Mercury Aviation Company

Mercury Aviation Company was one of the first commercial airline services founded in 1919 (106 years ago) (1919) by Cecil B. DeMille.

DeMille, Hollywood American film director and producer, was one of the first to see the aircraft's potential in commercial airline service.

At first Mercury Aviation flew World War I surplus Curtiss JN-4 Jenny for sightseeing and charter flights from DeMille Field No.

Al Wilson was DeMille's flight instructor and became the manager of the company for a short time.

Mercury Aviation Company thus became the first airline service to offer flights to multiple destinations.

Cecil B. DeMille's Mercury Aviation Company purchased a Junkers-Larsen JL-6 aircraft in August 1920 and start his commercial airline.

Eddie Rickenbacker, World War 1 ace delivered the new JL-6 to DeMille Field No.

Before operating the JL-6, Mercury Aviation flew World War I surplus Curtiss JN-4 Jenny for sightseeing, US Mail, cargo and charter flights.

2: Ormer "Lock" Locklear and Milton "Skeets" Elliott, in the making of The Skywayman.

Aerial view, circa 1920, looking north along Fairfax Avenue at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard. An aviation fair is underway at Chaplin Airfield in center, and DeMille Airfield No.2 is located in the upper left corner of the photo.
DeMille Field No. 1 in 1918
DeMille Field No. 2 in 1920
Junkers at Mercury Field in 1920