Aviation in Alaska has a long and rich history, with many pioneers who helped pave the way for the essential link between The Rock and the Outside. One such pioneer was Russel Merrill, the namesake of Merrill Field in Anchorage.

Merrill began his aviation career during World War I, where he received flight training in Key West, Florida and Cape May, New Jersey. He was later selected for the Naval Aviation Service and developed skills in flight instruction, overwater flights, and navigation. After the war ended, Merrill pursued his passion for aviation by enrolling in courses at Cornell University.

In 1925, Merrill saw an advertisement for a Curtis Model F flying boat for sale in Portland, Oregon. He immediately jumped at the opportunity and soon partnered with Roy Davis to start commercial aviation services in Alaska. They began barnstorming through Southeast Alaska, offering flights to tourists and scouting salmon for canneries.

Word of their flying boat spread quickly, and on August 1, 1925, Merrill and Davis made history by becoming the first commercial pilots to cross the Gulf of Alaska when they landed in Seward. Later that month, they also became the first pilots to fly and land in Anchorage, an accomplishment previously only achieved by assembling aircraft on site.

One significant contact in Anchorage was Gus Gelles, the Alaska representative of the National Grocery Company. Gelles chartered the Curtis Model F to make the first-ever flight to Kodiak. However, due to inclement weather and an overloaded plane, they faced several challenges and were forced to land in Seldovia. It wasn’t until August 31 that they finally made it to Kodiak, where the entire town turned out to greet them.

Despite facing engine issues and harsh weather on their return trip, Gelles was still thrilled with his experience in Kodiak, stating that he “never saw so many beautiful lakes and such wonderful scenery” in his life. The journey back to the mainland was made possible by flagging down a passing vessel and hitching a ride to Seldovia.

Merrill’s pioneering efforts opened up Alaska and made it possible for the state to become one extended family with reunions in the Anchorage and Seattle airports. Today, as we fly between Kodiak and Anchorage, we can appreciate the beautiful scenery and remember the strides that pioneers like Merrill took to make this essential link possible.