At 2:45 am Friday June 27, 1930, a night watchman discovered a fire in a hangar at Pal-Waukee Air Port. It destroyed one plane but quick action by the staff kept the fire from engulfing the hangar, unlike the Municipal fire a few days earlier that destroyed two hangars and 27 planes.

Both fires started in planes owned by the Texas Oil Co. There were reports that the Capone gang had purchased several planes from Texas Oil to smuggle liquor from Canada, but that Capone was dissatisfied with the planes. There were suspicions the fires were meant to express Capone’s displeasure to Texas Oil.[1]

[1]             Cook County Herald: Paddock Publications; "Firebug Sets Blaze at the Palwaukee Port;" July 1, 1930, p. 8 col. 3.

                  DuPage County Register; "Quick Blaze Takes Planes and Hangar;" December 26, 1930.