THOMAS C. BENBOW 1864-1932

T. C. BENBOW, 21 Years of Age Collection of Cebe Hanson, 3-15-04

T. C. BENBOW, 65 Years of Age Collection of Cebe Hanson, 3-15-04

 

	Biography 1864-1932	Montana Meteor 1901-1904	Family Album

EARLY AIRSHIP HISTORY Newsclipping fragment, Perhaps from Billings Gazette      Many who attended the recent dedication of the Columbus airport probably were not aware that nearly sixty years ago this town and the area had received world-wide recognition in the field of science. This was a search for air TRavel in a vehicle that could maintain forward, directed flight with self-applied power. A resident of this are was to make new headlines in the field of aviation for nearly three years.      That man was T. C. Benbow. His invention was a big gasbag, propelled by a motor and directed by rudders - - a forerunner to the "Zeps" of a quarter century later - - coupled with the idea that the proper use of power and wings could finally defy the force of gravity.      As early as 1901 "Chalk" Benbow started work on a model to incorporate his dream. Financing, of course was a major issue, and the cold facts are that he sacrificed his farm homestead on the Stillwater near Absarokee for this project. A year later, however, he had interested friends sufficiently that the American Aerial Navigation Co. was organized with a capital stock of $30,000 naming Pat Lavelle, Columbus, pres. and Geo. Pierson of Red Lodge, secretary-treasurer. $5,000 worth of stock was sold, which permitted Benbow to go east where he joined hands with Prof. Carl Myers, the acknowledged balloon exper in America (and the builder of all balloons used by the government) to develop his airship. So successful were their efforts that on October 28, 1903 at Frankport, New York, a practical and satisfactory flight was made that received nation wide acclaim.      But in telling the whole story of the Benbow airship, let us follow it in chronological order. July 23, 1902 (Billings Gazette) IS SWELLED BY AMBITION      Thomas C. Benbow, the man who sprang into prominence in this part of the world by reason of his invention of an airship, is receiving all kinds of advertising in the east, wher he went some weeks ago to further perfect his flying machine.      Benbow is a struggling rancher in the vicinity of Absarokee. His neighbors there regarded him as being a little on the freak order, but others there were who lived at some.........

 

RECOMMENDED READING     City of Flight : The History of Aviation... The History of Aviation in St. Louis by James J. Horgan The Patrice Press.

 

Thomas Benbow died in 1932 of cancer. Collection of Cebe Hanson, 3-15-04

 

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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