MANAGEMENT IN AVIATION HISTORY BENCH MARKS
saved from notoriety and from the gaze of curious-minded persons by being taken from the Athearn Hotel to the home of J.A. Powers.Power’s son, Harry Powers, is also an aviator and is visiting in the city.”
On the heels of the 1914 Fourth of July festivities at Sheboygan, WI, the town sponsored races among “automobiles, motorcycles and aeroplanes.” Held at the local Fair Grounds, the organizers promised that “Aviator Fred Hoover will race against a monster racing car,” flying low enough to touch the head of the automobile’s driver. “The flying of other aviators is mere child’s play when compared to Hoover’s wonderful work.” Hoover earned his license aſt er studying at the Curtiss schools in New York and California during 1911. He was oſt en based at Cicero Field in Chicago. The Sheboygan Press, July 8, 1914.
GONE WEST At the onset of WWI, Powers was a fl ight instructor for the Army Signal Corps, at the rank of sergeant. Shortly thereafter he participated in a milestone event for the US Post Offi ce. Under the executive command of
President Woodrow Wilson, the fi rst US Air Mail was to be fl own between Washington, D.C. and Belmont Park on Long Island, N.Y.Powers, a well-known aviator by 1919, was assigned supervision of maintenance and fl ights at the fi
eld.The U.S. Postal historian writes:
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DOMmagazine.com | july 2019 On May 21, 1919, Second Assistant
Postmaster General Otto Praeger received a telegram from Harry W. Powers, Belmont Park airmail fi eld manager regarding an errant fl ight of Charles
Bradley.According to his telegram, Bradley was forced to land at Bath Beach, Brooklyn, on account of fog.“Everything OK,” writes Powers, “Mail sent to Bath Beach Post Offi ce to be forwarded to New York.Low ceiling here.”Showing his characteristic disregard for pilots’ concerns over visibility while fl ying, Praeger responded to Powers that he should “Tell Bradley to come through by
compass.Perfect weather conditions this end.We must fl y or we must give up the service.Every pilot should be advised of
this.Many a pilot has fl own over fog and clouds. Ask Bradley to make the eff ort.” Bradley realized he wasn’t suited for the job and quit in
August.There were several Charles Bradleys in my family during 1919, but none were this would-be Air Mail
pilot.By 1920, Harry and Agnes were back in Chicago.
In 1937 the couple moved near San Diego, CA, where at some point Harry sold farm
equipment.Agnes died in 1945, and was buried in San Bernardino, California. Although there is a record of his second marriage, Powers was buried near Agnes upon his death in 1960.
Giacinta Bradley Koontz
is an aviation historian, magazine columnist and author who has received the
DAR History Medal and honorable mention from the New York Book Festival. She has appeared on the History Channel and in PBS documentaries. For more information, visit
www.GiaBKoontz.com.
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