H96.1.1880

Handwritten in pencil on the back, "Mr. & Mrs. Norman Goddard and plane 'El Encanto.' Pilot of plane that cracked up on takeoff." Clipping from Tribune, August 11, 1957-"Mr. and Mrs. Norman Goddard cracked up on takeoff." Photo shows the couple posing together in front of Goddard's plane the "El Encanto." Mrs. Goddard, on the left, is wearing knickers, stockings, low heeled shoes with a strap around the ankle, a thin sweater with a belt around her waist, and a hat with a small brim. She is smiling up at her husband and has her left arm around his waist. Goddard is also wearing knickers, knee socks, regular tie up men's shoes, a button-up shirt and necktie. He has a cap tucked under his left arm and is holding a cigarette in his left hand.

(Information provided by "The Dole Race" in the journal "American Aviation Historical Society" written by Lesley N. Forden, fall and winter 1975.)The "El Encanto" was one of the competitors in the Dole Race or Dole Derby which was an air race from Oakland to Hawaii from August 16-18, 1927. There were fifteen original entries but due to various accidents and mechanical problems only eight planes actuall took off and only two ever reached Hawaii. The race was sponsered by James Dole of Dole Hawaiian Pineapple. First place was $25,000, second $10,000.The "El Encanto" was flown by Norman A. Goddard with Kenneth C. Hawkins as navigator. Goddard had more or less built the plane himself. The plane was silver and was fitted with dual controls, meaning the navigator also had a stick. On the rudder was painted "HBH" which meant "Hell Bent For Honolulu." "El Encanto" stood for "The Enchanted" the name of the estate of Goddard's financial backer Dalluge. The plane's wingspan was 42 feet and had a total fuel capacity of 350 gallons. The "El Encanto" was the second plane to take off in the race, August 16th. The plane had problems on take off and the landing gear folded causing the plane to vear out of control and collapse off the runway with one wing broken and standing straight up in the air. Apparently Hawkins was flying the plane from his seat in the back on take-off (because he had a more unobstructed view of the runway than did Goddard). The plane was heavy loaded with fuel and the general consensus was that Hawkins simply lost control of the plane in his excitement and concern over splitting the prize money with Goddard. Goddard rebuilt his plane and renamed it "Gypsy" and flew it for awhile out of his air field in Palo Alto. He was killed flying a glider at the Oakland Airport in 1929.

Used: Oakland Tribune