On This Date in Minnesota History: March 2

March 2, 1949 – Melrose, Minn.-native Captain James Gallagher and his 14-man crew aboard the Lucky Lady II landed their bomber back in the United States on this date after making the first nonstop round-the-world flight. In the air for 94 hours, the plane had taken off from Carswell Air Force Base in Ft. Worth, Texas, on Feb. 26. The aircraft averaged 249 miles per hour and was refueled four times in the air by B-29 tanker planes during its historical 23,452-mile flight.

http://98country.com/category/this-date-in-central-minnesota-history/page/3/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Lady_II

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ilucky-lady-iii-begins-nonstop-global-flight

Captain James Gallagher and family

Stearns History Museum archives

http://98country.com/category/this-date-in-central-minnesota-history/page/3/