59 Facts About Roscoe Turner

Roscoe Turner was a record-breaking American aviator who was a three-time winner of the Thompson Trophy air race and widely recognized by his flamboyant style and his pet, Gilmore the Lion.

Roscoe Turner founded a US domestic airline, ultimately called Lake Central Airlines, that in 1968 merged into Allegheny Airlines, the predecessor to US Airways.

Roscoe Turner was born in Corinth, Mississippi, the eldest son of farmer Robert Lee Turner and his wife Mary Aquilla Derryberry Turner.

Roscoe Turner came to realize that he did not want to be a farmer, and daydreamed of a future on the railroad that ran through the family farm.

Roscoe Turner developed interests and skills in repairing, constructing and experimenting with mechanical objects, including horse-drawn wagons, large kites, motorcycles, and eventually, automobiles.

Roscoe Turner studied at business college for about six months, then worked in a hardware store, and briefly at a local bank, in the occupation then preferred by his father.

Roscoe Turner attributed his success at interviews to meticulous preparation of his clothing and appearance, an ethos that characterized the rest of his life.

Roscoe Turner then worked at various jobs, including automobile mechanic, chauffeur and salesman, often coincidentally.

Roscoe Turner first saw an aircraft in 1913, and in 1916 decided to become a pilot.

Roscoe Turner applied to the Army for flying training, but despite having mechanical expertise and driving experience, he lacked the required college education.

Roscoe Turner was a member of the Forty and Eight, the Freemasons, and the Shriners.

In October 1919, Turner went into partnership with Harry J Runser, who had already been barnstorming with a Canuck biplane, a Canadian version of the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, and who needed someone to act as mechanic, wing-walker and parachutist.

Roscoe Turner added a silver winged brooch of his own design with the monogram "RT" in the center, a fancy belt, and grew a waxed mustache to accentuate his toothy smile.

Roscoe Turner was released on parole in July 1922, and in August 1924 he was granted a full and unconditional pardon by US President Calvin Coolidge.

Roscoe Turner returned to Corinth, and formed an automobile repair business with a partner.

Roscoe Turner repaired and restored a Curtiss Jenny, improved his flying skills, and barnstormed in the Corinth area.

Roscoe Turner wore his display uniform, and publicity was later obtained from the event.

Roscoe Turner used the aircraft through 1927 for commercial charters, publicity campaigns, passenger joy-riding and proposed record-breaking flights.

In early 1928, Roscoe Turner flew the S-29-A to California, for its conversion to a representation of a German Gotha bomber, under a lease agreement with film company Caddo Productions that was controlled by Howard Hughes.

In early 1929, Roscoe Turner became chief pilot for Nevada Airlines, flying Lockheed Vegas on regular services between Los Angeles, Bishop, Tonopah, Reno and Las Vegas, to enable people to take advantage of Nevada laws on gambling, marriage and divorce.

At the 1928 National Air Races, Roscoe Turner started air racing, in a Timm Aircoach sponsored by Shell Oil Company, and at the 1929 event he raced a Lockheed Vega of Nevada Airlines.

Roscoe Turner piloted a Lockheed Vega of Nevada Airlines, with Harold Gatty as navigator, plus two passengers.

Roscoe Turner took on Lockheed employee Don Young as his mechanic, in a working partnership that lasted over 20 years.

Roscoe Turner saw a lion cub advertised for sale in California, and persuaded the owner Louis Goebel to donate it to him in return for promoting his lion-breeding farm.

Thereafter, and fitted with a Roscoe Turner-adapted parachute, Gilmore accompanied Roscoe Turner on many publicized flights and events until about 1935, when he became too heavy and unmanageable in the aircraft.

At the National Air Races at Cleveland in September 1931, Roscoe Turner was impressed with Jimmy Wedell and his Wedell-Williams Model 44 that achieved second place in the Thompson Trophy race.

At the National Air Races at Cleveland in September 1932, Roscoe Turner came third in the Bendix Trophy cross-country race from Burbank, California to Cleveland in his Wedell-Williams Model 44, after Jimmy Haizlip followed by Jimmy Wedell, both flying Model 44s.

Wedell went on to win the Thompson Trophy circuit race, despite finishing behind Roscoe Turner, who was disqualified after a pylon rules infringement.

At the National Air Races at Cleveland in September 1934, Roscoe Turner entered his Wedell-Williams Model 44, but was a non-starter in the Bendix Trophy race due to a fuel leak.

Roscoe Turner then returned to Cleveland, and won the Thompson Trophy after the Model 44 flown by Doug Davis crashed fatally while leading the race.

In 1933, Roscoe Turner learned of plans to organize what became known as the MacRobertson Air Race, to be run from London, England to Melbourne, Australia, in October 1934.

Roscoe Turner selected Clyde Pangborn as his co-pilot, due to his experience with international flights.

Roscoe Turner's crew were awarded third place overall, and second place on handicap.

For much of 1935, Roscoe Turner publicized many products and causes, including Boeing Model 80, United Airlines, Heinz foods, Camel cigarettes, Motor Glide scooters, Macmillan Oil, and the National Safety Council.

Roscoe Turner entered the Bendix Trophy race with his Model 44.

On September 2,1935, in the Thompson Trophy race, his Model 44 suffered engine failure, but Roscoe Turner made a safe dead-stick landing.

In late August 1936, Roscoe Turner departed Burbank in his Wedell-Williams Model 44 bound for New York from where the Bendix Trophy race was due to start.

Roscoe Turner had fractured two ribs and a bone in his neck, but he endured 17 miles on horseback, then 35 miles in a car, and he then returned to Los Angeles by train before seeking medical help.

Roscoe Turner commissioned Professor Howard W Barlow of University of Minneapolis to prepare the detailed design and drawings, and then engaged Lawrence W Brown and his Brown Aircraft Co.

Brown made many changes to the design during construction, and Roscoe Turner demanded a larger wing to safely carry the extra weight, but serious disagreements caused Brown to quit the project.

Roscoe Turner led the race, but then circled a pylon in the mistaken belief that he had turned inside it, and only came third.

In 1938, Roscoe Turner had the Roscoe Turner Special modified with wheel spats and other improvements.

The Thompson Trophy race had been lengthened to 30 laps of a 10-mile circuit, and Roscoe Turner decided to enter with R263Y newly sponsored by Pesco Products and renamed 'Pesco Special'.

In 1939, Roscoe Turner was employed by the Porterfield Aircraft Corporation to promote, demonstrate and sell its aircraft, but he resigned in 1940.

Roscoe Turner secured new sponsoring contracts with Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and Kellogg's.

In 1939, Roscoe Turner hosted the youth oriented radio program Sky Blazers, sponsored by Wonder Bread, which featured dramatizations of the exploits of adventurous aviators.

In July 1941, Roscoe Turner suffered a fractured pelvis in an automobile accident, and settled out of court after suing for loss of earnings.

Roscoe Turner campaigned for the establishment of an air force separate from the US Army, and proposed the use of "flivver" planes for national defense, converted from small private aircraft.

In July 1944, Roscoe started a daily charter service between Detroit and Memphis, managed by his brother Robert Turner, but after forty days it was shut down by the Civil Aeronautics Board who ruled that it was an unauthorized scheduled airline service.

However, Roscoe Turner failed to obtain sufficient finances, and sold the franchise to John Weesner and Paul Weesner.

Roscoe Turner continued to campaign and crusade for strong national air power in the Cold War.

In 1949, a special act of Congress was passed to award the Distinguished Flying Cross to Roscoe Turner, who received it on August 14,1952, at the Pentagon.

In 1962, Roscoe Turner was named "Character of the Year" by the International Order of Characters - a fraternal organization of aviators.

Roscoe Turner was the first person to receive the honor.

In 1967, Roscoe Turner sold his controlling interest in RTAC to Charles Gates, Jr.

On September 29,1970, the Roscoe Turner Museum was opened at Indianapolis, with exhibits that included the Turner Special aircraft and his Packard automobile, plus many trophies and other artifacts.

Roscoe Turner was an honorary official with the Indianapolis 500 car race for many years.

Roscoe Turner died on June 23,1970, and is interred at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

In 1975, Roscoe Turner was enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio.