hamiltonlee

From National Postal Museum: " Along with Jack Knight, E. Hamilton Lee was one of the most remarkable pilots to come out of the U.S. Air Mail Service. Lee was born in Paris, Illinois on April 18, 1892. He made his first solo flight on June 16, 1916 at Ashburn Field in Chicago. "Many of the U.S. Air Mail Pilots were in love with the danger of flight, as much as the fun and excitement, and many took risks that were not part of flying the mail. Lee could certainly count himself among that crowd, until a particular incident in which he survived a crash after trying to "buzz" a group of men on a Mississippi River boat. Lee did not see wires that lined the side of one river bank, and his landing gear and one wing caught them, forcing him down. "Fortunately, he survived the crash, but determined then and there to live to the credo that there are "old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold, pilots. ..."

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Goggles, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

Jean Dieuzaide – Concorde Essai de Freinge - 1968

Hi,
I'am the admin of the new group Art'flighing Machines dedicated to an artistic approach of flighing things

It would be an honour to have your picture into this group

This is a great photo. Can I paint it?

Bob Bello Hi, Space Art. Thank you for your inquiry. Generally, the Smithsonian Institution allows personal, educational, and other non-commercial uses of the Content under specific terms. To read the complete terms of use, please visit si.edu/Termsofuse. Sincerely, Susannah Smithsonian Institution Archives

Here is some more information on the event depicted in the photo: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 17, 1943, Page 10:

(Aug. 16) United Airlines inaugurated direct service between Washington, Chicago, Toledo and the Pacific Coast today, with the first plane piloted by Captain E. Hamilton Lee and Captain Harold S. Koop. Two daily round-trips will be operated between Washington and the West Coast. The plane was christened "City of Washington, D. C." at the Washington National Airport by Mrs. Jimmy Doolittle, wife of the Army Air Forces general, in the presence of various officials.