roscoeturner

Turner, Roscoe Military Combat Enshrined 1975 1895-1970 Turner’s major contribution to aviation was speed. And while he is known for his showmanship and speed records in the 1930s, the race years brought considerable pressure and gave him terrible nightmares. The press would dub him “superman” and “immortal” on one page while the obituary writers were putting him in the ground on another. In 1935 one newspaper printed his obituary in advance and delivered it to his hotel room the night before the Cleveland race. “No matter how many newspapers turn you into a superman, an immortal, you’re still a man inside, you don’t quite feel like dying, and you’re generally scared as hell,” Turner said. In 1929, he set a speed record between Los Angeles and New York while carrying a passenger. He broke the transcontinental record more times than any other person. During his barnstorming days, he sported a wax mustache and a pseudo-military uniform and often flew with his pet lion “Gilmore.” In 1933, Turner won the Bendix Transcontinental race. Turner was the only person to win the Thompson Trophy Races in 1934, 1938, and 1939. Turner and Jimmy Doolittle are the only pilots to win both the Thompson and Bendix trophies. In 1934, Turner was the sponsor and commander of the only American team to finish the McRobertson International Air Race from London, England to Melbourne, Australia, taking second place in the speed division. During World War II, Turner established an institute to train pilots. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1952 by an Act of Congress, for his contributions to aviation development and pioneering in speed flying. It was the first to be awarded in over 20 years by an Act of Congress and only one of six to be awarded by Congress. Turner was a consultant to the House Science and Astronautics Committee, serving the 86th, 87th, and 89th U.S. Congress. Source: www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/turner-roscoe/

01 July 1933, Municipal Airport, Los Angeles, CA. - Colonel Roscoe Turner established a new Transcontinental speed record and won the Bendix race from New York to Los Angeles. (In White hat below Turner) Tom Hynson of Pasadena CA., Truner's backer; (Standing in the cockpit) Roscoe Turner, (below Turner's left with white hat) Mrs. Turner and (next to Mrs. Turner and in dark blazer with medal on chest) Vicent Bendix, trophy doner.

Wedell-Williams Model 44 NR61Y c/n 109 #25. Here's a photo of Roscoe Turner at Chicago Midway, along with Turner-Laird LTR-14 NC263Y #29. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kemon01/11725360426/in/photostream/] Photo via Kemon01