Evening star., 1930-12-02
A|RMA|L PIONEERS
FORM ASSOCIATION
Little Known Feats of Vet
eran Pilots to Be Perpet-
uated in History of Service.

Little known feats of the pioneers of
airTnan service in this country. who
paved the way, often at the cost Of their
lives, for modern air transport, will be
perpetuated by the United States AIR
mail Pioneers Association, formal or
ganization of which was announced
here today.
The organization, which will be de-
voted to the promotion of aviation, the
memorialization of the early airmail
days and to social gatherings of those
instrumental in establishing airmail
service, soon will publish history, now
being completed, of the inception and
growth Of airmail service in the United
States. Files Of the Post ONCE Depart
naent and War Department containing
hitherto unpublished records of scores
Of thrilling experiences of pilots in the
early days of the service have been
searched for material for this history,
which Is being written by George l..
Conner Of this city, first chief clerk Of
the airmail service in the Post ONCE
Depaytment.
EOgGTVUn IS EECSlUCAlLs
Oficers Of the association are James
G. Edgerton, president; Col. Paul Hen
derson, vice president; Carl F. Egge,
vice president, and George L. Conner,
ecretary-treasurer. Mr.. Edgerton was
the first airman pilot in the world TO
complete a scheduled flight, which he
made. between New York and the Ma
tional Capital May is, 1918. Col. Hen
derson was former Second Assistant
Postmaster General in charge Of air
mail and was instrumental in bringing
about the first civil airnail service.
Mr.. Egge was the first superintendent OF
airmail in the Post ONCE Department.
Members of the executive board CT
the association include four former
Postmasters General, who took part in
pioneering the airmail system-A. S.
Burleson, Will H. Hays, DR.. Hubert
Work and Harry F. New-Col. Edward
A Deeds, chairman of the executive
board of United Aviation, who was in
charge of the first airmail service in the
country, when it was established by
the Army Air Service: Col. Henderson.
Prof Alexander Klemin, Guggenheim
professor Of aeronauticS at New York
University, who was first chief engineer
Of the airmail service when it was
operated by the Post ONCE Department;
John F. Victory, secretary OF the Ma
tional Advisory Committee for Aero
nautics, who assisted in an advisory
capacity in the Inauguration Of air
mail service; James A. Edgerton, then
purchasing agent of the Post Office De-
partment, who purchased the first air
mail plane and equipment owned by
the Government; Representative Clyde
Kelly Of Pennsylvania, father of vir-
tually all airmail legislation enacted
during the early days, and former Rep
resentattve Bascom Slemp Of Virginia,
first chairman of the subcommittee on
postal appropriations to handle air
mail funds. One or two other mem
bers are to be added to the board.
Local Chapter Planned.
Creation of a local chapter Of the
association is planned. There are more
than a score Of pioneers in the Ma
tional Capital eligible for membership
in the chapter, among them such fa-
nous pilots as Paul r. DOG" Collins
and Jim" Murray, both Of whom have
put In approximately 5000 flying hours
apiece, and Charles I. Stanton, one of
the first Post once Department pilots
and airmail executives.
Temporary headquarters for the as
aociation have been opened In Edger-
toms once, room 1895, National Press
Building.
The new association is the result Of
the first reunion Of airmail pilots, held
at the New York Air Show last May,
during which official Washington Joined
forces with the aircraft industry to do
honor to the pioneers Of the service.