Len Morgan
Encyclopedia
A. G. Leonard Morgan was an American
aviator
and writer
.
and graduated high school in Kentucky
in spring, 1941, whereupon he left for Canada to volunteer for the Royal Canadian Air Force
. After the attack on Pearl Harbor
and the U.S.' entry into World War II
, he transferred to the United States Army Air Forces
in Egypt and flew in Africa and the Middle East. He attended college following the war and continued flying for the Kentucky National Guard, one of whose P-51
Mustangs he "borrowed" to go to a short-notice job interview with the young Braniff International Airways
in Dallas in 1949. Morgan flew for Braniff for a 33 year career. He rose to the captaincy of every aircraft type the airline flew during that period, from the Douglas DC-3
to the Boeing 747
.
During and after his airline career, Morgan wrote over 30 books and hundreds of magazine articles on a wide variety of aviation subjects. His monthly column, "Vectors," was a prominent feature of Flying magazine for over 20 years. An accomplished storyteller, he wrote not only of airplanes but also shared gentle wisdom about the people and experiences he encountered over his flying career. Richard L. Collins
, former editor of Flying
magazine, eulogized, "[Morgan] was as eloquent as anything ever published in Flying. . . In his last "Vectors" column in 1999, Len closed with a reflection on his bond with the readers. 'So, good friends, it was good knowing all of you. Goodbye, wherever you are.'" http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp?section_id=11&article_id=559&page_number=1
"An airplane might disappoint any pilot, but it'll never surprise a good one."
"Watching the Dallas Cowboys perform, it is not difficult to believe that coach Tom Landry flew four-engine bombers during World War II. He was in B-17 Flying Fortresses out of England, they say. His cautious, conservative approach to every situation and the complexity of the plays he sends in do seem to reflect the philosophy of a pilot trained to doggedly press on according to plans laid down before takeoff. I sometimes wonder how the Cowboys would have fared all these years had Tom flown fighters in combat situations which dictated continually changing tactics."
"Margaret [is] the loving centerpiece of all that matters. Her love and encouragement for 60 years are the foundation of anything I have accomplished. I have been truly blessed."
"There are two kinds of men in this world: the selfish ones that just want to make a name for themselves, and the generous people that just want to make a difference."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Biography
Morgan was born in IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and graduated high school in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in spring, 1941, whereupon he left for Canada to volunteer for the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
. After the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
and the U.S.' entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he transferred to the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
in Egypt and flew in Africa and the Middle East. He attended college following the war and continued flying for the Kentucky National Guard, one of whose P-51
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
Mustangs he "borrowed" to go to a short-notice job interview with the young Braniff International Airways
Braniff International Airways
Braniff International Airways was an American airline that operated from 1928 until 1982, primarily in the midwestern and southwestern U.S., South America, Panama, and in its later years also Asia and Europe...
in Dallas in 1949. Morgan flew for Braniff for a 33 year career. He rose to the captaincy of every aircraft type the airline flew during that period, from the Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
to the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
.
During and after his airline career, Morgan wrote over 30 books and hundreds of magazine articles on a wide variety of aviation subjects. His monthly column, "Vectors," was a prominent feature of Flying magazine for over 20 years. An accomplished storyteller, he wrote not only of airplanes but also shared gentle wisdom about the people and experiences he encountered over his flying career. Richard L. Collins
Richard L. Collins
Richard Lawrence Collins is an American aviation author and journalist.Collins earned his private pilot license in 1952 and has since logged over 20,000 hours in general aviation airplanes...
, former editor of Flying
Flying (magazine)
Flying is an aviation magazine published since 1927 . It is read by pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation-oriented executives in business and general aviation markets worldwide....
magazine, eulogized, "[Morgan] was as eloquent as anything ever published in Flying. . . In his last "Vectors" column in 1999, Len closed with a reflection on his bond with the readers. 'So, good friends, it was good knowing all of you. Goodbye, wherever you are.'" http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp?section_id=11&article_id=559&page_number=1
Personal life
Morgan married Margaret, in the early 1940s. They have two children: son Terry, and daughter Kathy. Len was the brother of David P. Morgan, editor of Trains magazine.Quotations
"The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes. Me, I'd rather fly.""An airplane might disappoint any pilot, but it'll never surprise a good one."
"Watching the Dallas Cowboys perform, it is not difficult to believe that coach Tom Landry flew four-engine bombers during World War II. He was in B-17 Flying Fortresses out of England, they say. His cautious, conservative approach to every situation and the complexity of the plays he sends in do seem to reflect the philosophy of a pilot trained to doggedly press on according to plans laid down before takeoff. I sometimes wonder how the Cowboys would have fared all these years had Tom flown fighters in combat situations which dictated continually changing tactics."
"Margaret [is] the loving centerpiece of all that matters. Her love and encouragement for 60 years are the foundation of anything I have accomplished. I have been truly blessed."
"There are two kinds of men in this world: the selfish ones that just want to make a name for themselves, and the generous people that just want to make a difference."