100th Anniversary of an Early Aviator's Death in Alabama.

Wright Brothers flight in Montgomery

     

     It is interesting that The Wright Brothers established an early aviation school in Montgomery on property that would become Maxwell Air Force Base. 
      Another early aviator started his own flying school in Mobile.   
      O.E. Williams in fact died there in just about the only accident he ever had flying. The culprit? He stuck an anthill, no doubt a red ant hill, on this day 100 years ago, killing him. His death came just days before he was set to begin building aircraft for the U.S. Government mail service.



BIOGRAPHY
via email from Nancy Mess, 1-18-06
Niece of O. E Williams O. E. Williams, a.k.a. Osbert Edwin Williams, constructed a Curtiss-type plane late in 1911 and began flying it Jan 1912 with Lake Scranton as his aviation field. Each flight experienced design changes by he and his wife, Inez (Blessing) Williams, and by March 1912 the design of the plane became his own. Williams was considered one of Pennsylvania's most active aviators. By summer 1912 Williams frequently carried passengers on flights in the Scranton Wilkes-Barre region. Williams seemed far more ambitious and knowledgeable than most early fliers. In 1912, he began selling his airplanes, and Spring 1913 started his own flight school. In this time-frame he developed "the Williams U-tube speedometer", an adaptation of the pitot tube for accurate airspeed measurement in aircraft. Although not absolutely proven nor disproved, his advertised design is what became the industry standard for measuring airspeed until more modern measurement accomplished by heat displacement.

By Fall 1913 Williams built an advanced tractor biplane as well as participating in the THE NEW YORK TIMES's Aerial Derby, the feature of Oakwood Heights Aeronautical Society meet on Staten Island to commemorate the first flight of the late Wilbur Wright in a power driven aeroplane. Late 1914 Williams moved his school, exhibitions, sales and manufacturing to Fenton, Michigan, approx. 60 miles from his birthplace of Dexter, Michigan. While in Michigan, Williams's ambition grew stronger and so did his endeavors. His school grew significantly with his licensed pilots contracted with the Patterson Aviators, of Detroit, offering patriotic exhibitions throughout a larger portion of the US for 1915 and 1916. (Many of those flights are recorded in the first airplane airmails history of the US). Late in 1916, Williams was seeking a southern location to enable his efforts to continue throughout the year. 

He chose a 53-acre farm near Mobile, Alabama to start another school and manufacturing facility. Williams, his wife Inez, along with two of their children, Ralph and Sarah, established their southern aviation location. By Spring 1917 Williams resumed recruitment of new students and continued his exhibitions. He had secured a contract with the US government to build 12 of the Williams aeroplanes with manufacturing to commence on Nov 1. On Oct 25, 1917.

Williams experienced a fatality during his descent when his aircraft struck an anthill.

Osbert E. Williams contributed much to the early progress of American aviation history. Starting at a more advanced age than most of the birdmen of that era, he practically taught himself to fly on self-built aircraft devised by trial and error. Considered a safe, careful aviator, he had few accidents until the serious one that cost him his life. He taught a number of students to fly, many of whom went on to noteworthy flying careers, including four who became officers in WWI.

Amazon offers a book about him written by his Great-Niece.