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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami and Florida AVIATION Historical Photos Gallery - Airports, Airlines, Aircraft - All Years - click on image to view > 1970's - Lockheed Constellation L-1049G mounted on top of the Oasis American gas station and gift shop on Tamiami Trail
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1970's Courtesy of Alvin Lederer

1970's - Lockheed Constellation L-1049G mounted on top of the Oasis American gas station and gift shop on Tamiami Trail

Tamiami Trail, Collier County, Florida


Thank you to Alvin Lederer who contributed this great old image. This Lockheed L-1049G, c/n 4617, was delivered to the Portuguese flag carrier TAP as CS-TLB in July 1955 and retired in mid-1967. It was sold to International Aerodyne and flown to Miami in September 1967 and registered as N4624 in April 1969. It was sold to Air Cargo Operations Inc in June 1969 and to Leasing Consultants the same month. The aircraft never flew again but was used instead for spares. It was disassembled in October 1969, transported to the Everglades and by September 1971 was placed atop a restaurant at the Oasis restaurant and gas station on the Tamiami Trail. The Oasis was owned by Mr. Earl Ball and four of his closest friends and it was Earl's idea to put the old Connie on top of the building. See his daughter Cheral's comments below this description.

The restaurant closed and the building was later used as a garage with the aircraft remaining there until early February 1978 when the garage closed. The aircraft was taken about a mile away and cut up for scrap in February 1978.
(Source – The Lockheed Constellation – Peter J. Marson, Air Britain 2007)


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Cheral 20-Sep-2013 23:31
I will be more than happy to send them, im so thrilled to know that people still remember the oasis. Only my father could come up with a crazy idea of a plane on the roof of the building in the middle of the swamp. It still brings peace to my heart and soul. Thank you for keeping alive wonderful memories.I will be sending more in a few days. Thanks again.
Don Boyd19-Sep-2013 17:03
Yes, I would LOVE to have more facts and more photos to add to the site. A lot of folks remember the Oasis from the 70's and they would surely enjoy seeing more photos and knowing more background information. Please send to: OldMiamiMemories@gmail.com

Thanks!

Don
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Guest 19-Sep-2013 17:01
I have more pictures and facts if you would like to see them.
Don Boyd19-Sep-2013 16:56
Cheral, thank you for posting the information about your dad which I've added to the above description.

Rosie, I'm sorry but the image is low resolution and small, just like you see it on your monitor, like virtually all of the photos on my site. None of the photos are for sale unless there is a specific comment saying "Prints available for $(price)" and there aren't any of those yet. If you have photos of this Tamiami Trail memory I would be glad to post them on this site and I'll give you photo credit for contributing them.

Don
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Cheral 19-Sep-2013 16:45
My father Earl Ball and 4 of his closet friends owned this property. It was fathers idea to put a plane on the roof. I was raised out there during the building of this airport. Seeing this picture which I thought no else had, brought tears to my eyes. those were some of my happiest childhood days. It's a shame that my father and his friends never got to finish it.