During the next several months, I plan to include columns, intermittently, about famous Mississippians who have made a positive difference in the world. This week, I have featured Al and Fred Key.

Some of you probably knew the Key brothers personally. I was recently told that “their people” were originally from Kemper County. I don’t know all of the ins-and-outs of the family tree, but I do know there are some mighty fine Key folks that still live in Kemper. In our part of the world, knowing one’s “people” and their origins is always important, however, with my research, I’ve noted the Key brothers are associated with Meridian as their home. It would be fun to “fight” over them, but I think we can share them as great Mississippians.

Brothers Fred and Al Key became interested in aviation after WWI, and with great tenacity sought and received the position as joint managers of the Meridian Municipal Airport. All was going well until the Great Depression hit the city, and due to the lack of funds, or an attempt to save money, the city decided to close the airport.

Fred and Al had a different idea. The airport must stay open and they reasoned worldwide publicity would make that happen. The brothers sought to break the standing record of 23 days, the flight endurance record. In order to accomplish this feat, Fred and Al knew that the air-to-air refueling technique must be perfected. The only technique used prior to this time was dangerous. If the gasoline was spilled, which often happened, the hot engine could engulf the airplane, and all would be lost.

The Key brothers, along with local inventor and mechanic A. D. Hunter and James Keeton, began to work in earnest to invent a spill free fueling system. This consisted of a valve on the end of the fuel nozzle, which was opened by a probe in the neck of the fuel tank. This new type valve would not allow fuel to flow unless it was inserted into the fuel tank. During refueling, if the nozzle were removed from the tank, the fuel would automatically stop flowing. Genius at work – that’s our Mississippians!

Later, the U. S Army Corps adopted the new invention, and it is still in use today with some modifications.

One more problem for the brothers … the engine needed regular maintenance during the flight in order to stay in good running order. Another invention was needed to create a catwalk so that Fred could walk out and work on the plane while it was airborne. Courage at work – that’s our Mississippians.

By June 1935 the brothers were ready. The date of takeoff was June 4 1935 when The Flying Keys, as the brothers were later known; hit the airways from the Meridian Municipal Airport in a borrowed Curtiss Robin monoplane named Ole Miss. For the next twenty-seven days, they flew over the Meridian vicinity. For food and supplies, there was a similar plane that would drop the items to the brothers on the end of a rope, as well as supply fuel via a long flexible tube. The landing was July 1 to a crowd estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 people gathered for the event. They had traveled an estimated 52,320 miles and used more than 6,000 gallons of gasoline.

It was the talk of the world!  Yes, the brothers garnered the worldwide attention needed to put the little Meridian Municipal Airport on the map! Their non-stop endurance flight lasted 653 hours, 34 minutes. The Ole Miss is permanently displayed in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D. C.

Because of this historic flight, Meridian’s public airport was renamed Key Field in honor of the brothers. Later, the Key brothers served as bomber pilots in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. Fred was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (USA), and Al earned a Distinguished Flying Cross (USA), Distinguished Service Cross (United States), an Air Medal, a Distinguished Service Cross (UK), and seven Bronze Stars for participating in combat. Talk about heroes – these are true American heroes, but best of all, they are Mississippians!

Later, Al became of the Mayor of Meridian and Fred ran the Key Brothers Flying Service at Key Field until his death in 1971. Oh, and one more thing – I have them featured in my book “Historic Photos of Mississippi.”

I have been on a mission for over five years now. I have in my heart to teach Mississippi Heritage and Mississippi Pride to our students by uplifting famous Mississippians who have made a positive difference in the world. I’ve often said, “If we don’t, as Mississippians, teach these lessons, who will?”

Just as an aside – in later years, at Key Field, the 186th Air National Guard Unit adopted as their mission air-to-air refueling via the KC-135 Stratotanker. The mission has recently been changed, but the KC-135 mission brought a full circle of accomplishments to Meridian via Fred and Al Key.

Dear readers, please stay tuned for future columns about “our people” – the good and the brave, our Mississippians.

REMINDER:  Meridian and Lauderdale County students, grades, 9-12, all schools (county, city, private, and home school).  The time is drawing near submit your artwork for the Community Youth Arts Competition. The deadline is Friday, October 16, at 5:00 pm. Drop off your artwork to Connie Royal, Cultural Affairs Manager, at her office located beneath the parking garage. The address: 711-23 Avenue.  There are two categories: (1) Literary (book review) and (2) Visual Art (drawings) and the subject is the play production To Kill a Mockingbird which will be staged at MSU/Riley Center, October 20, and the movie by the same name at The Temple Theater, October 27. There are large cash prizes for each category: First Place, $100.00, Second Place, $50.00, and Third Place, $25.00 with three Honorable Mentions and certificates of accomplishment.  For all of the submission guidelines, please call Connie Royal, (601) 696-2200, Debbie Martin, (601) 917-4664, or Anne McKee, (601) 681-8525. Good luck!



Anne McKee is a writer and storyteller. She lives in Meridian. Anne is listed on the Mississippi Artist Roster, sponsored by Mississippi Arts Commission, as a dramatic and literary artist, storyteller, and as a Teaching Artist. She is active with the arts and educational communities throughout Mississippi.