Who Was The First US Pilot To Carry Mail?

Seems like there are some disputations about it. Here are two claims from Wikipedia, one for Earl Ovington, and the other for Hap Arnold:



And the claim for Arnold:



Two of Arnold's biographers repeat the claim that he was first, but he doesn't say that in his memoir Global Mission, only that he carried the mail in 1911.

Does anyone know the real story here?

Another source crediting Ovington, but also noting an "unofficial" earlier flight and even qualified by the fact that mail was flown by balloon as early as 1859, so depending on what parameters one wishes to use can result in different answers. At least Ovington was the first pilot "officially sworn in as an airmail carrier":




http://postalmuseumblog.si.edu/2011...vington.html

Please clarify "Who was the first U.S. Pilot to carry mail?"

Do you mean any pilot? Or a licensed pilot? Or military pilot?

Are you only asking about airplane pilot?

Mail, any mail, or just Air Mail?

Please clarify,

Cheers

Dave

Dave,

I don't feel the need to clarify anything, really. Except that I obviously (from the examples I gave) only interested in airplane pilots, not ship or balloon pilots. Nor would it matter what kind of mail, if it was recognized as mail.

But really, what I was looking for was some explanation for why Arnold was credited by some as being "the first U.S. pilot to carry mail." It clearly seems to me that Ovington preceded him. I do have another source that says that Ovington carried the mail over several days, and on days when there was more mail than he could take in his plane, others helped him, including Arnold. So that jives with Arnold claiming himself to have carried mail in 1911. But it doesn't explain his biographers claiming that he was first.

I have a copy of the source cited by Wikipedia ordered, and when I get it, maybe I will know more. Though I doubt it.

Basil

blcjr, thanks for your information exactly what you were looking for.

I'll do some research for you, and if I find anything of interest will let you know.

Dave

blcjr I thought you might be interested in seeing this 1931 newspaper article. The newspaper page is huge and I only have a small flat bed scanner, so I stitched the article together as best as I could.

Jenny2U - that's awesome! I see a signature in the upper right that looks like the last name is Ovington too - maybe a son or daughter?

Jenny2U,

Thanks for that! I will save the images, for sure. I didn't see Arnold's name in it though. Besides his brief mentions of carrying the mail in 1911 without further details, I have two other sources that put Arnold at this event. I will make copies and post them in a followup post. I'm interested in this because I'm gathering materials for an exhibit on the life of Arnold, and I want to be as accurate as I can.

Basil

Mike33 the article is signed by Earle Ovington himself I also have some flight covers he signed (which I understand are quite common).

That's great! Just didn't look like Earle to me. Very cool

No question that is Ovington's signature on that newspaper article.

Here are two further sources I have about this event with some details about Arnold's involvement.

First:



Alas, the article is poorly edited -- Arnold did not own the plane, and his middle initial is "H" -- but I don't think there's any doubt but that that is a picture of the Burgess-Wright aircraft he flew at the time with the "2" on the tail. But the reference to the book about the pioneer airmails sounds useful and I've ordered a copy.

Second:



It will be interesting to compare this account with the AAMS book.

Basil

blcjr, this morning after read your original post again, are you only wanting to know which one (Ovington or Lt. Arnold) was the first U.S. Pilot to carry mail, or and this is where the confusion start your title states "Who was the first U.S. pilot to carry mail". If you are only wanting info only between Ovington or Lt. Arnold, then looks like you already have your answer. But if you are looking for what your title says?

I'm willing to do research for you, but you need to answer this question (clarify), only between Ovington or Lt. Arnold, or actual first U.S. pilot to carry mail?

Cheers

Dave

Fred Wiseman was the first pilot to carry US mail in his plane (he carried three letters between Petaluma and Santa Rosa, California on February 17, 1911).

Dave,

Ultimately, I guess, I want to get to the bottom of the claim that Arnold was the first. While most modern sources identify Ovington, I'd like to find out how the claim that it was Arnold got started. Since my last post, I came across another:



This is from a 1942 Time cover story on Arnold. Maybe this is where later biographers got their (wrong?) information. But for now, while the evidence strongly points to Ovington, I'm continuing to research the matter. BTW, Time gets the facts wrong on the MacKay Trophy, so it isn't a stretch that they were wrong on him being the first to fly the mail. He did win the first MacKay Trophy (and a second one in 1934, the only military aviator to ever win it twice).

I know there are claims for prior airplane mail carry in the US, and I an not disinterested in them, but I specifically focused on Arnold for now.

....

Just now, I came across yet ANOTHER claim for Arnold, but very odd:



What is odd about this one is that it puts it in August of 1912, when the Ovington flight was in September 1911. Could this be a misprint, and there is some evidence of Arnold carrying mail in August of 1911? That would be a month before Ovington's flight.

The research continues.

Basil

blcjr, so then no need for me to do any research for you.

Your title totally confused me!

If you need any future research let me know.

Cheers

Dave

I've found a biographer who says that Arnold "may" have flow the first mail, but gives no details. He simply cites the Washington Post, July 11, 1912. But I have tried fruitlessly to search the WaPo archives for anything on that date about Arnold. I may have to go to a library for help.