1886-1952 AKA John Domenjos & Jean Domenjoz & Upside Down Domenjoz |
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Via email from Jean-Claude Caillez, 4-18-06 |
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Collection of Dave Lam, 9-3-07 |
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Via email from Jean-Claude Cailliez - 4-18-06 Looking through your Early pilots web site, I saw you need the above picture of John Domenjoz. I would say his christian name is John (not Jean) and "John" was "a la mode" in the 1880-1900 in Geneva. Looking at a question of Gian Picco about how Domenjoz reacted during WW I : After barnstorming in Spain, Domenjoz was barnstorming in South-America, (Argentina, Chile, Brasil), when the WW I began. He went back to France, (his official address), and found no mail saying he was called to return in Switzerland to join the army or the new and very small just created Swiss airforce. So, he bought a new Blériot XI airplane, (hard to get because of the war), and returned to South-America (Argentina, Uruguay, etc) and got a chance to do stunts in New York where he was at the end of September 1915. He made many demonstrations and stunt flights, including one over the Statue of Liberty, etc. His Blériot is now on display in the National Air and Space Museum At the end of 1916, he came back to France to be a test pilot for the SPAD-VII, before it was used by the army pilots. Then, the USA came into the war. Domenjoz was called to train US pilots at Park Field in Memphis, Tennessee. At the war's end, Domenjoz began barnstorming tours in the US until October 1920 when he returned to France. Domenjoz returned to the US in the 1930's and became an American citizen .. and an Early Bird.. He died February 27, 1952. His grave was in the East Cemetery in Manchester, Connecticut, but has since been removed. He had no children. Domenjoz is quite unknown in his native city in Geneva. His story includes the discovery of looping with Pegoud in September.1913. Both were pilots for the Bleriot school and test pilots for Louis Blériot. When Pégoud tried looping, ("the youngest, the last to come to work in the firm; if he dies during tests, no problem.....we will keep on and continue with Domenjoz and Peyreon", L.Blériot remarked). A few days later, Domenjoz did better, but Pégoud had the favour of the press and he started to perform stunts all over Europe until Aug.1914. When Peyreon died testing a Blériot airplane a few weeks after the first looping, Domenjoz left Bleriot and also started barnstorming, beginning in Spain, where there was nobody like him at that time (Dec.1913). Jean-Claude CAILLIEZ Historien de l'aviation 75, avenue de Mategnin CH-1217 Meyrin, Suisse Pionnair-GE |
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Via email from Jean-Claude Cailliez - 8-20-03 He was a Swiss citizen, a barnstormer in N.Y and the US during 1915-1920. He became an American citizen in 1937, and is a member of the Early Birds . His Blériot airplane is still on public view and is the only Blériot at the National Air And Space Museum, Washington. He was the sixth man on earth to "loop the loop". He was not an engineer or a discoverer, but a good stunt pilot who earned money while barnstorming. He died old for a stunt pilot of this pre-war time. He never flew in Switzerland ... but was born where I live today. |
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Via email from Gian Picco, 10-19-05 |
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Via email from Gian Picco, 11-21-05 Extracted from the website, Le site des pionniers de l'aéronautique à Genève Domejoz's mention is interesting in this context, because it raises the question, whether Monsieur Jean-Claude has found further information that suggests that the aviator did fly in Switzerland, or whether his more recent note suggests that he decided to go abroad for pilot training, after his application to the Swiss Air Corps was either turned down or ignored for too long. Gian |
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"The Owls Head Transportation Museum has one of the finest collections of pioneer-era aircraft and automobiles in the world. More than 100 historic aircraft, automobiles, bicycles, carriages and engines are on permanent display. The Aircraft Collection contains replicas and originals representing the first century of flight, from Cayley’s unmanned glider (1804) to the legendary Curtiss Jenny of the barnstorming era. An outstanding collection of automobiles spans the late 19th Century and early 20th century, and includes the 1963 Prototype Mustang and a 1935 Stout Scarab (called the world’s first mini-van, one of only six ever made).' I heartily recommend that you visit the homepage and take advantage of viewing photos, with explanatory notes, of some 28 examples of aircraft from 1804 to 1946. If time permits, you will also be rewarded by checking the other types of vehicles and engines in the collection. |
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From The Early Birds of Aviation Roster of Members January 1, 1993 If you have any information on this Early Bird, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper Back 
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