George W. Goodspeed, Sr. was born on 12/7/1897 in Chatham, MA. He was the eldest of 6 children and became the family provider at age 20 when his Dad died. He worked at many jobs.

He worked as a foreman at the Gould Wells Manufacturing Company doing experimental engineering, metal welding and machine work. During WW1 they had a government contract for making artillery shells. Each day a box of artillery nose parts were shipped to Maryland for further assembly. He later was the service manager for over 30 years at Bearse Motor Sales/Manson Motor Sales and was Fire chief for 21 years. He was well known in the area for his ability to fix almost anything.

George took his first flight in an airplane in 1917 and became enthusiastic about flying.

In 1917-1918, the Chatham Naval Air Station was being built. George was one the locals hired to help with building the dirigible hanger. He also fixed up old cars for men stationed at the Naval Air Station to use for transportation.

London's Daily Mail offered a 10,000 Pound prize to the first aviator to cross the Atlantic in either direction. The U.S. Navy wanted the honor of making the first trans-Atlantic flight even
though they couldn't accept the money. Four big new flying boats, the NC 1, NC 2, NC 3 and NC 4 were to leave Rockaway Naval Air Station on Long Island on May 8, 1919. They were to go to Halifax, Nova Scotia for refueling and then cross the Atlantic. In April, the NC 2 was withdrawn for parts needed for the other 3 planes.

The NC 4 had trouble with 2 of the 4 engines and was forced to land at sea 80 miles off Chatham and taxied for 14 hours to reach Chatham. Grover Farris was stationed at the Naval Air Station and he was put in charge of the repair crew. Farris recommended that George be called because of his knowledge of engines. George helped remove the damaged engine and replaced it with a working one. He fixed the second engine enabling the NC 4 to reach Nova Scotia for more parts and gas. The NC 4 was the first aircraft to make the trans-Atlantic flight to England.

The NC 1 went down in dense fog and rough seas just short of the Azores. The crew was rescued but the NC 1 could not be repaired. The NC 3 had to land in the water 205 miles from the Azores. The crew was able to sail her to Ponta Delgada.

The U.S. Navy honored George in 1986 for his role in repairing the NC 4. The NC 4 is on display at the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, Florida. See Photo 1-NC 4 with Strong Island, Chatham in the background. This is courtesy of Bob Hardy and the Chatham Historical Society.

Photo 2 (taken by Doug Brunell) shows George in Oct.1979 with the Chatham Historical Society's plaque in Chathamport - near the site of the former Chatham Naval Air Station.

In 1928 George learned to fly, and he got his private pilot's license in 1932. He wanted to work toward a commercial license but so many pilots were out of work at the time that he couldn't see a future in that field.

George became good friends with Wilfred Berube who bought almost 75 acres of land in West Chatham. A rough, short landing strip needed to be changed into an airfield of acceptable size and smoothness. Bulldozers were not commonplace then and removing all the scrub pines by hand was too difficult.

In 1935, Wilfred and George (both mechanics) designed and built a homemade tractor on a 1929 Model A Ford chassis. They put a powered, adjustable, horizontal blade on the front. They had made a fast-acting tree feller. They cleared the land and later plowed the stumps. This would become the Chatham Airport. See the family's Photo 3.

George and Wilfred were both enthusiastic about aviation and often flew together. They enjoyed landing on Monomoy Beach to surf cast or hunt.

George thoroughly enjoyed a flight in the Goodyear Blimp when it visited Chatham. He lived through many changes in the aviation field.

George would be thrilled to see his name on the wall of Honor at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Written by: Donna Lumpkin, George Goodspeed's granddaughter, on March 19, 2017.