1893-1960 |
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Photo courtesy of Kathie Kessler Notes from Kathie: This photo came from my husbands grandparents I believe in a box with some other pictures. I don't know if anyone knows how it came to be there, or why they had it. There was another one of a man on an old motorcycle but there is no name on that picture. The only thing I can think of is my husbands great grandfather was a photographer in Milwaukee.. (John Jacksch 1884-1977) , which is within the same time period as the photo.. (which is actually on a postcard- unused). |
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Collection of Walter E. Lees |
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Curtiss Flying School, Class of 1912: 1. Floyd E. Barlow 2.
John G. Kaminski 3. Smith 4. W.A. Davis 5. Roy B. Russell 6. Mohan M. Singh 7. John Lansing Callan 8. Julia Clark 9. M. Dunlap 10. Kono Takeshi Curtiss Museum Photo, Callan Collection |
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If you search the net for "John G. Kaminski", using Google, you will find about 14 links. Among the most helpful are the following: |
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You will find that John G. Kaminski was inducted in the year 2000, Pioneer. You can read his biography by clicking on his name |
Kaminski, John G., 1893-1960.Papers, 1912-1960.Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 1461 cubic ft. (1 archives box, 1 oversize box, and 6 oversize folders)ABSTRACT: Papers of a Polish-American aviator, stunt pilot, and the first licensed pilot in Wisconsin, mainly documenting the period of his active career, 1912-1919. Includes correspondence and contracts with the Curtiss Exhibition Company concerning exhibition flights; and broadsides, newsclippings, and numerous photographs and newsclippings documenting his flights. The photographs are mostly of Kaminski and his Curtiss Model D pusher aircraft "Sweetheart," taken between 1912-1914 at public exhibitions or flight training schools. Also includes some photos of Kaminski's crash at the Milwaukee Yacht Club in June 1915 and at Tomahawk, Wisconsin on 4 July 1914; and of his aircraft and fellow pilots in the 7th Aero Squadron stationed in Panama during World War I. Collection also contains correspondence, newsclippings, and interviews concerning Kaminski's participation in events marking the fiftieth anniversary of powered flight in 1953.
Collection also includes memorabilia, such as Kaminski's flying hood and the pennant which
hung on his plane. The period 1920-1950 is almost completely undocumented in the collection. ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, however, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection. ACQUISITION: Mr. George Hardie donated the collection to the Milwaukee Urban Archives in February 1991. The Milwaukee Urban Archives transferred the collection to the State Historical Society in June 1992 (accession number M91-244). PROCESSING: Kyle Krause and Michael Klawitter processed the collection between May and August 1991 at the Milwaukee Urban Archives. SCOPE AND CONTENT: Papers of the first Polish-American aviator and the first licensed pilot in Wisconsin, a stunt flyer whose career spanned from 1912-1919 until he was grounded by deteriorating eyesight. The period 1920-1950 is almost completely undocumented in the collection. Includes correspondence and contracts with the Curtis Exhibition Company, for whom Kaminski worked, concerning exhibition flights; and broadsides, newsclippings, and numerous photographs documenting his flights. Most of the collection was originally kept together in Kaminski's scrapbooks, which were in very poor physical condition. The scrapbooks were photocopied, and documents and photographs were removed. The scrapbooks were disposed of after copying. Each photograph was sequentially numbered, as was the original location in the photocopied scrapbooks. The photographs were arranged by their sequential number. The collection also contains a photograph file that was not part of the scrapbooks. The photographs taken at a particular event were normally kept together in the scrapbooks, but they were sometimes scattered and in no logical order. Many of the photographs were not identified, but most can be recognized by using Kaminski's available notes on the back of pictures and looking at newsclippings in the photocopied scrapbooks. The photographs are mostly of Kaminski and his Curtiss Model D pusher aircraft "Sweetheart," taken between 1912-1914 at public exhibitions, especially at Tomahawk, Wisconsin and High Point, North Carolina. Other photographs include students and planes at the Milwaukee School and College of Aviation and the Silver Lake Aviation School in Cuyahoga, Ohio. There are some photos of Kaminski's crash at the Milwaukee Yacht Club in June 1915 and at Tomahawk, Wisconsin on 4 July 1914. Other photographs exist of his aircraft and fellow pilots in the 7th Aero Squadron during World War I, including the aircraft Kaminski flew in the first airmail flight across Panama. The collection also contains correspondence, newsclippings, and photographs concerning Kaminski's participation in events marking the fiftieth anniversary of powered flight in 1953. There is a script and several photos of Kaminski's 25 May 1955 interview on WTMJ TV's "Man Next Door Program," and his transcripts of his interview with George Hardie in September 1955. The collection also includes some memorabilia, such as Kaminski's goggles, flying hood, and the pennant which hung on his plane. The advertising posters and pennant are maintained in oversized folders.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Kaminski was the 121st licensed pilot in the world, the first pilot in Wisconsin, and the first known Polish-American pilot. He flew exhibition flights for the Curtiss Exhibition Company from 1912-15, and served in the 7th Aero Squadron, which was based in Panama, during World War I. His eyesight was permanently damaged when he was splashed with gasoline, and was grounded in 1919. Kaminski worked for the Post Office in Milwaukee until his retirement in 1955.
Editor's Note: This page reproduces the Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 146 which describes the contents referring to John G. Kaminski. It is summarized in the Aviation Collections of the Milwaukee Urban Archive. The Archive is located at the Golda Meir Library at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Each site may be accessed by clicking on the name. |
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Contributed by "Mary", 6-11-10 I am a NE Ohio local history buff. In the course of researching Silver Lake Park in Summit County, Ohio, I came across an article describing the airport and aviation school that operated at Silver Lake in the early 1900s. I also found a reference to an accident there involving John Kaminski. I don't know whether you have this information already, but I am sending it along just in case it is helpful to you. The Village of Silver Lake Web Site, which has excerpts from memoirs written by the assistant manager from the Silver Lake park. In the Silver Lake airport section he describes aviation in the park - including several accidents in the lake including one involving a "John Cominsky" which I believe is your John G. Kaminski. If you don't like clicking on links, you can find the site by Googling the official web site for the Village of Silver Lake Ohio, then clicking on the "residents" drop-down menu, and going to Village History. Once you enter the Village History web site, you will see a list of historical topics. Somewhere near the top is a link for Silver Lake Airport. Hope this is helpful to your research. Best wishes - Mary |
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Editor's Note: If you have any information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper |
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