THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, p.20-A   June 25, 1970

    PICTURE:  Roscoe Turner and Pal 'Gilmore' in 1930

                  AVIATION HERO ROSCOE TURNER IS DEAD AT 74
                               By Sam Hopkins

            "Speed Demon" Roscoe Turner, perhaps the most colorful of all
    aviation pioneers and a world-acclaimed air racer and record breaker who
    once landed in Atlanta's airport in the 1920s when it was hardly more
    than a cotton patch, is dead.
            The always dapper pilot with the twirled-up mustache- who taught
    Will Rogers how to fly and appeared in the Howard Hughes movie, "Hell's
    Angels," back in 1928- died Tuesday in Indianapolis where he had kept his
    stuffed 700-pound pet lion Gilmore who, when alive and smaller, often
    flew with him.
            Turner, 74, was in Atlanta again only last summer when he
    attended the national convention of the American Legion and reminisced
    about his more than 50-year career in aviation.

    SET RECORDS

            Turner set eight international speed records and was a daredevil
    barnstormer after serving as a pilot during World War I.  He had been
    described once as a "lusty, gusty, robust man" whose swashbuckling
    appearance always included the scarf and goggles of the earlier fliers
    and the wide Sam Browne belt and high leather boots.
            The image he projected was used by cartoonist Zack Moseley for
    his "Smilin' Jack" character.                           
            Turner promoted both himself and aviation in general with a flair
    that would have put a professional public relations man to shame.  He was
    never in need of a spokesman or a PR man for himself.

    THOMPSON WINNER

            Three of the air records Turner was most proud of were winning
    the coveted Thompson Trophy in 1934, 1938 and 1939.  In 1934 in the
    National Air Races he set a new transcontinental record from Los Angeles
    to New York.  The time was 10 hours and 2 minutes.
            Cracking one record was never enough to satisfy Turner.  He was
    always seeking to fly just a little bit faster.
            Back in 1936 he starred in NBC radio's aviation serial, "Flying
    Time."
            Someone gave Turner the lion cub he named Gilmore back in 1930.
    He often placed Gilmore in one of the cockpits of his plane, even when he
    was in a race.
            He became so attached to the lion down through the years that
    after it died at the age of 20 he had Gilmore stuffed and placed in the
    den of his home in Indianapolis.
            Turner was born in Corinth, Miss., on Sept. 29, 1895, the son of
    a farmer who had wanted him to become a banker.

    BEGAN IN 30S

            His speed record-setting era didn't begin until 1930 and lasted
    until 1939 when the beginning of World War II put an end to the air
    races.
            In 1952 he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his racing
    exploits and for helping to train some 3,500 cadets and instructors for
    the Army Air Force during World War II at his flying school.
            One of Turner's survivors is a niece, Mrs. Homer L. Weeks of
    Douglasville.  He is also survived by his second wife, Madonna, whom he
    married in 1946; and a brother and sister.

                      THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, Thursday, June 25, 1970


    Data transcription by:  Milton Sandy, Jr. May 16, 1993