HARRY B. CREWDSON -1956

HARRY B. CREWDSON 1550 F. 51st St., Chicago, Illinois from Ellington, 1918

Mr. Crewdson smiling for the films after an Exhibition Flight before the war. from Ellington, 1918

Among those who made the Air Service possible, are-- Harry B. Crewdson--Dean of Fliers. One of less than a score of aviators who have flown continually since 1910, and still lives to tell of his experiences. Has trained army flyers since 1916 and cancelled thousands of dollars worth of exhibition dates in 1917 after the war broke out to aid in getting men ready for overseas. Was first exhibition flyer to be featured by a circus. Is an expert in aero-dynamics, having built several exhibition machines. Started formation flying at Ellington. from Ellington, 1918 Courtesy of Gary D. White

 

 

ONLINE RESOURCES      If you search for "Harry B. Crewdson" using Google, 3-30-03, you will find about four links. Two of them are on this website, one is on Caroll Gray's Early Birds website, and one is on the homepage of the Crewdson family.

Ellington Field: A Short History, 1917-1963      This page offers a single paragraph with a reference to Crewdson. The citation reads:      "Because of a lack of military pilots in 1917, the U.S. Army Air Service relied on civilian pilots to help train cadets. Civilian pilots often had mor flight experience than military aviators. During the war, Ellingon Field had seven civilian instructors: W.F. Sullivan, H.B. Crewdson, E.W. Cleveland, G.K. Hood, W.A. Pack, O.W. Hoover, and E.H. Lee. Upon graduation, a flight cadet would be christened a military aviator. After graduation, an aviator was shipped to Europe for more training and assignment to a combat squadron."      To access the page , just click on the title above.

 

THE CREWDSONS      This webpage, which is devoted to the geneology of the Crewdson family, only mentions that I am seeking more information on Harry. However it is interesting in its own right. To access it, just click on the title above.

EARLY BIRDS MEETING, 1956      This account of the Early Birds Meeting of 1956 only mentions that Harry "has flown away and folded his earthly wings," You can read the whole story by clicking on the title above.

Harry B. Crewdson died in 1956 From The Early Birds of Aviation Roster of Members, 1996

Editor's Note: If you have any information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper   Back