Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-08
BORDER DRAWS
NOTED PILOTS
Airmen Of Brownsville Port
Have Seen Many Years
OF Service

The Mexican border, ever attrac-
tive to those in whom the spirit of
adventure burns, has brought to the
Brownsville municipal airport an
assemblage of noted pilots whose
biographies would read like fiction,
and whose adventurous careers have
taken them to the four corners of
the world.
Among the pilots flying planes
from the municipal airport are men
who fought the German squadrons
on the western front; who have pi-
loted planes in the skies of Asia,
Africa, Europe and almost every
country on the western hemisphere.
They are a keen-eyed, alert: men
Of quick decision, unqueStioned
courage; who in the hum-drum of
commercial flying find vent for that
spirit Of adventure and conquest
which led them, years ago to take
up the profession of aviation.
Among them are men whose chris
grown grey in the service of the air;
men who clambered into the cock
pits and manipulated the controls
Of the earliest type Of heavier than
air machines. That they survived
the experience is in itself a tribute
to their skill.
Among trem ire men wrose chris
tening in the air service was under
the shell fire of German guns; 9TH
ers received their earliest training
in the days of the transformer
and there is not one who has not
encountered in a full measure the
adventures and thrills which fall to
the lot Of the plane pilot.
Major B. A. Law, president of the
Brownsville International Aviation
school, is dean of the Brownsville
pilots. Formerly in the army air
service, commander of Ellington
Field at Houston, he has served over
u years in the United States and
on the western front in France. As
ISOLATED with him is Hughie Rusch-
enberg, with a record Of sever years
in the commercial service, who now
is chief instructor pilot Of the
school. Kenneth Matthews, stu
| dent pilot, also is secretary-treasur-
er of the school.
With the Universal Air Lines,
making headquarters here, is Cap
tain Robert Rentz and C. r. Sim
clair. both old-time war pilots with
many years Of continuous service,
and with the Kenyon Transporta-
ton Co. Is r. S. Riggs. who has had
sever years in the commercial air
service and is rated as one of the
most experienced pilots.
Les Mauldin. manager of the air
port, also is a pilot. During the
war he served as a mechanic in the
air service, and shortly after Sc
cured his pilots license. -Four years
Of transforming" in Mexico is in
cluded in his aerial experience.
Pilots for the International Air
Transportation Co., with headquar-
ters here, are Captain Ralph Stone,
eX-army pilot who has seen consid-
cradle foreign service and James
Mattern, Stimson factory pilot, who
has had years Of experience in army
and commercial flying. He served
for some time in China.
Captain Lyle w. Throw, former
armv pilot with war service, and
E. c. Bowe. commercial pilot with
years Of experience, are handling
the Mexican Aviation Co. planes
from the Brownsville port. They
will fly the Mexican and American
air mail planes from Brownsville to
the Mexican capital.
Charles Leche, former army pilot
is commander Of an "Air King"
plane operating from the local air
port. and A. D. burst. who learned
the trick" in England, is plotting a
Curtis Robin for c. A. Neitert. Rob
ert Guerrant. who does general or
mercial flying. has had six years
experience and was co-piIot with
Captain Medraza. on the Mexican
good will flight over the South last
year.