Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-16
Maj. Al Williams, 81, Mode
Headline as Speed Flyer

tISOOtIttS OS ~
Maj. Afford (AD Williams.
speed fiier Of q generation ago
and o fighter for air power and
q separate Air Force. died of
cancer yesterday in an Eliza
beth City. N. c.. hospital. He
was 81. He had lived on a
farm near the North Carolina
city.
Mai. williams was one of
those romantic heroes Of the
l920s and sos who rode air.
planes virtually to their break
ing points. who amazed air
show crowds with unbelievable
turns and loops, and who spoke
in a loud voice for air power
when hardly anyone was listen
ing.
Flying for Arts Sake
For Mai. williams, as 1t was
for the Billy Mitchells. the
Floyd Ben ne it's. and the
Charles Lindberghs. flying was
more than q means Of trans
portation. 1t was an art in it
self.
Mai. Williams was q big
man, over six feet tall with q
closely cropped head Of red
dish-brown hair that made him
easily recognizable whenever
he descended from q plane.
Whereas most great aviators
of the 20's spent their time
trying to ny great distances.
risking their biplanes over UNI
charted terrain. in an effort to
gain recognition for this new
form of transportation, Maj.
williams was primarily inter-
ested in speed. He was the first
American to 90 800 miles per
hour.
Mastered Tail Spin
Until Maj. williams sue
ceeded in mastering the tech
nique. hardly any pilot knew
how to handle a plane in a
tail spin. Until he succeeded,
a tail spin was generally fatal.
and authorities always thought
it was the planes fault.
He was also the FIRST man
to write a report on how to
right q plane after getting
into an upside down position.
When war approached in the
late 1930's, Mai. Williams be-
came very concerned with the
superiority of the German air
machine to that Of the allies
and our own.
Basically an isolationist, Mai.
williams consistently pleaded
through a syndicated news
paper column for more expen-
ditures on airplanes and pilots.
He was against lending planes
to Great Britain because he
feared it might reduce our
own reserve.
Developed Dive Bombing
Both O Navy and a Marine
pilot at different times in his
life, Mai. williams was the first
man to develop the concept CT
dive bombing.
If 1t weren't for World War
I, Maj. Williams might never
have become known for his
flying skills but, rather. for his
ability as q baseball pitcher.
Born In the Bronx, N. Y, on
July rs, 1896, Maj. Williams at
tended Fordham University.
where he quickly attracted ma
jor league scouts attention with
his fast ball and curve.
In 1915. John McGraw. the
Of the New York
Giants, signed UP the young
Williams. At that time 1t was
not uncommon for a team TO
hire a young player and groom
him for service with the club
instead Of sending him to q
farm club"
For the two years he was on
the team. williams never
pitched an inning Of major
league ball but spent his time
In batting practice and in
spring training learning the
trade.
Designed Racing Plane
When the war started he
Joined the Navy and became
such a good pilot that he stayed
at Pensacola. Fla, teaching
others.
After the war. he stayed on as
q research aviator and. in 1928.
helped design q new racing
plane which won the Pulitzer
Race at st. Louis. and estab-
lished a new worlds speed rec
ord which remained ofiicial I'M
til 1891 Of 243 miles per hour.
This mark held for him only
until 1925 when he set a per-
sonal mark of aO2 milee raer