John Armstrong Drexel
Encyclopedia
John Armstrong Drexel was an American
aviation pioneer. With William McArtle, he founded the New Forest Flying School at East Boldre
, the second school for pilots in Great Britain and the fifth in the world. On August 12, 1910, he set the world altitude record of 6,750 feet in a Blériot
monoplane. During World War I, he flew with the French Lafayette Escadrille
until 1917. He was subsequently commissioned Major in the aviation section of the U.S. Signal Service, serving until the end of the war.
Drexel was the grandson of Anthony Joseph Drexel, millionaire banker and founder of Drexel University
. He was also a relative of Katharine Drexel
, a nun who was later made a Roman Catholic Saint.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aviation pioneer. With William McArtle, he founded the New Forest Flying School at East Boldre
East Boldre
East Boldre is a linear village and civil parish situated near Lymington, Hampshire, England. East Boldre is surrounded by the New Forest and forms part of the district of New Forest....
, the second school for pilots in Great Britain and the fifth in the world. On August 12, 1910, he set the world altitude record of 6,750 feet in a Blériot
Blériot Aéronautique
Blériot Aéronautique was a French aircraft manufacturer founded by Louis Blériot. It also made a few cyclecars from 1921 to 1922.After Louis Blériot became famous for being the first to fly over the English Channel in 1909, he established an aircraft manufacturing company. This company really took...
monoplane. During World War I, he flew with the French Lafayette Escadrille
Lafayette Escadrille
The Lafayette Escadrille , was an escadrille of the French Air Service, the Aéronautique militaire, during World War I composed largely of American volunteer pilots flying fighters.-History:Dr. Edmund L...
until 1917. He was subsequently commissioned Major in the aviation section of the U.S. Signal Service, serving until the end of the war.
Drexel was the grandson of Anthony Joseph Drexel, millionaire banker and founder of Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
. He was also a relative of Katharine Drexel
Katharine Drexel
Saint Katharine Drexel, S.B.S., was an American Religious Sister, heiress, philanthropist and educator, later canonized as a Roman Catholic saint.-Life and religious work:...
, a nun who was later made a Roman Catholic Saint.