Earle Ovington, Air Mail, and the First Flight Over Waltham

Join us at the Waltham Museum on Saturday, June 7^th at noon

Earle L. Ovington was the United States’ first airmail pilot and flew the first official airmail route in the nation’s history on Long Island, New York in September 1911.  Prior to that, Ovington was the first person to fly an airplane over Waltham and Boston on June 15, 1911.  On Saturday, June 7, David Ball and Brian Howard will give a presentation on the early years of aviation, airmail, and Ovington’s pioneering role in the first decades of heavier-than-air flight.

David Ball of Framingham is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and current president of the American Air Mail Society.  He will discuss Ovington’s flight and the role aviation played in the delivery of mail during the early 20th century.  

Brian Howard lives in Newton and is the executive director of the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History in Weston.  He is a former aviation museum curator and has lectured on American aviation history, from the Wright Brothers’ first flight through the Cold War. He will discuss the general history of aviation at the time of Ovington’s record flights.

Our free event will take place on Saturday, June 7^th, 2025 at noon 25 Lexington St. Waltham. Tours and refreshments available. Seats are limited, so signup by calling 781-893-9020 or emailing info@walthammuseum.org with name, phone# & email, and number of participants. Parking available in the Public Parking Garage directly across from the Waltham Museum.

 This program is supported in part by a grant from the Waltham Cultural Council, a local agency funded by Mass Arts Council, a state agency.