WENDELL HOLSWORTH BROOKLEY 1896 -1934
	This photo was autographed: To my old instructor, Walter Lees, signed, W.H. Brookley

 

	"I thought you might like to see the photo above, which I believe may show Wendell H. Brookley in the Curtiss CO-X biplane, at the 1923 Liberty Engine Builders Trophy Race, in St. Louis, Missouri, since he was Walter Lee's instructor. However, it appears that Wendell Brookley did not fly this airplane in the air race. As you may know, as it was withdrawn from the air race, after the United States Navy objected to its conversion, before the air race, from a one-seat XPW-8 biplane to a two-seat biplane.      I read that this airplane was previously used, in 1923, by United States Army Lieutenant Russell Lowell Maughan, for two attempted transcontinental flights across the United States of America.      I also obtained another photo from this air race, by the way, of the Vought UO-1, and have used it, along with the information about the air race entries that I found in a newspaper article on your web site, for a web page about the air race, which is at http://roynagl.topcities.com/liberty.htm As I am just now piecing together the facts about the air race, I would welcome any information about its results, if you are aware of them, and I am particularly interested in who won this air race, though I do know who came in third and fourth place!" Photo and text courtesy of Roy Nagl, 2-25-04 Ancient Aviators Website

 

ONLINE RESOURCES      If you search for "Wendel H. Brookley", using the Google search engine, (3-23-04), you will find just five links, including this website. Perhaps the most helpful is the following.

 

Wendell Holsworth Brookley Captain, United States Army Air Service      This page, which Michael Patterson just added, (August 22, 2004), to his Arlington National Cemetery website, offers a very complete and interesting biography of Wendel. In addition, it reports the activities of many of his descendents in honoring his memory. You can access the page by clicking on the title above.

 

1923 SAINT LOUIS INTERNATIONAL AIR MEET      This page on Roy Nagl's website offers a number of important facts regarding Brookley's career. You can access it by clicking on the title above.

 

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION      On August 31, 2001, I received an email from Brian Garry. He explained that he had married Wendell's grandaughter and was seeking more information on her grandfather's career. We would both appreciate any information on this pioneer aviator you would care to submit. Any help that you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

 

RECOMMENDED READING

Product Details Softbound, 202 pgs., 350+ B&W photos, 8½"x 11" Publisher: Aviation Foundation of America ,Inc. List Price: $19.95 "1925-1931. Forden. This is the full history of the Ford Reliability Tour, which was an efficiency contest held every year from 1925 through 1931. Initially called the Commercial Airplane Reliability Tour, they were subsequently promoted as "The Commercial Airplane Reliability Tour for the Edsel B. Ford Trophy", sometimes shortened to the Ford Reliability Tour and later, the National Air Tour. The tour gave airplane builders an opportunity to take their latest models around the country in a well-publicized contest also meant to convince the man on the ground he should take to the air." For more information and to order the book, click on: Ford Air Tours

 

Wendell H. Brookley was Regular Army, veteran of the Great War, still a First Lieutenant when he flew in the 1929 tour. Brookley served with the test group at McCook Field, instructed at Brooks and Kelly.      On February 28, 1934, now a Captain and assigned to Bolling Field, at Washington, Brookley was en route from Middletown, Pennsylbania to Bolting, flying a Douglas BT2-B biplane. This 1931 Basic Trainer was much like the Obvservation ship he'd flown in 1929 except that in place of the old Liberty it was updated with a radial engine and a new kind of propeller.      The prop came apart, the ariplane went out of control, and while Brookley's companion got out in time, Brookley jumped too late: a good man gone to his reward, done in by the newfangled engine and prop. Extract from the book featured above. You may read an online version by clicking on: The Ford Reliability Tours Online

 

Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper

 

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