Aerial rum-runners?

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Does anybody know of any books or other sources of information about aerial rum-runners who flew booze into the U.S. during Prohibition? I'm trying to see if there's enough material out there for an Aviation History magazine article, but so far, I haven't found much...

[The Inspector]

Have you contacted the Coast Guard? I've seen pictures (not sure if they were staged or not) of a USCG G-44 flying alongside a private airplane and there was a Coastie standing in the aft entrance hatch holding a Thompson-

AVIATION HISTORY is my favorite magazine I do miss articles from the late Corky Meyers

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Good idea--I'll see if I can find some USCG-history sources; I know I have a book or two somewhere.

I at least quoted Corky in an AH cover story on the Bearcat that I did a couple of years ago, but he rather rudely refused to let me do a phone interview with him--eseentially said he was tired of talking about the Bearcat. Probably having a bad day.

[shrike]

I recall seeing at least one photo of an aircraft marked NY Police fitted with a pair of Lewis guns on a Scarff ring. Caption said it was used against rum-runners

[The Inspector]

You can find pictures of NYPD G-21's in the 'GRUMMAN' sticky mega post by Army Junk @ the top of this page provided that photobucket hasn't turned them into little red x's

[tom d. friedman]

google "the inland seas maritime museum" in vermilion ohio. they are totally devoted to great lakes history. the museum is physically closed as they are moving to toledo ohio, but they are open i'm sure otherwise. i'm good friends w/ the director chris gillhcrest the director. just drop my name & he'll help you. vermilion is steeped in bootleg booze history smuggled in from canada, we even had a bar called bootleggers!! i've heard accounts of coast guard gun boats cruising the vermilion river during prohibition. vermilion has the largest fresh water boating port on lake erie. leamington canada is dead north. there is a restaurant in lorain ohio where there is a tunnel from the building to the lake to take in the hooch. nowdays the dept of homeland security, border patrol, coast guard, local sheriff's dept all have boats in vermilion that patrol the border on lake erie, only now for rag head terrorists & dope smugglers, & illegal aliens trying to sneak across. the govt presence is pretty active, which must speak fairly well for the boot leg activity of the 20's / 30's i'll help you where i can.

[airknocker]

Try the Murphy family up in Perth, NY (operators of P-51 "Never Miss"). Their airstrip was active back in the 30's and there were some tales of runners active back in Prohibtion. I seem to remember mention of this in the Warbird Digest article on "Never Miss"
http://www.airnav.com/airport/0NY7