NEWS-TOPIC, Lenoir, NC, Sat, May 13, 1995:
p. 15 -

[By] John O. Hawkins

BOOK TELLS OF
PILOT'S EXPERIENCES
        The purpose of this column is not to review books.
Occasionally, however, a book comes along that can be informally
reviewed in these lines.  One such book is ROSCOE TURNER: Aviation's
Master Showman. The book is written by Carroll V. Glines, a pilot and
retired Air Force colonel, who has won awards for his books on
aviation, one of which is I COULD NEVER BE SO LUCKY AGAIN, biography
of Jimmy Doolittle. Doolittle wrote the foreword to the Turner
biography.

        Turner was born in Corinth, Miss., on Sept. 29, 1895, to
farmer parents. As a young man he was fascinated with automobiles and
eventually became an automobile mechanic.  He entered World War I with
the hope of becoming a pilot, but instead was accepted for training as
a balloon pilot.  He was discharged in September 1919 and through the
influence of F.E. Young, an air show booking agent, he joined with
Harry Runser and the duo began barnstorming the country with their
first stop being Lenoir about one month later.

        Runser and Turner's air show consisted of such daredevil feats
as wing hanging and parachute jumping. They performed their act until
1925 when Turner accepted a position with an aircraft manufacturer.
Roscoe Turner performed ln air shows, raced and started his own
company.

        In 1927, Turner became associated with Howard Hughes, the
reclusive millionaire, who at that time was devoting his time and
energy to making movies. Hughes was producing a silent film about
aviators during the Great War entitled "HELL'S ANGELS," and he needed
experienced aviators to make his film believable. He hired more than
70 pilots for the production, which was the most expensive pre "GONE
WITH THE WIND" movie. The film was completed in 1929, but just as it
was being released, the first sound film, "THE JAZZ SINGER", opened.
Hughes reshot the film in sound, dubbing in sound effects for the
spectacular aviation scenes. Turner would appear in later movies as
well.

        Turner went on to do other air shows, win trophies,
participate in races, and eventually established the Roscoe Turner
Aeronautical Corporation and Turner Air Lines. He helped with the
training of aircraft mechanics during World War II, and received the
Distinguished Flying Cross in 1952.  He was one of the founders of the
Indianapolis Speedway.  He died in 1970, just three months prior to his
75th birthday.

        In the past I have written some stories about Turner and his
Caldwell County experiences, including the first performance of Turner
and Runser in Lenoir in October 1919. He returned to Lenoir on at
least two other occasions, but only one is documented in the book.

        My knowledge of Turner began a few years ago when I was
contacted by M.L. Sandy of Corinth, regarding Turner's visits to
Lenoir. Sandy and the people of Corinth are in the process of
developing a Turner display in their local museum, and he furnished me
with enough information for two columns.  However, I learned much more
about this man of many talents through the book which I recommend
highly for those who are interested in aviation or in reading about
fascinating people.

        Author autographed copies of the book may be ordered from The
Roscoe Turner Committee, Northeast Mississippi Museum, P.O.Box 1535,
Corinth, MS 38835-1535.  The cost of the book is $30.00 postpaid.


    John O. Hawkins is a native of Caldwell County. He is a teacher
             of English at West Caldwell High School.


RT211