PERCY GEORGE BROCKHURST MORRISS 1885-1944 AKA P. G. B. Morriss & Bud Morriss

P. G. B. MORRISS from CHIRP - JUNE, 1937

Bud Morriss Flying Hotel      He must have had ideas about being an A-1 innkeeper even back in the days when the Early Birds still were tugging at the worm, for here we see P. G. B. "Bud" Morriss searching his pockets for the key to his flying hotel, a late model Benoist.      Clifford A. Presley has recognized the picture as having been taken at Kinlock Field in 1911 from CHIRP - SATURDAY AUGUST 17, 1935 - DETROIT MICH. courtesy of Steve Remington - CollectAir

 

Tony Stadlman & Bud Morriss THIS is an authentic photograph taken in Grand Rapids, 1915 of P. G. B. (Bud) Morriss at the Controls of his Benoist Flying Boat, accompanied by his Chief mechanician, Tony Stadlman, who later became Superintendent of the Lockheed Airplane Company in Burbank. Contributed by Susanne Ohmes, 1-25-11

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES via email from Clifford A. Presley, 10-9-07 Morriss was born in England 1885. He lived in Redditch, England and apprenticed as a Seaman at the age of 15 before moving to the United States and becoming an Aviator. Morriss was one of the early pioneers in aviation. In 1910 along with J.A.D. McCurdy he was the first to establish wireless communication while in flight with the Marconi System. Later the same year he learned to fly a Bleriot in England, and then joined the Curzon aviators. In 1914 he operated a flying boat service on the Chicago lake front, and in the same year was managing editor of Aero & Hydro, an aviation weekly paper. In 1915 he opened the Bud Morriss Flying School in Chicago.

BUD MORRISS AIRPLANE SCHOOL CHICAGO, 1916 Contributed by Susanne Ohmes, 1-25-11

His next venture was with the Benoist Aeroplane Co. of St. Louis where he remained until 1916, serving successively as assistant pilot and instructor, Chief instructor, and finally as vice-president and sales engineer. In 1917 he served as a member of the Chicago Aero Commission. During the First World War he enlisted as a seaman in the Navy, in which he served for 18 months. Upon discharge Morriss was executive officer of aviation schools at a naval air station. Morriss had many adventures following the war, including playing a role in the development of commercial airlines, and starting the Early Bird's Aviator Club. The flying club consisted of early flyers who flew solo before December 17, 1916 P. G. B. Morris (Founder & President the 1st Year) Morriss was also very much into entertainment and after entering the Radio broadcasting field, he organized the "Smith Family" in which Joe Warner of the Warner Bros. was a part of. After settling in Los Angeles and acting in some movies, Morriss managed the Clark Hotel in which he hosted a ton of the early celebrities and his fellow Early Bird's companions. Cheers, Cliff Presley Charlotte, NC

FIRST EARLY BIRD MEETING      P. G. B. Morriss was at the first meeting of the Early Birds and was elected President of the group. For the whole story, just click on the title above.

 

P. G. B. Morriss died in 1944 From The Early Birds of Aviation Roster of Members January 1, 1993   Editor's Note: If you have any information on this Early Bird, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper   Back