The Asheville Citizen, Asheville, NC, Thur., Sept. 2, 1920:
p. 16, c. 4 -
2 AVIATORS READY TO
RESUME FLIGHTS AGAIN
-------------------
Turner and Runser Will Try for an
Altitude Record of the South for
Four Miles
---------------------
Lieutenants Runser and Turner, two commercial aviators who have
been flying in and near Asheville for the past several weeks, announced
last night that they would be ready to resume flights again within the
next two or three days.
The new 120 horsepower, nine-cylinder LeRhone motor arrived here
several days ago and has been tested on the block. It develops 1,100
revolutions per minute, while only 1,000 are needed for flying.
Yesterday the motor was taken to Pack square where it was exhibited.
Today it will be taken by the aviators to Hendersonville and installed in
the Avro.
The plane has undergone a number of major alterations since the
last flight. The rear cockpit has been changed so that two passengers
may sit side by side. The rear controls have also been entirely covered
up where there is no danger that any accident occur to them.
Before carrying any passengers the two aviators will test the
plane. According to their intention as expressed last night, they will
try to break all altitude records in the south by going to a height of
four miles. If they are able to do this the ship will be tested fully,
and will then be ready to make other flights.
The aviators will fly at Hendersonville for the next week, but
are planning to come to Asheville within the near future to make further
flights.
The Asheville Citizen, Asheville, NC, Mon., Sept. 6, 1920:
p. 12, c. 3 -
PLAN TO FORM AN AIR
SERVICE CORPORATION
----------
RUNSER AND TURNER AN-
NOUNCE INTENTION TO REMAIN
----------
State That They Will Try for a New
Southern Altitude Record the
First of This Week
----------
Announcement was made last night by Runser and Turner, two former
army aviators who have been in Asheville for the past two months doing
commercial flying, that an air service corporation will be organized in
this city.
A school for airplane and automobile mechanics which will give
hightly specialized course will also be formed in conjunction with the
corporation, said Lieut. Turner last night.
This plan has been under consideration for some time, it is said,
but final decision to announce the plans was not made until Sunday.
Already the plans have progressed to such a point where it is is a matter
now of securing a suitable building on a landing field, it is understood.
These two aviators have been in Asheville for some time, making
exhibition and commercial flights in western North Carolina. They have
found conditions here so ideal that they have decided to remain here
permanently, purchase some more planes, and make Asheville the center of
airplane business in this entire section.
The first of this week Runser and Turner will take out their
Avro, equipped with a new 9-cylinder rotary motor, and attempt to make a
new altitude record for the South. Turner said that they hoped to go
four miles in the air. This will give the newly-installed engine a real
test, as well as establish a new record. Changes have been made in the
plane so that two passengers can sit side by side in the rear cockpit
instead of behind one another. All the rear controls have been covered
up so that there is no danger that any person in the rear cockpit can
interfere with them.
About the middle of the week the two aviators plan to take a
ten-day trip to the central and eastern part of the state, visiting about
ten or twelve cities, including Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Charlotte.
The Asheville Citizen, Asheville, NC, Thur., Sept. 9, 1920:
p. 8, c. 1 -
NEW ENGINE HELPS
SPEED OF FAST PLANE
-----------
Since the installation of the new 120-horsepower, nine-cylinder
LeRhone rotary motor, the speed of the British Avro has been increased
from 10 to 20 per cent, according to Turner and Runser, who have been
operating near Asheville with the plane for the past several weeks.
Arrangements have been practically completed whereby the aviators
will make exhibition flights here during the Thirtieth division reunion.
Today the aviators will leave on a ten-day trip through the
central part of the state, during which time they will visit some ten or
twelve cities and towns. Upon their return they will get their plane in
shape for the flights during the reunion.
[Apparently arrangements were never completed as I found no
mention of Runser and Turner during the reunion. On September 28-29,
1920, a reunion of the 30th Division which was known as the "Old Hickory"
Division was held in Asheville. September 29th was the anniversary of
the smashing of the Hindenburg line two years earlier during WWI in 1918
during which the 30th division played a prominent part according to the
official records. The 30th division was organized in the summer of 1917,
with the national guard of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee
as a nucleus. The division trained at Camp Jackson, SC, and Camp Sevier,
SC. The 30th divison and the 27th (New York) division formed the 2nd
American Army corps, which operated with the British armies. - from an
account in The Asheville Citizen, Tues., Sept. 28, 1920, S3, p. 1,
c. 1-2 - mls,jr ]
The Pee Dee Advocate, Bennettsville, SC, V33, #21, Thur., Sept. 16, 1920:
p. 1, c. 3 -
LIEUTS. RUNSER AND TURNER HERE
Lieutenants Runser and Turner, the aviators who spent some time
here last winter, and who have had many interesting experiences since
leaving here, arrived here again last Saturday. [September 11, 1920]
On acocunt of engine trouble, they were forced to land in D.K.
McColl's cotton field, east of the city. They arose and landed again in
an uncultivated area on J.O. Breeden and A.L. Breeden's Malpass place,
south west of the city. They remained there Sunday and took several
passengers to ride.
They have been flying over the county this week, distributing
campaign literature and other advertisements.
Later they expect to drop over the county a special aviation
edition of The Advocate.
The Pee Dee Advocate, Bennettsville, SC, V33, #22, Thur., Sept. 23, 1920:
p. 7, c. 1-3 -
DEFENDS SUNDAY FLYING
------
Lieut. Turner Says Aviation Needs
Support of the People
-----------
There has been some discussion relative to flying airplanes in
Bennettsville and Marlboro county on Sundays. One of the ministers of
Bennettsville told me in a conversation that it was not right and
insinuated that it directly corrupted the morals of the people in the
town.
This minister also went to the sheriff and tried to get him to
put a stop to the Sunday flights, but without success. This has only
happened in two places out of the dozens of towns we have visited in
twenty-two states. There is no law to govern flying and personally I
cannot see why there should be. It is only a means of transportation,
such as many other vehicles are used for and I see no more harm in flying
in an air ship than in riding in an automobile. Besides this is not the
first time Bennettsville has been visited by a ship and I have never
known of any objections being raised when here for several months during
the first of the year.
The Aero Club of America is doing all it can to develop flying
and unless the people co-operate and help the aviators this wonderful and
useful machine cannot make the progress it has merited. We must remember
what it has meant to our country's defense to have a strong air force and
in order to maintain it the government and people will have to lend a
helping hand.
The people are not convinced as yet that aviation is here to stay
and will not invest their money in ships, considering them dangerous and
very impractical. In order to convince them, the flyers will have to
demonstrate the many advantages and teach the people to see the future of
aviation. The flyers deserve much credit for the efforts they have put
forth so far. The towns will not even prepare landing fields and almost
all of the accidents that happen are caused by trying to use unprepared
fields for landing and flying.
If the people will not give a landing field it means that there
is a lack of interest. If this be true, it is natural that the flyers
have a hard time getting a crown to come out and see the ship
demonstrated. They will come only when out riding and with nothing else
to do. This is usually on Sunday and if the ships were not allowed to
demonstrate and fly on Sundays they could not stay in business.
This being the case it is up to the citizens to either put an end
to one of the greatest invention's progress or to look at it from a
different view point and encourage and help the men that are willing to
work for the advancement of aviation.
I realize fully that there are many dangers connected with flying
under certain conditions and it is not my desire to antagonize anyone or
to influence anyone to take any chances in any way. Neither do I want to
keep the people away from church. I am a member of the church and try to
attend services at least once every Sunday. In fact we seldom fly on
Sundays until the afternoon and there are no services held during these
hours in the churches.
This is to simply call your attention to some of the facts we
must face and I ask for your kind and unbiased consideration in the
matter. If I am wrong I want to right myself, but I can't see where I am
doing any more harm than the people that use various other means of
transportation, such as trains, boats and automobiles on the Sabbath day.
Respectfully yours,
Roscoe Turner, Aviator.
The Pee Dee Advocate, Bennettsville, SC, V33, #22, Thur., Sept. 23, 1920:
p. 7, c. 4-6 -
ADVERTISEMENT:
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Big British Plane of Runsuer and Turner will
fly again on Sunday. The landing field will be the
same as used on last Sunday. That is, the pasture
on the farm of Mr. Covington, four miles from
Bennettsville, on the Clio road.
The French Plane belonging to the Airplane Company
at Dillon will also be on the field.
These ships will make flights in the afternoon and
anyone wishing to take a safe trip through the air
will have the opportunity to do so at this time.
Come and bring your wife, sweetheart or friend,
and take a trip together. The Ships carry two
passengers besides the pilot and are the Safest
Flyers to be Bought.
The Pee Dee Advocate, Bennettsville, SC, V33, #23, Thur., Sept. 30, 1920:
p. 1, c. 6 -
WENT UP HIGH SUNDAY
At the aviation field at W.J. Covington's Sunday [September 26,
1920], several contributed the money to pay for a ride for George Genes,
and he went up with Lieut. Turner and Rogers Moore, and took a flight
over Marlboro county, going over a mile high. Mr. Genes says that the
plane butted up against a cloud and stopped still for some time, finally
diving under the cloud. He says Pee Dee river looked like a yellow stirp
about as wide as his hand.
Oscar Grosch also went up Sunday and flew still higher than Mr.
Genes. With him the plane shot through a cloud, and over and under it,
and did various stunts nearly two miles up in the air.
Abstracts (c) Copyright 1993 Stephanie L. Sandy
Data transcription by: Milton Sandy, Jr. Corinth, MS - May 31, 1994