MY CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH THE SPRUCE GOOSE
By John Grossi, Owner & Publisher of LB908 Magazine
You know how sometimes, when you don’t know how to respond to someone, you just kind of nod and smile? I do that, anyway. And no more so have I done that, than over the years when people have talked to me about Long Beach’s famed “Spruce Goose.”
A question I’ve gotten a lot is something like, “Whatever happened to the Spruce Goose?” or “Why don’t we bring back the Spruce Goose?” We-e-ell, I have to admit something embarrassing... the first time someone asked me, I literally had no clue what they were talking about. Only after I had been asked a few times did I look it up. And ever since, I’ve usually responded with something like, “I’m not sure… that was before my time.” Because it was! I was born in 1992, the year the Spruce Goose left Long Beach. I guess this town wasn’t big enough for the both of us (ba-dum-chh).
The Largest Wooden Aircraft Ever Built
Now I know. The Spruce Goose is the largest wooden aircraft ever built. Designed by Howard Hughes in 1942, the “flying boat” was meant to carry supplies to allied soldiers by air (since so many ships were being sunk by submarine torpedoes). The only problem is, it wasn’t built in time for WWII. Contracted in 1942, construction of the prototype massive wooden aircraft wasn’t completed until 1946. Many critics across the country were upset that government money (via a defense contract with Hughes), would be paying for the airplane, even after the war ended. In fact, the name “Spruce Goose” was originally a derogatory term for the aircraft (officially named the H-4 Hercules).
At the time, Hughes was among the most famous, rich, and influential men in the world. A Hollywood producer turned aerospace and real estate tycoon, Hughes’ notoriety, boldness, and stubbornness ultimately convinced Congress and much of the American public to let him see out this project.
A Moment In History All Wrapped Up In Long Beach
On November 2nd, 1947, thousands gathered in Long Beach’s harbor to watch the Spruce Goose taxi on the water, as it had done a few times before. Only this time, unannounced, Howard Hughes decided to fly the aircraft. Its one-and-only flight lasted just 30 seconds at 25 feet in altitude. Nevertheless, Hughes had proven what many thought impossible. This aircraft, six times the size of any that had been built to date (or that would be built for a very long time), could fly! It was world news and is credited for inspiring the next generation of aviators and aerospace engineers.
After that original flight in 1947, the Spruce Goose was kept out of the public eye for 36 years until in 1983, seven years after Hughes’ death, it was brought to Long Beach for public display. The white dome next to the Queen Mary served as the hangar for the plane. For almost a decade, residents and visitors to Long Beach alike had the unique opportunity to take back-to-back tours of two of the most famous WWII vessels ever built. It was during those years, from 1983 to 1992, that most of you who have asked me about it, saw the flying boat. For that decade, Long Beach was once again (just like in 1947), famous for the Spruce Goose!
But Where Did It Go?
“Whatever happened to the Spruce Goose?” is a question I’ve heard people ask countless times. So you can imagine my surprise, when I realized that the small town in which I would be staying on vacation this summer - McMinnville, Oregon - was famous for housing… the Spruce Goose! “We have to go,” I told my wife… who didn’t really know what the SG was about either.
We hadn’t planned our vacation around visiting an aviation museum. We went there because McMinnville is also famous for being smack dab in the middle of the Willamette Valley - a world-renowned wine region, known especially for Pinot Noir. We were celebrating the completion of one whole year as new parents. And our favorite thing to do on vacation… before the birth of our beautiful baby girl… was to go wine tasting! I can’t say we’ve ever really been the aviation museum type, but this was serendipitous… Long Beach was following me on vacation... and not just any piece of Long Beach... but my white whale. The one piece of Long Beach history I’ve never really understood… the Spruce Goose!
Well folks, we get it now. We know why people always mention it. It’s because that darn plane is so huge, no one’s ever seen anything like it, not until they’ve seen it. We had a blast at the museum (and still plenty of time for wine tasting after). It was also pretty cool to be in a different state and realize how many people go to this museum to learn about something that happened in Long Beach. Pictures of our DTLB skyline were everywhere.
HOW HAS LONG BEACH FOLLOWED YOU ON VACATION? It got us thinking of a potentially cool new section for our magazine. We’d love to hear more of readers’ anecdotes and blurbs, and this is the perfect prompt to start. So, here’s our first challenge: Do you have a story where something from Long Beach has “followed” you on vacation? Have you been somewhere in the world where someone or something from Long Beach took center stage during your trip away from your hometown? EMAIL US! We’d love to hear your submissions! Email us at |
And oh yeah… if you want to go and see the Spruce Goose, Long Beach Airport just opened direct flights to Portland. McMinnville is about an hour’s drive southwest from Portland. It’s the perfect getaway if you love planes, pinots, or both!
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