This Day (An America 250 History Show) The Bootletter Biplane Bombings [Some Sunday Context]
Jan 18, 2026
Dive into the wild world of 1926, where the Shelton gang takes to the skies with a biplane for a bizarre attack on their rivals, the Birgers. Prohibition ignites fierce gang wars and a black market frenzy, particularly in southern Illinois. Experience the audacious plan to use homemade bombs, the chaotic execution, and the surprisingly minimal fallout. Learn about local history, including Klan activity and crime networks, highlighting how violence unfolded in rural America amidst the chaos of Prohibition.
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Biplane Bombing Over Rural Illinois
- In 1926 the Shelton gang in southern Illinois hijacked a barnstorming Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" and used it to bomb a rival Birger hideout.
- The pilot was apparently unaware and fled after the drop, later lost to history.
Prohibition Fueled Rural Gang Wars
- Prohibition pushed big-city gang dynamics into rural areas, creating lucrative black markets everywhere.
- Those markets produced violent turf wars outside cities, not just in places like Chicago.
The Klan's Strange Role In Feuds
- The Ku Klux Klan intersected with these feuds by opposing bootleggers politically, creating unlikely temporary alliances.
- That opposition was strategic and not a sign of moral solidarity.