Robertson Aircraft Corporation: Difference between revisions
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'''Robertson Aircraft Coroporation''' was a American aviation service company based at [[Lambert Field]] near St. Louis, MO, that flew Air Mail and passengers, gave flying lessons, performed exhibition flights, and remanufactured/modified and resold surplus military aircraft (Standards, Curtiss Jennys/Canucks, DeHavilland DH-4's, Orioles, Spads, and others) and engines (OX-5s) beginning in the early 1920's.<ref>{{cite journal|magazine=Aerial Age|date=Septemeber 12, 1921}}</ref> In addition to St. Louis, RAC operated facilities in Kansas City, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, and Fort Wayne. The company was owned and operated by brothers |
'''Robertson Aircraft Coroporation''' was a American aviation service company based at [[Lambert Field]] near St. Louis, MO, that flew Air Mail and passengers, gave flying lessons, performed exhibition flights, and remanufactured/modified and resold surplus military aircraft (Standards, Curtiss Jennys/Canucks, DeHavilland DH-4's, Orioles, Spads, and others) and engines (OX-5s) beginning in the early 1920's.<ref>{{cite journal|magazine=Aerial Age|date=Septemeber 12, 1921}}</ref> In addition to St. Louis, RAC operated facilities in Kansas City, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, and Fort Wayne. The company was owned and operated by brothers Maj. William B Robertson (1893-1943) and Frank H. Robertson (1898-1938) who were both former US Army aviators. |
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[[image:DH-4 airmail.jpg|right|thumb|A Robertson DH-4 used on the CAM-2 route]] |
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[[File:Lindbergh check.jpg|thumb|left|Lindbergh's last RAC paycheck as an Air Mail pilot.]] |
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On April 15, 1926, Robertson Aircraft started Contract Air Mail service over route CAM-2 from Lambert Field to Chicago with [[Charles Lindbergh]] as chief pilot for the service.<ref>{{cite book|title=The roaring twenties|author=Thomas Streissguth}}</ref> RAC started service with four converted DH-4 aircraft (#s 109-112)<ref>{{cite book|title=The Big Jump: Lindbergh and the Great Atlantic Air Race|author=Richard Bak}}</ref> acquired from the U.S. Postal Service's Air Mail fleet two of which were lost in accidents in September and November, 1926, while being piloted by Lindbergh. RAC added service over CAM-29 between St.Louis and Omaha in May 1929.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Putnam Aeronautical Review|author=John Motum}}</ref> |
[[File:Lindbergh check.jpg|thumb|left|Lindbergh's last RAC pay check as an Air Mail pilot.]][[image:DH-4 airmail.jpg|right|thumb|A Robertson DH-4 used on the CAM-2 Air Mail route.]]On April 15, 1926, Robertson Aircraft started Contract Air Mail service over route CAM-2 from Lambert Field to Chicago with [[Charles Lindbergh]] as chief pilot for the service.<ref>{{cite book|title=The roaring twenties|author=Thomas Streissguth}}</ref> RAC started service with four converted DH-4 aircraft (#s 109-112)<ref>{{cite book|title=The Big Jump: Lindbergh and the Great Atlantic Air Race|author=Richard Bak}}</ref> acquired from the U.S. Postal Service's Air Mail fleet two of which were lost in accidents in September and November, 1926, while being piloted by Lindbergh. RAC added service over CAM-29 between St.Louis and Omaha in May 1929.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Putnam Aeronautical Review|author=John Motum}}</ref> |
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On August 1, 1943, a [[Waco CG-4|WACO CG-4A]] military troop and cargo transport glider built under license by RAC crashed at Lambert Field in St. Louis during a demonstration flight when its right wing separated shortly after it had been released at 3,000 feet by its Army C-47 killing all ten on board including St. Louis Mayor [[William D. Becker]], [[William B. Robertson|Maj. William B. Robertson]], and Harold Krueger, both of Robertson Aircraft. Maj. Robertson's then 17-year old son, James, was a passenger in a successful flight of the glider made immediately before the fatal flight.<ref>"Mayor of St. Louis, Other Officials Die in Glider's Plunge" ''The New York Times'', August 2, 1943, p. 1</ref><ref>[http://stltoday.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=807474&CategoryID=23105&view=1"St. Louis Mayor William Becker and nine others were killed on Aug. 1, 1943, when a World War II glider they were riding in plunged and slammed nose first into the ground near the Lambert Airport runway."] Eleven images from ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', stltoday.com</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=To Fly the Gentle Giants: The Training of U.S. WW II Glider Pilots|author=J. Norman Grim}}</ref> |
On August 1, 1943, a [[Waco CG-4|WACO CG-4A]] military troop and cargo transport glider built under license by RAC crashed at Lambert Field in St. Louis during a demonstration flight when its right wing separated shortly after it had been released at 3,000 feet by its Army C-47 killing all ten on board including St. Louis Mayor [[William D. Becker]], [[William B. Robertson|Maj. William B. Robertson]], and Harold Krueger, both of Robertson Aircraft. Maj. Robertson's then 17-year old son, James, was a passenger in a successful flight of the glider made immediately before the fatal flight.<ref>"Mayor of St. Louis, Other Officials Die in Glider's Plunge" ''The New York Times'', August 2, 1943, p. 1</ref><ref>[http://stltoday.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=807474&CategoryID=23105&view=1"St. Louis Mayor William Becker and nine others were killed on Aug. 1, 1943, when a World War II glider they were riding in plunged and slammed nose first into the ground near the Lambert Airport runway."] Eleven images from ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', stltoday.com</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=To Fly the Gentle Giants: The Training of U.S. WW II Glider Pilots|author=J. Norman Grim}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 23:12, 3 October 2011
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| Founded | 1918; Incorporated in Feb. 1921 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Lambert-St. Louis Flying Field, Anglum, MO |
Key people | Maj. William B. Robertson, Frank Robertson and H. H. Perkins |
| Parent | American Airlines |
Robertson Aircraft Coroporation was a American aviation service company based at Lambert Field near St. Louis, MO, that flew Air Mail and passengers, gave flying lessons, performed exhibition flights, and remanufactured/modified and resold surplus military aircraft (Standards, Curtiss Jennys/Canucks, DeHavilland DH-4's, Orioles, Spads, and others) and engines (OX-5s) beginning in the early 1920's.[1] In addition to St. Louis, RAC operated facilities in Kansas City, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, and Fort Wayne. The company was owned and operated by brothers Maj. William B Robertson (1893-1943) and Frank H. Robertson (1898-1938) who were both former US Army aviators.
On April 15, 1926, Robertson Aircraft started Contract Air Mail service over route CAM-2 from Lambert Field to Chicago with Charles Lindbergh as chief pilot for the service.[2] RAC started service with four converted DH-4 aircraft (#s 109-112)[3] acquired from the U.S. Postal Service's Air Mail fleet two of which were lost in accidents in September and November, 1926, while being piloted by Lindbergh. RAC added service over CAM-29 between St.Louis and Omaha in May 1929.[4]
On August 1, 1943, a WACO CG-4A military troop and cargo transport glider built under license by RAC crashed at Lambert Field in St. Louis during a demonstration flight when its right wing separated shortly after it had been released at 3,000 feet by its Army C-47 killing all ten on board including St. Louis Mayor William D. Becker, Maj. William B. Robertson, and Harold Krueger, both of Robertson Aircraft. Maj. Robertson's then 17-year old son, James, was a passenger in a successful flight of the glider made immediately before the fatal flight.[5][6][7]
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco CG-4 (license built) | Template:Avyear | 170 | Combat Glider |
References
- ^ Aerial Age. Septemeber 12, 1921.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Thomas Streissguth. The roaring twenties.
- ^ Richard Bak. The Big Jump: Lindbergh and the Great Atlantic Air Race.
- ^ John Motum. The Putnam Aeronautical Review.
- ^ "Mayor of St. Louis, Other Officials Die in Glider's Plunge" The New York Times, August 2, 1943, p. 1
- ^ "St. Louis Mayor William Becker and nine others were killed on Aug. 1, 1943, when a World War II glider they were riding in plunged and slammed nose first into the ground near the Lambert Airport runway." Eleven images from St. Louis Post-Dispatch, stltoday.com
- ^ J. Norman Grim. To Fly the Gentle Giants: The Training of U.S. WW II Glider Pilots.