wnp14.4299

Pacific near Front

May 1, 1908

Crowd surrounding balloon ascension sponsored by the Examiner in connection with the arrival of the Great White Fleet in San Francisco Bay. Aeronauts 'Captain Penfold' (Vincent Patrick Taylor 1874-1930) and Frank Hamilton (1875?-1920) went up suspended from hot air balloons over the fleet, dropped materials, parachuted, and were rescued by sailors from the Bay. Inscription 'Idora Park' may indicate balloon was in use there earlier.