Roscoe Turner
Roscoe Turner (September 29, 1895 – June 23, 1970) was a record-breaking American aviator who was a three-time winner of the Thompson Trophy air race and widely recognized by his flamboyant style and his pet, Gilmore the Lion.He developed interests and skills in repairing, constructing and experimenting with mechanical objects, including horse-drawn wagons, large kites, motorcycles, and eventually, automobiles.In October 1919, Turner went into partnership with Harry J. Runser, who had already been barnstorming with a Canuck biplane, a Canadian version of the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, and who needed someone to act as mechanic, wing-walker and parachutist.He added a silver winged brooch of his own design with the monogram "RT" in the center, a fancy belt, and grew a waxed mustache to accentuate his toothy smile.[8] In early 1925, via a lease purchase agreement, and with sponsorship of the Curlee Clothing Company, The Roscoe Turner Aeronautical Corporation acquired the sole Sikorsky S-29-A, a twin-engine biplane with enclosed cabin for about 16 passengers plus open cockpit for the pilot.In early 1928, Turner flew the S-29-A to California, for its conversion to a representation of a German Gotha bomber, under a lease agreement with film company Caddo Productions that was controlled by Howard Hughes.During this period, around 1928, Turner and his wife Carline became involved in Hollywood society, including movie executives, politicians and famous actors, all combined with aviation and publicity for all concerned.The flights failed to break the records, but brought publicity for Turner, Nevada Airlines, and the concept of transcontinental passenger services.Turner saw a lion cub advertised for sale in California, and persuaded the owner Louis Goebel to donate it to him in return for promoting his lion-breeding farm.On May 27, 1930, Turner flew the Air Express from Roosevelt Field to Grand Central Airport in 18:42:30 hours, breaking the east–west transcontinental airspeed record.On November 14, 1932, Turner flew the Model 44 from Floyd Bennett Field, New York, to Burbank in 12:33 hours, breaking the east–west transcontinental airspeed record set by Frank Hawks.In 1933 Turner upgraded his Model 44 again with a 1000 hp supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet engine, painted gold overall, and sponsored by Heinz and Macmillan Ring-Free Motor Oil.He then returned to Cleveland, and won the Thompson Trophy after the Model 44 flown by Doug Davis crashed fatally while leading the race.[19] In 1933, Turner learned of plans to organize what became known as the MacRobertson Air Race, to be run from London, England to Melbourne, Australia, in October 1934.The next destination was Allahabad, one of the five compulsory refueling stops, but at the calculated arrival time, the aircraft was in darkness and the crew could not see the expected lights of a city.Further stops were made at Alor Setar, Singapore, Koepang, Timor, and Darwin, where they learned that the de Havilland DH.88 flown by C. W. A. Scott had already landed at Melbourne with a time of 71 hours.They set out for Melbourne, but further engine oil problems led to a forced landing at Bourke, New South Wales, where they made minor repairs.[21] For much of 1935, Turner publicized many products and causes, including Boeing Model 80, United Airlines, Heinz foods, Camel cigarettes, Motor Glide scooters, Macmillan Oil, and the National Safety Council.On September 2, 1935, in the Thompson Trophy race, his Model 44 suffered engine failure, but Turner made a safe dead-stick landing.[22][23] In late August 1936, Turner departed Burbank in his Wedell-Williams Model 44 (NR61Y) bound for New York from where the Bendix Trophy race was due to start.On September 3, 1937, fuel leaks and consequent repairs caused Turner to miss the start of the Bendix Trophy race from Burbank to Cleveland."[31][1] In 1939, Turner hosted the youth oriented radio program Sky Blazers, sponsored by Wonder Bread, which featured dramatizations of the exploits of adventurous aviators.[32][1] In November 1939, Turner and two partners purchased the stock of Central Aeronautical Corporation (CAC), that offered aircraft sales and services at Indianapolis Municipal Airport.He campaigned for the establishment of an air force separate from the US Army, and proposed the use of "flivver" planes for national defense, converted from small private aircraft.After the US joined World War II, in December 1941, Turner continued to campaign on many aviation issues, but his personal and business ideas and proposals were repeatedly turned down by the government and the Army Air Force.It closed in 1972, and in 1976 the contents were transferred to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum,[1] where the exhibits include the Boeing 247 that Turner flew in the MacRobertson Race.Actor and animal trainer Raymond Ducasse portrayed Turner in the 2004 motion picture The Aviator about the life and career of Howard Hughes.
Corinth, MississippiIndianapolisIndianaFlight at MidnightHarmon TrophyNational Aviation Hall of FameMotorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaTranscontinental airspeed recordMacRobertson Air RaceBendix TrophyThompson TrophyUnited StatesUnited States ArmyFirst LieutenantWorld War IDistinguished Flying CrossGilmore the LionLake Central AirlinesAllegheny AirlinesUS AirwaysMemphis, TennesseeSignal CorpsAmerican LegionForty and EightFreemasonsShrinersbarnstormingCurtiss JN-4 JennyRoyal Air ForcejodhpursAvro 504Calvin CoolidgeStandard J-1Breguet 14Sheffield, AlabamaHoward HughesGreta NissenSikorsky S-29-AHell's AngelsBallistic Recovery SystemsLockheed VegasBishopTonopahLas VegasBebe DanielsNational Air Racesair racingTimm AircoachShell Oil Companytranscontinental airspeed recordsFrank HawksHarold GattyGovernor of NevadaFred B. Balzaraide de campGovernor of CaliforniaJames RolphGilmore Oil CompanyGeneral Tire & Rubber CompanyLockheed Air ExpressPratt & Whitney R-1690 HornetPratt & Whitney R-1340 WaspNACA cowlingSocony-Vacuum Oil CompanyLouis GoebelBeverly HillsstuffedSmithsonian InstitutionRoosevelt FieldGrand Central AirportJimmy WedellWedell-Williams Model 44Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp JuniorBurbank, CaliforniaFloyd Bennett FieldMelbourneBoeing 247Clyde PangbornBill LearHambleHeston AerodromeRAF Martlesham HeathRAF MildenhallAthensBaghdadAllahabadAlor SetarSingaporeKoepang, TimorDarwinde Havilland DH.88C. W. A. ScottCharlevilleBourke, New South WalesDouglas DC-2National Air and Space MuseumBoeing Model 80National Safety CouncilBen HowardHoward DGA-6Flagstaff, ArizonaWorks Progress AdministrationPratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin WaspBrown Aircraft Co.Matty LairdTurner-Laird RT-14 MeteorUdvar-Hazy annexOaklandPorterfield Aircraft CorporationFirestone Tire and Rubber CompanyKellogg'sChampion spark plugsWonder BreadIndianapolis Municipal AirportFixed-Base OperatorWorld War IICivilian Pilot Training ProgramWeir Cook Municipal AirportCold WarCongressRoscoe Turner AirportInternational Order of CharactersCharles Gates, Jr.Gates Rubber CompanyLearjetBeechcraft Corporation