Boeing Field (Images of Aviation: Washington) [Paperback]

Cory Graff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 11, 2008

Even before there were runways, the area south of the city of Seattle was Washington's aviation hub. Charles Hamilton, a daredevil dubbed Crazy Man of the Air, became the first flyer in the state when he coaxed his Curtiss biplane into the sky over Meadows Racetrack in 1910. He promptly crashed. With the help of William Boeing and his growing aviation company, Boeing Field opened in 1928. In those early days, brave air travelers could hitch a ride along with bags of mail in cold, noisy biplanes. Bigger, better aircraft soon followed, but wartime intervened. Thousands of Flying Fortress bombers emerged from Boeing's Plant 2 at the edge of the airfield and winged off to war. In the years after, Boeing Field served a dazzling array of winged machines from the smallest Piper Cub to Air Force One.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Seattle resident Cory Graff is the author of several aviation books and is the assistant curator at the Museum of Flight, located on Boeing Field. Using photographs from Seattle-area institutions and companies, Graff tells the fascinating story of one of the nation's most unusual airports.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (February 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738556157
• ISBN-13: 978-0738556154
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent pictorial history, September 6, 2008

By 

John L. Hoh Jr. "Author and Theologian" (Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Boeing Field (Images of Aviation: Washington) (Paperback)

Arcadia Publishing is a publisher that publishes pictorial histories of localities across America. Visit the Arcadia web site and you will find a map of the US. Click on an area and a list of titles germaine to that area appears.

These books rely on pictures. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Arcadia is able to publish millions of words in somewhat thin books.

But the photos and accompanying text weave an historical narrative. Such is true with this book which focuses on Boeing Field in Seattle and the history Boeing Field has been a part of, not only for the Boeing COmpany but for aviation in general and the Field contributions during wars.

I found this book intriguing and interesting and thorough.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Photo-Guide to a Famous Airfield!, November 10, 2010

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Boeing Field (Images of Aviation: Washington) (Paperback)

Historically Boeing Field has to be one of the most significant American airfields ever. Although forever linked to Boeing aircraft, it has a fascinating history dating back to the early 1910s. Author Cory Graff, assistant curator at the Museum of Flight, and Arcadia Publishing offer up this 128-page photographic guidebook to Boeing Field's rich history.

After a four-page summary of the history of Boeing Field, Graff presents over 200 b&w photographs, maps and illustrations that traces that development chronologically. Early biplane stunting over undeveloped Seattle fields gives way to the construction of Boeing Airplane Company Plant No. 1, the inital step in creating the huge production center that turned out thousands of B-17s, B-29s, B-47s, B-52s, 707s, 727s, 737s, etc. in coming years. Yet BOEING FIELD is not just endless images of Flying Forts and other Boeing products. A variety of other aircraft such as Bach Air Yachts, Douglas O-35s, Ford Trimotors, Pitcairn autogyros, Curtiss P-40s, etc. are also included Likewise, Graff's book features pix of William Boeing, Bill Boeing, Eddie Allen and others associated with the company but also aviation luminaries like Charles Lindbergh, Sir Hugh Dowding and Tex Johnston. Along with ground and air-to-air shots of military and commercial Boeing birds in flight, the book features interior shots of various aircraft, factory construction, special events, crashes and mishaps, etc. Each photograph comes with very informative captions.

Since the book didn't include an index, I gave it four stars; actually 4 1/2! In any case, BOEING FIELD is great eye-candy for aviation buffs of all ages. Recommended.