The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-06
RERTACD AND HILL ALWAYS
INTERESTED IN AVIATION

ing MS course.
BERTAUD AND HILL ALWAYS
INTERESTED IN AVIATION
| New York. Sept. 6 to- Lloyd
Wilson Bertaud, copilot and co-navi-
gator VI the New York-to- Rome flight
Of the plane Old Glory, began to ex-
hibit his flying genius when he was
boy. At the age Of l2 he designed
glider and demonstrated il before
his companions. who helped carry
him home with lame back.
Bertaud was born in Alameda, Cal
! Sept. 20, 1896. lie was the son of
Florence Wilson and DR.. Eugene Ber-
taud. His mother was Of Danish
descent and his father Of French
parcntaye. His father died when
Lloyd was two years old, and his
mother married. some years later,
Daniel Callaghan. after which the
family moved 10 San Francisco A
few years later Mr.. Callaghan died.
The family moved back to Alameda.
Left School Early
Because his mother needed his
help. Lloyd left high school ut the
age IT "a and went IT, work as Il
cadet eng ineer. his uncle. Leon Jones.
chief engineer VI the Pacific Gas and
Electric company, getting him Job.
shortly after taking his job. Lloyd
saw Captain Baldwin in a balloon
flight. This changed, his mind abou,
engineering work. He went to Sila,
Christoffcrsen's flying field and took
a course in the rudiments Of flying
ChristOffersen gave young Hcrtaud u
JOB At his lnglesidc Beach field, pay
ing him $50 week for his services
US mechanic. Bertaud accepted only
% Of each weeks pay, and the re-
malnder went for further lessons in
flying. Al the age Of Is. Bertaud
got a pilots license, ut the time he
ing the youngest licensed pilot in
America.
Served During War
Bertaud did the usual transforming
'l,writihg and stunt exhibitions un
til the war broke. when he became a
civilian instructor ut Ashhurn field
Two weeks later. Bertaud enlisted
hoping to get overseas. But he was
assigned to instruction duty, tcachinp
students at the Cornell ground school.
Love Field. Taylor Field, McCook
Field. Boiling Field and Mitchell
Field.
After the war he was mustered out
and joining with Eddie Stinson, now
. plane manufacturer. he "stuntedc
for u short time. Then he became u
test pilot. At the American Legion
air derby at Kansas City in 1920.
Bertaud won the $4,000 and $4,000
speed prizes BY flying his Ansaldo
machine at l72' miles an hour. At
Omaha. the day after this. he won II
$1,000 prize in the Pulitzer races.
With his prize money. Bertaud be-
gan building flying boats.
Became Air Mail Flyer
In 1924. Bertaud Joined the air
mail service, carrying mail between
| Cleveland and New York. He be-
came eligible for membership in the
Caterpillar Club when he descended
in a parachute from his mail plane.
| Early last June, while flying over the
! Allegheny mountains in bad weather
Bertaud saw a house afire ut Miles
burg. Pa. He swooped low. opened
!. his motors SO the roar would attract
! attention, and awakened the villagers
to the fire. His feat almost cost him
dearly. for he was trapped bv the
bad weather and could not find u
pass to fly through. He finally
:, skinned over the mountain tops.
| Ellis 7. Huey, owner Of tn. b.rning
house. afterwards wrote Ber.aud a
letter of thanks. saying he had saved
the lives Of Mrs. Huey. who was i'll
in the house. and her two children.
Bertavd was selected =, "a";.ator
NE Columbia. in VIII Oh Charles A..
Levine and Clarence u. Chambcr Rim
| flew to Germany. Differences arose
between Levine, hacker Of the flight,
md Rertaud. and Levine wen: in
Bertaud's place. BY trick of fate.