Photograph of airmail plane at Reno, Nevada Airmail employees
transferring airmail bags from one de Havilland (DH-4B) aircraft
to another at the Reno, Nevada airmail field. On September 8,
1920, the Post Office Department completed the western leg of
the nation's transcontinental flyway. Mail was flown through
Reno on its way between San Francisco, California and New York
City, New York. The 1921 "Transcontinental Air Mail Pilot's Log
of Distances, Landmarks, and Flying Directions" provided to all
airmail employees described Reno's airmail field as follows:
"The air mail field at Reno lies two miles west of the city. The
main runway lies east and west. The field is marked by a T and
wind indicator. And landing from four ways is unobstructed. Reno
is 4,497 feet above sea level. Whenever possible it is advisable
to leave the Reno field on the east-west runway, taking off to
the east. A slight downgrade enables the ship to quickly obtain
flying speed. Just beyond the east edge of the field the ground
is extremel