Photographic Memory: Flying high with the Fairchild 71

Standard Oil of California’s (Socal) acquisition of the Fairchild 71 airplane in March 1934 dramatically increased the speed at which survey information could be acquired. The plane had a hole in the bottom of the fuselage and a removable window for taking photographs. It was equipped with 36X18 tires and an extra gas tank that reduced seating capacity to four but increased its range to 350 miles. Information gathered from using the airplane eventually led to the mapping and drilling of the Dammam Dome that would result in Well Number 7.

(Photo by Richard C. “Dick” Kerr)