Saturday, February 20, 2010

"Roy, come and get this goddamned cat!"

Melvin Vaniman and Kiddo the Cat

Thus began the first air-to ground radio transmission in 1910, by Melvin Vaniman, flight engineer for explorer Walter Wellman's airship America. Melvin wanted Roy to come and get Kiddo the cat, who had stowed away in a lifeboat. Kiddo didn't like flying, and he let the crew know it by howling, mewling, scratching, and spitting. Fortunately, Kiddo soon settled in to enjoy the flight. Kiddo's story is here.

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