Robert George Fowler
Encyclopedia
Robert Grant Fowler was an early aviation pioneer and was the first person to have a transcontinental flight
.
on September 11, 1911 in an attempt to win the Hearst prize
in a Wright biplane equipped with a Cole Motor Car Company
engine. After his first day he crashed in Alta, California
.
to the East Coast
, Fowler became the first person to make a nonstop transcontinental flight by traversing the Isthmus of Panama
in 57 minutes in April 1913. Flying from the Pacific to the Atlantic along the route of the Panama Canal
construction, his passenger and cameraman Ray Duhem filmed parts of the canal during the flight.
That same month, pictures taken by Duhem of fortifications in the Panama Canal Zone
, as well as photos of the Presidio of San Francisco
(then an active military installation), were published in Sunset magazine
under the title "Can the Panama Canal Be Destroyed from the Air?" After publication, the Department of War
asked the U.S. Attorney in San Francisco, John W. Preston
, to investigate the matter. On July 10, 1914, warrants were issued for the arrest of Fowler, Duhem, writer Riley A. Scott, and Sunset editor Charles K. Field, with Preston stating that new regulations passed by US Congress made it illegal "for a civilian to take or publish photographs of any fortification, whether complete or in process of construction.
The following day the men appeared at the United States Commissioner in San Francisco, with Fowler claiming that they had received the permission of the chief engineer of the canal, Colonel George Washington Goethals
before flying: "Col. Goethals not only gave his permission, but he wished us the best of luck, and said he hoped the pictures would turn out well." Their trial was set for that August 10, 1914, but by June 15, 1915, a grand jury had declined to review the case. It was ultimately dropped because evidence was insufficient.
Transcontinental flight
In the United States the term Transcontinental flight is travelling by air coast-to-coast over the continental United States.-History:The first transcontinental flight across the United States was made by Calbraith Perry Rodgers to win the Hearst prize offered by publisher William Randolph Hearst...
.
Hearst prize
He left San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
on September 11, 1911 in an attempt to win the Hearst prize
Hearst prize
The Hearst prize was a US$50,000 aviation prize offered by publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1910 to the first aviator to fly coast to coast across the United States, in either direction, in fewer than 30 days from start to finish.-History:...
in a Wright biplane equipped with a Cole Motor Car Company
Cole Motor Car Company
The Cole Motor Car Company was an early automobile maker based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Cole automobiles were built from 1908 until 1925. They were quality-built luxury cars. The make is a pioneer of the V-8 engine.- Early years :...
engine. After his first day he crashed in Alta, California
Alta, California
Alta is a small unincorporated community and census-designated place in Placer County, California, United States, about northeast of Auburn. The village is located off Interstate 80 and along the historical First Transcontinental Railroad. The ZIP code is 95701 and the area code 530...
.
Panama Canal
After becoming the first person to traverse the United States from the West CoastWest Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
to the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
, Fowler became the first person to make a nonstop transcontinental flight by traversing the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
in 57 minutes in April 1913. Flying from the Pacific to the Atlantic along the route of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
construction, his passenger and cameraman Ray Duhem filmed parts of the canal during the flight.
That same month, pictures taken by Duhem of fortifications in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, as well as photos of the Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
(then an active military installation), were published in Sunset magazine
Sunset (magazine)
Sunset is a lifestyle magazine in the United States. Sunset focuses on homes, cooking, gardening, and travel, with a focus almost exclusively on the Western United States...
under the title "Can the Panama Canal Be Destroyed from the Air?" After publication, the Department of War
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
asked the U.S. Attorney in San Francisco, John W. Preston
John W. Preston
John White Preston was an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court from 1926 through 1935.He was born in Woodbury, Tennessee on May 14, 1877. His parents were Hugh L. Preston and Thankful C. Preston, nee Doak....
, to investigate the matter. On July 10, 1914, warrants were issued for the arrest of Fowler, Duhem, writer Riley A. Scott, and Sunset editor Charles K. Field, with Preston stating that new regulations passed by US Congress made it illegal "for a civilian to take or publish photographs of any fortification, whether complete or in process of construction.
The following day the men appeared at the United States Commissioner in San Francisco, with Fowler claiming that they had received the permission of the chief engineer of the canal, Colonel George Washington Goethals
George Washington Goethals
George Washington Goethals was a United States Army officer and civil engineer, best known for his supervision of construction and the opening of the Panama Canal...
before flying: "Col. Goethals not only gave his permission, but he wished us the best of luck, and said he hoped the pictures would turn out well." Their trial was set for that August 10, 1914, but by June 15, 1915, a grand jury had declined to review the case. It was ultimately dropped because evidence was insufficient.