Fall Discovery Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/29/2014
Important and Rare for Military Balloon(Dirigable) Pilot and Aviation Pioneer who became a Major General in The Air Force. In 1924, he was the pilot of the first airship to launch and pick up an airplane while in flight, at Wilbur Wright Field.
Air Force Major General Edmund W. Hill (April 26, 1896[1] – May 1, 1973)was an American aviation pioneer who served in the military in both world wars
Born in New London, Connecticut, Hill attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, then was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army's infantry on August 9, 1917, and promoted to first lieutenant on the same day.After serving in France during World War I, he was transferred to the Air Service on February 25, 1922.
He was a free and captive balloon pilot, flew dirigible airships and was an airplane pilot. In 1924, he was the pilot of the first airship to launch and pick up an airplane while in flight, at Wilbur Wright Field. His 1928 balloon license (number 25; FAI number 930) was one of very few signed by Orville Wright, in his capacity as Chairman of the National Aeronautic Association's Contest Committee.
He was commander of Bolling Field in Washington DC from 1939-1941, then of U.S. Air Forces in Northern Ireland, and the Eighth Air Force Composite Command during World War II. He was in charge of air operations at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences. In 1944, he was U.S. Army Air Force commanding officer in charge of Post Hostilities planning for Europe.
The same year, he became head of the Air Section of the United States mission to Moscow, then served as commanding general, U.S. Air Force in the U.S.S.R. from December 1944 until May 1945.United States of America “annual sporting license,” number 25, issued to Edmund W. Hill by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale for the year of 1928, two pages, measuring 4.75 x 4 open, signed at the bottom of the left side by Wright. License is filled out in type, authorizing Hill for “Type of Aircraft: Spherical Balloon,” and bears an affixed 1.5 x 1.75 portrait of Hill wearing a aviation jacket with his flying wings attached. In fine condition, with an embossed seal over a portion of signature
Orville Wright Pilots License
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