In 1937 my
father, Marcus Midgett told us that the
field in front of our house was to be made
into the airstrip for a government plane to
transport supplies to the National Park
Service erosion control work camps in the
county.
We were excited
when the Fairchild plane and pilot Dave
Driskill arrived. My sisters and I hoped to
get to fly some day. When Mr. Driskill and a
group of local men acquired a Taylor Cub our
dream came true, later they bought a Stinson
and by then was offering sightseeing trips
for $1.00. We had lots of free rides along
with the rest of the neighborhood. My
grandmother, Lena Midgett and her sister
Mary had a ride, this was considered quite
daring. One day a plane had to circle many
times while my sisters, Nina and Aline
chased sheep from the runway.
In 1942 the
Civil Air Patrol arrived with their small
planes to patrol for German Subs. What
courageous men they were to fly those tiny
planes over the ocean every day. In 1943 the
Navy needed a base for their carrier
squadrons and the present airport was
completed, which brought a close to the
Skyco Airfield.
I have had
longer flights on larger planes, but nothing
has impressed me like those first short
flights. Flying over Roanoke Island and the
beaches, seeing the beauty of the creeks,
bays, sounds, the undeveloped beach and the
Atlantic Ocean was an unforgettable sight. I
am fortunate to have such a memory, because
of a fine pilot and kind man Dave Driskill.
Catherine
"Sammie" Midgett Davis
