1932 Newspaper Abstracts

The Times Picayune, New Orleans, LA, Wed., Aug. 24, 1932:
p. 3, c. 4 -

THREE LOUISIANA
        PLANES SOAR OFF
                TO JOIN IN DERBY
        ---------------
Wedell, Heaslip and Turner
   Pilot Entrants from
         State
         -----
        Flying in formation, three Louisiana built airplanes soared away
from the Wedell-Williams airport at Patterson Tuesday afternoon for Los
Angeles where they will be entered in the transcontinental air derby
scheduled to start Saturday from the California city to Cleveland.
        Piloting the three planes were James R. "Jimmy" Wedell, who will
represent Lousiana in the speed race with a low-winged monoplane, the
"Miss Patterson," James Heazlip, World war ace of St.Louis, and Colonel
Roscoe Turner, veteran Pacific coast flier.
        Taking off shortly before 4 p.m., Mr. Wedell said they intended
making several stops en route to Los Angeles.

                "Built in Patterson"
        The three ships were built at the Wedell-Williams plant at
Patterson under the supervision of Mr. Wedell.  The trio of planes that
are winging their way toward the west coast are powered with
Pratt-Whitney wasp junior motors with original 300-horsepower engines.
They have been stepped up to 525-horsepower, however, officials of the
plant here said.
        Mr. Wedell will compete with some of the country's outstanding
racing pilots.  For several days, the widely known New Orleans and
Paterson aviator has been putting the "Miss Patterson" through speed
trials.  On his arrival at Cleveland he will enter other events of the
1932 National Air Races.

                Water Supply Important
        Since the first jump out of Los Angeles is across the edge of the
California desert and other rugged mountains, the contestants will be
instructed to carry an ample water supply in case of forced landings.
        In addition to Wedell, Heazlip and Turner, entrants in the
Benedix trophy race will include Major James H. Doolittle, holder of the
transcontinental speed record; Russell Thaw, son of Harry K. Thaw; G.H.
Gotch, Los Angeles and Claire Vance, Oakland air mail pilot.
        Colonel Turner, who will fly one of the Wedell-Williams built
ships, is a former holder of the transcontinental record.


The Times Picayune, New Orleans, LA, Sun., Oct. 2, 1932:
p. 14, c. 4 -

TESTIMONIAL DINNER
        FOR FLIERS PLANNED

        A testimonial dinner in honor of James C. Haizlip, Jimmy Wedell
and Colonel Roscoe Turner, winners respectively of first, second and
thrid place in the recent trancontinental air derby, will be planned at a
meeting of the aeronautics bureau of the Association of Commerce to be
held at 12:45 p.m. Monday in the Association of Commerce building.
        The Bendix trophy will be presented to the fliers at this dinner.
All three aviators are from Louisiana.


The Weekly Corinthian, Vol. XXXVII #49, Dec. 8, 1932:
p. 7, c. 5 -

        Mrs. Robert Turner and Mrs. W. B. Wilson left for Los
Angeles where they will visit in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe Turner.
The four sons of Mrs. Turner are having a part in getting the mother and
aunt across the country.  Abe Turner carried them from here to Lee High,
Ark.  Cass took them from there to Texarkana.  Robert, then took them to
El Paso where they were met by Roscoe.  He carried them on to Los
Angeles.


The Times Picayune, New Orleans, LA, Thur., Dec. 22, 1932:
p. 6, c. 5 -

PICTURE:  [CAPTION: Visiting Airman Lauds Wedell.  Colonel Roscoe Turner,
          right, famous airplane racer, and C.P.Sully of the Warner
          Brothers studios, Los Angeles, who arrived in New Orleans
          Wednesday. Colonel Turner had warm praise for James R. Wedell.]


SPEED PILOT HERE
        HEADED FOR WEST
        --------
Col. Roscoe Turner Tells
   of Narrow Escape
        in Fog
        ------
        Fighting the fog, practically all the way, Colonel Roscoe Turner,
famed speed flier, arrived in New Orleans from New York Wednesday en
route to Los Angeles with a story of a narrow escape as he piloted his
plane into Atlanta Tuesday.
        Colonel Turner last November 16 flew a plane designed by James R.
"Jimmy" Wedell, New Orleans aviator, from New York to Burbank, Cal., in
12 hours 33 minutes to break the transcontinental record held formerly by
Captain Frank Hawks by more than two hours.
        With him on the present trip is C.P.Sully, exploitation director
for the Warner Brothers studios on the West coast, which has engaged
Turner as technical advisor for three air pictures now in the making.
        "A favorable weather report out of Washington," said the noted
flier in describing the narrow escape of Tuesday, "sent us hurrying
toward Atlanta.  But, as we approached the Georgia line, the fog was so
thick that it was almost impossible to make our way, yet we did not have
enought gas to return to Washington.  It was a mean predicament, and we
had to do some keen maneuvering to get over the treetops.  In Atlanta, we
played dodge ball with the taller buildings, but finally reached the
airport with safety and a sigh."
        Colonel Turner, upon landing here, praised Jimmy Wedell as "the
greatest designer in aviation today."  He referred to Harry P. Williams,
vice-president of the Wedell-Williams Air Service, Inc., as the "greatest
sportsman who ever invested a dollar in aviation."
        The fog Wednesday night still disturbed Turner and Sully as they
sought a bit of rest at The Roosevelt.


The New Orleans States, New Orleans, LA, Vol 53 #355, Thur., Dec. 22, 1932:
p. 2, c. 4 -

ROSCOE TURNER ON
        SHORT STOP HERE
        --------
Famed Flier En Route To
  Los Angels To Super-
    vise Air Films
        --------
        Colonel Roscoe Turner, one of the up-and-up lads who is winning
fame with his speed in the air, dropped his wheels into New Orleans
friendly air harbor Wednesday.  He had hopped over from New York with a
short stop, look and listen in Atlanta's fog, and he is on the way to Los
Angeles.  He is going to be technical advisor on a flight of air pictures
now in the making.  G.P.Sully, exploitation director of Warner Brothers
studios was in the extra seat.
        Turner, on November 16, flew a Wedell plane from New York to
Burbank, Cal., in 12 hours and 33 minutes.  He broke Captain Frank Hawks
record by more than two hours.  He tells the world that Jimmy Wedell is
the greatest designer in aviation today, and that Harry P. Williams, the
other half of the Wedell Williams Air Service, Inc., is the greatest
sportsman in captivity.
        The fog around Atlanta was pretty thick, said Turner.  For a time
it was touch-and-go with Atlanta's tall buildings-- more go than touch,
fortunately.  For that matter, the fog over much of the route was an
eyeful.


The Times Picayune, New Orleans, LA, Fri., Dec. 23, 1932:
p. 26, c. 3 -

AIR RECORD HOLDER
        QUITS NEW ORLEANS

        Resuming his New York to Los Angeles flight, Colonel Roscoe
Turner, transcontinental air speed record holder, left New Orleans
Thursday for Patterson, where he was to spend the night as the guest of
Harry P. Williams, vice-president of the Wedell-Williams Air Service,
Inc.
        Colonel Turner, whose speed record from New York to Burbank,
Cal., was set last month in an airplane designed by James R. "Jimmy"
Wedell, New Orleans air ace and president of the Wedell-Williams Company,
reached the city Wednesday with G.P.Sully, exploitation director for the
Warner Brothers West coast studios.


Abstracts (c) Copyright 1993 Stephanie L. Sandy

    Data transcription by: Milton Sandy, Jr. Corinth, MS - April 20, 1993