advertising vehicle for the paper, it highlights the prominent role these flyers played in advancing American prestige abroad.
Laid on a polar projection of the Northern Hemisphere, the map traces the ambitious transcontinental and transoceanic routes flown by the celebrated pilots adorning the map. These red-lined air paths connect North America to Europe, Asia, and South America, visually underscoring aviation’s growing ability to bridge distant continents. Insets show Lindbergh’s aerial tour of Latin America in vivid detail, along with a small map of the United States showing Linbergh's domestic tour from July 20 - October 23, 1927.
Above the map are portraits of seven pioneering aviators, each recognized for their remarkable contributions to aviation:
- Clarence D. Chamberlin – Set long-distance flight records and was among the first to fly across the Atlantic after Lindbergh.
- Bertrand B. Acosta – Co-pilot in endurance flight records, including the "Question Mark" refueling mission.
- Charles A. Lindbergh – First person to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic in 1927, becoming an international hero.
- Harold R. Harris – Early U.S. Army Air Corps officer and test pilot, instrumental in advancing flight safety.
- Edward V. Rickenbacker – America’s top WWI flying ace and later an influential airline executive.
- Capt. Frank Hawks – Renowned speed flier and aviation promoter.
- Richard E. Byrd – Noted polar explorer and aviator, famous for his Arctic and Antarctic expeditions.
Created during the interwar period, this map reflects an era when aviation was transitioning from a daring novelty to an essential tool of commerce, exploration, and diplomacy. The late 1920s and early 1930s saw unprecedented advancements in aircraft technology, long-distance navigation, and international flight routes, fueled in part by the public’s fascination with record-breaking pilots. The Newark Ledger used this map not only to inform readers about the exploits of America’s aerial ambassadors but also to underscore aviation’s potential to connect cultures, promote goodwill, and solidify the United States’ place in the rapidly shrinking world.
CONDITION
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