Robertson Aircraft Corporation
Encyclopedia
Robertson Aircraft Coroporation was a post-World War I
American aviation service company based at the Lambert-St. Louis Flying Field near St. Louis, Missouri, that flew passengers and U.S. Air Mail
, gave flying lessons, and performed exhibition flights. It also modified, re-manufactured, and resold surplus military aircraft including Standard J, Curtiss Jenny/Canuck
, DeHavilland DH-4, Curtiss Oriole, Spad, Waco
, and Travel Air
types in addition to Curtiss OX-5
engines.
RAC also operated facilities in Kansas City, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, and Fort Wayne. The company was owned and operated by brothers Maj. William B. Robertson
(1893-1943) and Frank H. Robertson (1898-1938) who were both former US Army aviators. William Robertson left the company in 1928 to form the Curtiss-Robertson
division of Curtiss-Wright
to produce aircraft such as the Curtiss Robin
, which RAC sold.
On April 15, 1926, Robertson Aircraft started Contract Air Mail service over route CAM-2 from Lambert Field to Chicago with Charles Lindbergh
as chief pilot for the service. RAC started service with four converted DH-4 aircraft (#s 109-112) acquired from the U.S. Postal Service's Air Mail fleet two of which were lost in accidents in September and November, 1926, while being piloted by Lindbergh. RAC added service over CAM-29 between St.Louis and Omaha in May 1929. Flight operations were bought by The Aviation Corporation
in 1930, merging into American Airways in 1934, eventually becoming American Airlines
.
The 1957 motion picture The Spirit of St. Louis
featured an RAC DH-4 mailplane in flying sequences as well as Maj. Robertson (played by James Robertson, Jr.) and company Air Mail pilots Lindbergh (James Stewart
) and Harlan A. "Bud" Gurney (Murray Hamilton
) among its characters.
military troop and cargo transport glider built under license by RAC crashed at Lambert Field in St. Louis during a demonstration flight when its right wing separated shortly after it had been released at 3,000 feet by its Army C-47 tow plane killing all ten on board including St. Louis Mayor William D. Becker
, RAC President Maj. William B. Robertson, and VP/Chief Engineer Harold A. Krueger. Maj. Robertson's then 17-year old son, James, had been a passenger on a successful test flight of the glider made immediately before the fatal flight.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
American aviation service company based at the Lambert-St. Louis Flying Field near St. Louis, Missouri, that flew passengers and U.S. Air Mail
Airmails of the United States
Airmails of the United States or U.S. Air Mail relates to the servicing of flown mails by the U.S. postal system within the United States, its possessions, and/or territories, marked as "Via Air Mail" , appropriately franked, and afforded any then existing class or sub-class of U.S...
, gave flying lessons, and performed exhibition flights. It also modified, re-manufactured, and resold surplus military aircraft including Standard J, Curtiss Jenny/Canuck
Curtiss JN-4
The Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" was one of a series of "JN" biplanes built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of Hammondsport, New York, later the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. Although the Curtiss JN series was originally produced as a training aircraft for the U.S...
, DeHavilland DH-4, Curtiss Oriole, Spad, Waco
Waco Aircraft Company
The Waco Aircraft Company was an aircraft manufacturer located in Troy, Ohio, USA. Between 1919 and 1947, the company produced a wide range of civilian biplanes....
, and Travel Air
Travel Air
The Travel Air Manufacturing Company was an aircraft manufacturer established in Wichita, Kansas in the United States in January 1925 by Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech, and Lloyd Stearman.-Company history:...
types in addition to Curtiss OX-5
Curtiss OX-5
-Bibliography:* Angle, Glenn D., AEROSPHERE 1939. New York: Aircraft Publications, 1940.* Gunston, Bill, World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Somerset: Haynes Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1-85260-509-X...
engines.
RAC also operated facilities in Kansas City, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, and Fort Wayne. The company was owned and operated by brothers Maj. William B. Robertson
William B. Robertson
Major William Bryan Robertson was an American aviator and aviation executive who was the co-founder of Lambert-St. Louis Flying Field as well as the owner and President of Robertson Aircraft Corporation located there, a company which he had co-founded with his brother, Frank, in 1918.RAC...
(1893-1943) and Frank H. Robertson (1898-1938) who were both former US Army aviators. William Robertson left the company in 1928 to form the Curtiss-Robertson
Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company
Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company was a American aircraft manufacturer formed to build the Curtiss Robin aircraft.The company was founded on November 9, 1927 with a funding of $500,000. Initial production of its Curtiss Robin aircraft was at a factory in Garden City, Long Island....
division of Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
to produce aircraft such as the Curtiss Robin
Curtiss Robin
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947. London: Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.-External links:* * ****...
, which RAC sold.
As an airline
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
as chief pilot for the service. RAC started service with four converted DH-4 aircraft (#s 109-112) acquired from the U.S. Postal Service's Air Mail fleet two of which were lost in accidents in September and November, 1926, while being piloted by Lindbergh. RAC added service over CAM-29 between St.Louis and Omaha in May 1929. Flight operations were bought by The Aviation Corporation
Avco
Avco Corporation is a subsidiary of Textron which operates Textron Systems Corporation and Lycoming.-Brief history:The Embry-Riddle Company created the Aviation Corporation in 1928 as a holding company tasked with acquiring small airlines...
in 1930, merging into American Airways in 1934, eventually becoming American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
.
The 1957 motion picture The Spirit of St. Louis
The Spirit of St. Louis (film)
The Spirit of St. Louis is a 1957 biographical film directed by Billy Wilder and starring James Stewart as Charles Lindbergh. The screenplay was adapted by Charles Lederer, Wendell Mayes, and Billy Wilder from Lindbergh's 1953 autobiographical account of his historic flight, which won the Pulitzer...
featured an RAC DH-4 mailplane in flying sequences as well as Maj. Robertson (played by James Robertson, Jr.) and company Air Mail pilots Lindbergh (James Stewart
James Stewart
James Stewart was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart may also refer to:-Noblemen:*James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland*James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn James Stewart (1908–1997) was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart...
) and Harlan A. "Bud" Gurney (Murray Hamilton
Murray Hamilton
Murray Hamilton was an American stage, screen, and television actor who appeared in such memorable films as The Hustler, The Graduate and Jaws.-Early life:...
) among its characters.
Production
On August 1, 1943, a WACO CG-4AWaco CG-4
The Waco CG-4 was the most widely used United States troop/cargo military glider of World War II. It was designated the CG-4 by the United States Army Air Forces, and named Hadrian in British military service....
military troop and cargo transport glider built under license by RAC crashed at Lambert Field in St. Louis during a demonstration flight when its right wing separated shortly after it had been released at 3,000 feet by its Army C-47 tow plane killing all ten on board including St. Louis Mayor William D. Becker
William D. Becker
William Dee Becker was the thirty-fifth Mayor of St. Louis, from 1941 to 1943....
, RAC President Maj. William B. Robertson, and VP/Chief Engineer Harold A. Krueger. Maj. Robertson's then 17-year old son, James, had been a passenger on a successful test flight of the glider made immediately before the fatal flight.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco CG-4 (license built) Waco CG-4 The Waco CG-4 was the most widely used United States troop/cargo military glider of World War II. It was designated the CG-4 by the United States Army Air Forces, and named Hadrian in British military service.... |
170 | Combat Glider | |
| B1-RD Robertson B1-RD -External links:***... |
Ultralight aircraft | ||