ROBERT WOODHOUSE

WOODROW P. JONGEWARD

Enshrined 1991

Robert Woodhouse, born in Anaheim, California and Woodrow Jongeward, born in Elk River, Minnesota, brought international recognition to Yuma, Arizona in 1949. Ex-Navy pilots, they established a new world endurance flight record of 1124 hours and 17 minutes. A Yuma newspaper reported that their feat "put Yuma on the map as no other single promotion or news event has ever done." Flying a two-place Aeronca named "City of Yuma" and powered by a 145 horse power Continental engine, the pair took off August 24, 1949 from Yuma County Airport. They landed there October 10 after more than 46 days aloft. Several times a day during the flight, ground crews riding in a speeding car, transferred fuel and food as the pilots' maneuvered their aircraft alongside at precariously low levels. A support team of 600 people was required for this highly coordinated enterprise which was a punishing test of both men and machine.