Gallery 10, EARLY BIRDS OF AVIATION
1932 TO 1993
 

These photos present incidents in Walter's career which I think are interesting and informative.Conspicuous among them are six photos related to the Early Birds of Aviation. Much of the text and many of the photos on my site are taken from the CHIRP, the journal of the Early Birds. THE EARLY BIRDS Membership shall be limited to those who piloted a glider or airplane, gas balloon or airship prior to December 17, 1916, upon evidence deemed sufficient by the Membership Committee and approved by the Board of Governors, except: Nationals of countries other than the United States engaged in World War I must have met the foregoing conditions prior to August 4,1914.   THE FIRST EARLY BIRD MEETING       So frequently we are asked: who attended the first EB meeting, where was it held, and when? You might also like to have this information, so here we are listing below the time, place, attendance, and officers on that first occasion.       The meeting was held in Chicago on that famous date in history---December 17, 1928---*the 25th anniversary of the first Wright flight at Kittyhawk. On hand and elected to membership were:

*Ernie Jones *Capt. Horace Wild L. A. Vilas *Richard H. Depew, Jr. *Ivan J. Gates *Col. Chas. deF. Chandler

Capt. J. F. deVillard *Anthony H. B. Fokker Dr. H. W. Walden Chas. Dickerson Marjorie Stinson P. G. B. Morris

Members elected to office were as follows: *P. G. B. Morris, President Gen. Benjamin Foulois, Vice President *Anthony H. G. Fokker, Vice President Jean F. DeVillard, Vice President Lt. Col. Holden C. Richardson, Treasurer *Ernest L. Jones, Secretary Governors *Richard H. Depew, Jr.            Dr. Henry W. Walden Raffe Emerson            *Walter Brookins *Earle Ovington The asterisks indicate those who have passed away---a vivid example of how the ranks are thinning. From The Early Birds CHIRP, JULY, 1956, Number 54   Click on Thumbnail to Enlarge Picture & View Text

 

Early Birds Meeting Detroit, 1932	EB's President William E. Scripps, 1934	Early Birds Toast Curtiss in Detroit, 1935	Early Birds, at Cleveland October, 1939	Early Birds at Fowlers in San Jose, 1939

Early Bird Meeting Los Angeles, 1956	Early Bird Meeting Rockton, IL, 1969	Early Bird's 57th Annual Reunion Los Angeles, 1985	Early Bird Plaque September, 1993

Gallery 10, Miscellaneous, 1931 TO 1941

Captain Woolson's Plaque Summer, 1931	Capt. Ben Reisweber, 1932	Gen. Billy Mitchell Wheel Memento 1932	Walter Lees Packard Hall of Precision January, 1933	Ralph de Palma Packard Hall of Precision January, 1933

Air Veteran Hails Junior Birdmen, 1934	Correspondence with WACO, 1934	Junior Birdmen of America September, 1935	Scintilla Magneto Division, Bendix Corporation 1935	Caterpillar Club Members Early Birds, 1935

 
Gallery 9 Gallery 11