AIRCRAFT SNAPSHOTS

Me and my nephew, Edwin Bateman Son of my sister Belle K. Bateman Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky

 

BATEMAN FAMILY NOTES via email from Kim Herber, 6-28-09 Hi Ralph:      I'm doing some family history and came across your site because it features my great grand uncle Lester Bishop. One of the photos on your site shows him with my grandfather (his nephew) Edwin Bateman. http://www.earlyaviators.com/ebishop.htm      People on Edwin's side of the family don't know much about Lester and I'm hoping you can help. Do you know anything about his descendants? My mother, Janet Bateman Herber, doesn't think he ever married. But his WW I Draft registration says he had a wife and three children. Family photos show him in his flying gear and later in life but nothing in between.      Even though Lester is not a direct relative of mine, he's certainly the most interesting family member I have come across! I'm combing the Internet for clues about him and I hope you can help.      If you have access to Ancestry.com, you can find the family tree I'm building listed as Herber/Ditty

 

First Laird Swallow, 1919 Spread 36ft. Weight 1075 lbs. Speed 86 MPH Motor OX5 Climb, 4000 ft. in 10 minutes with two passengers, pilot and fuel for 2 1/2 hrs. Climb, pilot alone, 3000 ft. in 4 1/2 minutes. A wonderful stunting outfit. A money maker for passenger carrying, etc. Distributors wanted. Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky

 

Fleet 2 Airplane, 1937 Kinner B-5 Engine Had this airplane Wayne County Airport, Detroit Mich., about 1937 Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky Plane ID courtesy of K O Ecklund at AEROFILES

 

Lockheed Air Express Photo from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky Plane ID courtesy of K O Ecklund at AEROFILES

 

DEHAVILAND GYPSY MOTH GYPSY MAJOR AIR-COOLED ENGINE Wayne County Airport 1938 Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Plane ID courtesy of K O Ecklund at AEROFILES

 

Curtiss "Autoplane" This Curtiss "Autoplane" was built by Curtiss in 1916. I was at the Curtiss Factory in early 1917. I saw the Aeroplane, and was informed that Vic. Carlstrom or Phil. Rader would fly it. It has been said, pro and con, that it never did fly. Roland Rohlfs, said yes. Carl Batt's said no. Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky

 

Lawson Air Line Lawson Air Liner built by Albert Lawson, poorly designed, never went into production. LFB Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky

 

CAIN 2 PASSENGER Not so hot - under powered - I flew it several times in 1932 LFB Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky

 

SIKORSKY FLYING BOAT Eddi Music & C. V. Pickup - Pilot were lost flying the Pacific Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky

 

LINCOLN BEACHEY LITTLE LOOPER, 1912 Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky Plane ID courtesy of K O Ecklund at AEROFILES

 

JUNKERS J U 52 Built in Germany and shipped to the U. S. for the CANADIAN AIRWAYS, LTD. Visiting Wayne County Airport, December 8, 1931 This plane is built for hauling freight only. Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky

 

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