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During the excitement following Lindbergh's flight to Paris earlier in 1927, dare devil aviators overnight became legendary heroes.

In Concord, Bob Fogg was the most prominent New Hampshire boy with wings.

Public-spirited backers staked him to a brand-new airplane, aimed at putting their city and state on the flying map.

The ship was a Waco biplane, one of the first two of its type to be fitted with the air cooled, 225/hp Wright radial engine known as the Whirlwind.

A trim green and silver-painted craft only 22-1/2 feet long, the Waco was entered to compete in the `` On-to-Spokane '' Air Derby of 1927.

As a matter of fact, Fogg and his plane didn't get beyond Pennsylvania in the race -- an engine oil leak forced him down -- but the flying service and school he started subsequently were first steps in paying off his wry-faced backers.

So with all this experience, Bob Fogg was a natural choice to receive the first Emergency Air Mail Star Route contract.

His work began just six days after the flood.