With thanks to listener Sam Dawson who has such interesting relatives and to Betty Goerke, the author of a book about Baz Bagby, A Broken Propeller. I am pleased to present the story of Sam Dawson’s Great Uncle Baz.

 

Stunt pilot Lincoln Beachey at Niagara

 

The 1st Aero Squadron

 

Early Aerial Reconnaissance

 

The 88th Aero Squadron

 

 

General Billy Mitchell

 

The start of the Great Transcontinental Air Race

 

Great Uncle Baz

 

Images under creative commons licence with thanks to the Library of Congress, the USAAC, the USAF, the RFC, the US Army, the National Archives and SADSM.