TED HEQUEMBOURG ?-1916/17 AKA Hackenberg, Hequemberg and Hequemburg

 

TED HEQUEMBOURG Collection of Walter Lees

 

CURTISS SCHOOL - NEWPORT NEWS Left to Right, Jimmy Johnson, Walter Lees, Stewart (Andrew) Cogswell, Captain Baldwin, Carl Batts, Victor Carlstrom, Ted Heckembourg Collection of Stewart Cogswell Courtesy of Paul Amstutz, 6-28-04

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES from Jo Cooper's book, PIONEER PILOT      In the middle of December 1915, Loa and Walter Lees went to New York City, enroute to Walter's new assignment. They stayed two days at their friend Ted Hequembourg's home, before boarding the boat for Newport News, Virginia.   March 9, 1916, Walter wrote: "Our first baby, Betty, was born March 9, 1916. I was at the station when Aunt Emma called me and said Loa had started to have labor pains and was going to the hospital.      I was so excited, Captain Tom said Ted Hequembourg should fly me there. The hospital was across the street from Hampton Roads. We landed in front of the hospital and nosed the flying boat up on the shore. The tide was in at the time. I rushed into the hospital in my flying clothes, helmet and goggles, demanding, "Where's my wife?"      The nurses looked at me like I was crazy. Loa had not reached the hospital yet."

 

TED DIES IN CRASH from Walter Lees' Journal 1916-1917      "Ted Hequembourg, one of my F boat students, was made an instructor on the F boat when I was transferred to land planes.      One of his students made too sharp a turn in the air, stalled, and the boat dived into the water. Ted received a broken back, the student a broken ankle, no safety belts in any planes in those days. Ted's spinal cord was so badly torn that he never recovered. He only lived for six or eight months."     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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