On June 4, 1935, a Curtis Robin monoplane named “Ole Miss” took off from Meridian’s airport. Some 100 onlookers observed this unheralded event.

When, 27 days later, the “Ole Miss” touched down at Meridian, she was greeted by 30,000 cheering people. Pilots Fred and Al Key had accomplished a non-stop endurance flight that totaled 653 hours 34 minutes. During this 52,320 mile flight, the “Ole Miss” used 6,000 gallons of gasoline and made 435 mid-air refueling contacts.

In 1955, pilot Fred Key flew the completely restored “Ole Miss” to Washington, DC, where it is now on permanent display in the National Air and Space Museum. The World Flight Endurance record set by the Key Brothers in 1935 still stands today.