PILOT STORIES: William
Hopson
| Air Mail
Service Began: |
April 14, 1920 |
| Air Mail Service Ended: |
September 3, 1927 |
| Total Hours Flown: |
4043.25 |
| Total Miles Flown: |
413,034 |
| Assignment: |
College Park, Maryland |
| |
April 17, 1920 – Newark, New Jersey |
| |
October 1, 1920 - Omaha |
One of the best loved and most colorful airmail
pilots was William "Wild Bill" Hopson. Before
his years as a pilot, Hopson had driven a taxi cab in New
York City. "Wild Bill" began flying airmail on
April 14, 1920 and left the service when airmail was transferred
to private companies. During his years as a Post Office Department
airmail pilot, Hopson logged over 4,000 hours of flight time,
covering 413,034 miles.
When private companies took over America's
airmail service, Hopson signed on with the National Air Transport
company, flying Contract Airmail Route #17 between New York
and Chicago. Hopson died while flying the mail over that route
on October 18, 1928.
Click here to learn more about William
Hopson.
|
Click
on the photos to view a larger image.
