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Spearfish, South Dakota - Aviation Hub | Images of the Past

Spearfish has been an important air transit hub in South Dakota since the earliest days of commercial aviation. The film above that dates back to 1913, likely shows one of the first heavier-than-air craft ever to land in the state. The aircraft shown could be a Curtiss D-III Headless Pusher. It could be a home-built aircraft modeled after the Pusher.

The airfield now known as Black Hills Airport - Clyde Ice Field has a storied history in the annals of South Dakota aviation. It was on routes connected most other airports in South Dakota with others in surrounding states. Air mail volume in and out of the Spearfish airport at one time exceeded that of Rapid City.

Spearfish was also a home base for legendary aviator Clyde Ice, a pioneer in the history of aviation overall.

The film below, most likely shot at an airshow in 1938, shows a number of the era's aircraft in flight and on the ground.

Several things stand out in the film. First, the aircraft. Swipe to see some of the aircraft shown in the film.