Miles Blaine was entrenched in the San Diego Aviation scene from the early 1930s until his death in 2009, and luckily for posterity, he loved both flying and photography.  His collection of over 860 photos document many of the important aviation events in the region.  And, equally importantly, they capture many aircraft, people and events that without Mile's camera, would have been lost to posterity.  

Miles Blaine in his signature flight jacket.

Blaine was born November 17, 1913, in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of seven and moved with his family to San Diego, CA, in 1927. A member of the first graduating class of Hoover High School, Blaine had his first ride in an airplane with Ryan pilot Bob Kerlinger in a Great Lakes 2T-1A at Lindbergh Field. He also learned to fly in San Diego at Peik’s Airport with instructor Arnold H. “Tex” Peik, starting out in an OX-5 American Eagle aircraft, and then switching to a Waco 10 after a student had totaled the American Eagle before he could finish his hours. Blaine then soloed in the Waco 10 in 1936 and continued flying for many years until he was 90 years old.

Miles Blaine in a Great Lakes 2T-1A, getting ready to solo.

He worked for several years in civil service as an aircraft machinist at the Naval Air Station, North Island, and also for Consolidated and Lockheed aircraft companies. He was a member of the Consair Flyers Club, Inc., which helped to organize the aviation groups OX-5 Aviation Pioneers and Silver Wings in 1940.

This photo gives insight into a little documented event in San Diego history.  Taken in 1938, it shows Miles in his Waco 10 at Pieks Airport.  Obviously, it shows how intense the flooding was that occurred in March of that year.

One of Blaine’s fond memories was of Arnold Peik climbing out onto the wing of the Waco 10. He had only 3 hours of solo time and was unsure of what to do, since he had never flown a wing-walker before.  Miles Blaine died in 2009 before donating countless hours (and this collection) to the San Diego Air & Space Museum.  Some of our favorite photos taken by Miles are included below.

Documenting air travel at Lindbergh Field, Miles shot a Boeing Model 40, Ford Trimotor and Boeing 247.

Military aircraft are also highlighted in the collection, including a Northrop P-61 Black Widow, a B-17 Flying Fortress and aP-26 Peashooter.

Rare color photos taken at Peiks field circa 1950 show some of Mile's freinds. 

Some of the aerials Miles took show Montgomery Field, Balboa Park and Tyce's Airport in Chula Vista.

The collection even has some photos without planes! 

For more about this collection, see our Descriptive Finding Guide.

Also, see the image collection on Flickr.