Lt. Ross C. Kirkpatrick piloted Plane #4 in the New York to Nome Alaskan Flying Expedition, July 15 to October 20, 1920. Four airships under the command of Captain St. Clair Streett of the U.S. Army Air Service, covered 4500 miles via the Yukon Territory, Juneau, Skagway, Whitehorse, Dawson, Fairbanks, and Ruby. The round trip was accomplished in 112 hours. Lt. Kirkpatrick was the first airman to fly up Gastineau Channel. His plane, first sighted over Thane around 2:30 p.m., Aug. 16, 1920, flew over Front Street, Main Street, the Courthouse Building, then up the channel. A package, containing the first copy of the New York Times to arrive in Alaska via airmail was dropped on the roof of the Brunswick Hotel. A letter of thanks from Governor Thomas Riggs, Jr. is included in this collection. Lt. Kirkpatrick was granted his request for discharge from the Army in 1922. In 1929, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his historic flight.
From the description of Ross C. Kirkpatrick photograph collection [graphic], 1920. (Alaska State Library). WorldCat record id: 56360814
