Glider Crash with Gov. John H. Trumbull – Newark Airport, February 18, 1930 – “The Flying Governor” Survives

This original International Newsreel press photograph, dated February 18, 1930, captures the immediate aftermath of a rare and dramatic moment in early American aviation history—the crash of a primary glider carrying former Connecticut Governor John H. Trumbull, known nationally as “The Flying Governor.”

Taken at Newark Municipal Airport during a winter aviation event, the photo shows a group of men in heavy overcoats and hats moving the wreckage of the glider across a snow-covered field. The open-frame fuselage and covered wings are clearly visible, representing the basic construction of primary training gliders in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Trumbull, a passionate aviation advocate and licensed pilot, had been attending a hangar dedication when he took the opportunity for a short glider flight. Shortly after takeoff, the craft lost control and plunged to the ground. The wreck was significant, but Trumbull escaped with only a slight leg injury—an incident that underscored both the hazards and allure of early aviation.

Historical Highlights:

• Date: February 18, 1930

• Location: Newark Municipal Airport, New Jersey

• Aircraft Type: Primary glider (open-frame trainer)

• Notable Passenger: John H. Trumbull, former Connecticut governor & aviation proponent

• Event: Hangar dedication and public aviation demonstration

• Outcome: Aircraft destroyed; Trumbull survived with minor injury

• Source: International Newsreel Photo

This image is a remarkable crossover between aviation history and political history, offering a snapshot of the adventurous spirit that defined the interwar years of flight.