Mercury Aviation Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Founder | Cecil B. DeMille |
| Defunct | 1930 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
Area served | California, United States |
Key people | Cecil B. DeMille (founder), Al Wilson (flight instructor) |
| Products | Passenger air service, sightseeing tours, charter flights, mail delivery, cargo transport |
Mercury Aviation Company ranks among the earliest commercial airline enterprises, established by the Hollywood filmmaker and producer Cecil B. DeMille. Identifying the commercial prospects of aviation, Mercury Aviation initially utilized World War I surplus Curtiss JN-4 Jenny aircraft to conduct sightseeing tours and charter flights operating out of DeMille Field No. 1, later expanding its fleet to include passenger planes. Although it was a trailblazer in the industry, Mercury Aviation failed to achieve profitability and discontinued its services after two years. The company was briefly overseen by Al Wilson, who served as DeMille’s flight instructor.
Air Service
The scheduled operations of Mercury Aviation Company’s Mercury Air Lines commenced in May 1921, connecting locations such as Santa Catalina Island, San Diego, and San Francisco, with further expansion to more cities over time. It distinguished itself as the first airline to provide multi-stop routes, transporting in excess of 25,000 passengers during its tenure. The airline terminated its activities in 1922, having maintained a record free of accidents.
DeMille Field No. 1
Constructed in 1918 by Cecil B. DeMille, DeMille Field No. 1 was situated at the southwest intersection of Melrose Avenue and Fairfax Avenue (formerly Crescent Avenue), at , directly across from what is now Fairfax High School. In 1920, flight operations were relocated to DeMille Field No. 2, and the original airfield site was subsequently redeveloped for residential use within the Fairfax District, Los Angeles.
DeMille Field No. 2
Known also as Mercury Field, DeMille Field No. 2 occupied the northwest corner of Lindenhurst Avenue and Fairfax Avenue (then Crescent Avenue), positioned just north of Sydney Chaplin's Airport (). Mercury Aviation Company, under Cecil B. DeMille’s direction, initiated its commercial airline service here in August 1920, acquiring a Junkers-Larsen JL-6 aircraft delivered by World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker. Before this transition, Mercury had operated surplus Curtiss JN-4 Jenny planes providing sightseeing tours, mail delivery, cargo transport, and charter flights.
The field also served as a location for silent film productions by DeMille. Notably, in August 1920, stunt pilots Ormer "Lock" Locklear and Milton "Skeets" Elliott tragically lost their lives during the filming of The Skywayman at this site. Mercury Aviation operated a distinctive dual-use fueling station at Fairfax and Wilshire that catered to both automobiles and aircraft. This airfield gained prominence as the arrival point for the first passenger plane flying in from New York City.
Operations at this airport concluded in 1930 due to financial unviability experienced by Mercury Aviation. The area has since been transformed into residential developments within the Fairfax District.
Eaton Altadena
Established in 1922 by Mercury Aviation Company, Eaton Altadena Airport was located at 1347 East Mendocino Street in Altadena, California (), serving both Altadena and nearby Pasadena communities. Its service offerings were more limited compared to those available at DeMille Field No. 2. Presently, this site is occupied by the Altadena Town & Country Club.
See also
- List of defunct airlines of the United States
- The Flying Mail
- The Air Patrol
- The Cloud Dodger
- Mercury Air Line Holdings, Florida