Evening star., 1953-04-17
By w. H. Shippen

Lie OAdpC1O SC1A1 OPCl dGc dS
a father -and-son team, although
their paths lie far apart.
William G. Draper may be
taking off any time on short
notice for distant, secret des-
tinationS, while his father, James
D. Draper. has put overseas
service behind him.
The elder Draper, a veteran
of both world wars, has settled
down in Silver Spring, Md, to
build up his real estate business.
Yet he is never too busy to miss
an entry in his log of "Billy's'
far-fiung jaunts.
Keeping tabs on his sons
progress, it was no surprise to
Mr.. Draper when young Maj.
Draper was appointed by Presi-
dent Eisenhower as his personal
pilot and Air Force aide. The
major. however, could scarcely
believe his good fortune.
dad has a lot of confidence in
me for some reason" grinned
Maj. Draper, I'm fact, he was
my first passenger-and a vol
unteer at that!"
Remembers Lesson.
There seems little doubt that
the f1edgling pilot. at the age of
20. never forgot the lesson he
learned at College Park airport
back in 1910. He had soloed only
a few weeks previously.
His father suggested. quite
casually, that he go along in the
light Cub.
"Were you worried?" Mr.. Dra-
per was asked.
'No, of course not!" laughed
the father. II was cool as a
cucumber!"
HE wasn't worried, but I was!"
cut in Maj. Draper.
eyes, you did perspire some,
if I recall" conceded MIR. Draper
The point of the anecdote waSn't t
mentioned, although it was quite
clear-the grave responsibility
all pilots must feel for those who
ride with them.
Mr.. Draper said Billy perspired
more that day than he did lay
ing bricks during his vacation
from college.
"He used to work on the houses
I was building" Mr.. Draper said.
"He was the only bricklayer I
ever saw who could hang his
trowel on a sky hook exactly
at 4 pm, the quitting hour.
"You can bet he was never
late at the airport to get in his
fight time"
Early Interest in Planes.
The Diapers share a love of
airplanes dating back to the
fathers service with the En-
gineers in France in 1917-1918
and to Bill Draper's fourth year.
After World War I, the Draper
family was living near Akron.
Ohio, about 21a miles from the
Stow Corners flying field.
"Often when I got home from
work." Mr.. Draper recalled, my
wife would say, We'll, Billy's gone
again. I knew where to look
for him.
"He would be standing at the
field. watching the planes, in
his rompers and straw hat, with
his stomach sticking out"
Maj. Draper, who had Just
returned from the White House,
squirmed bit uncomfortably in
his smart blue uniform with its
aiguilettes and campaign rib
bons. But he managed to sum-
mon a grin.
The father, chatting in his
parlor at 1925 Noyes drive, ap-
peared not to notice, but his
eyes were twinkling.
Eyes. young Billy was a cau-
ton in those days-you never
saw such concentration" he re-
called. II would have to touch
him on the shoulder to get him
back on the ground"
Their Model Planes.
The Diapers went in for model
airplanes. with plenty of golf on
the side. BY the time they
moved to Silver Spring, young
Bill had perfected many rubber
band models.
With his fathers engineering
advice. he graduated to powered
types. Soon Bill was entering
all the meets in the Washington
area and taking plenty of prizes.
His father proved a tireless spec
tator, although golf was his
favorite sport.
Mr.. Draper. who held the
course record at White Flint for
IL years and still shoots in the