CARL ERDMAN

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE via email from Mike O'Neal, April 14, 1998      Edward Ralph Kenneson was born 4 November 1894 in Somerville, Massachussetts. He learned to fly at the School of Aeronautics at Newport News, Va. October 1916 and earned his license there on 2 December 1916. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the regular Army and was assigned to Fort Monroe on 18 Dec 1916.      He was detailed to Princeton as the chief instructor in April 1917. Kenneson oversaw much of the original organization of the Corps at Princeton including the construction of the hangers, and surrounding buildings and the construction of the four newly arrived JN-4B's.      Kenneson gave most of the cadets their first ride. His fiancé lived in Hamilton Square, NJ, just a short flying distance from the field. Carl Erdman, who was one of Kenneson's students recalled that Kennson would fly over his fiances home and loop the Jenny. According to Erdman, there were no fatal results except Kennesons "marriage to the occupant".   This brief biographical sketch has been generously supplied by Mike O'Neal. Mike has been compiling a complete history of the Princeton group since around 1980. Over the last few years, he has interviewed many of the families and writes that he is glad he waited just a bit longer to start writing the "final" product. If you have more information or photos of this pioneer aviator, we would love to hear from you.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE via email from Mike O'Neal, April 14, 1998 Dear Ralph:      Bob Southee may have mentioned it, but I have been compiling a complete history of the Princeton group since around 1980. Over the last few years I have found more of the families and so am glad I waited just a bit longer to start writing the "final" product. As I mentioned, I was fortunate to speak with Charlie Grant before he died, but also interviewed George Vaughn and Carl Erdman of the corps. I've located families for another 8 or 10 pilots and have been fortunate to have access to their photo albums and other papers. One fellow loaned me his father's diary for 1917 which included a nearly day by day account of the activities at the field.      As you might expect, the story is full of great adventures, interesting characters and poignant moments. It really has been interesting to "visit" this time almost to the point of knowing the group personally.With any luck, the text will be through by years end, but will probably run into the new year. I want to finish before the sons and daughters are too old to appreciate the results of what has been essentially their efforts ! Well, enough of that rambling. I'll put together a better description of the corps and forward it with the photos. Feel free to use the one I've already sent in the interim if you like and although I will try to keep the follow on short, if it runs long, please don't be squeamish about editing it for length.      I'd be interested in anything you might run across regarding the instructors - Kenneson, Stanton, Culver of course or Gilbert Eckstrom. Until then, Best Regards, Mike ONEALM@DNB.COM

 

ONLINE RESOURCES      If you search for "Carl Erdman" +aviation, using the Google search engine, (1-4-05), you will find about four links. Two of them refer to stories which are found on my Pioneer Pilot website. I have added them to this page above for your convenience. The other two links are not relevant.

I have no information as to the dates of his birth or his death.   If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper

 

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