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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 >> Memories of Old HIALEAH, Florida - Historical Photo Galleries and Commentaries - click on image to view and read > 1962 - Mediteranean Fruit Fly spray eradication program spray aircraft over Palm Springs in Hialeah
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1962 Bill Avery

1962 - Mediteranean Fruit Fly spray eradication program spray aircraft over Palm Springs in Hialeah

Palm Springs section of Hialeah, Florida


Thank you to Bill Avery for contributing this image. The Mediteranean Fruit Fly ("Med Fly") invasion, which could have wiped out Florida's citrus crop, required massive spraying from twin engine aircraft at very low altitudes over all of Hialeah, plus other areas of South Florida. They used twin-Beech aircraft to fly at very low level to spray the entire area, aided by balloons raised and moved at each end of the strafing run. It was great fun feeling the mist hit your skin and inhaling the aroma of the pesticide or whatever it was.


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Wayne Adams 22-Jun-2015 14:31
They also used a World War II B-17 bomber. Since I loved World War II aircraft, it was great excitement watching this behemoth fly over at low altitude. Wish I had a camera at the time.
Guest 24-Apr-2013 03:57
I remember my mom would get so mad when they sprayed...it left little, tiny brown specks all over the freshly washed sheets on our clothes line.
Mary Anne C 26-Feb-2011 04:44
Oh yeah! I remember how my mom used "colorful language" when the planes flew over with their load of insecticide. The papers always published the spraying schedule but somehow they always got mixed up. I think I developed my great love for planes during those years, and my mom was amazed when I learned how to fly and got my license.
Ray21-Dec-2007 03:11
Looks like a directional HF ham radio antenna on a rotor at the left. That same style of antenna is used today.