The Wedell-Williams Air Service Comes to New Orleans
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The Wedell-Williams Air Service originated on May 1, 1929, a time in which American aviation was full of potential. As increasing numbers of people attained pilot’s licenses, more air routes came into existence, and airplane exports increased. Originally operating out of the Wedell-Williams Airport in Patterson, Louisiana, the company set up a new location in New Orleans to expand their business.
James Wedell, the President of the air service, had previously worked for James Menefee of Menefee Airways in New Orleans. Harry Williams, Vice President of the Air Service and major financial backer of the company, bought out the company, gaining Menefee's airfield and equipment.
The Wedell-Williams Air Service used the Menefee Airfield in St. Bernard Parish while the new Wedell-Williams Airport was under construction in Jefferson Parish. The air service provided flight education and passenger service from its temporary home until the new airport was ready in 1931.
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1920's New Orleans
This bustling city had two airports: Alvin Callendar Airfield and the Menefee Airport. This would be the environment in which the Wedell-Williams Air Service would operate. Photo courtesy of the E.F. Newman Collection, Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans.
Jimmie Wedell at Menefee Airways
Automobile entrepreneur James Menefee started Menefee Airways, which performed many of the same services as any other air service companies. (Wedell is in the far left of the photo). Image Courtesy of the Wedell Williams Memorial Foundation and the Louisiana State Museum
Daredevil and The Nerve Girl
The Menefee Airport in St. Bernard Parish had its share of excitement before the Wedell-Williams Air Service arrived. In early 1929, Miss Babe Smith suspended herself from a plane with silk stockings before doing a parachute jump. Air shows often featured dangerous stunts such as this. Image courtesy of The Times-Picayune.
Jimmie Wedell
Texas-born Wedell had engineering skills and a penchant for danger from an early age. Though a motorcycle accident left him blind in one eye, he learned how to fly and sharpened his skills transporting rumrunners and weapons across the Mexican border during World War I. After the war, he and his brother, Walter, worked for Menefee Airways. On a sales trip, Wedell met his future friend, Harry Williams. Image Courtesy of the Wedell-Williams Memorial Foundation and the Louisiana State Museum
Patterson's Lumber Man
Harry Williams met Jimmy Wedell at a plane demonstration in Patterson, Louisiana. Wedell taught Williams how to fly and convinced the lumber man of his aerial genius. Williams put great faith in Wedell and a lot of money into the air service. Image courtesy of the E.F. Newman Collection, Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans
The Wedell-Williams Air Service Logo
This emblem went on every plane in the air service's fleet and on every worker's jumpsuit. Image courtesy of the E.F. Newman Collection, Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans