This year marks the 65th anniversary of a unique Delta cargo “first.” We transported the first shipment of living vegetable plants by air –  160,000 tomato plants – pulled from the ground the morning of May 9, 1945, in rural Tifton, Georgia, flown 700 miles and set out again in the same day.

This emergency shipment came about when a warm Georgia spring quickly grew the tomato plants almost too big to transplant at their destination in Ohio, where the weather remained freezing. 

The plants were going to a field belonging to the H.J. Heinz Company – yes, the Heinz ketchup folks –  whose ads promised “pure juice of prize tomatoes / picked, pressed and packed the same day.”

At the first break in the Ohio weather, we loaded 5,000 pounds of tomato plants into a military cargo plane, recently acquired from the U.S. Army. Two Department of Agriculture specialists, with 60 pounds of equipment, went along to test the reaction of the plants to flight. Newspaper reporters and a representative from the War Food Administration were also onboard. The Tift County Chamber of Commerce cheered as the plane took off for Bowling Green.

Shown here, Paul Pate, head of Delta Cargo, watches as Harry Hornbuckle, the tomato plants’ grower, holds a bunch of plants for Dr. E.V. Miller, of the U.S.D.A., to take a temperature reading. This was one of many tests performed during the flight. The scientists concluded that air transport was a favorable way to move live plants. Good news for Delta and Georgia farmers who grew 80% of all U.S. tomato seed plants – a $2.5 million business in 1945.

Now you know a little-remembered piece of aviation/agriculture history! For more Delta “firsts,” check out our recently updated list on the Delta Museum’s website.

Marie Force

Archives Manager

Last week, we asked you to guess what this vintage airlines object was from the Delta Archives.

Answer: It’s a chewing gum holder or dispenser. It dates from about 1939 to the early 1940s.

Chewing gum holder, gift of former Chicago & Southern Air Lines mechanic Virginia George to Delta in 1985.

A flight attendant, then known as a “stewardess,” would carry the case up and down the aisles offering pieces of gum to passengers. Chewing gum helps relieve ear discomfort caused by air pressure changes – a common problem on the unpressurized planes of the day. This particular case was probably carried on Douglas DC-3 flights operated by Chicago and Southern (C&S) Air Lines along the Mississippi River. To see a similar case, used by one of Northwest Airlines’ first flight attendants in 1939, check out the Minnesota Historical Society’s website.

Winner of our 1st Delta Archives Contest: Josh Hallett (response #1) He was the first person with the correct answer to post a comment last week. We are sending him a small prize from the Delta Archives.

Thanks for playing! We had an outstanding response and a lot of fun reading your comments. Most of you guessed either a chewing gum holder or an ashtray. It was a good learning experience for me, too – many of you noticed the file name “cs_chewing_gum_holder.jpg” was visible when you clicked on the image to enlarge it.  I’ll try to really test you guys next time!  Look for our 2nd Delta Archives contest in November.

Congratulations, Josh!

Marie Force

Archives Manager

Inspired by our Mad Men Jet Set Sweepstakes, going on now until August 2, I found one of my favorite ad photos from Delta’s early jet travel era. Here you have a birds-eye view of the “Club Compartment” lounge of a Delta Convair 880 (click on the image to see details).

It’s very early Jet Age with everyone wearing suits or stiletto pumps and fur to fly. The ”stewardess” is serving complimentary champagne. She wears a uniform designed by Edith Head, “Fashion Chief” of Paramount movie studios.

The Club Compartment’s seats are “modern, molded white Fiberglas, with rich Chinese red contrasting upholstery” – and ashtrays in every arm. Delta ads promised: “The stimulating decor invites conversation, makes friends of all occupants in short order” where “conversation is unstrained and audibility is as good as in your own living room.” If your fellow passengers failed to entertain, there was always Delta’s other IFE options: magazines, some postcards and stationary for letter-writing, and packs of playing cards!

Learn more about Delta’s Convair 880 fleet:

• Blog post and great comments on the Convair 880′s speed and beauty from last year.
• The Delta Museum’s Convair 880 page with photos and video links.

Marie Force

Archives Manager