EDWARD A. STINSON, JR. 1894-1932 AKA Eddie Stinson

Maj. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois - Right Eddie Stinson - Left This picture taken in 1916, San Antonio Texas Foulois was a Captain at that time Stinson was killed in crash in Chicago, Ill - 1932 Photo from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky

 

Eddie Stinson

Eddie Stinson & Family Group via email from Midge Simonds, 8-16-06       Early in 1919, June 5th in Atlantic City, NJ, pilot Eddie Stinson and my family. Left to right: W.G. Ellison (my father), Ola Bryce Ellison (my aunt), T.W.Ellison (my uncle), Eddie Stinson (pilot), Eva Ellison (my great aunt), Jeanie Ellison (my great grandmother), John Ellison (my grandfather)       My uncle T.W. Ellison (Pep) spoke of the thrill he had that day in June of 1919 and that he always thought of Mr. Stinson as a hero in his life. Just thought you might be interested in the attached old photo. Midge Simonds

 

Adm. Richard E. Byrd & Eddie Stinson via email from Gordon Nuzum, 6-22-07 hello,       I was looking at this (http://www.earlyaviators.com/estinsed.htm) web page and found it very helpful. I have a picture of admiral Byrd and Eddie Stinson as the smiling man beside the admiral, see the attached pictures. I believe this is just before Stinson died. Can you confirm that this is in fact Stinson. I have not seen pictures of him from the 30s.       I got this picture in an auction of old photographs here in New Zealand. Actually, I was not really interested in it and was wondering why others were. Now that I have read the back and realize who it is, I understand why I had to pay so much for the lot. Best regards, Gordon Editor's Note:I thank Gordon for sharing this wonderful picture with us. I have no doubt that it is Eddie and is the only picture I have seen of him just before his tragic death. I can't guess who the lady is. If you can help, please contact me.

 

Stinson Dies of Injuries from Crash on Test Flight. Three Others Injured When Plane Strikes Pole in Maneuvers Knoxville Journal, Knoxville, Tennessee: Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1932, Transcribed by Bob Davis - 5-30-04 Chicago, Jan 26 (AP) - Edward A. (Eddie) Stinson, 38, pioneer American airman, died this morning of injuries received in a plane he was demonstrating, crashed in Jackson park.       Eddie Stinson, dean of aviators, was reported near death from an accident in a plane in which he and four other men were making a test flight crashed in Jackson Park. Clark Field of Kalamazoo, Mich., John Tompkins of East Chicago, Ind., and Frederick Gillies, of Chicago, other occupants of the plane, were less seriously injured. Strikes Flag Pole       The plane, a huge Stinson-Detroiter brought here late today from the Stinson plant at Wayne, Mich., developed motor trouble while over Lake Michigan, a short distance off shore. It struck a flag pole, shearing off the right wing, when Stinson endeavored to maneuver it to a safe landing on the park golf course.       By a strange trick of fate, Stinson, whose career was replete with perilous flying exploits during the pioneering stage of aviation, met his first serious accident in an era when the hazards of flying had been reduced to a minimum.       Beginning his career at the old Kinloch field, in St. Louis, where he was taught by his sister, Catherine, Stinson obtained a position as test pilot on "Jennie" planes - described by him as little more than crates.       His most breath-taking adventure occurred when he tried out one of the planes in New York, a few months later. At an altitude of several thousand feet, the plane dropped an aileron and part of the landing gear. Unable to land the plane in a straight-away, and his gasoline supply quickly becoming depleted, Stinson headed the ship towards a railroad right of way, nosed it down to the embankment, then made an angular landing that kept the damaged wing from dragging, and thus averted death. Stinson has the distinction of having spent more than 14,000 hours in the air - more than any other man in the history of aviation, according to the records of the "aeronautique internationale." Greatest of Flyers       For the 20 years he has been in aviation, he has flown nearly 1,500,000 miles, the equivalent of 60 times around the world. He has held numerous endurance records. Yet in all his flying, the "Ace" never used a parachute or suffered injury until tonight's crash.       During the World war, he was in charge of student flying at Kelly field, where he trained thousands of pilots for overseas combat. At the conclusion of the war, he founded the Detroit-Stinson company, which later was acquired by the Cord corporation.       He built the trans-Atlantic planes of Ruth Elder and George Haldemann; the globe-circling ships of Billie Brock and Eddie Schlee, and numerous others. He was adverse to trans-Atlantic flights, however, and described them as "stunting."       "Land planes have not reached the state of perfection when such flights can be made safely, and, until that time comes, trans-Atlantic attempts should not be undertaken. Of course, it was such an exploit that gave us Lindberg," he said, "but they are stunts and, as such, they are a detriment to aviation."       Stinson, the brother of Catherine, Marjorie and Jack, also famous fliers, was born in Fort Wayne, Ala., in 1894. He entered aviation before he was 20 years of age and ahs been engaged in the business either as test pilot, instructor or designer since. He was retained as president of the Detroit-Stinson company by the Cord corporation.

 

MY FATHER ATTEMPTED TO SAVE EDDIE Personal communication from Rick Hendricks       "My father, Walter A. Hendricks (Walt), was in Jackson Park that fateful day, and was first at the scene of the crash. Indeed, my father actually pulled Mr. Stinson from the wreckage in an effort to save his life. I had heard this story from childhood, how my father had attempted in vain to rescue a pioneer of aviation in Jackson Park in January of 1932."       To read his whole fascinating story of the event, click on the title above.

 

ED STINSON & GLENN MESSER Ed worked with EB Glenn Messer For the whole story, click on: Edward A. Stinson You may want to use the "Find" function on "Stinson"

 

Edward A. Stinson, Jr. died in 1932 From The Early Birds of Aviation Roster of Members January 1, 1993   Editor's Note: If you have any information on this Early Bird, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper   Back