Photograph of airmail pilot James Hill ready for transcontinental night flight

July 1, 1925

US Postmaster General Harry S. New posed with airmail pilot James D. Hill and an unidentified military officer for the start of regularly scheduled transcontinental night and day airmail flights. New is shown presenting Hill with a ceremonial bundle of mail that was added to the cargo. As Hill prepared to take off from Hadley Field, New Jersey, hundreds of cars lined the field with their headlines on, adding their lights to those of the field for his take off shortly before 9 pm.