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Courtesy of H. V. Pat Reilly, 7-18-05 |
from the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey Courtesy of H. V. Pat Reilly, 7-18-05 |
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BARLING NBL-1 BOMBER Courtesy of H. V. Pat Reilly, 7-18-05 |
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In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Charles to the President's Aviation Commission as
Aeronautical Advisor. In 1920, the Wittemann Corporation was awarded an Army contract to build the Barling Bomber, a six engine
monster that was then the largest airplane of its type in the world. The first plane was completed and tested in 1923. It was successfully
flown with many advantages, but failed to prove some of the particular characteristics planned for it by the Engineering Division. Thus,
due to numerous design changes demanded by the Army and a fixed-price contract, the Wittemanns were financially squeezed out of
business and sold their plant to Anthomy Fokker, the world famous Dutch aircraft designer in 1925. Years later, Paul Wittemann sadly remembered how his family was squeezed out of the aviation business when they couldn't meet their payuroll due to delayus in payments from the government. "It was a very sad time, indeed. " Paul said. Paul, Walter and Charles were among the first inductees into the Hall of Fame in 1972. |
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Collection of Wolfgang Tischer, 6-19-05 |
Via email from Wolfgang Tischer, 6-19-05 I believe he was living with Charles and Walter Wittemann for a while. I met Walter in the beginning several times and of course I talked to Paul many, many times.It was a pleasure to listen to him. The name of the Company in Ohio was the Ironton Engine Company, not the Machinery Company. Many Regards Wolfgang |
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At the 1923 Saint Louis International Air Meet Collection of Roy Nagl, 1-23-06 |
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"1922 The world’s largest airplane, the Barling Bomber, was constructed at Teterboro Airport by the Wittemann brothers." You can find a nice photo of the bomber, as well as a brief description of it on the Harold R. Harris page of my website. You can access it by clicking on: You can access the homepage of the Hall of Fame by clicking on the title above. |
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pioneer of aviation in state Mr. Wittemann, along with his brothers Walter and Charles, created Teterboro Airport for their Wittemann Aircraft Co., after they outgrew facilities developed in 1905 on Staten Island for the manufacture of early air mail planes. "Those early flyers were brave men of vision. We consider it an honor to have been associated with them," he said in a 1973 interview in The Asbury Park Press. The brothers also initiated air mail routes and rebuit aircraft engines used by the Post Office Department. The three brothers are members of the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame, Teterboro Airport, and the Aeronautical Society of America. In 1932, they founded the Wittemann Machine Co., Farmingdale, and Mr. Wittemann operated the Ironton Machinery Co., Ohio, during World War II. Born in Staten Island, he lived there and Hackensack before moving here in the 1930's. His wife, the former Theo W. Van Zandt, died in 1971, and his second wife, the former Anita Gilhuly, died in 1977. Surviving are a son, Van, Atlanta; a daughter, Beatrice, San Francisco,; and two grandchildren. Farry Memorial Home, Asbury Park, is in charge of arrangements. Collection of Wolfgang Tischer, 6-19-05 |
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from the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey Courtesy of H. V. Pat Reilly, 7-18-05 |
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