THANK YOU!
YOUR PURCHASE OF THESE BOOKS SUPPORTS THE WEB SITES THAT BRING TO YOU THE HISTORY BEHIND OLD AIRFIELD REGISTERS
Your copy of the Davis-Monthan Airfield Register 1925-1936 with all the pilots' signatures and helpful cross-references to pilots and their aircraft is available at the link. 375 pages with black & white photographs and extensive tables
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The Congress of Ghosts (available as eBook) is an anniversary celebration for 2010. It is an historical biography, that celebrates the 5th year online of www.dmairfield.org and the 10th year of effort on the project dedicated to analyze and exhibit the history embodied in the Register of the Davis-Monthan Airfield, Tucson, AZ. This book includes over thirty people, aircraft and events that swirled through Tucson between 1925 and 1936. It includes across 277 pages previously unpublished photographs and texts, and facsimiles of personal letters, diaries and military orders. Order your copy at the link.
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Military Aircraft of the Davis Monthan Register 1925-1936 is available at the link. This book describes and illustrates with black & white photographs the majority of military aircraft that landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield between 1925 and 1936. The book includes biographies of some of the pilots who flew the aircraft to Tucson as well as extensive listings of all the pilots and airplanes. Use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author, while supplies last.
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Art Goebel's Own Story by Art Goebel (edited by G.W. Hyatt) is written in language that expands for us his life as a Golden Age aviation entrepreneur, who used his aviation exploits to build a business around his passion. Available as a free download at the link.
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Winners' Viewpoints: The Great 1927 Trans-Pacific Dole Race (available as eBook) is available at the link. This book describes and illustrates with black & white photographs the majority of military aircraft that landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield between 1925 and 1936. The book includes biographies of some of the pilots who flew the aircraft to Tucson as well as extensive listings of all the pilots and airplanes. Use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author, while supplies last.
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Clover Field: The first Century of Aviation in the Golden State (available in paperback) With the 100th anniversary in 2017 of the use of Clover Field as a place to land aircraft in Santa Monica, this book celebrates that use by exploring some of the people and aircraft that made the airport great. 281 pages, black & white photographs.
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YOU CAN HELP
I'm looking for information and photographs of pilot Colbert and his airplane to include on this page. If you have some you'd like to share, please click this FORM to contact me.
Thanks to Webmaster John North of the Braniff List for information.
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TED COLBERT
Ted Colbert landed once at Peterson Field on Friday, June 30, 1933. He carried a single, unidentified passenger in the Bird NC765. Based at Oklahoma City, OK, their destination was unreadable in the Register.
Records of Colbert's birth and death dates are confusing. One report states Colbert was born September 15, 1901. Another reports September 15, 1900. One report states he died in 1953; another January, 1964. Either way, he died young, either at 52, 53, 63 or 64 years of age. The 1930 U.S. Census reported him at age 29 living in Oklahoma City, OK with his in-laws and with his wife LaRieta (23). He cited his occupation as "Aviator" in the "Air Travel" industry.
The 1940 Census identified his domicile as Ponca City, OK. His wife's name was misspelled "Al Rata." His occupation was listed as "Pilot" for the "Continental Oil Company." There was no record of children.
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Colbert flew with a Commercial Pilot Certificate last issued May 1, 1946. He was certified to fly single- and multi-engine airplanes and was instrument rated. As far as I can tell, his first flying job was with the Continental Oil Company as Chief Pilot. According to John North (right sidebar), he flew for Braniff Airways from 1934 to 1936. The filler article, right, from Popular Aviation (PA) magazine, July, 1935 captures Colbert working for Braniff. The article provided some humor for pilots familiar with the dry midwest during summertime.
Sparse additional information about Colbert and nearby Oklahoma City is available at this link aviation history in the city of The Village, OK (PDF 92Kb). This document offers a folksy summary of aviation history around Oklahoma City, including mention of Wiley Post (and the development of the airport named after him), Blanche Noyes and Will Rogers. Colbert is metioned twice and quoted as follows. My edits are in [brackets]
On page 5: "During World War II Oklahoma would play an important role in the training of pilots who would be called upon to fly missions and sorties all over the world. Under the leadership of Clarence Page, another Oklahoma aviation pioneer, a company known as the Oklahoma Air College was formed. The company would land a lucrative Army contract to train pilots in Oklahoma. Partners in the company included Page, John Burke, Ted Colbert Chief Pilot for Continental Oil Company, and Jerry Sass, an enthusiastic investor. The flying field [called originally Cimarron Field] was established at what is now known as Clarence [E.] Page [Municipal] Airport near Yukon [about 15 nautical miles west of Oklahoma City]." And on page 6: "In order to meet one of the Army requirements for obtaining the training contract, a ground school also had to be provided. Page was able to obtain the needed chairs, blackboards and other training supplies for the creation of the ground school at Wiley Post Airport, which came under John Burke’s direction. The facility also had to have an adequate supply of pilots and mechanics. In |
If you have information to share about Ted Colbert, please let me KNOW.
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THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 11/28/13 REVISED: 07/21/14