Our Winter Health in Housing series for the Argyle Community is still going on. Have you ever passed by the London International Airport? Did you know that the current London International Airport opened in 1939. But the first ever airfield in London was located where Argyle Mall currently stands and began operating in 1912. The first flight took place from there at the Carling Farm —that’s right, the same Carlings that owned the brewery. The farm had first been a natural gas field in the 1880s until planes arrived in 1912.
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh’s Trans-Atlantic flight inspired an imitation here in the Forest City. Carling Brewery decided to run a contest with a prize of $25,000 for the first flight from London, Ontario to London, England. Two pilots stepped up to the plate: Tully and Medcalf. They would make two attempts at the journey from the Crumlin airfield. Their plan was to get to Newfoundland to refuel and then soar across the Atlantic. It was their point of no return.
They made it to Newfoundland once, but once there, storms prevented them from flying over the ocean. Discouraged, but determined, they came back to London, Ontario and took off again on September 7, 1927. They made it Newfoundland again, and this time, took off over the Atlantic. They were never seen or heard from again.
You don’t have to fly to get to Argyle now. You can walk, bike or take the bus. And you should! Come out and join us on February 27.
With thanks to London Fuse for the information on the airstrip… for more information on the Health & Housing series, visit us online here: https://lihc.on.ca/programs/health-housing-argyle/
