Will Rogers and Wiley Post Beside Their Airplane, Renton Field, August 1935

Humorist Will Rogers and aviation pioneer Wiley Post pose at Renton Field shortly before leaving on August 7, 1935 on their ill-fated journey. The two men planned to explore a new route to Europe over Alaska and Siberia in the modified Lockheed Orion-Explorer. Northwest Air Service in Renton installed the large pontoons to enable landings in Alaska and Siberia. The expedition ended when the plane crashed outside Point Barrow, Alaska on August 15, killing both men.

Photographer: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff Photographer

Image Date: August 1935

Image Number: 1986.5.39315.3

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