1878-1964 AKA Fred Korstad |
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DeKor attended the North Idaho State Teachers College for four years, then the University of Washington, and still after, the University of Wisconsin Law School. He passed his bar examination in 1910. He is reported to have made his first solo flight early in 1911 at Santa Ana, California, flying a Glenn L. Martin plane of the Curtiss type with a Hall-Scott engine. This was a plane built by Martin for his own personal use. In the following years, he barnstormed all over the United States and the islands of Cuba and Jamaica, and is said to have been the second person in the country to loop the loop. He was one of the foremost stunt flyers of his era and gave thousands of people their first view of acrobatic flying. His real name was Korstad, but he changed it to DeKor so he wouldn't worry his relatives. He holds pilots license #72, Aero Club of America, and license #8, Aero Club of California, L.A. |
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He designed and built several planes incuding the one shown on the right, which he used for acrobatic flying. His first solo flight was taken in 1911. |
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LAMAR COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 30, 1915 POPULAR STUDIO - LAMAR Collection of John H. Bloor, 4-19-06 |
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Hello, I encountered your website (although I'd heard of it before) when I was doing some research on Fred DeKor. Recently I purchased a real photo postal card (see attached scan) with his name on it. I thought that you might be interested in the picture. I know nothing about the scene depicted except for what it says in the legend. If you know anything else, I'd appreciate it if you could send it to me. The brief biography on your website was very helpful. John H. Bloor Englewood, Colorado Editor's Note: I have contacted the Big Timbers Museum in Lamar, Colorado who have the archived copies of the local paper, the Lamar Daily News. They have offered to search their collection for any report of the event and will share it with us. |
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This paragraph from Joy Lumsden's "First Flight...... Jamaica - 1911" website, includes a brief story of Fred's activities on the island. It includes a beautiful photograph of him and his aeroplane. You can access the page by clicking on the title above. If time permits, I suggest that you go to the homepage of this site and learn more about the beginnings of aviation in Jamaica. Of special interest is the story of Jesse Seligman |
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May 19 - 21, 2006 |
via snail mail, May 22, 2006 Please find enclosed four copies of the cachet based on the Fred DeKor postcard. Two are unused and two are cancelled on the last day of the Rocky Mountain Stamp Show. The cacheted envelope was one of three designs sold at the show. The other two pictured railroad scenes. There are many more railway buffs in Denver philately than there are airplane/airmail enthusiasts! These are yours to keep, to do with as you wish. I wouild have had one mailed to you directly from the show but I forgot to take your address with me to the show. Note also the card instered into each of the envelopes. (see below) The information from your website was invaluable in preparing these inserts. Thank you very much. Please let me know if you find out anything else about the event. My wife and I may drive down to Lamar, Colorado and visit the Big Timber Museum. They may have some additional information. Best regards, John H. Bloor |
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The only reference to Mr. DeKor that I have found to date comes from the obituary of
L. L. Walker, Sr. It is mentioned that Mr. Walker was associated with Fred DeKor in exhibition flying in
the Southwest. I hope that any of my visitors who have more information on Mr. DeKor will share it with us.
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