Wilmer Stultz

Wilmer Lower Stultz

Stultz in 1928
Born 11 April 1900
Died July 1, 1929(1929-07-01) (aged 29)
Roosevelt Field
New York
Cause of death Air crash
Resting place Presbyterian Cemetery
Williamsburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality American
Occupation Pilot
Spouse(s) Mildred Botts (m. 1919–29)

Wilmer Lower Stultz (April 11, 1900 – July 1, 1929) was an aviator who made the first non-stop flight between New York City and Havana, Cuba. He died in a crash in 1929.

Biography

He was born in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania on April 11, 1900.

Stultz joined the United States Army Air Force on 22 August 1917 assigned to the 634th Aero Supply Squadron reaching the rank of Sergeant. He was discharged on 31 March 1919. Stultz then joined the United States Naval Air Service in December that year, training at Pensacola, Florida. He served at Hamton Roads Virginia testing the F-5L bomber.[1]

He married Mildred Botts of Middletown, Pennsylvania on August 4, 1919.[1]

On March 5, 1928, Stultz, Oliver Colin LeBoutillier, and Mabel Boll on an improvised seat, made the first non-stop flight in the Columbia between New York City and Havana, Cuba (c. 1300 mi.).

Stultz was the pilot of the Fokker Trimotor "Friendship" on June 18, 1928, when Amelia Earhart became the first woman passenger to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

Stultz died on July 1, 1929, after he crashed while intoxicated at Roosevelt Field in Mineola, New York.[2][3] Two passengers were also killed.[1] He was buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania.[4][5]

Legacy

Stultz Field in Tipton, Pennsylvania, was named in his honor.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, February 14, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.