Janesville Daily Gazette from Janesville, Wisconsin • Page 10

PAGE TEN. DAILY GAZETTE-TUESDAY. MAY 8, 1951. Jadger Aviation History Are Being Gathered Aid of Participants BIT N' RUN DORA DBEWS tsr Historical Society When a famous militan- ana- tor, CoL Lester J. Maitland.

was 'director of aeronautics, he proposed to the writer that a historj' 'aviation in Wisconsin be com- pUed. No such project has been un dertaken by any other state to date. Books have been written on the general history of a Mon, material has been printed on airline history, a some au- have written about indixid- lUls important to aviation. avistion has been by the services, and flying have charged their -'historians with the accurate Itieeping of records. But all of Hhis material is on one of two Actremes the national or indi- levels; none of it deals -with aviation as developed in a 'larticular state or area.

order to set down the of aviation in Wisconsin the men are still young alert, and active. Carl E. Guell. Vacation consultant for the state commission, and the "Writer are presently gathering together what material they can in hopes of eventually compiling a historj'. Since this is the air age.

it is imporUnt to doca the development of avia -tion on the state level, and the esst tim.e to do this is now. the past two years have seen the laying of for such a history. Mterviews with persons active in aviation have been held; letters have been written and re- Mies received and Jiavs been examined and -tape recordings made; and now, 'for the first time, enough matc- "ftal has been gathered to piece together the first short and accurate account of aviation's beginnings in Wisconsin. Before this can be done on the state level, however, it is nsces- to detail briefly some of the beginnings of aviation on a national level, and to note the influences that extended them celves to the MaiHaad Saw Beacbey. 1913 Like many other boys in the years before World War Lester JIaitland first became interested in aviation when he saw Lincoln Beachey stage an exhibition flight at Milwaukee's State Fair park in 1912.

During the following years, the boy 's interest in fljing was confined to the building of airplane models, the observation of exhibition flights, and an absorbing preoccupation with aviation generallv. It was such a compelling interest that the Riverside high school class prophecy in 1917 good-naturedlv loshed' young Maitland bv saving: "Lester Maitland has risen much higher than any other 1917 graduate. He is known as the most daring aeronaut of the age." Ten years later this prophecy eame true when Maitland was caupulted into national prominener as a result of his piloting a tri-motored Fokker, the "Bird of Paradise," from Oakland, to Honolulu in the first non-stop California-to- Hau'aii flight in history. Maitland was a U.S. army lieutenant at the time, and his co-pilot and navigator was another young army lieutenant.

Albert Hegenberger. After the successful conclusion of the flight, Lt. Maitland was commissioned by Doubleday Ooran to write a book on the history of aviation which was published in 1929. The prologue to Maitland's "Knights of the Air" describes the year 1903 as the greatest year in aviation history-, and details its most significant day in this manner: Morning. Sea gulls weave in circles against low-hanging clouds.

Gray waves roll upon an icy shore. Isolated dunes are dotted with tufts of stringy grass that sigh in the wind. 'Tense, taut, five men stand on the beach. Fhebrains wait to record if two brothers are wise men or fools. Five pair of e.ves are fixed in keen suspense on a thing of wood and canvas perched near the top of a large dune.

One ntan looks at his watch. A hasty does not wish to miss sight of the thing now rushing dovvTi the hill. Ten-2n-40 feet. It leaves the ground. It flies a space of 40 lands, "Twelve seconds tick themselves into historv-.

Man has made his first dynamic flight in a plane under full control. The gulU weave in circles as if nothing had happened. It is Dec. 17. 1903.

From the slope of Kill Devil hill on the mast of N'orth Carolina. Wilbur and Orville Wright have traveled from obscurity to eternal fame in less than a quarter of a Pioneers Called Neurotica First to indulge in "dynamic flight in a plane under full control." the Wrights were not the first to fly, but they were lenders in a-movement lo teach the science of flight. "They foundation for flying." according to "both as a pursuit and as a terrific power of destruction in hours of war." The first army plane ever made was built by them for the United States government in 1908. In the early days persons who maintained that human flight could be accomplished were not regarded as prophets but as neurotics. who had in balloons were un "bal- lunatics." Believers in the pracii- calitv of flying machines were victims of "aerophobia." Even Professor Langley.

one of America's leading scientists, was made a laughing-stock because he foresaw the "universal highway of the air." today's alnvavs. And the Wright brothers, when they were actually making flights of from 15 to 20 miles, were regarded as a pair of Don Quixotes who had taken to flying windmills hwtead of fighting them: AH during those early years it was a case of the world simply declining to believe its eyes. Up lo World War I aviation development, after its birth, was At first people were skeptical of this new type of transportation. Then they went overboard for it. and for a period from 1908 on there ensued a stage of feverish sen.sationalism induced by an orgy of aviation thrills that intrigued the public.

In the days before World War I aviation's ordor of the dav was chiefly exhibition flights. Recklessness was rampant, pilots took all sorts or chances and death was their ro-pilot. War I Boomed Aviation World War I did more for aviation, during fhe it ran its course, than might have been done during decades of peace. It moved aviation at least half a century ahead. And during a.s well as after it another Wisconsin aviator emblazoned his name on the pages of history for his advocacy of a strong militarv air William "Billy" Mitchell of Milwaukee.

After this war the scope of aviation broadened, and with the flights of 1927 and 1928 a general interest developed nationally which grew into approval and'supporl. Airlines were organized with the development of sturdier and laid the I larger and more flyahle aircraft. transportation by air to be accepted as a matter of cour.se. Then came World War If and still other Wisconsin sons flew their way into national prominence, among them being Gen. Hoyt S.

Vandrnburg. now chief of staff. United air force. Gen. Nathan Twining.

Monroe, present I'SAF vice chief of staff, MaJ. Richard I. Bong. Poplar, ace-pilot, and fJie U.S. navv's Vice Adm.

Marc Mitscher. Hillsboro. Meanwhile. In Wisconsin a number of "aviation pioneers" were developing their interest In flight, all apparently converted' to flying by the famous, hyper- daring, super-skilled daredevil pi-; lot, Lincoln Beachey. who flew many an exhibition at Wisconsin county fairs and carnivals.

Earliest of these pioneers to come to our attention was John who built a fragile glider-type' aircraft of bamboo struts and varnished cloth st Wausau In, THE MOST outstanding appliance value of a ade! West Bend's beautifiil Flavo-matic percolator is fully you just can't help maldng the finest coffee ever. And its beautiftil Styling in rich double-thick aluminum with euy-potxring spout adds luxury to the simplest Keeps coffee hot servmgl setting. See it here today! -k One year guarantee! Brews coffee to perfect flavoi every time! Full 6 to 8 cup capacity! This Would Make An Ideal Gift for Mother on MOTHER'S DAY Sunday. May 13 JANES VILLE DIAL 6400 ROY'S APPLIANCE STORE "Your General Electric Dealer" BELorr, WIS. COLLEGE 241S 1909.

He learned to fly this plane by having an automobile tow it over the ground until it reached a rise and achieved free flight. Later. Schwister installed a small gas engine with a pusher prop in the craft and flew it often, ing fairways of fhe town's golf course as his runway. S. Knox Kreufzer, Evansfon.

a native of Wau.sau, has told us: "ScJiwis- first flight over fhe city was on a Sunday morning a big event at Wau.sau." performance at IM Cmsse Wendell McEIdowney of West Salem has said that he was first sold on flying when he saw Beachey do slow rolls over the Interstate fairgrounds grandstand at I JI Crosse in September. 1911. And his interest increa.sed to action in fhe fall of 191.T when an 18-year-oId farmer boy by the name of Selmer Gjcstvang re- questefi his help in building an airplane. McEIdowney was running a garage at that time a.s well as his canning factory. The local newspaper for April 28.

1916. commented: "If you a of men at McEldowney's garage like flies on a hou.se door, don't think there is a fire or that Wendell is giving away autos. It's iu.st the Gjcstvang aeroplane being ptit in shape for flight." Eventually that airplane flew, after a variety of interesting difficulties, and eventually, too, young Gjestvang flew for the VS. army over Europe in Wortd Waf I. McEIdowney has confinuefl his interest in aviation to this day and the fine brand of peas his factory is called "Aviator" and features' ISAF and CAP wings on thei label.

I Other Wi.scon.sin aviation pio-: necrs include Dick Lutz of Osh kosh who with Florian bought a a in Texas after World War I and barnstormefl for "money and the fun of it." Among their pa.ssengers was C. L. Smith, now president of American Airlines. Lutz later was one of the organizers of the OshVosh Air()ort predecessor of todays fine airport in that city presently operated by Steve Wittman. aeronau- tiral inventor and racing pilot.

AJadison saw Howard liow of fhe st.ite aero- nautjcf commission, develop its first airport and establish the area's flying school. Milwaukee air pioneers were Jim and Ed Knaup, Gillis Meisen heimer, Archie and Buck Layton. Monte Warshauer and Stuart Auer. Jules Bernt operated at Su perior, Nick Rovvinski and Sfevo Shellbieck at Rhinclander, Carlyle Godske af Racine, and Hugh McLaren at Tomahawk. Archie Towie took over at Wausau.

Frank Muth became active in La Crosse, and the Conant brothers of Westfieid were star barnstormers. The first Industrial organisa- tkiiw within the slate to make iwe of an airplane for company business were the Parker Pen Co. of at tlie direction of Kenneth Parker, former navy pilot, and the N'e- koosaPnrt HdMards Paper whose tri-motored Ford was railed The famous Hamilton propel- lor was originated and manufactured for awhile by Tom Hamilton In a ramshackle hangar property that is now a part of Milwau'KCe's General Mitchell field. In Fond du Lac T. W.

Meiklejohn was busy manufacturing his Pheasant Aircraft, and in Manitowoc fhe Invincible Airplane Co. was in operation. Green Bsy was also a center of aviation interest, there being organized there in July. 1919, the first heav- ierthanair "Aero Club" in the state, using as its means of flight an old Curtiss Jenny. Wiscon.sin has many things of which to be proud, but her attention to the beginnings of aviation have strengthened her vanguard position.

The efforts of the intrepid men and women who risked criticism by hitching their intere.st to aviation's new star, and have spared no effort lo help it on Its way. have done Mac Orders Plane Returned to U. S. Defense Dept. New Douglas MacArthur said Monday he had ordered the return of his four- engined airplane, "Bataan," to the defense department, because he feels it is "no longer appropriate" for him to keep it.

He made the announcement through MaJ. Gen. Courtney Whitney, his "A great plane, a great crew, a great pilot. As it flies out of my life, I feel I am losing of inestimable old friend." Lt. Col.

Anthony Story is MacArthur's personal pilot. Whitney said he did not know whether Story would remain with MacArthur. Whitney said MacArthur regarded his Washington appearance as "his final official act." Two-Story Falls Injures Schoolboy' Milwaukee Patrolman Theodore Kreil ju.st happened to elance up at Mother of Good Counsel school as he drove past Monday. Then he slammed on his brakes and ran for the school- vard. Clinging to a second-floor window sill was Michael McCarthy, 3.

As Kriel ran for the school, Michael's fingers slipped and he fell 15 feet ttnhe lawn. His right leg was fractured. The lad, a third-grade pupil, said he was alone in the rocm before school started. He had felt 111 and went to the window for air. Police guessed he leaned out too far.

He was taken to County Emergencj' hospital. much to establish Wisconsin In aviation's hall of fame and thereby bring worldwide acclaim to their home state. ft Of course you can afford a Three models to $179.9.5. Easy tetiiM. Liberal trade-in.

them todayf KRUEGER'S 'trttrthint in Floor Cortien" 115 E. Mllw. St. Mai A Practical Gift for Mother's Day Sunday, May The BETSY ROSS MIMIATURE ELECTRIC SEWING NIACHINE ALSO DOMESTIC SEWMACHINES Made by American Craftsman for Over Years American Academy Award Winner PRICED AT $84.95 $249.95 Choice of Walnut, Mahogany or Maple Cabineta. SEE OUR FREE DEMONSTRATION THIS WEEK! MAIL THIS COUPON TODAY aor-s aepuA.NcE.

W. Mn jA wnd Ih" Miniaturf EW-lrir Swinjr xt $14.98. I m- TiOc down paxtwrf to balanre at SOr w'Wkly. NAMR Aonaiisa rrrr arATC JANESVILLE DIAL 6400 ROY'S APPLIANCE STORE "your General Electric Dealer'' 1 ROY'S lANCEj Natural Resouices Group Is Assured Under Signed Bill Stout Institute teachers. Authorize the govemor'aiVin.

mission on human rights ko cept Provide for suspension a driver's license if a ment for more than $100 is un. paid. rs Dr. George Gutmann the speaker at the dinner ing of the Y's Men's p. m.

Tuesday in the yjtC.A. cafeteda. His topic will bfTha Role of Modem Madia Creation of a natural resources committee in Wi.sconsin wa.s as.sured terms of a bill signed into law by Governor Kohler Monday. The bill was one of 20 signed by fhe chief executive. The committee wiW be composed of the governor, representatives of the legislative council, public and conservation commissions, department of agriculture, board of health and other agencies.

The group will co ordinate efforts of the state in regulating and protecting resources. The committee will make recommendations to the legislature. Other bills signed will: Require that official oaths conclude with the words, "So help me God." Provide permanent tenure for BOYS! GIRLS! King S'ne Album Sfyle PHOTO FINISHING YAGLA 7te17 Have you entered the EASY- Milk Jug Dairy FRESH contest? Thera's-still plenty of time and GOOD chance for you to- wih one of the many great prizes! Don't your entiy- in today. See your nearect- MILK JUG dealer tails. Contest closes midnight May 27th.

This Week's Specials! Car of New HEMLOCK BOARDS AND SHIPLAP ON TRACKS Lowesf Pricesf Get Ready for Spring! WINDOW SCREENS Galvanized Wire Nearly AQ Popular Sizes CMvaniied wire will be scarce, now while we have In stock! Roofing Repoirs Repeir Leeks! Why take chanires! Let us put roar roof in top shape for sprlns raiiui. Sstisfatrtion euaranteed! Asbestos Roo-f Were NOW $1000 IM Sq. Ft Asbestos SHINGLES $795 IM Sq. Ft; (Slightly ImperfecU Large Stock of BUILDING PAPER 500 Square Foot Rolls UM S900 NOW Larce Stock of Xo. 1 Grade Fiberglas and Rock Wool Bknket liisulafion Full Tliick.

6c Sq. Ft Dial 3385 for Your REAPY-MIX CONCRETE ORDERS For Prompt Delivery ADAMS 411 N. MAIN ST. COMPANY DIAL 3385 BELorr, WIS. COLLEGE 241S OPEN DAILY.