Photo: Tim Dunn/WBZ NewsRadio
BARNSTABLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) —The terminal building at the Cape Cod Gateway Airport has been renamed in honor of two local men who flew a record-breaking flight decades ago.
It was 90 years ago on Wednesday, that Russel Boardman and John Polando took off on their record-breaking journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
Now, the entire terminal building has been named in honor of these New England natives.
"They're pioneers with local ties, they trained at this airport and their families are from the local area," said Assistant Airport Director Matthew Elia.
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On July 28, 1931, the duo took off from New York City and landed on July 30 in Istanbul, Turkey. They traveled 5,011.8 miles, which at the time was the longest flight ever completed.
It was also the first recorded trans-Atlantic flight since Charles Lindbergh's in 1927. The airfield has been named after the two since 1981, but for Polando's son, Jim, he says it's about time the terminal was named in their honor too.
"When you name an airfield, the pilots understand the name change but you don't really get the recognition unless you're naming a building or something the general public sees," said Polando.
Both Polando and Boardman worked and lived on Cape Cod throughout their lives.
The building is now called the Russell Boardman and John Polando terminal Building.
WBZ NewsRadio's Tim Dunn (@ConsiderMeDunn) Reports:
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