Airplanes and Pilots

That's a photo of my father Pvt. Leonard J. Chapman, holding the rear of the aircraft, so it will not begin to take off. This photo taken about 1929, in the Philippine Island.

A photo of Arthur Richard Hugh Beauman's plane

A photo of S/L Norman Henry Nixon arriving at Cairns Airport with the 1956 Olympic flame he flew from Darwin.

A photo of Robert E Montague (1921 - 1998) and crew

A photo of William George Mccaig

A photo of Willard Dewayne Dover

Douglas,beside an ancient bi-plane (I think). Douglas volunteered in the Canadian Air Force at the beginning of WWII. According to family history, he was lost in a mission over Germany.

Orville Wright and Lieutenant Lahm of the United States Signal Corps making the world's record flight at Fort Myer, on July 27--The aeroplane made fifty miles at a speed of about forty miles an hour

A photo of Orville Wright at start of flight, Fort Meyer [i.e. Myer], VA

Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright seated on steps of rear porch, 7 Hawthorne St., Dayton, Ohio

Orville, Wilbur, and Katherine Wright, with others

Second from left on bottom is William H. Weise. Others unknown. Crew and plane are unknown. I have posted the same photo with same crew in flight suits.

A photo of Anna Marie (Braunger) Kriege Honeymoon in California in a Bi-Plane 1920

From some of my Fathers war photos. Will be posting others. Not really sure who anyone is in this photo. First airman on the left kneeling looks like another photo I have of someone named "Joe Bielecky", who probaly served with my father, Capt. William Weise.

Sikorsky Aircraft employee Vince Klem in a biplane at Port Jefferson Long Island in 1937. Photo by friend B.S. Norkus

A photo of Arthur Douglas Hardinge

Tending to pilot Orville Wright or passenger Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge after the crash of the Wright Military Flyer at Fort Myer, Virginia The plane crashed when a propeller broke and the Lieutenant became the first passenger killed in an airplane crash. Another image of this crash can be found at: https://www.ancientfaces.com/photo/september-1908-orville-wright-plane-crash/1348581

On the morning of July 28, 1945, Lieutenant Colonel William F. Smith Jr. was piloting a B-25 Mitchell bomber on a routine personnel transport out of Massachusetts. He encountered heavy fog and became disoriented as it passed over New York City on its descent into Newark Airport. At 9:40 a.m., it smashed into the north side of the Empire State Building and the oxygen tanks it was carrying exploded causing severe damage to the building. This photo was taken of the 78th and 79th floors after the crash. Between 50 and 60 sightseers were on the 86th floor observation deck when the crash happened. Fourteen people were killed: Colonel Smith, Staff Sergeant Christopher Domitrovich, and Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate Albert Perna, who was hitching a ride, and eleven civilians in the building including Anna Gerlach.

During flight trials to win a contract from the U.S. Army Signal Corps, pilot Orville Wright and passenger Lt. Thomas Selfridge crashed in a Wright Flyer at Fort Myer, Virginia. Wright was injured, and Selfridge becomes the first passenger to die in an airplane accident. Another image of this crash can be found at: https://www.ancientfaces.com/photo/pilot-orville-wright-plane-crash-kills-lt-selfridg/1204822

Entire crew of B17 Bomber stationed in England, 1944. Father-in-law was ball turret gunner. Entire crew survived 35 missions, many over Nazi Germany. Father-in-law Sgt. Church, 2nd. from right, standing. Awarded Air Medal with 8 OLC.

Mary Webb Nicholson was instrumental in helping Jacqueline Cochran set up a group of American women pilots to ferry airplanes for the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in England during World War II. She herself was thrilled to join the last group of women pilots who went over to participate in the war effort. After initial flight training in Canada, Mary traveled by barge with several other women pilots to England. She was stationed at Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. In May of 1943, shortly after being promoted to Second Officer, Mary was ferrying a Miles Master when, due to mechanical difficulties, the propeller flew off her plane over Worcestershire County. In poor weather conditions, she made an emergency landing in a farm field. Unable to avoid hitting a farm building, Mary's plane crashed and burst into flames. A nearby farmer attempted, unsuccessfully, to rescue her. Mary was the only American woman in the ATA to lose her life in the war.

The crew of the WWII bomber standing co pilot H Ponder from Kansas, mid bombadeer Farrington, ? Brady, lower Jim Robinson(staff Sgt & asst eng), Cordi Abruzzi, George Gabsella, ? Harrison, Walt Wiewiora of Chicago. Plane retired in Charleston, SC, and crew became instructors. Photo taken in Salinas, Kansas.

Charles H. Barrett in his plane. Taken when he was in the Korean Conflict, July 1952

2nd plane

Pilot

This is a photo of Bayard Turner (Gross) Dudley added by Lucinda McLaren on December 27, 2020.

This is a photo of William Gross Dudley added by Lucinda McLaren on December 27, 2020.

Photo of the b-26 when brand new

Photo taken the day before the crash showing 93 missions (they did not have time to paint the 94th bomb on yet.