Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND003 - SHSND Foundation - Aviation Hall of Fame
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 00013
Title: Carl Ben Eilson
Date: 1997
Creator:
Inscription/Marks:
Summary: Carl Ben Eielson was born at Hatton, ND. He graduated from Hatton High School and attended the University of North Dakota from 1914-16. He enlisted in the Army Air Service during WWI and completed his pilot training. After the Armistice was signed, “Ben” returned home. As a member of the Hatton Aero Club, he barnstormed around eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota in the club “Jenny” and performed at fairs, baseball games and any place a crowd was willing to watch his acrobatic stunts. When the “Jenny” was destroyed in a crash, he returned to the University earning his B.A. in 1921. Eielson attended law school at the University of Wisconsin for a time but left to become a school principal in Fairbanks, Alaska. Realizing the potential for aviation in Alaska, Eielson soon had a plane shipped up to him. He carried passengers, medical supplies, and performed aerial acrobatics in his open cockpit Curtis. In 1924, he flew the first Alaskan mail route, establishing the feasibility of air mail service. In 1928, Eielson and Hubert Wilkins, an English Explorer, made the first successful non-stop flight over the North Pole. That same year, Eielson again piloted Wilkins on an Antarctic expedition which resulted in the discovery of six new islands and a re-mapping of the entire area. Eielson received world acclaim and many awards as an aviation pioneer. In 1929, President Hoover awarded him the Harmon Trophy, the United State’s highest honor given for aviation. Later that year, Eielson returned to Alaska and through the merger of several independent air companies, founded Alaska Airways Incorporated. Eielson died November 9, 1929 when his plane went down in bad weather during a rescue mission.
Red ID: FND_I_77362 Image ID: 509183 Image Notes: 10950 00003 00013

Collection: FND003 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - Aviation Hall of Fame
Date:

Summary: The North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame honors those in North Dakota aviation who brought exceptional recognition to themselves during their aviation careers. A 12-member committee of the North Dakota Aviation Council judges the merits of nominees based on: - Major achievements in aviation in North Dakota - - Significant contributions to the development of others in aviation in North Dakota - - Special service to the State of North Dakota in aviation activities - - Activities that bring credit to North Dakota aviation either nationally or internationally - - Significant contributions to the local community or the state of North Dakota that are not related to aviation (service clubs, church related, political action, etc.) -

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