1900-1932 |
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late 1920's from the Museum of Buford Courtesy of Lynn A. Bowman, 10-11-07 |
via email from Rebecca Bradshaw, 10-23-07 I've been researching Bonnie Rowe for the past year, and have been lucky enough to become close friends with his son, Bonnie Rowe, Jr. I have many, many original documents, recorded family stories, etc. from Mr. Rowe, with the plans of someday writing a book about Bonnie Rowe. I've already published a few short accounts about him in an aviation newsletter, and in the Gwinnet Co. historical society paper. If you get the GBA channel on TV, (Georgia Public Broadcasting), you may have had a chance to see Mr. Rowe, Jr. on a documentary last night titled "The South Takes Flight." There was a huge section about Bonnie, Sr.--it was thrilling to see! Bonnie's part of the documentary was filmed out in Peachtree City, where Ron Alexander and several others are creating a reproduction of Candler Field--Bonnie, Sr's old stomping grounds (or jumping grounds, I should say!).There is going to be a museum on site, and a section of it will be dedicated to Bonnie. According to his son, motorcycles were the one thing Bonnie was afraid of. Nope, he was just a daredevil, who, from childhood on, wasn't afraid of most anything. He was well known in Buford as a kid for standing on his head on top of the town water tower! As an adult he'd supplement his parachuting, wing walking income by standing on his head on water towers in small towns across the South. (That's how he met Bonnie Jr's mother, BTW--she nursed him after he fell from a tower in Gastonia, NC.) BTW, the mistake about the Bonnie being a motorcycle daredevil is a common one. His son tells me it was probably Bonnie's younger brother who wreaked such havoc in Buford,. Apparently the Rowe boys were all a little wild! One last clarification--Bonnie was actually hanging on the crossbeam (there's a technical term for it, but I don't know what it is), practicing for an upcoming exhibition. Apparently he just couldn't pull himself back up (his son thinks it was because of the many, many broken bones he'd sustained over the years), and finally just had to let go. Thank you, Rebecca Bradshaw Buford, GA |
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from History of Hapeville, Georgia Courtesy of Bill McElhannon, 1-12-07 |
extract from the book History of Hapeville, Georgia Courtesy of Bill McElhannon, 1-12-07 Barnstorming seemed to circulate in his veins. He became a leading daredevil--parachute jumping, wing walking and acrobatics while stunting. He was a star performer with the Mabel Cody Flying Circus for several years. He performed with Doug Davis' Flying Circus in the mid 20's. He jumped in practically every state in the Union, particularly the Southeast, performing in any town that afforded a landing field. In 1929, Bonnie won first prize at the Cleveland Air Races, for the delayed-opening parachute jump, against 31 of the world's greatest daredevils. He held the world's record of more than 12,000 jumps.." Editor's Note:You can read the rest of his story in the book, History of Hapeville. You may be able to find a few copies for sale by searching the net. There may also be a copy available through your library. The article offers several other photographs of him and stories of other notable pioneer aviators. |
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aircraft wings struts, 1920's from History of Hapeville, Georgia Courtesy of Bill McElhannon, 1-12-07 |
via email from Keith Humphrey Bonnie Rowe was buried in his home town of Buford, GA. On his headstone is a man on the wing of a plane. Wish I knew more. Keith Humphrey |
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via email from Keith Humphrey, 12-20-06 I found some info you might be interested in, It seems Richard Curley Burns married Mabel Cody. I found a site (which I lost) telling about Mabel Cody being in a crash in Jacksonville, FL. and her filming some of her shows. (I would love to see them!) It named Curley Burns as her promoter and husband. Curley was involved in aviation by 1928 when he, Slim Culpepper, Louise Tisdale (later married Slim) and Bonnie Rowe started a flying circus in Georgia. I also did a little research on Bonnie Rowe during Thanksgiving. My uncle, who is in his 80's, remembers his cousin. My uncle says he was a daredevil before he started wing walking. He was a legend around Buford for a while, but most of those who could remember him are dead or in their upper 80s. |
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2 WHEREAS, pioneer pilot Doug Davis, Sr., trained under the 3 direction and guidance of Wilbur (1867-1912) and Orville 4 (1871-1948) Wright, American aviational pioneers, with the 5 first powered flight. During this time he became a friend 6 to these giants of American history, and Orville Wright 7 signed Doug's pilot's certificate; and 8 WHEREAS, Doug Davis, Sr., had a flying circus, thrilling 9 people with stunts such as wing walking and parachute 10 jumping. One stunt involved picking up Bonnie Rowe, his 11 parachute jumper, from the top of a fast moving train. By 12 the time Doug had done this stunt, he had joined the flying 13 circus of Mabel Cody, who was the niece of Buffalo Bill 14 Cody; and 15 WHEREAS, Doug was Eastern Airlines' first captain and no 16 stranger to the boys who started Delta Airlines. Doug also 17 flew the first commercial airline flight from Atlanta to New 18 York, and in the National Air and Space Museum in 19 Washington, D.C., his statue stands by "Eddie" Rickenbacker 20 (1890-1973), American aviator, World War I ace flyer, and 21 businessman; and 22 WHEREAS, Doug opened the first hangar on Candler Field; by 23 that, he offered Atlanta's first air training school and the 24 first charter service. Today, from that very spot, one can 25 look a short distance and view the big jets as they come and 26 go from the William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International 27 Airport. Doug saw the vision of the Atlanta airport as a 28 crossroads to the world, and on his field, Doug offered a 29 clay runway where his friend, Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, 30 came through. |
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Buford, Georgia Collection of Keith Humphrey, 11-21-06 |
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If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper Back 
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